Maria M. Wong, Ph.D.
Professor, Developmental Psychology
Education
B.S.S. (1983), Chinese University of Hong Kong;
M.A. (1985), University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill;
Ph.D. (1993), University of Chicago;
Postdoctoral fellow, Institute for Social Research (1995-1997) and Addiction Research Center (1998), University of Michigan.
Research Interests
Current projects
- Developmental resilience (the ability to adapt well in spite of adversity) in substance use. Risk and protective factors related to substance use in childhood and adolescence, e.g., sleep problems, behavioral control.
- Developmental trajectories of negative affect in childhood and adolescence and their effects on subsequent substance use and psychopathology.
- Development of self-regulation and its effects on substance use and academic performance.
- Longitudinal methodology and statistics, especially latent growth curve models, hierarchical linear models, structural equation models, and missing data imputation.
- Gender and cultural differences related to issues (1), (2), and (3).
Long term interests
To understand the factors that promote psychological well-being, resilience, and adaptive functioning in both high risk and normal populations.
Selected Research Publications
Wong, M.M., Brower, K.J., Nigg, J.T., & Zucker, R.A. (2010). Childhood sleep problems, response inhibition, and alcohol and drug-related problems in adolescence and young adulthood. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 34, 1033-1044.
Wong, M. M. (2010). Pubertal development, sleep problems, and alcohol use: A commentary. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, in press.
Yu, J.*, Roberts, M., Wong, M., & Shen, Y. (2010). Acceptability of behavioral family therapy among caregivers in China. Journal of Child and Family Studies, in press.
Wong, M. M., Brower, K. J., & Zucker, R. A. (2009). Childhood sleep problems, early onset of substance use and behavioral problems in adolescence. Sleep Medicine, 10, 787-796.
Prasad, A.*, St-Hilaire, S., Wong, M. M., Loftin, J., & Peterson, T. (2009). Physical activity and mood in adolescents. North American Journal of Psychology, 11, 173-188.
Niemeyer, A. E.*, Wong, M. M. & Westerhaus, K. (2009) Parental involvement, familismo, academic performance and academic resilience in Hispanic and Caucasian adolescents. North American Journal of Psychology, 11, 613-632.
Wong, M. M. (2008). Perceptions of parental involvement and autonomy support: Their relations with self-regulation, academic performance, substance use and resilience among adolescents. North American Journal of Psychology, 10, 497-518.
Martel, M. M., Nigg, J. T., Wong, M. M., Fitzgerald, H. E., Jester, J. M., Puttler, L. I., Glass, J. M., Adams, K. M., & Zucker, R. A.(2007). Childhood and adolescent resiliency regulation, and executive functioning in relation to adolescent problems and competence in a high-risk sample. Development and Psychology, 19, 541-563.
Wong, M. M., Nigg, J. T., Zucker, R. A., Puttler, L. I., Fitzgerald, H. E., Jester, J. M., Glass, J. M., & Adams, K. A. (2006). Behavioral Control and Resiliency in the Onset of Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use: A Prospective Study from Preschool to Adolescence. Child Development, 77, 1016-1033.
Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Wong, M. M. Fitzgerald, H. E., Zucker, R. A. (2006). Depressive symptoms over time in women partners of men with and without alcohol problems. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 115, 601-609.
Nigg, J. T., Wong, M. M., Martel, M. M., Jester, J.M., Puttler, L.I., Glass, J. M., Adams, K.M., Fitzgerald, H. E., Zucker, R.A. (2006). Poor response inhibition as a predictor of problem drinking and illicit drug use in adolescents at risk for alcoholism and other substance use disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 45, 468-475.
Wong, M. M., Brower, K., Fitzgerald, H. E. & Zucker, R. A. (2004). Sleep problems in childhood and the early onset of alcohol and other drug use in adolescence. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 28, 578-587.
*Graduate or undergraduate students.
Book
McCutcheon, L., Lee, H., Wong, M. M., & Calicchia, J. (2009). Psychology and Educational Testing. Palo Cedro, CA: CAT Publishing Inc.