Dr. Emily Helder
Broad Areas of Research
Research Questions
Adversity in Childhood
Examine the impact of early neglect and/or abuse on later outcomes
Interventions
Identify, implement, and evaluate interventions that address the impact of childhood adversity
Adoption
Explore religious motivations to adopt as well as other topics at the intersection of faith and adoption
Neurocognitive Development
Identify risk and protective factors for the development of language and executive functioning among children who have experienced early adversity
Mental Health Policy
Promote adoption competency among mental health providers in Michigan
Current Research/Policy Projects
Social Skill Intervention for Adopted Adolescents
We are evaluating the effectiveness of the PEERS® curriculum, a program that addresses the skills necessary for making and keeping friends, for adopted teens
Adoption Competency
We are currently developing partnerships and pursuing funding opportunities to bring the Training in Adoption Competency (developed by C.A.S.E., www.adoptionsupport.org) to Michigan
Longitudinal Outcomes Among International Adoptees
We have been gathering information and reporting about the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional adjustment of a group of 50 international adoptees since 2010.
Publications
Gunnoe, M. L. & Helder, E. J. (2023). Co-sleeping, regressive parenting, and onset of punishment as predictors of child adjustment five years after international adoption. Adoption Quarterly, 26(2), 186-220. DOI: 10.1080/10926755.2022.2156013
Helder, E. J., Rigterink, T., Hoeksema, S., Cush. R., Mettler, C., & Guffie, L. (2023). Use of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) intervention to improve social skills and peer relationships among adolescent adoptees. Adoption Quarterly, 26(2), 221-249. DOI: 10.1080/10926755.2022.2156014
Helder, E. J., Timmermans, H.*, & Gunnoe, M. L. (2020). Religious motivation to adopt as a predictor of adoptive family structure, parental discipline, and outcomes. Adoption Quarterly, 23(3), 163-186. DOI: 10.1080/10926755.2020.1790451
Gorter, B.*, Helder, E. J., Oh, Y. I.*, Gunnoe, M. L. (2017). Are disinhibited social behaviors among internationally adopted children mediated by attachment environment or by children’s difficulties with inhibitory control. Adoption Quarterly, 20, 291-308. DOI: 10.1080/10926755.2017.1349699
Jensen, R.*, Helder, E. J., Gunnoe, M. L. (2016). Attachment disturbances delay language acquisition in internationally adopted children. Adoption Quarterly, 19, 210-223.
Helder, E. J., Zuverza, V., Whitman, R. D. (2016). Executive functioning and lateralized semantic priming in older adults. Cogent Psychology, 3, 1182687.
Helder, E. J., Brooker, B.*, Kapitula, L. R., Goalen, B.*, & Gunnoe, M. L. (2016). Predictors and correlates of Inattentive/Overactive behaviors in internationally adopted children. Applied Neuropsychology: Child, 5, 237-251.
Presentations
Helder, E. J., Rigterink, T., Bultsma, J.*, Panzer, J.*, Hoeksema, S. (2020). Group-based social skill intervention for internationally adopted teens. Poster presented at the International Conference on Adoption Research – Milan.
Helder, E. J., Wrobel, G., Marr, E. (2018). The impact of religiosity and spirituality among members of the adoptive kinship network. Symposium presented at the International Conference on Adoption Research – 6, Montreal.
Oh, YI*, Gorter, B.*, Helder, E. J., Gunnoe, M.L. (2016). Longitudinal investigation of memory and executive functioning in internationally adopted children. Poster presented at the International Neuropsychological Society Meetings, Boston.
Gorter, B.*, Oh, YI*, Helder, E. J., Gunnoe, M.L. (2016). The relationship between cognitive inhibition and disinhibited social behaviors in internationally adopted children. Poster presented at the International Neuropsychological Society Meetings, Boston.
Helder, E. J., Walker, L.*, Elzinga, B.*, & Larsen, T.* (2013). Trajectory of catch-up and areas of continued deficit in children adopted internationally at school-age. Poster presented at the International Neuropsychological Society Meetings, Hawai’i
Questions?
Contact us for any questions or to participate in our ongoing research projects.