Cara Maffini, PhD
Associate Professor, Child & Adolescent Development
Cara's research encompasses intersections of culture, mental health, and trauma particularly among adolescents and emerging adults with a focus on underserved populations. She has three main lines of research: (a) understanding psychosocial, cultural, and developmental protective and risk factors associated with trauma (e.g., violence, victimization, and campus safety); (b) examining refugee experiences and intergenerational transmission of trauma; and (c) examining bicultural and biracial experiences and identity development. Grounded in her training in counseling psychology, Cara's research serves to inform campus and community-based intervention and prevention programs.
Education
- Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, Indiana University
- M.A., Psychology, Sacramento State University
- B.A.S., Psychobiology and Dance, UC Davis
Recent Publications
-
West, M. T.,* & Maffini, C. S. (2019). ‘What are you?’ Conceptualizing the complexities of bicultural and biracial college student experiences. Journal of College Counseling, 22, 164-178. doi: 10.1002/jocc.12128
- Simpson, L. A., Maffini, C. S., Schuck, R.* (2019). Examining use of school personnel in CBT interventions for anxiety in students with ASD. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 54, 301-312.
- Liu, T., Wong, Y. J., Maffini, C. S., Goodrich Mitts, N., & Iwamoto, D. K. (2018). Gendered Racism Scales for Asian American Men: Scale development and validation. Journal of Counseling Psychology. Advance online publication. doi:10.1037/cou0000298
-
Linares, J.,* & Maffini, C. S. (2018). Voces de resistencia: Exploring Salvadoran students’ experiences and needs in higher education. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education. Advance online publication. doi:10.1177/1538192718814129
-
Maffini, C. S. (2018). Campus safety experiences of Asian American and Asian international college students. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 9, 98-107. doi: 10.1037/aap0000087
Recent Presentations
-
Maffini, C. S. & Jennings, R. (2019, May). Addressing the pervasive legacy of transgenerational trauma. Educational Session presented at the annual California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC) Conference, Northridge, CA.
-
Maffini, C. S., & Dillard, K. (2018, August). Psychological safety: Exploring racial group differences in violence and safety on college campuses. In C. S. Maffini’s (Chair), Culturally-responsive support for youth of color amidst traumatic experiences. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association (APA), San Francisco, CA.
Areas of Research Interest
- Adolescents / emerging adults
- Bicultural
- Campus safety
- Communities of color
- Intergenerational transmission of trauma
- Psychological well-being / mental health
- Refugees
Recommended Reading
- East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres by Andrew Lam
- Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy by Angela Garbes
-
The Social Justice Advocate's Handbook: A Guide to Gender by Samm Killermann
Personality Playlist
Listen to Cara's playlist below and access all of the personality playlists on our Lurie College of Education Spotify account