Research Interests
developmental psychopathology; depression; stress and emotion; adolescent development; family and peer relationships
Research Description
The overall goal of Dr. Rudolph’s research is to identify risk and protective processes that amplify or attenuate vulnerability to psychopathology across development, with a focus on adolescence as a stage of particular sensitivity. Her research uses a multi-level, multi-method approach that considers how personal attributes of youth (e.g., gender, temperament, emotion regulation, social motivation, coping, neuroendocrine profiles, neural processing), development (e.g., pubertal timing, social transitions), and contexts (e.g., early adversity, stressors, family and peer relationships) intersect to contribute to the development of psychopathology, particularly depression and suicide. This research aims to understand both the origins and consequences of individual differences in risk. A variety of methodological approaches are used, including longitudinal survey-based research, interviews, behavior observations, experimental tasks, hormone assessments, and fMRI. Recent work also involves the development of a prevention program for adolescent depression.
Education
Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles
Additional Campus Affiliations
Professor, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
Affiliate, Center for Social and Behavioral Science
External Links
Recent Publications
Bendezú, J. J., Calhoun, C. D., Vinograd, M., Patterson, M. W., Rudolph, K. D., Giletta, M., Hastings, P., Nock, M. K., Slavich, G. M., & Prinstein, M. J. (2022). Exploring joint HPA–inflammatory stress response profiles in adolescent girls: Implications for developmental models of neuroendocrine dysregulation. Developmental psychobiology, 64(3), [e22247]. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.22247
Rudolph, K. D., & Dodson, J. F. (2022). Gender Differences in Friendship Values: Intensification at Adolescence. Journal of Early Adolescence, 42(4), 586-607. https://doi.org/10.1177/02724316211051948
Skymba, H. V., Joyce, C., Telzer, E. H., & Rudolph, K. D. (Accepted/In press). Peer Adversity Predicts Interpersonal Needs in Adolescent Girls. Journal of Research on Adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12741
Bendezú, J. J., Calhoun, C. D., Patterson, M. W., Findley, A., Rudolph, K. D., Hastings, P., Nock, M. K., & Prinstein, M. J. (Accepted/In press). Adolescent girls' stress responses as prospective predictors of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors: A person-centered, multilevel study. Development and psychopathology. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579420002229
Calhoun, C. D., Patterson, M. W., Bendezú, J. J., Helms, S. W., Owens, S. A., Rudolph, K. D., Hastings, P. D., & Prinstein, M. J. (2021). Linking post-stressor interpersonal processes in adolescent girls’ close friendships with acute HPA stress responses. Journal of Adolescence, 92, 10-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.08.001
