Stephen A. Erath, Ph.D.
	Assistant Professor 203 Spidle Hall Auburn University Auburn, AL 36849 Tel (334) 844-3236 Fax (334) 844-4515 sae0001@auburn.edu

Interests

     My research investigates risk and protective factors for psychosocial maladjustment among children and early adolescents. I am especially interested in behavioral and physiological responses to stressful experiences in peer contexts (e.g., social anxiety, peer victimization) and family contexts (e.g., marital conflict, harsh punishment). I am also interested in preventive interventions to promote social competence and positive peer relationships.

Selected Publications

Erath, S. A., El-Sheikh, M., & Cummings, E. M. (in press). Harsh parenting and child externalizing behavior: Skin conductance level reactivity as a moderator. Child Development.







Erath, S. A., Pettit, G. S., Dodge, K. A., & Bates, J. E. (in press). Who dislikes whom, and for whom does it matter: Predicting aggression in middle childhood. Social Development.







Erath, S. A., Flanagan, K. S., & Bierman, K. L. (in press). Early adolescent school adjustment: Associations with friendship and peer victimization. Social Development.







El-Sheikh, M., Erath, S. A., Buckhalt, J. A., Granger, D. A., & Mize, J. (in press). Cortisol and children’s adjustment: The moderating role of sympathetic nervous system activity. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.







Flanagan, K. S., Erath, S. A., & Bierman, K. L. (in press). Unique associations between peer relationships and social anxiety in early adolescence. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.







El-Sheikh, M., Kouros, C., Erath, S. A., Cummings. E. M., Keller, P. S., & Staton, L. (in press). Marital conflict and children’s externalizing behavior: Interactions between parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system activity. Monographs of the Society for Research on Child Development.







Erath, S. A., Flanagan, K. S., & Bierman, K. L. (2007). Social anxiety and peer relations in early adolescence: Behavioral and cognitive factors. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 35, 405- 416.







El-Sheikh, M., Erath, S. A., & Keller, P. S. (2007). Children’s sleep and adjustment: The moderating role of vagal regulation. Journal of Sleep Research, 16, 396-405.







Erath, S. A., Bierman, K. L., & Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group (2006). Aggressive marital conflict, maternal harsh punishment, and child aggressive-disruptive behavior: Evidence for direct and mediated relations. Journal of Family Psychology, 20, 217- 226.

Selected Research Projects

Erath, S. A. Social anxiety in early adolescence: Research to inform intervention. Competitive Research Grant, Auburn University; 2008–2009.




El-Sheikh, M., Vaughn, B., Erath, S. A., & Buckhalt, J. A. Childhood stress exposure: Physiological mechanisms of risk and resilience. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station; 2007–2010.

Courses Taught

HDFS 4200 Program Development and Evaluation