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Gwen R. Pursell, PhD

gwen pursell, phdAssistant Visiting Professor
Delaware State University
gpursell [at] desu.edu

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D.  Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
    Doctoral Dissertation: “Conflict Topic as a Moderator of Associations Between Conflict in Parent Adolescent and Friend-Adolescent Relationships”
  • M.A.   University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
    Master’s Thesis: “The Effects of Childhood Social Competence on Young Adult Interpersonal Competence in Dyadic and Family Relations:  An Exploratory Analysis”
  • B.A.    University of Delaware, Newark, DE 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Peer Acceptance, Belonging and Friendship
  • First Generation Students and College Adjustment
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences and Risk-Taking

COURSES TAUGHT

  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Psychological Science
  • Child and Adolescent Psychology
  • Lifespan Development
  • Psychology of Adolescence
  • Developmental Psychopathology
  • Child Adversity
  • Senior Research
  • Research Practicum

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • American Psychological Association (APA)
    • Divisions:  Child Maltreatment, Developmental Psychology, Family and Child Policy Research & Alaskan Natives/American Indian/Indigenous Women
  • Eastern Psychological Association (EPA)
  • Southeastern Psychological Associations (SEPA)
  • Council for Undergraduate Research (CUR)
  • Society for Teaching in Psychology (STP)

PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

Pursell, G. R. (2020, June). A comparison of first-generation and second-generation students on sense of belonging and college adjustment. Poster presented at the Southeastern Psychological Association Conference, Virtual Format. 

Pursell, G. R., Roberts, D. A., & Medler, T. A. (2020, June). The role of typicality, school belonging, and friendship quality in college adjustment. Poster presented at the Eastern Psychological Association Conference, Virtual Format. 

Pursell, G. R. & McDermott, C. (2020, March). Engaging at-risk, underrepresented students in the research process:  Challenges experienced and insights gained. Faculty-Administrator Network (FAN) Presentation accepted for presentation at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research, Bozeman, MT.  

Medler, T. A., Pursell, G. R., Roberts, D. A., & Conti, S. D. (2020, March). The role of father-child relationships in the self-esteem and risk-taking behaviors of emerging adults. Poster accepted for presentation at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research, Bozeman, MT. 

Roberts, D. A., Pursell, G. R., Conti, S. D., & Medler, T. A. (2020, March). A diary study investigating compliment behavior according to gender. Poster presentation at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research, Virtual Format. 

Pursell, G. R., Hollman, K., Evans, J., & Hill, A. (2019, March). Birth order and perceptions of parental favoritism: Influences on academic performance and self-esteem. Poster presented at the Eastern Psychological Association Conference, New York, NY. 

Jenson, M. & Pursell, G. (2018, January). Integrating issues regarding gender, race, ethnicity, and social responsibility into undergraduate psychology courses. Participant-Idea Exchange Discussion Leader at the National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology, St. Petersburg, FL.  

Pursell, G. R., Laursen, B, Rubin, K. H., Booth-LaForce, C., Rose-Krasnor, L., & Delay, D. (2009, March). Gender as a moderation of associations from compromise and negative affect to relationship impact in mother-adolescent conflicts. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Denver, CO. 

Pursell, G. R., Laursen, B., Rubin, K. H., Booth-LaForce, C., & Rose-Krasnor, L. (2008). Gender differences in patterns of associations between prosocial behavior, personality, and externalizing problems. Journal of Research in Personality,42, 472-481. 

Laursen, B., & Pursell, G. R. (2008). Conflict in peer relations. In K. R. Rubin, W. M. Bukowski, & B. Laursen (Eds.), Handbook of Peer Interactions, Relationships, and Groups. New York: Guilford Publications.

Pursell, G. R., Laursen, B., Rubin, K. H., Booth-LaForce, C., & Rose-Krasnor, L. (2008, April). Friend conflict typologies: Differences in personality and adolescent adjustment.  Poster presented at the Conference on Human Development, Indianapolis, IN. 

Pursell, G. R., Laursen, B., Rubin, K. H., Booth-LaForce, & C.,Rose-Krasnor, L. (2008, April). Negative affect as a mediator of the association between conflict resolution and relationship impact in parent-adolescent conflicts.  Poster presented at the Conference on Human Development, Indianapolis, IN. 

Pursell, G. R., Smith, A. M., Laursen, B., Hafen, C. A., Rubin, K. H., Booth-LaForce, C., & Rose-Krasnor, L. (2008, March). A typological description of friendship conflict.  Poster presented at the biennial meeting for the Society for Research in Adolescence, Chicago, IL. 

Pursell, G. R., Laursen, B., Rubin, K. H., Booth-LaForce, C., & Rose-Krasnor, L. (2008, March). Negative affect mediates associations between constructive resolution and conflict impact on relations with parents and friends.  Poster presented at the biennial meeting for the Society for Research in Adolescence, Chicago, IL. 

Hafen, C. A., Laursen, B., & Pursell, G. (2008, March).  Early adolescent behavior problems predict subsequent changes in perceptions of parent social support.  Poster presented at the biennial meeting for the Society for Research in Adolescence, Chicago, IL. 

Laursen, B., Pursell, G., Oh, W., Rubin, K. H., Rose-Krasnor, L., Booth-LaForce, C., & Burgess, K.  (2006, July).  Personality mediates associations between peer reports of prosocial behavior and externalizing outcomes.  Symposium paper presented at the biennial meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development, Melbourne, Australia. 

Pursell, G. R., Rumiche, R., & Laursen, B., Rubin, K. H., Booth-LaForce, C., Rose-Krasnor, L., & Burgess, K. B.  (2006, April).  Personality as a mediator of the association between prosocial behavior and externalizing outcomes.  Symposium paper presented at the Conference for Human Development, Louisville, KY. 

Burk, W., Laursen, B., & Pursell, G.  (2006, March).  Patterns of parent-adolescent conflict:  Temporal stability and links to adolescent adjustment.  Poster presented at the biennial meeting for the Society for Research in Adolescence, San Francisco, CA.     

Pursell, G. R., Erdley, C. A., & Nangle, D. W.  (2005, April).  Developmental differences in how peer acceptance and friendship relate to psychological adjustment.  Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Atlanta, GA. 

Pursell, G. R., Erdley, C. A., & Nangle, D. W.  (2005, April).  Specific qualities of friendship as  predictors of psychological adjustment:  An exploration of gender and age differences.   Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development,  Atlanta, GA. 

Zeff, K. R., Nangle, D. W., Serwik, A., Pursell, G. R., & Strout, J.  (2005, April).  Social anxiety  and the development of romantic relationships across adolescence:  A developmental  psychopathology perspective.  Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Atlanta, GA. 

Pursell, G. R., Zeff, K. R., Serwik, A., Nangle, D.W. & Erdley, C.A. (2004, November).  When  social skills are NOT a good thing: The relationship between social anxiety and  social competence.  Poster presented at the annual meeting for the  Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New Orleans, LA. 

Pursell, G. R., Nangle, D. W., Erdley, C. A., Rivera, M. S.  (2004, November).  The relation of social anxiety and age to interpersonal functioning with peers.  Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New Orleans, LA. 

Pursell, G. R., Erdley, C. A., Nangle, D. W., & Rivera, M. S.  (2004, November).  Peer  experiences as predictors of internalizing syndromes in childhood and early adolescence.   Poster presented at the annual meeting for the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New Orleans, LA. 

Bagwell, C. L., Schmidt, M. E., & Pursell, G. R.  (2004, March).  Links between popularity and adult adjustment:  Peer-perceived versus sociometric popularity. Symposium paper presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Adolescence, Baltimore, MD.