Current research in Child and Adolescent Psychology focuses primarily on the areas of depression; eating disorders; the effect of psychopathology on patient compliance in management of chronic disease, such as diabetes; cultural influences on adolescent psychopathology and optimal parenting.

Depression

Current projects are designed to investigate the effects of family functioning and cognition on the prediction of treatment response in MDD youth, to investigate the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in the treatment of adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD), youth with treatment-resistant MDD, and suicidal adolescents with MDD.

Eating Disorders

Current projects are designed to investigate family functioning in youth with eating disorders (ED).

Culture's Influence on the Expression of Psychopathology in Adolescents

Dr. Kennard continues to collaborate with Dr. Sunita Stewart on examining cultural differences of psychopathology in adolescents.  Ongoing work includes examining the effects of bullying and tobacco use on suicidality in adolescents of different cultures, epidemiology of depressive disorders and concomitants.

Adolescent Diabetes, Depression and Adherence to the Medical Regimen

Autonomy development in adolescence, mediators of depression's affect on adherence, and the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and vulnerability to depression in adolescents who develop diabetes.

Ethnic Minority Psychology

Cultural boundaries of current theory in suicidality, adaptation of protocol treatment for engagement and retention for minority groups, training of minority professionals.

Cultural Differences in Optimal Parenting

Qualitative and quantitative examination of parenting style in Asian cultures, and outcomes:  specifically life satisfaction, self-esteem, and depression.