Kathryn H. Howell, Ph.D.

Endowed Chair in Child Well-being, Professor

Phone
901.678.1541
Fax
901.678.2579
Office
Psychology Building, Room 356
Office Hours
Contact
Kathryn H. Howell, Ph.D.

Dr. Howell does not plan to admit a new doctoral student for Fall 2024 admission.

About Dr. Howell

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Michigan
  • M.S., University of Michigan
  • B.S., Cornell University

Research Interests

  • Environmental, psychological, and physiological mechanisms that promote resilience or reduce risk for psychiatric problems in the context of early traumatic stress
  • Evidence-based interventions for children and families exposed to traumatic events, such as family violence and interpersonal loss
  • Community-oriented studies to explore the various pathways to positive and negative functioning following exposure to traumatic events in childhood

Recent Publications

*denotes mentored student author

  • Miller-Graff, L.E., Paulson, J.L., *Hasselle, A.J., Cummings, E.M., & Howell, K.H. (in press). Examining the efficacy of prenatal intervention in reducing IPV revictimization and improving maternal mental health: A quasi-randomized controlled trial of the Pregnant Moms’ Empowerment Program (PMEP). Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Note: Miller-Graff & Howell are co-lead authors.
  • Paulson, J.L., Miller-Graff, L.E., *Jamison, L.E, Scheid, C.R., & Howell, K.H. (in press). Patterns and predictors of perinatal posttraumatic stress symptoms: A latent transition analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders. 
  • *Napier, T.R., Howell, K.H., Scheid, C.R., & Miller-Graff, L.E. (in press). Empirically derived patterns of adverse childhood experiences and associations with prenatal social networks. Psychology of Violence. 
  • *Gilliam, H.C., Howell, K.H., Paulson, J.L., *Napier, T.R., & Miller-Graff, L.E. (2022). Pregnancy complications and intimate partner violence: The moderating role of prenatal posttraumatic stress symptoms. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 35(5), 1484-1496.
  • *Napier, T.R., Howell, K.H., *Schaefer, L.M., & *Schwartz, L.E. (2022). Differentiating the effects of anxious and avoidant attachment on depression and resilience following trauma. Journal of American College Health, 70(2), 625-633. 
  • *Jamison, L.E., Howell, K.H., Decker, K.M., *Schwartz, L.E, & Thurston, I.B. (2021). Associations between substance use and depressive symptoms among women experiencing intimate partner violence. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 22(5), 540-554.
  • Howell, K.H., Miller-Graff, L.E., Martinez-Torteya, C., *Napier, T.R., & Carney, J. (2021). Charting a course towards resilience following adverse childhood experiences: Addressing intergenerational trauma via strengths-based intervention. Children, 8(10), 844.
  • Howell, K.H., *Schaefer, L.M., *Hasselle, A.J., & Thurston, I.B. (2021). Social support as a moderator between syndemics and posttraumatic stress among women experiencing adversity. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 30(6), 828-843. 
  • *Schaefer, L.M., Howell, K.H, Thurston, I.B, Kaufman, C.C., & *Hasselle, A.J. (2021). Protective factors associated with fewer generalized anxiety disorder symptoms among women exposed to intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(13-14), 5923-5947.
  • Howell, K.H., Miller-Graff, L.E., *Gilliam, H.C., & Carney, J.R. (2021). Factors related to parenting confidence among pregnant women experiencing intimate partner violence. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 13(3), 385-393. 
  • Hamby, S., Elm, J.L., Howell, K.H., & Merrick, M.T. (2021). Recognizing the cumulative burden of childhood adversities transforms science and practice for trauma and resilience. American Psychologist, 76(2), 230-242.
  • Howell, K.H., Thurston, I.B., *Hasselle, A.J., Decker, K., & *Jamison, L.E. (2021). Systemic factors associated with prosocial skills and maladaptive functioning in youth exposed to intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(5-6), 2823-2847.
  • *Hasselle, A.J., Howell, K.H., Bottomley, J.S., *Sheddan, H.C., *Capers, J.M., & Miller-Graff, L.E. (2020). Barriers to intervention engagement among women experiencing intimate partner violence proximal to pregnancy. Psychology of Violence, 10(3), 290-299.
  • Howell, K.H., Miller-Graff, L.E., *Schaefer, L.M., & Scrafford, K.E. (2020). Relational resilience as a potential mediator between adverse childhood experiences and prenatal depression. Journal of Health Psychology, 25(4), 545-557.      
  • *Hasselle, A.J., *Schwartz, L.E., Berlin, K.S., & Howell, K.H. (2019). A latent profile analysis of coping responses to individuals’ most traumatic event: Associations with adaptive and maladaptive mental health outcomes. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 32(6), 626-640.