Kristina L. McDonald
Associate Professor
Primary Concentration
Developmental Science
Contact Information
Office: 257AA Gordon Palmer
FAX: (205) 348-8648
E-Mail: klmcdonald2@ua.edu
Courses
Fall 2023
PY 618: Statistics Consulting
Spring 2024
PY 379: Junior PY Honors Seminar
PY 615: Structural Equation Modeling
Past courses:
PY 352: Developmental Psychology
PY 375: Psychology and Film
PY 375: Public Policy and Child and Family Wellbeing
PY 479: Senior Psychology Honors Seminar
PY 391/491: Adolescence
PY 491: Aggression
PY 647: Social and Emotional Development
PY 652: Lifespan Development
Research Affiliations
UA Center for the Prevention of Youth Behavior Problems
Research Interests
My research expertise is in the social development of children and adolescents. Much of my research focuses on the social cognitive processes underlying problematic peer interactions and how context may affect peer interactions. I also study family processes and how challenging life experiences (e.g., tornado exposure, trauma) may affect child and adolescent development.
Recent Publications
*Yang, J.Y., McDonald, K.L, & Seo, S. (2023, online). Coping strategies in response to peer victimization: Comparing adolescents in the U.S. and Korea. Journal of Research in Adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12906
*Seo, S., Yang., J.Y., & McDonald, K.L. (2023, online). Yearning for popularity: How do popularity goals and self-perceived popularity predict aggression and victimization? Journal of Early Adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1177/02724316221149414
*Hakim, E.S., McDonald, K.L., Lochman, J.E., Vernberg, E., & Powell, N. (2022, online). Disaster exposure and temperament as predictors of adolescent substance use. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2022.2124514
*Yang, J.Y., McDonald, K.L, & Seo, S. (2022). Attributions about peer victimization in U.S. and Korean adolescents and associations with internalizing problems. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 51, 2018-2032. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-022-01622-4
McDonald, K.L., Siddiqui, S., Seo, S., & Gibson, C.E. (2022). Interpretations and revenge goals in response to peer provocations: Comparing adolescents in the U.S. and Pakistan. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 46, 555-561. doi: 10.1177/01650254221121840
Frey, K. S., McDonald, K. L., Onyewuenyi, A. C., Germinaro, K., & Eagan, B. R. (2021). “I felt like a hero:” Adolescents’ understanding of resolution-promoting and vengeful actions on behalf of peers. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 50, 521-535. doi: 10.1007/s10964-020-01346-3
* refers to publications with a graduate student as first author.