Office
PSY 503b  -- 415.405.2133
(Fax)  415.338.2398   cookston@sfsu.edu
Spring 2008 office hours:  M 9-11, W 9-10
Courses
PSY 330 - Child Development
PSY 433 - Social and Emotional Development
PSY 431 - Developmental Psychology
PSY 730 - Current Issues in Developmental Psychology
PSY 735 - Love and the Life Cycle
PSY 735 - Prevention, Intervention, and Family Transitions
PSY 770 - Research Methods

Research
My research addresses families with special attention to the role of marital conflict, fathering, and divorce. I am currently conducting studies on:
1) how families from diverse cultural experiences adjust to divorce
2) a program evaluation of the Kids' Turn divorcing family intervention program
3) how adolescents socially construct their relationships with their fathers

RESEARCH INTERESTS

·     Social and Emotional Development in Childhood and Adolescence
·     Interparental Conflict, Co-Parenting Processes, and Child Psychopathology
·     Father-Child Relationship as Buffer between Negative Events and Adjustment
·     Intervention with Families in Crisis and with Families of Divorce
·     Contextual Influences on Parenting Behavior

ASSOCIATED GRANTS

Effects and meaning of fathers for adolescents

This project was funded by NIMH for a three-wave longitudinal study of 392 families at two sites (Phoenix, AZ and Riverside, CA) to explore the “meaning of fatherhood” across the adolescent transition.  The sample is evenly divided among two father types (birth-father and stepfather) and ethnicities (Mexican American and European American).  The study includes multi-agent, multi-method reporting for most constructs.  For more information on the PAYS project please go to http://devpsych.sfsu.edu/pays.htm

                Arizona State University Staff                      

Principle Investigator:                Sanford L. Braver
Co-Principle Investigators:        William Fabricius, Delia Saenz

University of California Riverside Staff

Principle Investigator:                Scott L. Coltrane
Co-Principle Investigators:        Ross D. Parke

San Francisco State University

Investigator:                Jeffrey T. Cookston

Tulane University

Affiliated Faculty:        Michele Adams

PUBLICATIONS
NOTE - underlined authors were students at time of writing

Parke, R. D., Vega, E, Cookston, J. T., Perez, N., & Coltrane, S. (in press). Imagining the future of immigrant fathers.  To appear in S.S. Chuang & R.P. Moreno (Eds.), On New Shores: Understanding Immigrant Fathers in North America.  New York: Lexington Books.  Full text

Sandler, I., Miles, J., Cookston, J. T., & Braver, S. L. (2008).  Effects of father and mother parenting on children’s mental health in high- and low-conflict divorces.  Family Court Review, 46(2), 282-296.

Aceves, M. J., & Cookston, J. T. (2007).  Violent victimization, aggression, and parent-adolescent relations:  Quality parenting as a buffer for violently victimized youth.  Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36(5).  Full text

Cookston, J. T., Braver, S. L., Griffin, W., deLusé, S. R., & Miles, J. C. (2007).  Effects of the Dads for Life intervention on interparental conflict and co-parenting in the two years after divorce. Family Processes, 46(1), 123-137. Full text

Cookston, J. T., Sandler, I. N., Braver, S. L., & Genalo, T. (2007). Predicting readiness to adopt evidence-based programs for divorcing families:  Champions, attitudes, and access to funding.  American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 77(4), 573-581.

Cookston, J. T. & Finlay, A. K. (2006).  Paternal involvement and adolescent adjustment:  Longitudinal findings from Add Health.  Fathering:  A Journal of Theory, Research, and Practice About Men as Father, 4(2), 137-158. Full text

Braver, S. L., Griffin, W. A., Cookston, J.T., Sandler, I. N., & Williams, J. (2005).  Promoting better fathering among divorced non-resident fathers.  In W. M. Pinsof & J. Lebow (Eds.), Family Psychology:  The art of the science.  Oxford University Press.  Full text

Braver, S. L., Griffin, W. A., & Cookston, J. T (2005).  Prevention programs for divorced nonresident fathers.  Family Court Review, 43(1), 81-96. Full text

Cookston, J. T., Harrist, A.W., & Ainslie, R.A. (2003). Affliative and instrumental marital discord, mother’s negative affect, and children’s negative interactions with unfamiliar peers. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 12(2), 185-200.  Full text

Rew, L., Becker, H., Cookston, J., Khosropour, S., & Martinez, S. (2003). Measuring cultural awareness in nursing student. Journal of Nursing Education, 42(6), 249- 257. Full text

Braver, S. L., & Cookston, J. T. (2003).  Controversies, clarifications, and consequences of divorce's legacy: Introduction to the Special Collection. Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 52(4), 314-317. Full text

Braver, S.L., Cookston, J. T., & Cohen, B.R. (2002). Experiences of family law attorneys regarding current issues in family law: Results of a survey conducted at a bar association conference. Family Relations, 51, 325-334. Full text

Cookston, J. T., Braver, S. L., Sandler, I., & Genalo, T. (2002).  Prospects for expanded court-based services for children of divorce.  Family Court Review, 40(2), 190-203.  Full text

Becker, H., Cookston, J. T., & Kulberg, V. (2000).  Mailed survey follow-ups:  Are post-card reminders more cost-effective than second questionnaires?  Western Journal of Nursing, 22(5), 642-246. Full text

Cookston, J. T. (1999).  Parental supervision and family structure:  Effects on adolescent problem behavior.  Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 32(1/2), 107-122. Full text

MANUSCRIPTS UNDER REVIEW

Saenz, D., Baham, M. E., Braver, S. L., Cookston, J. T., Fabricius, W. V., & Parke, R. D. (under review).  Father Behaviors and Perceived Mattering in Adolescents: The Role of Attributions. 

Schenck, C. E., Braver, S. L., Wolchik, S. A., Saenz, D., Cookston, J. T., & Fabricius, W. V. (under review).  Do I matter to my (step- and non-residential) dad?: The impact of perceived mattering on adolescent mental health problems.

WORKING PAPERS

Finlay, A. K., & Cookston, J. T. (in preparation).  Attributions of fathering behaviors among adolescents:  The role of depressive symptoms, ethnicity, and family structure. 

SPECIAL ISSUES OF JOURNALS

S. L. Braver & J. T. Cookston (Eds.) (2003).    The legacy of divorce: Controversies, clarifications and consequences.  Family Relations.

PRESENTATIONS

Aceves, M. J., & Cookston, J. T. (2004, March).  The onset of violence in adolescence:  Positive parenting and its influence on violently victimized adolescents.  Paper presented at the 10^th Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence in Baltimore, MD.

Becker, H., & Cookston, J. T. (1998, October).  An experiential component of a program evaluation class. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the American Evaluation Association in Chicago, IL.

Braver, S. L., Griffin, W., Cookston, J. T., Sandler, I., & Williams, J. (2002, April).  A preventive intervention for divorced nonresident fathers.  Paper presentation at the annual meeting of the National Council on Family Relations in Chicago, IL.

Catterson, S., Cookston, J. T., & Rew, L. (1998, April).  Assessing cultural sensitivity of nursing faculty and students. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association in San Diego, CA.

Cleary, R. P., & Cookston, J. T. (2004, July).  Self-reported child-rearing practices and observed coparenting behaviors.  Paper presented at the 112^th Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association in Honolulu, HI. 

Cookston, J. T. (1998, August).  Single-parent families and parental supervision:  Effects on adolescent problem behavior.  Poster session presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association in San Francisco, CA.

Cookston, J. T. (1999, April).  The role of the parent-child relationship in buffering the relation between family structure and adolescent problem behavior.  Poster session presented at the annual convention of the Society for Research in Child Development in Alburquerque, NM.

Cookston, J. T. (2000, August).  Influence of the spouse on responsive parenting behavior.  Poster session presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association in Washington, D.C.

Cookston, J. T. (2000, August).  Parent role quality and the parenting alliance.  Poster session presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association in Washington, D.C.

Cookston, J. T. (2004, March).  Paternal involvement and child adjustment:  Longitudinal findings from AddHealth.  Paper presented at the 10^th Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence in Baltimore, MD.

Cookston, J. T., Braver, S. L., & Griffin, W. (2004, July).  Dads for Life Preventive Intervention:  Latent Growth Models of Efficacy.  Paper presented at the 112^th Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association in Honolulu, HI.

Cookston, J. T., Braver, S., Sandler, I., & Genalo, M. (2001, May).  Readiness of courts for dissemination of preventative interventions for children of divorce.  Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, D.C.

Cookston, J. T., & Cleary, R. P. (2004, July).  Associations between mothers’ and father’s observed behaviors:  The Coparenting Interaction Scheme.  Paper presented at the 112^th Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association in Honolulu, HI. 

Cookston, J. T., Harrist, A. W., & Ainslie, R. A. (1998, March). Maternal negative affect as a mediator between marital conflict and children’s negativity with unfamiliar peers.  Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Southwest Society for Research in Human Development, Galveston, TX.

Cookston, J. T., Lopez, V., Palacios, E., Ramirez, S. (1996, August).  Using the Sikes T  scales to assess truant behavior.  Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development, Quebec City, Canada.

Cookston, J. T., Lukenbill, J. F., Peters, S. M., & Ramirez, S. Z. (1998, June).  The Sikes T Scales and “at risk” youth:  An approach to predicting truancy.  Poster session presented at the annual conference for the National Coalition for At Risk Children and Youth in Denton, TX.

Cookston, J. T., Sandler, I., Braver, S., & Genalo, M. (2002, April).  Readiness of courts for dissemination of preventative interventions for children of divorce.  Poster presented at 15^th Biennial International Conference on Mental Health Services Research, Washington, D. C.

Harrist, A., Carrillo, S., & Cookston, J. T. (2001, April).  Exploring the link between father-child and peer play:  Do type of play and type of partner make a difference?  Paper presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Minneapolis, MN.  

Harrist, A., Cookston, J. T., & Carrillo, S. (2001, August).  How mothers and fathers play with children:  Similarities, differences, and relations to children’s peer play.  Talk presented at the biennial meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development, Ottawa, Canada.

Oustinovskaya, M., Harrist, A., Cookston, J. T., Schultheis, M. K.,& McLemore, J. E. (2002, March).  Links between marriage and parent-child subsystems:  Couples’ communication patterns and parenting behavior.  Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Southwest Society for Research in Human Development, Austin, TX.

Palacios, E., Mahl, D., Cookston, J. T., Gibbons, E., Contreras, H., & Ramirez, S. (1998, August).  Development of the Sikes Youth Scale.  Poster session presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association in San Francisco, CA.

Ramirez, S., Cookston, J. T., Gray, R. M., Hoyle, J., Lopez, V., & Freedman, D. (1995, June).  Development of the Sikes Truancy Interview for a community based truancy reduction project.  Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the National Coalition for At-Risk Children and Youth, Denton, TX.

Sandler, I., Braver, S., & Cookston, J. T. (2001, June).  Integrating preventive services into the court system.  Paper presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Community Research and Action, Atlanta, GA.

EDUCATION

1997  University of Texas, Austin, TX., M.A. in Human Development and Education, Department of Educational Psychology.  Graduate advisor:  Amanda Harrist, Ph.D.

2000  University of Texas, Austin, TX., Ph.D. in Human Development and Education, Department of Educational Psychology.  Graduate advisor:  Amanda Harrist, Ph.D.  Dissertation  Responsive parenting behavior:  Its relation to role quality, the parenting alliance, and interpersonal context.  Committee:  Cindy Carlson (co-chair), Amanda Harrist (co-chair), Ted Dix, Lucia Gilbert, William Koch

 2000-2002  Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ., NIMH Postdoctoral Fellow. Program for Prevention Research.  Postdoctoral advisors:  Sanford Braver, Ph.D., and Irwin Sandler, Ph.D.

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RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

1998–1999              Coordinator of Nursing Research Laboratory, August 1998 to June 1999, University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing, Center for Research and Evaluation.
 

1996-2000              Research Assistant, January 1996 to July 2000, University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing, Center for Research and Evaluation.
  

2000-                      NIMH Postdoctoral Research Fellow, June 2001 to July 2002, Arizona State University, Program for Prevention Research. 

Supervised by Sanford Braver, Ph.D., and Irwin Sandler, Ph.D. 

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Conference submission reviewer for Society for Prevention Research.

Manuscript reviewer for Family Relations, Journal of Marriage and the Family, and Fathering.

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PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

1994 -                     Member, American Psychological Association

1997 -                     Member, Society for Research in Child Development

1996 - 1997            Member, International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development

RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE

1993-1995              Caseworker II, Austin/Travis Country Mental Health/Mental Retardation – Family and Consumer Services Unit, Austin, TX, December of 1993 to June of 1995. 
Provided casework services for a caseload of 35 adults and adolescents with mental retardation who had special medical and/or mental health needs. 

1993-1993              Vocational Program Coordinator, Austin/Travis Country Mental Health/Mental Retardation – NOW Unit, April of 1993 to December of 1993.
Provided vocational training casework services for 50 adults with mental retardation.

1992 - 1993            Wilderness Counselor, Bob Lanier HOPE Center, Apple Springs, TX, June of 1992 to April of 1993.
Provided counseling services for group of 12 adolescent males in a wilderness setting employing Glassner’s reality therapy techniques. 

COMPUTER SKILLS    SPSS, SAS, LISREL, EQS, AMOS, Excel, MPlus

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