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Our lab engages in a number of activities that include basic and applied research surrounding the topic of the nature and treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders (see the "Projects" tab for more details).

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Dr. Michelle Newman's research focuses on the nature and treatment of anxiety disorders. She is examining the etiology and classification, individual predictors of psychotherapy outcome, and impact of brief psychotherapy with respect to social phobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and trauma. Dr. Newman is also conducting several basic experimental studies examining underlying processes related to these disorders. Further, she is examining issues relevant to health implications of anxiety disorders. Current research projects include an integrative therapy for GAD (examining the addition of interpersonal and experiential therapies to cognitive behavioral therapy); evaluation of technologically driven mobile momentary interventions in the U.S. and India; assessment and classification of anxiety disorders and mood disorders; momentary assessment of symptoms and emotion in anxiety disorders; examination of the impact of psychotherapy beyond the targeted symptoms of a particular disorder; mediators and moderators of psychotherapy; emotion regulation in anxiety disorders and its relationship to therapeutic mechanisms; dysfunctional interpersonal styles in anxiety disorders.

Latest Placements of Dr. Newman's Graduate Students

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Congratulations to Hani, Hanjoo, Kay, and Luc for completing their doctoral studies and moving on to the next chapter!

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  • Nur Hani Zainal graduated 2022 (Currently a postdoctoral research associate at Harvard Medical School).

  • Hanjoo Kim graduated 2020 (Currently a postdoctoral fellow at Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan).

  • Ki Eun Shin graduated 2020 (Currently an assistant professor of Long Island University, Post Campus).

  • Lucas LaFreniere graduated 2020 (Currently an assistant professor at Skidmore College).

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Latest News, Awards, Publications & Media Attention

By LADR

Latest Awards received by Dr. Newman, her graduate and undergraduate students

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Congratulations to Dr. Newman and her graduate students for these achievements!

2023 Awards

  • Best Clinical Paper Award (Irene Baik)

  • Research and Graduate Studies Office (RGSO) Dissertation Support Award (Gavin Rackoff)

 

2022 Awards

  • Ellen V. Piers Graduate Scholarship in Clinical Psychology (Jeremy Schwob)

  • Best Clinical Paper Award (Gavin Rackoff)

  • International Society for Research on Internet Interventions Best Poster Award (Gavin Rackoff)

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2021 Awards

  • ADAA CDLP Award (Ki Eun Shin)

  • ADAA CDLP Award (Hanjoo Kim)

  • ADAA CDLP Award (Nur Hani Zainal)

  • ABCT student travel award (Nur Hani Zainal)

  • National University of Singapore Development Grant (SGD $10,000) (Nur Hani Zainal)

  • APA Division 29 Student Excellence in Teaching/Mentorship Award (Nur Hani Zainal)

  • Eric A. Walker Award. The award is presented annually to the student who has contributed most to enhancing the reputation of the University through extracurricular activities (Anibal (A.J.) Rodriguez)

  • Best Clinical Paper Award (Gavin Rackoff)

  • Honorable Mention Best Departmental Paper award (Nur Hani Zainal)

  • Charles N. Cofer Memorial Award in Psychology and Student Marshall (Emma Win)

  • Mona Shibley Bird Memorial Scholarship in Psychology (Shuangshuang (Sydney Thiem))

  • Mona Shibley Bird Memorial Scholarship in Psychology (Shuangshuang (Danielle) Chen))

  • Costello Family Scholarship in Psychology (Kaitlin Mazor)

  • Costello Family Scholarship in Psychology (Emma Win)​

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2020 Awards

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  • Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy Leonard Krasner Student Dissertation Award (Nur Hani Zainal).​

  • Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences (FABBS) Doctoral Dissertation Research Excellence Award 2019-20 This award is to acknowledge and honor graduate student scientists who have conducted doctoral dissertation research of superior scientific quality and broader societal impact. (Nur Hani Zainal) http://fabbs.org/honoring-our-scientists/research-excellence-awards/doctoral-dissertation/

  • Peter T. Lukie Award for Outstanding Research in Social and Behavioral Science. Undergraduate research award given to a junior at Penn State (Shuangshuang Chen).

  • 2020-2021 – Susan Welch/Nagle Family Graduate Fellowship-awarded to a Penn State graduate student exhibiting academic excellence in a program within the College of the Liberal Arts (Nur Hani Zainal).

  • American Psychological Association, Society for the Science of Clinical Psychology Distinguished Dissertation Award in Clinical Psychology award for excellence, innovation, and commitment to research demonstrated by a dissertation in clinical psychology (Lucas LaFreniere).

  • ​2019-2020 – Sigma Chi Madson Graduate Scholarship (USD $1,000) (Jeremy Schwob)

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2019 Awards

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  • Dr. Newman was awarded the Raymond Lombra Award for Distinction in the Social or Life Sciences. This award recognizes a tenured faculty member of the Penn State University College of the Liberal Arts who, by his or her outstanding work in the field of social or life sciences, has demonstrated excellence in research and scholarship.

  • Dr. Newman was also awarded Toy Caldwell-Colbert Award for Distinguished Educator in Clinical Psychology from American Psychological Association Society of Clinical Psychology (Division 12). For excellence in mentoring clinical psychology graduate students, interns, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty and providing outstanding support, encouragement, and promoting education and training, professional and personal development, and career guidance to junior colleagues. 

  • Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi honor society for performing in the top 10% of doctoral students across all disciplines (Lucas LaFreniere).

  • Singapore-based LBKM Prestigious scholarship. (Nur Hani Zainal).

  • National University of Singapore Development Grant. (Nur Hani Zainal).

  • National University of Singapore-Overseas Graduate Scholarship (Nur Hani Zainal) A scholarship that supports Singaporeans with a high likelihood for a career in academia following their doctoral studies and post-doctoral fellowship, eventually serving as a tenure-track faculty member in a clinical PhD program at NUS by mid-2024.

  • American Psychological Association, Division 29 Student Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award (Ki Eun Shin).

  • Pennsylvania State University Research and Graduate Studies Office (RGSO) Dissertation Support Award (Nur Hani Zainal).

  • College of Liberate Arts – Superior Teaching and Research Award (Ki Eun Shin)

  • College of Liberate Arts – Superior Teaching and Research Award (Nur Hani Zainal)

  • Honorable Mention Best Departmental Paper Award (Nur Hani Zainal)

  • Penn State University Best Clinical Paper Award (Nur Hani Zainal)

  • Singapore-based LBKM Merit scholarship. (Nur Hani Zainal).

  • Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award. (Luc LaFreniere)

  • Singapore-based LBKM Merit scholarship. (Nur Hani Zainal).

  • Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences (FABBS) Doctoral Dissertation Research Excellence Award 2017-18 This award is to acknowledge and honor graduate student scientists who have conducted doctoral dissertation research of superior scientific quality and broader societal impact. (Nick Jacobson) http://fabbs.org/honoring-our-scientists/research-excellence-awards/doctoral-dissertation/

  • Penn State University Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher Award, Pennsylvania State University Department of Psychology (Luc LaFreniere)

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Our recent publications in 2023 (updated as of August 7th, 2023):
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Congratulations to Dr. Newman, her graduate students, and all of our collaborators!

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  • Wang, J. Z., Zhao, S., Wu, C., Adams, R. B., Newman, M. G., Shafir, T., Tsachor, R. (in press). Unlocking the emotional world of visual media: An overview of the science, research, and impact of emotion understanding. Proceedings of the IEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/JPROC.2023.3273517 Pdf

  • Zainal, N. H.* & Newman, M. G. (in press). A cross-lagged prospective network analysis of depression and anxiety and cognitive functioning components in midlife community adult women. Psychological Medicine, 53(9), 4060-4171. PMID: 35534458 PMCID: 9646930 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291722000848 Pdf

  • Barber, K. E.*, Rackoff, G. N.*, & Newman, M. G. (2023). Day-to-day directional relationships between sleep duration and negative affect. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 172, 111437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111437 Pdf

  • Zainal, N. H.* & Newman, M. G. (in press). Prospective network analysis of proinflammatory proteins, lipid markers, and depression components in midlife community women. Psychological Medicine. (Accepted July 4, 2022) PMID: 35924730, PMCID: 9898473 https://doi.org/10.1017/S003329172200232X  Pdf

  • Rackoff, G. N.*, Fitzsimmons-Craft, E., Taylor, C. B., Wilfley, D. E., & Newman, M. G. (in press). Psychotherapy utilization by United States college students. Journal of American College Health.https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2023.2225630 Pdf

  • Schwob, J. T., & Newman, M. G. (2023). Brief imaginal exposure exercises for social anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial of a self-help momentary intervention app. Journal of Anxiety Disorders.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102749 Pdf

  • Baik, S. Y.* & Newman, M. G. (2023). The transdiagnostic use of worry and rumination to avoid negative emotional contrasts following negative events: A momentary assessment study. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 95, 102679. PMID: 36565682, PMCID: 10080671 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102679 (Winner of the 2023 Best Clinical Paper Award, Penn State, Department of Psychology) Pdf

  • Zainal, N. H.* & Newman, M. G. (2023). Elevated anxious and depressed mood relates to future executive dysfunction in older adults: A longitudinal network analysis of psychopathology and cognitive functioning. Clinical Psychological Science, 11(2), 218-238. PMID: 36993876, PMCID: 10046395 https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026221114076 Pdf

  • Constantino, M. J., Castonguay, L. G., Coyne, A. E., Boswell, J. F., & Newman, M. G. (2023). Baseline overly accommodating interpersonal problems in relation to parsed alliance-outcome associations in cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy Research, 33(1), 3-15. Special Section Part II- CBT Relationships.https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2022.2086836 PMID: 35696653, PMCID: PMC9744962 Pdf

  • Zainal, N. H.*, & Newman, M. G. (2023). Corrigendum: Curiosity does help to protect against anxiety and depression symptoms but not conversely. Journal of Affective Disorders, 323, 894-897. PMID: 36435400, PMCID: 9867916https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.038 Pdf

  • Woods, W. C., Edershile, E. A. Ringwald, W. R., Sharpe, B. M., Himmelstein, P. H., Newman, M. G., Wilson, S. J., Ellison, W. D., Levy, K. N. Pincus, A. L., Creswell, J. D., & Wright, A. G. C. (2023). Psychometric evaluation of a Visual Interpersonal Analogue Scale. Psychological Assessment, 35(4), 311-324. PMID: 36656726 https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001210 Pdf

  • LaFreniere, L. S.* & Newman, M. G. (2023). Reducing contrast avoidance in GAD by savoring positive emotions: Outcome and mediation in a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 93, 102659.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102659 PMID:36549218, PMCID: 9976801 Pdf

  • Newman, M. G., Rackoff, G. N.,* Zhu, Y.,* & Kim , H.* (2023). A transdiagnostic evaluation of contrast avoidance across generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders,93, 102662.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102662 Pdf

  • Barber, K. E.* Zainal, N. H.*, & Newman, M. G. (2023). Positive relations mediate the bidirectional connections between depression and anxiety symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 324, 387-394. PMID: 36584704, PMCID: 9893796 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.12.082 Pdf

  • Zainal, N. H.*, & Newman, M. G. (2023). A randomized controlled trial of a 14-day mindfulness ecological momentary intervention (MEMI) for generalized anxiety disorder. European Psychiatry, 66(1), e12https://www.doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2. Winner of the ABCT Best dissertation award and the FABBS dissertation award. Pdf

  • Barber, K. E.,* Zainal, N. H.*, & Newman, M. G. (2023). The mediating effect of stress reactivity in the 18-year relationship between generalized anxiety and depression severity. Journal of Affective Disorders, 325, 502-512. PMID: 36642311, PMCID: 9930685 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.041 Pdf

  • Llera, S. J.* & Newman, M. G. (2023). Contrast avoidance predicts and mediates the effect of trait worry on problem-solving impairment. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 94, 102674. PMID: 36681059, PMCID: 9987319.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102674 Pdf

  • Kim, H.* & Newman, M. G. (2023). Worry and rumination enhance a positive emotional contrast based on the framework of the contrast avoidance model. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 94, 102671 PMID: 36681058, PMCID: 10071830 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102671 Pdf

  • Sanghvi, D.*, Zainal, N. H.*, & Newman, M. G. (2023) Trait self-acceptance mediates parental childhood abuse predicting depression and anxiety symptoms in adulthood. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 94, 102673.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102673 Pdf

  • Llera, S. J. & Newman, M. G. (2023). Incremental validity of the contrast avoidance model: A comparison with intolerance of uncertainty and negative problem orientation. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 95, 102699.185.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102699 Pdf

  • Sanghvi, D. E.*, Rackoff, G. N.*, & Newman, M. G. (2023). Latent class analysis of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms after exposure to hurricane Ike: Associations with demographics, mental health, and well-being. Social Science & Medicine, 327, 115942. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115942 Pdf

  • Jacobson, N. C.*, Evey, K. J.*, Wright, A. G. C., & Newman, M. G. (2023). Integration of discrete and global structures of affect across three large samples: Specific emotions within-persons and global affect between-persons. Emotion. 23(4), 1202–1211. PMID: 34591509 PMCID: PMC8964824 https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001022 Pdf

  • LaFreniere, L. S.* & Newman, M. G. (2023). Upregulating positive emotion in generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial of the Skilljoy ecological momentary intervention. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 91(6), 381–387. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000794 Featured publication of the American Psychological Association’s Kudos Showcase. Winner of the 2020 Distinguished Dissertation Award in Clinical Psychology from APA Division 12 Pdf

  • Rackoff, G. N.*, Monocello, L. T., Fowler, L. A.*, Vázquez, M. M.*, Shah, J.*, Fitzsimmons-Craft, E. E., Taylor, C. B., Eisenberg, D., Wilfley, D. E., & Newman, M. G. (2023). Using social influence strategies to improve rates of online mental health survey participation: Results from two experiments. Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, 33(2), 81-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbct.2023.05.001 Pdf

  • D’Adamo, L. D.*, Paraboschi, L.*, Grammer , A. C.*, Fennig, M.*, Graham, A. K., Yaeger, L. H., Newman, M. G., Wilfley, D. E., Taylor, C. B., Eisenberg, D., Fitzsimmons-Craft, E. E. (2023). Reach and uptake of digital mental health interventions based on cognitive-behavioral therapy for college students: A systematic review. Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, 33(2), 97-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbct.2023.05.002 Pdf

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Latest Media Attention & Published Interviews
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Check out these latest articles involving members of our lab!
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