Clinical Child Psychology Program
RIC G. STEELE
Lab Website
Ph.D. from University of Georgia, completed internship at University of Tennessee Professional Psychology Internship Consortium and Post-doctoral Fellowship at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Research Interests
My program of research is broadly concerned with the promotion of physical and mental health in children, adolescents, and families across a continuum of health risk categories (i.e., healthy children, children at risk for disease, and children with diagnosed medical conditions). This research has focused on children’s responses to the illness of a parent, the assessment of distress among parents of children diagnosed with cancer, and the predictors and correlates of children’s psychosocial and physical functioning in various illness populations. As part of this mission, I have also conducted research on the cross-cultural validity of measures of personality and behavioral constructs, and have been interested in the development and dissemination of evidence based therapies in pediatric and clinical child psychology.
Consistent with these overarching areas of interest, my current research is focused on the correlates and treatment of pediatric obesity. Supported by foundation, state, and federal grants, my research team has been developing and examining the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions for pediatric obesity. Through a grant funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Maternal Child Health Research Program, I am investigating the efficacy of the Positively Fit weight management program in a randomized clinical trial with a one-year follow-up. Follow-up data are being collected through December of 2009. At a larger ecological systems level, my team and I are examining the effectiveness of a web-based tutorial that we designed to enhance school nurses’ communications with families about weight-related health. This project is funded by the Healthcare Foundation of Greater Kansas City. Participant recruiment and data collection will continue through the Spring of 2010.
Recent Publications
Book Titles
Jelalian, E., & Steele, R.G. (Eds.). (in press). Handbook of childhood and adolescent obesity. New York: Springer.
Roberts, M. C., & Steele, R. G. (Eds). (2009). Handbook of pediatric psychology (4th ed.). New York: Guilford.
Steele, R.G., Elkin, T.D., & Roberts, M.C. (Eds.). (2008). Handbook of evidence-based therapies for children and adolescents. New York: Springer.
Steele, R. G., & Roberts, M.C. (Eds.). (2005). Handbook of mental health services for children, adolescents, and families. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.
Selected Empirical Articles
*Jensen, C. D. & Steele, R. G. (2009). Brief report: Body dissatisfaction, weight criticism, and self-reported physical activity in preadolescent children. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 34, 822-826Review Articles
Book Chapters
Jelalian, E., Steele, R.G., & *Jensen, C.D. (in press). Directions for future research in pediatric obesity prevention and intervention. In E. Jelalian & R.G. Steele (Eds.), Handbook of childhood and adolescent obesity. New York: Springer.
Steele, R.G., Nelson, T.D., & Jelalian, E. (in press). Childhood and adolescent obesity in context: Trends and epidemiology. In E. Jelalian & R.G. Steele (Eds.), Handbook of childhood and adolescent obesity. New York: Springer.
Elkin, T.D., Roberts, M.C., & Steele, R.G. (2008). Emerging issues in the evolution of evidence-based practice. In R.G. Steele, T.D. Elkin, & M.C. Roberts (Eds.) Handbook of evidence based therapies for children and adolescents (pp. 569-575). New York: Springer.
Steele, R.G., *Mize Nelson, J., & *Nelson, T.D. (2008). Methodological issues in the evaluation of therapies. In R.G. Steele, T.D. Elkin, & M.C. Roberts (Eds.) Handbook of evidence based therapies for children and adolescents (pp. 25-43). New York: Springer.
Steele, R.G., Roberts, M.C., & Elkin, T.D. (2008). Evidence-based therapies for children and adolescents: Problems and prospects. In R.G. Steele, T.D. Elkin, & M.C. Roberts (Eds.) Handbook of evidence based therapies for children and adolescents (pp.3-8). New York: Springer.
* indicates KU student co-author.
Current and Recent Grant Funding
KAN30472
Kansas Health and Nutrition Fund Grant (direct costs) $104,762
Funding Agency: State of Kansas Office of the Attorney General
Project dates: 8/1/2002 - 7/31/2004
Project title: Achieving positive behavioral change in nutritional choices and exercise in Kansas children.
PI: Ric G. Steele, Ph.D.
R40MC06631-01-00
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (direct costs) $458,315
Project dates: 1/01/2006 - 12/31/2009
Project title: Effectiveness of a treatment for pediatric obesity
PI: Ric G. Steele, Ph.D. Co-investigator: Ann Davis, Ph.D.
246-FY07-535
Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City (direct costs) $114,993
Project dates: 01/17/2008-06/17/2009
Project title: Responding to the Crisis: Training School Nurses to Provide Nutrition and Exercise Information to Children and Families.
PI: Ric G. Steele, Ph.D., ABPP Co-investigator: Ann Davis, Ph.D.
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