Contact Information:

Email: smrug@uab.edu
Office Phone: (205) 975 9462
Fax: (205) 975 6110

Education:

M.A., 1998, Charles University, Clinical Psychology
M.S., 2001, Purdue University, Clinical Psychology
M.S., 2004, Purdue University, Applied Statistics
Ph.D., 2005 Purdue University, Clinical Psychology
Internship, 2004-2005, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Child Clinical Psychology

Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests:

Dr. Mrug is a child clinical psychologist whose main interests lie in developmental psychopathology. Dr. Mrug’s current research focuses on individual and contextual influences in the development of externalizing behavior problems in children and adolescents, such as aggressive and disruptive behavior, delinquency, and substance use. Primary predictors of interest include pubertal timing, exposure to violence, peer relationships, parental practices, and broader influences of schools and neighborhoods.

Other areas of interest include peer relationships and social functioning in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the study of social cognitions in children, especially as they relate to peer acceptance and rejection.

Representative Publications:

Mrug, S., Borch, C., & Cillessen, A.H.N. (2011). Other-sex friendships in late adolescence: Risky associations for substance use and sexual debut? Journal of Youth and Adolescence.

Mrug, S., & Windle, M. (2010). Prospective effects of violence exposure across multiple contexts on early adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing problems. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 51, 953-961.

Mrug, S., & Windle, M. (2009). Moderators of negative peer influence on early adolescent externalizing behaviors: The roles of individual behavior, parenting, and school connectedness. Journal of Early Adolescence, 29, 518-540.

Mrug, S., Elliott, M.N., Gilliland, M.J., Grunbaum, J., Tortolero, S., Cuccaro, P., & Schuster, M.A. (2008). Positive parenting and early puberty in girls: Protective effects against aggressive behavior. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 162, 781-786.

Mrug, S., Hoza, B., Pelham, W.E., Gnagy, E.M., & Greiner, A.R. (2007). Behavior and peer status in children with ADHD: Continuity and change. Journal of Attention Disorders, 10, 359-371.

Teaching Interests:

PY 718 - Research design
PY 719 - Multivariate statistics
PY 729 - Adolescent development