Faculty

J. Douglas Coatsworth


Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1991

Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies

Program Areas: Family Science & Intervention (Co-Leader); PEACE (Co-Leader)

Contact Information

S110 Henderson Building

Email

Phone: 814-865-5259
Fax: 814-863-6207

Department Web Page

Research Interests

Prevention research and theory; interventions to promote social emotional competence and prevent mental health problems in children and adolescents; family, community and cultural factors influencing adolescent identity exploration; family-based interventions; resilience

Examples of Current Prevention Projects

Efficacy Trial of a Mindfulness Enhanced Strengthening Families Program

National Institutes of Health

Start Date: 2009

This intervention aims to encourage more positive family relationships. It infuses the empirically-validated Strengthening Families Program with mindfulness-based practices designed to help parents monitor better their thoughts, feelings, and goals while interacting with their 10- to 14-year-old children.  

Recent Publications

Coatsworth, J. D., & Conroy, D. E. (2007). Youth sport as a component of afterschool programs. New Directions for Youth Development, 115, 57–74.

Conroy, D. E., & Coatsworth, J. D. (2007). Assessing autonomy-supportive coaching strategies in youth sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 8, 671–684.

Palen, L. A., & Coatsworth, J. D. (2007). Activity-based identity experiences and their relations to problem behavior and psychological well-being in adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 30, 721–737.

Schwartz, S. J., Pantin, H., Coatsworth, J. D., & Szapocznik, J. (2007). Addressing the challenges and opportunities of today’s youth: Toward an integrative model and its implications for research and intervention. Journal of Primary Prevention, 28, 117–144.

Sharp, E. H., Coatsworth, J. D., Darling, N., Cumsille, P., & Ranieri, S. (2007). Gender differences in the self-defining activities and identity experiences of adolescents and emerging adults. Journal of Adolescence, 30, 251–269.

Patrick, M. E., Rhoades, B. L., Small, M., & Coatsworth, J. D. (2008). Family-based interventions in faith contexts. Journal of Community Psychology, 36, 74–80.

Coatsworth, J. D., & Conroy, D. (2009). The effects of autonomy-supportive coaching, need satisfaction and self-perceptions on initiative and identity in youth swimmers. Developmental Psychology, 45, 320–328.

Duncan, L. G., Coatsworth, J. D., & Greenberg, M. T. (2009). A model of mindful parenting: Implications for parent-child relationships and prevention research. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 12, 255–270.

Coatsworth, J. D., Duncan, L. G., Greenberg, M. T., & Nix, R. L. (2010) Changing parents’ mindfulness, child management skills, and relationship quality with their youth: Results from a randomized pilot intervention trial. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 19, 203–217. DOI: 10.1007/s10826-009-9304-8.