Maria D. Kalpidou, Ph.D

Associate Professor of Psychology

508-767-7253 Kennedy Memorial Hall - Room 137

Degrees Earned

B.A., Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; Early Childhood Education, 1990
M.A., Tufts University; Child Development, 1993
Ph.D., Louisiana State University; Developmental Psychology, 1997
Ph.D. Thesis Title: “The Development of Behavioral and Emotional Self-Regulation during the Preschool Period”

Courses Taught

Infancy and Childhood (undergraduate)
General Psychology (undergraduate)
Research Seminar (undergraduate)
Common Problems in Childhood (undergraduate)
Raising Happy and Successful Children (undergraduate)
Developmental Psychology (graduate)

Publications & Editorships

Kalpidou, M. (2023). The development of children’s happiness and success: The science of optimizing well-being across the lifespan.

Kalpidou, M. & Volungis, A. (2021). Mediators between adversity and well-being of college students, Journal of Adult Development, 28, 286-298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-021-09372-6

Markodimitraki, M. & Kalpidou, M. (2019). Developmental changes in imitation during mother-infant interactions. Early Child Development and Care, 191, 1602-1612. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2019.1660962

Volungis, A., Kalpidou, M., Popores C., & Joyce, M. (2019). Smartphone addiction and its relationship with social-emotional distress and personality. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 18, 1209-125  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00119-9.

Bui, P. P., Kalpidou, M., DeVito, L. E., & Greene, T. (2016). The Effects of Induced Empathy on Disparaging Humor. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 21, 119-126. doi: 10.1037/t01601-000

Gleason, T., & Kalpidou, M. (2014) Imaginary Companions and Preschoolers’ Coping and Competence. Social Development, 23(4), 820-839. doi: 10.1111/sode.12078

Kalpidou, M., DiGiammarino, R. (2012). Sensory Processing and Parental Bonding Predict Infant Attachment. Proceedings of the XV European Conference on Developmental Psychology, Bergen, Norway, 37-41. Medimond International Proceedings.

Kalpidou, M. (2011). Sensory Processing Relates to Attachment to Childhood Comfort Objects of Undergraduate Students. Early Child Development and Care, 182 (12), 1563-1574. doi:10.1080/03004430.2011.630733

Kalpidou, M., Costin, D., & Morris, J. (2011). The Relationship of Facebook and Well-Being of Undergraduate College Students. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 14(4), 183-189. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2010.0061.

Kalpidou, M., Power, T. G., Cherry, K. E., & Gottfried, N. (2004). Regulation of emotion and behavior among 3- and 5-year-olds. The Journal of General Psychology, 131, 159-178. doi: 10.3200/GENP.131.2.159-180

Kalpidou, M., Rothbaum, F., & Schneider-Rosen, K. (1998). A longitudinal study of mothers’ and preschool children’s aversive behaviors during dyadic interactions. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 159(1), 113-116. doi: 10.1080/00221329809596138

Kalpidou, M. D., (1996). Research for Developmental Disabilities, 17, 93-95.

Conferences

Volungis, A. M., Kalpidou, M., Joyce, M*., Popores-LaFleur, C.*, & Raziuddin, A.* (2016, October). College smartphone dependency, mental health, and personality. Paper presented at the 56th annual conference of the New England Psychological Association, Worcester, MA.

Volungis, A. M., Kalpidou, M., Popores-LaFleur, C*., Raziuddin, A.*, Joyce, M.*, & Avolese, P.* (2016, August). Childhood adversity and college mental health moderated by coping style. Poster presented at the 124th annual conference of the American Psychological Association, Denver, CO.

Volungis, A. M., Kalpidou, M., Popores, C.*, & Joyce, M.* (2017, March). College student smartphone dependency: Relationships between social-emotional well-being and personality. Paper presented at the 88th annual conference of the Eastern Psychological Association, Boston, MA.

Presentations

Kalpidou, M., Kuersten-Hogam, R.., Cirillo, A., & Fitzpatrick, P. (2023, July 15-19). Parental depression and infant attachment predict infant development outcomes. [Poster presentation]. 18th WAIMH World Congress, Dublin, Ireland.

Willett, G., & Kalpidou, M. (2023, March 2-4). Predictors of dissociative experiences. [Poster presentation]. Annual Conference of the Eastern Psychological Association (clinical session), Boston, MA.

Davis, A., Kalpidou, M., & Kuersten-Hogan, R. (2022, October 22). Family dynamics predict infant language skills at 12 months”. [Poster Presentation]. New England Psychological Association Annual Conference, Worcester, MA.

Kalpidou, M., Kuersten-Hogan, R., & doCurral, A. (2020, July). Sensory Processing, Temperament, and Infant Development. [Poster Presentation]. Virtual ICIS Biennial International Congress on Infant Studies. Glascow, Scotland.

Kuersten-Hogan, R, Charbonneau, J., Shea, A., & Kalpidou, M. (2019, March). Coparenting in the NICU and home: triadic interactions in families with preterm versus full-term infants. [Poster Presentation]. Biennial Conference of the Society for Research in Child Development. Baltimore, MD.

Kalpidou, M., doCurral, A. Kuersten-Hogan, R., & Deligiannidis, K. (2018, July) Parental Depression, Early Interaction, and Infant Outcomes. [Poster Presentation]. XXI ICIS Biennial International Congress on Infant Studies. Philadelphia, PA.

Kuersten-Hogan, R., Shea, A, Charbonneau, J., & Kalpidou, M. (2018, July). Postpartum Depression and Violations of Parental Childcare Expectations in Coparenting Across the Transition to Parenthood. [Poster Presentation]. XXI Biennial International Congress on Infant Studies. Philadelphia, PA.

Volungis, A. & Kalpidou, M. (2018, June). The Reciprocal Nature of Well-Being and Underlying Mechanisms of Social Media. Presentation at Workshop: Bridging the Gaps: Social Media, Use, and Well-being, 12th International Conference on Web and Social Media. Stanford University, CA.

Kuersten-Hogan, R., Charbonneau, J., Shea, A., Tortora, D., Kalpidou, M., & Deligiannidis, K. (May, 2018). Prenatal Risk Factors for Coparenting Dynamics and Infant Functioning at 3 Months Postpartum. In R. Kuersten-Hogan (chair): The role of coparenting and family-level risk factors in child and family functioning. Symposium presented at the conference of the World Association for Infant Mental Health, Rome, Italy.

Kuersten-Hogan, R., Olson, H., Shea, A., Charbonneau, J., Kalpidou, M., & Deligiannidis, K. (May, 2018). The Role of Parental Depression in Family Expressiveness Across the Transition to Parenthood. [Poster Presentation]. World Association for Infant Mental Health, Rome, Italy.

Kalpidou, M., doCurral, A. Kuersten-Hogan, R., & Deligiannidis, K (2017, April). A Microgenetic Study of Parental Depression and Infant Development at 3 Months Postpartum. Poster presented at the Biennial Conference of the Society for Research in Child Development. Austin, TX.

Kalpidou, M., Volungis, A., Bates, C, & Mamott, E., & Cora Spillman (2017, May). Childhood Adversity, Coping, and Adjustment in College. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association of Psychological Science, Boston, MA.

Volungis, A., Kalpidou, M., Joyce, M., Popores-LaFleur, C., & Raziuddin, A. (2016, Ocrober). College Smartphone Dependency, Mental Health, and Personality. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the New England Psychological Association, Worcester, MA.

Kuersten-Hogan, R., Molinaro, M., Manteuffel, J., LaForce, J., Kalpidou, M., & Deligiannidis, K. (2016, October). Parental Depression and Coparenting Dynamics Predict Infant Functioning at 3 Months. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the New England Psychological Association, Worcester, MA.

doCurral, A. & Kalpidou, M., & Kuersten-Hogan, R., (2016, October). Coparenting, Parental Depression, and Temperament Relate to Attachment Security at 12 Months, Poster presented at the National Conference in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Laurence, KS.

Kalpidou, M., Volungis, A., Bates, C, & Mamott, E. (2016, August). Childhood Adversity and College Adjustment. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Denver, CO.

Volungis, A., Kalpidou, M., Popores-LaFleur, C., Raziuddin, A., Joyce, M., & Avolese, P. (2016, August). Childhood Adversity and College Mental Health Moderated by Coping Style presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Denver, CO.

Kuersten-Hogan, R., Kalpidou, M, Boisvert, R, & Bui, P. (June, 2016). The Role of Infant Gaze Patterns in Triadic Family Interactions at 3- and 12 Months Postpartum. Poster presented at the 15th World Congress of the Word Association for Infant Mental Health. Prague, Czech Republic.

doCurral, A. & Kalpidou, M., & Kuersten-Hogan, R., (2016, May). Coparenting and Temperament Predict Fathers’ Responsiveness in Father-Infant Interactions from 3 to 12 months. Poster accepted for presentation at the Annual Conference of the American Psychological Society, Chicago, IL.

Soule, C. Kalpidou, M., Commors, M., Correia, S. & Palmer, S. (2016, March). The Relationship between Smartphone Dependency, Loneliness, and Social Anxiety. Poster accepted for presentation at the Annual Eastern Psychological Association Conference, New York, NY.

Research Projects

My expertise falls in the area of social and emotional development of young children. I have conducted research on behavioral and emotional regulation, imaginary companions, and attachment to comfort objects. Recently, I have focused more specifically on the period of infancy to explore infant attachment and its relation to sensory processing and eating competence. I am currently studying early social interactions between infants and their caregivers with focus on language, imitation, and cultural differences. Lastly, I am involved in a project about the effects of postpartum depression on early infant development and how this relationship is mediated by family dynamics and bio-psychological factors. I have been collaborating with several faculty from Assumption College and other institutions. My research program expands to accommodate undergraduate students and their interests.

Postpartum Depression, Family Dynamics, and Infant Development

In this new project that is funded by both UMass and Assumption College we combine neuroimaging, hormonal, and observational data to examine the possible effects of postpartum depression on early infant development and expectations about family life.

Collaborators:

Regina Kuersten-Hogan, Ph.D., Assumption College

Kristina Deligiannidis, M.D., UMass Medical School

Transition to Parenthood Study

This longitudinal project addresses the factors that predict transition to parenthood and was initiated by my colleague Regina Kuersten-Hogan. I have expanded this research by focusing on several outcomes of infants. My results show that infants with sensory processing difficulties are at risk for an insecure attachment, that infant security is predicted by the sensory processing styles of the caregivers, and that harmonious coparenting and parental scaffolding relate to greater eating competence.

Collaborators:

Regina Kuersten-Hogan, Ph.D., Assumption College

Paula Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., Assumption College

Thomas Power, Ph.D., Washington State University

Sheryl Hughes, Ph.D., Baylor School of Medicine

Fang Zhang, Ph.D., Assumption College

Publications

Kalpidou, M., DiGiammarino, R. (2012). Sensory Processing and Parental Bonding Predict Infant Attachment. Proceedings of the XV European Conference on Developmental Psychology, Bergen, Norway, 37-41. Medimond International Proceedings.

Presentations

Kalpidou, M., Power, T., Hughes, S., Fisher, J., & Tocco, K. (2013, April). Prenatal and Postnatal Family Dynamics and Infants’ Eating Behaviors. In R. Kuersten-Hogan (Chair), Predicting Infant and Family Functioning at the end of the First Year: The Impact of Prenatal and Postnatal Family Dynamics, Poster Symposium conducted at the Biennial Meeting of the Society of Research in Child Development, Seattle.

Nardelli, J., & Kalpidou, M. (2012, June). Temperament and Parental Bonding Relate to Fathers’ Responsiveness in Father-Infant Interactions. Poster presented at the XVIII Biennial International Conference on Infant Studies, Minneapolis, MN.

DiGiammarino, R., & Kalpidou, M. (2012, May). Sensory Processing and Attachment Relate to Eating Competency in Infancy. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, IL.

Kalpidou, M., Zhang, F., DiGiammarino R., & Kuersten-Hogan, R. (2011, August). Sensory Sensitivity and Parental Bonding Predict Infant Attachment. Poster presented at the XVth ESDP European Conference on Developmental Psychology, Bergen, Norway.

Kalpidou, M., DiGiammarino R.,  & Kuersten-Hogan, R. (2011, April). Sensory Processing Relates to Infant Attachment. Poster presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society of Research in Child Development, Montreal, Canada.

Imitation in Infancy

The goal of this project is twofold. We are interested in cross-cultural differences in imitation in the context of mother infant interactions by comparing our data from our Transition to Parenthood Study and data from a Greek sample. We are also interested in investigating the development of imitation and other joint-attention behaviors during the first year of life.

Collaborators:

Maria Markodimitraki, University of Crete

Paula Fitzpatrick, Ph.D. Assumption College

Presentations:

Kalpidou, M., Markodimitraki, M., & Pateraki, M. (2014, July). Developmental Changes in Imitation in Mother-Infant Interactions. Poster to be presented at the Biennial International Conference on Infant Studies, Berlin, Germany.

Kalpidou, M., Markodimitraki, M., Fitzpatrick, P., & Pateraki, M. (2013, September). A Cross-Cultural Study of Imitation and Emotional Climate in Mother-Infant Interactions the First Year of Life. Poster presented at the XVIth ESDP European Conference on Developmental Psychology, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Children with Imaginary Companions

Are children with imaginary companions (IC), either invisible friends or personified objects, different in emotion regulation and competence form children who do not have ICs? Our research showed that IC presence and type did not differentiate coping strategies, but children with egalitarian relationships with their imaginary friends chose more effective coping strategies and teachers rated them more socially competent than children with hierarchical child-IC relationships.

Collaborators:

Dr. Tracy Gleason, Wellesley University, Wellesley, MA.

Publication

Gleason, T., & Kalpidou, M. (in print) Imaginary Companions and Preschoolers’ Coping and Competence. Social Development.

Attachment to Comfort Objects

The attachment to comfort objects is a frequent phenomenon in western cultures. Previous research has failed to link such attachment to insecurity in the mother-infant attachment. My research shows that the emotional connection to a favorite object is rather a sensory one. Children with attachments to comfort objects are reliably different in sensory processing styles from children without such attachment. This research is currently ongoing.

Publication

Kalpidou, M. (2011). Sensory Processing Relates to Attachment to Childhood Comfort Objects of Undergraduate Students. Early Child Development and Caredoi:10.1080/03004430.2011.630733

Presentation

Kalpidou, M., & Gilson, C.  (2010, May). Sensory Processing Differences in Children with and without Comfort Objects. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Boston, MA.

Collaborations with Students

I regularly supervise undergraduate student research and I am truly excited to see this work move into the stage of publication even though it is outside my research area!

Our Facebook study was among the first ones that were published in the area of student well-being. We showed that when students use Facebook as a social tool they benefit in terms of college adjustment. We also found a negative association between number of friends and self-esteem. In a recent study initiated by students, we showed that people who were induced to experience empathy were less likely to find pleasure in someone else’s misfortune. These findings expand our current understanding of disparagement humor.

Publications

Kalpidou, M., Costin, D., & Morris, J.  (2011). The Relationship of Facebook and Well-Being of Undergraduate College Students. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

Bui, P. P., Kalpidou, M., DeVito, L. E., & Greene, T. (under review). The Effects of Induced Empathy on Disparaging Humor. Humor: International Journal of Humor Research.