Indiana University Bloomington

Dr. Brian D'Onofrio


Assistant Professor of Psychology

 

 



Contact Information

Office: PY 134
Office Phone: 812-856-0843
Lab: PY 239
Lab Phone:812-856-2588
E-mail: E-mail Brian D'Onofrio
Web site: Developmental Psychopathology Lab

Educational Background

  • 1997 - B.A., University of Virginia
  • 2002 - M.A., University of Virginia
  • 2005 - Ph.D., University of Virginia

Areas of Study

  • Clinical Science
  • Developmental Psychology

Research Topics

  • Developmental Psychopathology
  • Behavior Genetics
  • Family Systems
  • Children’s Intellectual Abilities

Research Summary:

My research, rooted in the field of developmental psychopathology, explores the causes of child and adolescent psychopathology and adjustment through three main approaches: genetically informed designs, longitudinal analyses, and intervention studies.

First, I use behavior genetic research designs to examine how specific environmental risk and protective factors influence adjustment. Whereas most previous behavior genetic research merely documented the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences, I am employing advanced research designs to detail how genetic and environmental influences act and interact.

Longitudinal analyses constitute the second major research program that I am using to study causal mechanisms. One of the main limitations of cross-sectional research, including many behavior genetic designs, is the inability to account for reciprocal influences. Therefore, we utilize longitudinal studies to examine the development of children’s adjustment over time and how environmental factors influence and are influenced by individuals.

The third major research approach I use is intervention studies. I am primarily focused on intervention studies for couples going through divorce. The ability to randomly assign couples to different conditions also provides a powerful approach to the study of causal processes specifically related to family constructs.

Representative Publications

D'Onofrio, B.M., Goodnight, J., Van Hulle, C.A., Waldman, I.D., Rodgers, J.L., Rathouz, P.J., Lahey, B.B. (in press). Maternal age at childbirth and offspring disruptive behaviors: Testing the causal hypothesis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

D'Onofrio, B.M., Singh, A.L., Illiadou, A., Lambe, M., Neiderhiser, J.M., Langstrom, N., Lichtenstein, P., (in press). A quasi-experimental study of maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring academic achievement. Child Development.

Applegate, A.G., D'Onofrio, B.M., Holtzworth-Munroe, A. (2009). Training and transforming students through interdisciplinary education: The intersection of law and psychology. Family Court Review, 47, 468-484.

Beck, C.J.A., Holtzworth-Munroe, A., D'Onofrio, B.M., Fee, W., Hill, F. (in press). Collaboration between judges and social science researchers in family law. Family Court Review, 47, 451-467.

D'Onofrio, B.M., Goodnight, J., Van Hulle, C.A., Waldman, I.D., Rodgers, J.L., Rathouz, P.J., Lahey, B.B. (2009). A quasi-experimental analysis of the association between family income and offspring conduct problems. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 37, 415-429.

Lahey, B. B., D'Onofrio, B.M., & Waldman, I. D. (2009). Using epidemiologic methods to test hypotheses regarding causal influences on child and adolescent mental disorders. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50, 53-62.

Lahey, B. B., Van Hulle, C. A., Rathouz, P. J.,, Rodgers, J. L., D'Onofrio, B. M., Waldman, I. D. (2009). Are oppositional-defiant and hyperactive-inattentive symptoms developmental precursors to conduct problems in late childhood? Genetic and environmental links. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 37, 45-58.

D'Onofrio, B.M., Van Hulle, C.A., Waldman, I.D., Rodgers, J.L., Harden, K.P., Rathouz, P.J., Lahey, B.B. (2008). Smoking during pregnancy and offspring externalizing problems: An exploration of genetic and environmental confounds. Development and Psychopathology, 20, 139-164.

Slutske, W., D'Onofrio, B.M., Turkheimer, E.N, Emery, R., Heath, A., Madden, P., & Martin, N. (2008). Searching for an environmental effect of parental alcoholism on offspring alcohol use disorder: A genetically-informed study of children of alcoholics. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 117, 534-551.

D'Onofrio, B.M., Slutske, W., Turkheimer, E.N, Emery, R.E., Heath, A., Madden, P., & Martin, N.G. (2007). The intergenerational transmission of childhood conduct problems: A children of twins study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 64, 820-829.

D'Onofrio, B.M., Turkheimer, E.N., Emery, R.E., Maes, H.H., Silberg, J., Eaves, L.J. (2007). A Children of Twins Study of parental divorce and offspring psychopathology. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 48, 667-675.

D'Onofrio, B.M., Turkheimer, E.N, Emery, R.E., Harden, K.P., Slutske, W., Heath, A., Madden, P.A.F, & Martin, N.G. (2007). A genetically informed study of the intergenerational transmission of marital instability. Journal of Marriage and Family, 69, 793-803.

D'Onofrio, B.M., Van Hulle, C.A., Waldman, I.D., Rodgers, J.L., Rathouz, P.J., Lahey, B.B. (2007). Causal inferences regarding prenatal alcohol exposure and childhood externalizing problems. Archives of General Psychiatry, 64, 1296-1304.

Harden, K.P., Turkheimer, E., Emery, R.E., D'Onofrio, B.M., Slutske, W.S., Heath, A.C. & Martin, N.G. (2007). Marital conflict and conduct disorder in Children-of-Twins. Child Development, 78, 1-18.

D'Onofrio, B.M., Turkheimer, E.N, Emery, R., Slutske, W., Heath, A., Madden, P.A.F., & Martin, N.G. (2006). A genetically informed study of the processes underlying the association between parental marital instability and offspring adjustment. Developmental Psychology, 42, 486-499.

Lynch, S.K., Turkheimer, E., Emery, R.E., D'Onofrio, B.M., Mendle, J., Slutske, W., Martin, N.G. (2006). A genetically informed study of the association between harsh punishment and offspring behavioral problems. Journal of Family Psychology, 20, 190-198.

D'Onofrio, B.M., Turkheimer, E.N, Emery, R., Slutske, W., Heath, A., Madden, P.A.F., & Martin, N.G. (2005). A genetically informed study of marital instability and its association with offspring psychopathology? Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 114, 570-586.

D'Onofrio, B.M., Turkheimer, E., Eaves, L.J., Corey, L.A., Berg, K., Solaas, M.H., & Emery, R.E. (2003). The role of the Children of Twins design in elucidating causal relations between parent characteristics and child outcomes. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 44, 1130-1144.

Turkheimer, E., Haley, A., Waldron, M., D'Onofrio, B., & Gottesman, I.I. (2003). Socioeconomic status modifies heritability of IQ in young children. Psychological Science, 14, 623-628.

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