Research Interests
My research program focuses on understanding the impact of aggression and exposure to violence on children's healthy psychosocial and emotional development. This research includes examination of the relations between aggression and exposure to violence (including witnessing violence and victimization) and psychosocial maladjustment, and identifying risk and protective factors that may magnify or buffer these relations. A key goal within this area is to address the distinct constructs of relational and physical aggression and victimization in the context of peer and dating relations. Another aspect of my research focuses on the evaluation of school-based violence prevention efforts, especially for students with high incidence disabilities.
Selected Publications
Sullivan, T. N., Farrell, A. D., & Kliewer, W. (in press). Peer victimization in early adolescence: Association between physical and relational victimization and drug use, aggression, and delinquent behavior among urban middle school students. Development and Psychopathology.
Farrell, A. D., & Sullivan, T. N. (2004). Impact of witnessing violence on growth curves for problem behaviors among early adolescents in urban and rural settings. Journal of Community Psychology, 32, 505-525.
Sullivan, T. N., Kung, E. M., & Farrell, A. D. (2004). Relation between witnessing violence and drug use initiation in early adolescence: Parental monitoring and support as protective factors. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 33, 488-498.
Farrell, A. D., Meyer, A. L., Sullivan, T. N. & Kung, E. M. (2003). Evaluation of the Responding in Peaceful and Positive Ways (RiPP) seventh grade curriculum. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 12, 101-120.
Sullivan, T. N. & Farrell, A. D. (1999). Identification and impact of risk and protective factors for drug use among African-American adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 28, 122-136.
Recent Courses Taught at VCU
- Developmental Assessment, graduate level
- Parenting, graduate level
- Life-span Human Development, undergraduate level
Recent Grant
Principal Investigator. Barriers and supports to effectively addressing problem situation associated with dating violence among urban adolescents. Grant funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of the Academic Centers of Excellence Grant, July 2005.

