Presentations

Researchers Dr. Dessa Bergen-Cico from the Department of Public Health and Dr. Rachel Razza from the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Syracuse University discussed the scales used to evaluate the Inner Strength Teen Program’s effectiveness. The preliminary data show statistically significant improvement in long-term self-regulation and overall self-management.

In recent years, our work has been presented at the following national and international conferences. Select presentations from our robust team of undergraduate and graduate students and amazing lab alumni are included below.

Conference Presentations (Symposium)

**Denotes graduate student co-author; *Denotes undergraduate student co-author. Please feel free to email the presentation author if you are interested in any presentations and would like to learn more!

**Davis, K., Zhang, Y., **Liu, Q., & Razza, R. (October 2025). Navigating adolescence: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-compassion and self-regulation developmental trajectories by cohort and gender. Paper accepted for presentation at the Society for Study of Human Development Biennial Conference, Lexington, KY.

**Liu, Q., Zhang, Y., & Razza, R. (May 2025). Reciprocal relationships among household chaos, parenting stress, and children’s self-regulation: From early to middle childhood. In Liu, Q. (Chair), Family Dynamics and Children’s Self-regulation Development: Recognizing Contextual Factors, Relational Processes, and Resilience. Paper Symposium presented at the Society for Research in Child Development 2025 Biennial Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

**Davis, K., Razza, R., Brann, L., Wang, X., *Pepper, R., *Lazarus, L., & *Gonzalez, Q.  (April 2025). Nourishing Families: Parents as Partners in a Mindful Eating Intervention for Preschool Children. Flash talk presented at the Mindful Families, Schools, and Communities: Contemplative Practices to Promote Child Well-Being and Health Equity 2025 Pre-Conference, Society for Research in Child Development, Minneapolis, MN.

*Jin, Y., **Liu, Q., Zhang, Y., & Razza, R. (May 2025). Parenting Stress to Preschoolers’ Emotional Regulation: Intrusive Parenting as Mechanism. In Liu, Q. (Chair), Sources of Risk and Strength: Material Hardship, Parenting, ACES, PCEs, and Children’s Social-Emotional Development. Paper Symposium presented at the Society for Research in Child Development 2025 Biennial Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

**Liu, Q., Merrin, G. J., Razza, R., & Vasilenko, S. (May 2025). Fluctuations of Material Hardship and Behavioral Self-regulation from Early to Middle Childhood. In Liu, Q. (Chair), Pathways to Children’s Social-emotional Health: Risk and Resilience Processes in Childhood. Paper Symposium presented at the Society for Research in Child Development 2025 Biennial Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

**Liu, Q., Wang, X., Razza, R., & Vasilenko, S. (May 2024). Early adverse childhood experiences and preschoolers’ self-regulation: A latent class analysis. Paper symposium presented at the 2024 Association for Psychological Science (APS). San Francisco, CA.

Brann, L., & Razza, R. (November 2023). Mindfully Growing: Engaging young children, childcare providers, and parents in healthy eating behaviors and holistic feeding practices. Workshop presented at the NAEYC 2023 Annual Conference, Nashville, TN.

Razza, R. A., & Brann, L.  (October 2023). Parent and teacher assessment of a mindful eating intervention for preschoolers. Flash talk presented at the Mindfulness, Self-compassion and Family Well-being Conference, Seattle, WA.

Razza, R. (October 2023). Awareness and Acceptance: Lessons Learned from Mindfulness Program Evaluation. Paper symposium talk presented at the 2023 Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Family Well-Being Conference. Seattle, WA.

Razza, R., **Liu, Q., Merrin, G. J., **Feng, R., *Hao, X., & *Kirkman, K. (October 2023). Cultivating Adolescents’ Self-compassion through Mindfulness: The Role of Self-regulation at Both the Individual- and Classroom-level. Paper symposium presented at the 2023 Society for the Study of Human Development Conference (SSHD). Philadelphia, PA.

**Liu, Q., Razza, R., & Vasilenko, S. (May 2023). State Transition Linking Early Material Hardship Trajectories to Child Self-regulation Profiles across Childhood: A Longitudinal Study among Socioeconomic Diverse Families. Paper symposium presented at the 2023 Association for Psychological Science (APS). Washington, DC.

**Liu, Q., Razza, R. A., Merrin, G. J., & Zhang, Y. (March 2023). Differential Growth Trajectories of Self-Regulation from Early Childhood to Adolescence: Implications for Adolescent Behavioral Outcomes. Paper symposium presented at the Society for Research in Child Development 2023 Biennial Conference, Salt Lake City, UT.

Conference Presentations (Flash Talk)

Razza, R., Brann, L., **Smith, C., **Kearns, K. G., **Davis, K., *Waters, A., & *Pepper, R. (October 2023). Parent and Teacher Assessment of a Mindful Eating Intervention for Preschoolers. Flash talk presented at the 2023 Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Family Well-Being Conference. Seattle, WA.

**Liu, Q., Zhang, Y., & Razza, R. (May 2022). Poverty and Preschoolers’ Attentional and Behavioral Regulation: Differential Pathways through Material Hardship and Family Chaos. Flash talk presented at the 2022 Association for Psychological Science. Chicago, IL.

Razza, R., **Smith, C., & *Omole, A. (March 2021). Effectiveness and Feasibility of a Mindfulness Program for Urban Teens. Flash talk presented at the Society for Research in Child Development 2021 Biennial Conference, Virtual Annual Conference.

Conference Presentations (Poster)

*Jin, M., Liu, Q., & Razza, R. (October 2023). Using fNIRS to examine Neural Mechanisms of Change Associated with Mindfulness-based Interventions. Poster presented at the 2024 Biennial Conference of the Society for Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. Birmingham, UK.

**Davis, K., Razza, R., & Brann, L. (June 2024). Cultivating self-regulation and healthy food intake: A novel mindful eating intervention for children and their caregivers. Poster presented at the 2024 International Congress of Nutrition and Dietetics. Toronto, Canada.

Razza, R., Edelstein, A., & Lacher, A. P (October 2023). Promising Results from Mindfulness-Based Cognitive and Emotional Wellness Supports for Adolescents During the Pandemic. Poster presented at the 2023 Society for the Study of Human Development Conference (SSHD). Philadelphia, PA.

*Jin, M., Liu, Q., & Razza, R. (March 2023). Enhancing self-regulation in children through mindful eating and yoga. Poster presented at the 2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Syracuse, NY.

Razza, R., Brann, L., **Smith, C., *Waters, A. & **Kearns, K. G. (November 2022). Cultivating Self-regulation and Healthy Food Intake: A Novel Mindful Eating Intervention for Children and Their Caregivers. Poster presented at the 2022 National Association for the Education of Young Children. Washinton, DC.

**Liu, Q., Zhang, Y., & Razza, R. (May 2022). Poverty and Preschoolers’ Attentional and Behavioral Regulation: Differential Pathways through Material Hardship and Family Chaos. Poster presented at the 2022 Association for Psychological Science. Chicago, IL.

**Liu, Q., Razza, R., & Merrin, G. J. (April 2022). Reciprocal associations between parenting behaviors and children’s self-regulation in the transition from early to middle childhood. Poster presented at the 12th Biennial Cognitive Development Society. Madison, WI.

Razza, R., & **Liu, Q. (November 2021). Infusing mindfulness into your classroom: Strategies for enhancing social and emotional development. Poster presented at the 2021 National Association for the Education of Young Children. Virtual Annual Conference.

**Liu, Q., Razza, R., Zhang, Y. (August 2021). Self-regulation assessment among preschoolers: A scoping review of measures over the last decade. Poster presented at the 2021 Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association. Virtual Annual Conference.

Zhang, Y., **Liu, Q., & Razza, R. (April 2021). Longitudinal implications of children’s attentional and behavioral regulation: Positive paths to adolescents’ social skills and functioning for among low-income families. Poster presented at the 2021 Society for Research in Child Development. Virtual Biennial Meeting.