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
Clayton, M. G., Nelson, B. W., Giletta, M., Hastings, P. D., Nock, M. K., Rudolph, K. D., Slavich, G. M., & Prinstein, M. J. (2023). Interpersonal Life Stress and Inflammatory Reactivity as Prospective Predictors of Suicide Attempts in Adolescent Females. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, 51(7), 977-987. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-023-01033-4
Davis, M. M., Surabhi, D. M., Telzer, E., & Rudolph, K. D. (Accepted/In press). Risk for Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents with a History of Adversity: Unique Role of Stress Appraisals. Child Psychiatry and Human Development. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-023-01538-5
Davis, M., Modi, H. M., Skymba, H. V., Finnegan, M. K., Haigler, K., Telzer, E. H., & Rudolph, K. D. (2023). Thumbs up or thumbs down: neural processing of social feedback and links to social motivation in adolescent girls. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 18(1), Article nsac055. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsac055
Frantz, K. M. T., Rudolph, K. D., Li, X., Cai, T., & Jimenez, V. (2023). Beyond the “dark side”: The “bright side” of peer experiences and physiological adaptation. In Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Health, First Edition (Vol. 3, pp. 142-166). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818872-9.00045-5
Modi, H. H., Davis, M. M., Troop Gordon, W., Telzer, E. H., & Rudolph, K. D. (2023). Need for approval and antisocial behavior moderate the effect of socioemotional cues on adolescent girls’ cognitive control. Child development, 94(2), 529-543. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13875
