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Lab projects & products

Current projects

  • Project focused on developing adaptions for mindfulness-based programs to address cultural relevance and accessibility for young adults from under-represented racial/ethnic groups.
  • A study documenting college students’ needs, interests, and preferences for a trauma-sensitive yoga program on campus.
  • An annual online survey study of stress, mental and physical health, and mindfulness in college students.

Recent projects

  • An annual online survey study of stress, coping, and mental health pre-pandemic to 2023 in college students.
  • A longitudinal study examining the psychometric properties of the Coping Flexibility Scale – Revised in a sample of U.S. university students. (Dissertation)
  • A study examining interoceptive awareness in relation to cumulative life stress and psychological disorders with somatic symptoms in college students. (Master’s thesis)
  • Examining loneliness and social anxiety in college students during the pandemic. (Senior honors thesis)
  • Examining relationships of individualism/collectivism with stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms in college students. (Senior honors thesis)
  • A study examining the feasibility of a virtual mindfulness-based program with students with mental and/or physical conditions. (Dissertation)
  • Feasibility of a universal prevention mindfulness-based program with university students.
  • Pilot of a brief self-compassion intervention for women who are overweight and have internalized weight stigma. (Master’s thesis, Dissertation)
  • An online survey study of risk and protective factors for pandemic-specific PTSD in college students. (Senior honors thesis)
  • Examining whether religious coping and support benefit those who are religious with regard to psychological symptoms. (Senior honors thesis)
  • A study examining psychological distress in women who experienced miscarriage during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Cross-lab collaboration)

Sample of recent manuscripts

  • Haley, E., Dolbier, C., Campbell, L., Carels, R., & Braciszewski, J.M. (Accepted May 9, 2024). Brief self-compassion intervention for women of higher weight and internalized weight bias: A randomized pilot study. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-024-10297-z
  • Dolbier, C., Vanacore, S., Conder, L., & Guiler, W. (2023). A mixed-methods investigation of COVID-19 pandemic-specific stress in college students. Journal of American College Health, Sep 18, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2023.2253929
  • Byrd, R., Dolbier, C., Whited, M., & Carels, R. (accepted, August 2023). The role of weight stigma in healthcare avoidance and mistrust among pregnant women. Stigma & Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000481
  • Feiler, T., Vanacore, S., & Dolbier, C. (accepted, March 2023). Relationships among adverse childhood experiences, benevolent childhood experiences, emotion dysregulation, and mental health. Adversity and Resilience Science, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42844-023-00094-0
  • Sharp, M., Ward, L., Solar, C., Carels, R., Dolbier, C., Shea, C. (March 2023). Internalized weight bias, weight‐related experiences, and peripartum weight. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13480
  • Conder, L., Vanacore, S., Simon, A., & Dolbier, C. (accepted, January 2023). COVID-19 appraisals and stressors among college students with and without disabilities. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability.
  • Feiler, T., Vanacore, S., & Dolbier, C. (2022). Posttraumatic stress disorder specific to the COVID-19 pandemic: Risk and protective factors among university students. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 28, 537-553. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2022.2132670
  • Dolbier, C., Conder, L., Guiler, W., & Haley, E. (2022). A mindfulness-based intervention for university students: A feasibility study. Building Health Academic Communities, 6(1), 47-62. https://doi.org/10.18061/bhac.v6i1.8980
  • Haley, E. N., Dolbier, C. L., Carels, R. A., & Whited, M. C. (2022). A brief pilot self-compassion intervention for women with overweight/obesity and internalized weight bias: Feasibility, acceptability, and future directions. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 23, 59–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.12.001
  • Sharp, M., Huber, N., Ward, L. G., & Dolbier, C. (2021). NICU-specific stress following traumatic childbirth and its relationship with posttraumatic stress. Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, 35(1), 57–67. https://doi.org/10.1097/JPN.0000000000000543
  • Dolbier, C., Haley, E., Conder, L., & Guiler, W. (2021). Adverse childhood experiences and adult psychopathological symptoms: The moderating role of mindfulness. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 21, 73-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.06.001

Sample of recent presentations

  • Dietrich, K., Simon, A., Signorelli, J., & Dolbier, C., (August, 2024). College Student Mental Health and Coping Before, During, and Three Years Post-COVID-19 Onset. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association conference, Seattle, WA.
  • Signorelli, J., & Dolbier, C. (April 2024). Examining Levels of Loneliness and Social Anxiety in College Students and Their Relationship Across Different Phases of The Pandemic. Oral presentation at the Carolinas Psychology Conference, Buie Creek, NC.
  • Kinnaman, K., & Dolbier, C. (April 2024). Relationships of Self-Construal with Reporting Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression. Oral presentation at the Carolinas Psychology Conference, Buie Creek, NC.
  • Buford, A., Dietrich, D., & Dolbier, C. (April 2024). Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Programs on Campus: Student Needs, Interest, and Preferences. Oral presentation at the Carolinas Psychology Conference, Buie Creek, NC.
  • Simon, A., & Dolbier, C. (April 2024). Relationships among Cumulative Life Stress, Interoception, and Psychological Presentations with Somatic Features. Oral presentation at ECU Research and Creative Achievement Week.
  • Vanacore, S., Schoemann, A., & Dolbier, C. (March, 2024). The Coping Flexibility Scale-Revised: Longitudinal Invariance, Reliability, and Predictive Validity.” Poster presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine annual meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Conder, L., & Dolbier, C. (August, 2023). Virtual Mindfulness-Based Intervention for College Students with Health Conditions or Disabilities. Poster presentation at the American Psychological Association conference in Washington, DC.Vanacore, S., & Dolbier, C. (August, 2023). Exploratory factor analysis of the Coping Flexibility Scale – Revised in an U.S. university student sample. Poster presentation at the American Psychological Association conference in Washington, DC.
  • Signorelli, J., & Dolbier, C. (April 2023). Prevalence and correlates of pandemic-specific stress-related growth. Oral presentation at the Carolinas Psychology Conference, Buie Creek, NC.
  • Benitez, I., Simon, A., & Dolbier, C. (April 2023). Cumulative life stress, interoception, and psychological disorders with somatic symptoms. Oral presentation at the Carolinas Psychology Conference, Buie Creek, NC.
  • Kinnaman, K., Vanacore, S., & Dolbier, C. (April 2023). Psychometric properties of the Coping Flexibility Scale-Revised. Oral presentation at the Carolinas Psychology Conference, Buie Creek, NC.
  • Edmondson, D., & Dolbier, C. (April 2023). Religious affiliation, coping, and support in relation to psychological symptoms. Oral presentation at the Carolinas Psychology Conference, Buie Creek, NC.
  • Conder, L., Vanacore, S., Simon, A., & Dolbier, C. (April, 2022). Differences in COVID-19 Appraisals & Stressors between College Students with Mental & Physical Disabilities. Poster presentation at the Society of Behavioral Medicine conference, Baltimore, MD.
  • Conder, L., Harrell, R., Haley, E., & Dolbier, C. (April, 2022). Risk Factors for Prenatal and Postpartum Depression. Poster presentation at the Society of Behavioral Medicine conference, Baltimore, MD.
  • Feiler, T., Vanacore, S., & Dolbier, C. (April, 2022). PTSD Specific to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Risk and Protective Factors Among University Students. Poster presentation at the Society of Behavioral Medicine conference, Baltimore, MD.
  • Walker, C., Conder, L., & Dolbier, C. (April 2022). A virtual mindfulness-based intervention for college students with health conditions or disabilities. Poster presentation at the Carolinas Psychology Conference, Buie Creek, NC.
  • Vanacore, S., & Dolbier, C. (November 2021). Positive Religious Coping in Relation to Pandemic-Specific PTSD Symptoms and Stress-Related Growth. Poster presentation at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies virtual conference.
  • Vanacore, S., Conder, L., Guiler, W., & Dolbier, C. (August, 2021). Qualitative Investigation of College Student Stress and Coping During the Pandemic. Poster presentation at the American Psychological Association virtual conference.
  • Haley, E., & Dolbier, C. (April, 2021). Self-Compassion Intervention for Women with Overweight/Obesity and Internalized Weight Bias: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Poster presentation at the Society of Behavioral Medicine virtual conference.
  • Conder, L., Vanacore, S., Guiler, W., & Dolbier, C. (April, 2021). Differences in Stress, Coping, and Mental Health in College Students Pre-Pandemic to During the Pandemic. Poster presentation at the Society of Behavioral Medicine virtual conference.
  • Tuchmeyer, J., & Dolbier, C. (January, 2021). Profiles of Risk: New Insights on First-Year Student Retention. Oral presentation at the virtual ECU Student Success Conference.

Sample of recent grants/research awards

  • Buford, A., Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Award, East Carolina University, “College student interest and preferences for a trauma-sensitive yoga program on campus,” spring 2024.
  • Simon, A., Graduate Student Research Funding, East Carolina University, “Barriers and motivators for participating in mindfulness-based interventions for emerging adults from underrepresented groups,” spring 2024.
  • Dietrich, K., Graduate Student Research Funding, East Carolina University, “TCTSY programs on campus: College student interest and preferences,” spring 2024.
  • Dolbier, C., Co-investigator, Research, Economic Development and Engagement, East Carolina University, “Chronic stress biomarkers and adverse childhood experiences, and psychological distress in predicting infertility and infertility treatment outcomes,” PI: Alison Swift, Co-Is: Madeline Fernandez, Melvin Swanson, East Carolina University, fall 2023 – present.
  • Dolbier, C., Co-investigator, Sigma Theta Tau Beta Nu Chapter Research Grant, “Psychological distress and management of women who experienced miscarriage during the COVID-19 pandemic,” PI: Madeline Fernandez, Co-Is: Alison Swift, Melvin Swanson, East Carolina University, July 2022 – July 2023.
  • Benitez, I., Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Award, East Carolina University, “Relationships among interoception, cumulative life stress, and psychopathological symptoms,” fall 2022.
  • Walker, C., Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Award, East Carolina University, “A Virtual Mindfulness-Based Intervention for College Students with Health Conditions or Disabilities,” spring 2022.
  • Buie, E., Undergraduate Research Mini Award, East Carolina University, “Self-Compassion Intervention for Women with Overweight/Obesity and Internalized Weight Bias: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial,” fall 2020.
  • Feiler, T., Undergraduate Research Mini Award, East Carolina University, “Risk and Protective Factors for Pandemic-Specific PTSD,” fall 2020.
  • Guiler, W., Undergraduate Research Award, Psi Chi, “Mindful Movement Intervention for Individuals with ADHD,” spring 2020.