Wantagh psychologist has research published

Posted

Dr. Caitlin Wong, Wantagh High School psychologist, was congratulated by the district recently for having her research published in both The Journal of Moral Education and in Child & Youth Care Forum.

Her latest research contribution, published in The Journal of Moral Education article, “Profiles of adolescent character attributes: Associations with intentional self-regulation and character role model relationships,” reviewed combinations of character attributes in adolescents and how they were associated with self-regulation and connections to a role model.

Dr. Wong also co-authored an article in Child & Youth Care Forum (Vol. 49, Issue 2) that examined how to measure the “big three” of positive youth development for children in Rwanda. The research revolved around “positive and sustained” child-adult relationships, opportunities for youth leadership and activities that build important life skills. Titled, “Toward a Measure for Assessing Features of Effective Youth Development Programs: Contextual Safety and the ‘Big Three’ Components of Positive Youth Development Programs in Rwanda.”

She said that her research influences her practice as a high school psychologist. She also said that her degree in applied developmental educational psychology enhances her ability to see the full context in which students develop.

“Considering students from multiple perspectives helps me to meet student needs as they arise, as well as to consider how these needs may manifest in other students,” Wong said. “I am extremely grateful to work in a school that allows me to interact with students at an individual basis as well as to support students at a classroom and systems level. I feel this has been a wonderful experience in applying my training as a practitioner and a researcher.”

In addition to her research and as a practitioner, Wong is a reviewer for School Psychology Review and a member of the National Association for School Psychologists and the American Psychological Association. She also reviews research manuscripts for School Psychology Review and the Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion.