Graduate Students
Dr. Shaylea Badovinac
Date of PhD: 2023
Dissertation title: An Investigation of Parenting Responses to Toddler Distress: Interactions Between Parent Physiology, Behaviour, and Socioemotional Context
Dissertation Papers:
Badovinac, S.D., Chow, C., Edgell, H., Flora, D.B., Di Lorenzo, M.G., & Pillai Riddell, R. (2023). Parents鈥 Physiological Reactivity to Child Distress and Associations with Parenting Behaviour: A Systematic Review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioural Reviews, 151, 105229.
Badovinac, S.D., Flora, D.B., Edgell, H., Flanders, D., Garfield, H., Weinberg, E., Savlov, D., & Pillai Riddell, R. (2023). A measure of caregivers鈥 distress-promoting behaviors during toddler vaccination: Validation of the OUCHIE-RV. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 48(9), 787-797.
Badovinac, S.D., Flora, D.B., Edgell, H., Flanders, D., Garfield, H., Weinberg, E., Savlov, D., & Pillai Riddell, R. (2025). Caregivers' physiological responses during toddler vaccinations: associations with psychological and behavioral responses.聽Journal of pediatric psychology,听50(4), 307鈥316.
Current Appointment: Post-doctoral Fellow at NYU Langone Child 快播视频 Center
Dr. Miranda DiLorenzo
Date of PhD: 2022
Dissertation title: Understanding Patterns of Caregiver-Toddler Biological Attunement in a Distress Context
Dissertation Papers:
DiLorenzo, M.G., Bucsea, O., Rumeo, C., Waxman, J.A., Pillai Riddell, R. (2022). Caregiver and Young Child Biological Attunement in Distress Contexts: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 132, 1024-1032.
Di Lorenzo-Klas, M.G., Waxman, J.A., Flora, D.B., Schmidt, L.A., Garfield, H., Flanders, D., Weinberg, E., Savlov, D., & Pillai Riddell, R. (2023). Distinct trajectories of caregiver-toddler physiological attunement during routine vaccinations.聽Pain reports,听8(3), e1077.
DiLorenzo-Klas, M.G., Waxman, J.A., Flora, D.B., Schmidt, L.A., Garfield, H., Flanders, D., Weinberg, E., Savlov, D., & Pillai Riddell, R. (2023). Caregiver and Child Distress as Predictors of Dyadic Physiological Attunement During Vaccination.聽The Clinical journal of pain,听39(7), 340鈥348.
Current Appointment: Psychologist in Supervised Practice at Toronto District School Board
Dr. Hannah Gennis
Date of PhD: 2022
Dissertation title: Child-led emotion regulation behaviours during toddler vaccinations: Building understanding through a dyadic lens
Dissertation papers:
Gennis, H.G., Bucsea, O., Badovinac, S.D., Costa, S., McMurtry, C.M., Flora, D.B., & Pillai Riddell, R. (2022). Child Distress Expression and Regulation Behaviors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.聽Children (Basel, Switzerland),听9(2), 174.
Gennis, H.G., Flora, D.B., Norton, L., McMurtry, C.M., Merlano, T.E., Zaghi, A., Flanders, D., Weinberg, E., Savlov, D., Garfield, H., & Pillai Riddell, R. (2023). Understanding the concurrent and predictive relations between child-led emotion regulation behaviors and pain during vaccination in toddlerhood.聽Pain,听164(6), 1291鈥1302.
Gennis, H.G., Flora, D.B., McMurtry, C.M., Flanders, D., Weinberg, E., Savlov, D., Garfield, H., & Pillai Riddell, R. (2024). It takes two: The relative contributions of parent versus child-led regulatory behaviours on toddler vaccination pain.聽European journal of pain (London, England),听28(3), 476鈥490.
Current Appointment: Staff Psychologist and Director of Clinical Training at the Hospital for Sick Children
Dr. Monica O'Neill
Date of PhD: 2020
Dissertation title: Caregiver-Child Behaviours in the Immunization Context: Building Understanding Through a Preschool Attachment Lens
Dissertation papers:
O'Neill, M.C., Pillai Riddell, R., Bureau, J.F., Deneault, A.A., Garfield, H., & Greenberg, S. (2021). Longitudinal and concurrent relationships between caregiver-child behaviours in the vaccination context and preschool attachment.聽Pain,听162(3), 823鈥834.
O'Neill, M.C., Badovinac, S., Pillai Riddell, R., Bureau, J.F., Rumeo, C., & Costa, S. (2021). The longitudinal and concurrent relationship between caregiver sensitivity and preschool attachment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.聽PloS one,听16(1), e0245061.
Current Appointment: Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Dr. Jordana Waxman
Date of PhD: 2020
Dissertation title: Investigating the Convergence of Cardiac and Behavioural Indicators of Distress Regulation in Toddlerhood
Dissertation papers:
Waxman, J.A., DiLorenzo, M.G., & Pillai Riddell, R. (2020). Convergence of behavioral and cardiac indicators of distress in toddlerhood: A systematic review and narrative synthesis.聽International Journal of Behavioral Development, 44(6), 534 550.聽
Waxman, J.A., DiLorenzo, M.G., Pillai Riddell, R., Flora, D.B., Schmidt, L.A., Garfield, H., Flanders, D., Weinberg, E., & Savlov, D. (2020). An examination of the reciprocal and concurrent relations between behavioral and cardiac indicators of acute pain in toddlerhood.聽Pain,听161(7), 1518鈥1531.
Waxman, J.A., DiLorenzo, M.G., Pillai Riddell, R., Flora, D.B., Schmidt, L.A., Garfield, H., Flanders, D., Weinberg, E., & Savlov, D. (2021). Investigating convergence of cardiac and behavioral indicators of distress during routine vaccinations over the second year of life.聽Developmental psychobiology,听63(3), 437鈥451.
Current Appointment: Staff Psychologist
Dr. Lauren Campbell
Date of PhD: 2017
Dissertation title: Children's Coping with Needle-Related Procedures: Parent and Child Concurrent and Longitudinal Predictors
Dissertation papers:
Campbell, L., Pillai Riddell, R., Cribbie, R., Garfield, H., & Greenberg, S. (2018). Preschool children's coping responses and outcomes in the vaccination context: child and caregiver transactional and longitudinal relationships.聽Pain,听159(2), 314鈥330.
Campbell, L., DiLorenzo, M., Atkinson, N., & Riddell, R. P. (2017). Systematic Review: A Systematic Review of the Interrelationships Among Children's Coping Responses, Children's Coping Outcomes, and Parent Cognitive-Affective, Behavioral, and Contextual Variables in the Needle-Related Procedures Context.聽Journal of pediatric psychology,听42(6), 611鈥621.
Current Appointment: Clinical Psychologist, North Shore Stress and Anxiety Clinic
Dr. Nicole Racine
Date of PhD: 2016
Dissertation title: Pain-Related Anticipatory Distress in Preschoolers: Longitudinal and Concurrent Predictors
Dissertation papers:
Racine, N., Pillai Riddell, R., Flora, D., Taddio, A., Garfield, H., Greenberg, S. (2016). Predicting preschool pain-related anticipatory distress: The relative contribution of longitudinal and concurrent factors.聽Pain, 157(9), 1918-1932.
Racine, N., Pillai Riddell, R.,听Khan, M.,听Calic, M., Taddio, A. & Tablon, P. (2016). Systematic review: Predisposing, precipitating, perpetuating, and present factors predicting anticipatory distress to painful medical procedures in children.聽Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 41(2):159-181. *Received an award for 鈥淭op 20 Cited Article鈥 published in 2016 in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology.
Current Appointment: Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa
Dr. Jessica Hillgrove-Stuart
Date of PhD: 2015
Dissertation Title: The Relationship Between Caregiver Emotional Availability, Discrete Soothing Behaviours, and Infant Attachment Style in a Pain Context: A Longitudinal Analysis
Dissertation Paper:
Hillgrove-Stuart, J., Pillai Riddell, R., Flora, D. B., Greenberg, S., & Garfield, H. (2015). Caregiver Soothing Behaviors After Immunization and Infant Attachment: A Longitudinal Analysis.聽Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP,听36(9), 681鈥689.
Current Appointment: Psychologist at the TDSB
Dr. Rachel Horton
Date of PhD: 2013
Dissertation title: Distress Regulation in Infancy: Attachment and Temperament in the Context of Acute Pain
Dissertation papers:
Horton, R., Pillai Riddell, R., Moran, G., & Lisi, D. (2016). Do infant behaviors following immunization predict attachment? An exploratory study.聽Attachment & human development,听18(1), 90鈥99.
Horton, R.E., Riddell, R.P., Flora, D., Moran, G., & Pederson, D. (2015). Distress regulation in infancy: attachment and temperament in the context of acute pain.聽Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP,听36(1), 35鈥44.
Current Appointments: Clinical and School Psychologist, Toronto District School Board
Clinical and School Psychologist, The Child and Adolescent Psychology Centre
Dr. Sara Ahola Kohut
Date of PhD: 2012
Dissertation title: The Development of Distress Expressions in the First Year of Life: A Longitudinal Analysis
Dissertation paper:
Kohut, S.A., Riddell, R.P., Flora, D.B., & Oster, H. (2012). A longitudinal analysis of the development of infant facial expressions in response to acute pain: immediate and regulatory expressions.聽Pain,听153(12), 2458鈥2465.
Current Appointments:
Pediatric Psychologist, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Centre, Hospital for Sick Children
Associate Scientist, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
Dr. Laila Din Osmun
Date of PhD: 2012
Dissertation title: Caregiver Emotional Availability, Infant Characteristics and the Development of Infant Emotion Regulation During Painful Procedures Over the First Year of Life
Dissertation paper:
Din Osmun, L., Pillai Riddell, R., & Flora, D.B. (2014). Infant pain-related negative affect at 12 months of age: early infant and caregiver predictors.聽Journal of pediatric psychology,听39(1), 23鈥34.
Current Appointments: Clinical and Health Psychologist, Centrepointe Professional Services, Ottawa
Honours Thesis Students Alumni
Divya Bhupal
Date: 2025
Thesis Title: The Effects of Maternal Stress on Premature Infant Pain-Related Distress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Lucas De Araujo
Date: 2025
Thesis Title: Exploring the Influence of Gestational and Postnatal Age on Neonatal Pain Response During a Routine Heel Lance in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: An HRV-Based Assessment
Andrea Lebovic
Date: 2024
Thesis Title: Examining the Impact of Infant Care Experiences on the Effectiveness of Skin-to-Skin Contact for Acute Pain in Premature Infants
Arianna Leguia
Date: 2024
Thesis Title: Exploring Maternal-Infant Regulation Attunement During a Painful Event in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: The Role of Maternal Socioeconomic Stressors
Lotus Vu
Date: 2022
Thesis Title: Understanding the Relationship Between Parenting Behaviour and Parenting Heart Rate
Haleh Hashemi
Date: 2022
Thesis Title: Predictors of Parents鈥 Soothing Behaviours During Infant Pain-related Distress: Impact of Biological and Cultural Factors
Sybil Chan
Date: 2020
Thesis Title: The Relative Impact of Parent Factors in Predicting Judgements of Child Pain During Vaccination
Amy Stern
Date: 2020
Thesis Title: Infant Pain-related Anticipatory Distress: The Role of Discrete Facial Actions Clusters
Carla Rumeo
Date: 2017
Thesis Title: Parenting Stress and Soothing Behaviours: Exploring Sensitivity as a Mediator
Ethan Factor
Date: 2017
Thesis Title: Parental Influences on Infant Distress: The Examination of Infant Anticipatory Distress as a Mediator
Sandra Fournier
Date: 2017
Thesis Title: Moderation of Distress on Relationship between Caregiver Sensitivity and Preschool Executive Functioning
Marlette Abdelmaseh
Date: 2017
Thesis Title: Caregiver Behaviours and Children鈥檚 Distress: The Moderating Role of Caregiver Relationship Style
Iris Yusuopov
Date: 2016
Thesis Title: Investigating the Relationship Between Sex and Executive Functioning on Preschool Distress Expression
Disha Jangra
Date: 2016
Thesis Title: Infant Pain Accuracy Ratings: Impact of Caregiver Culture and Infant Behaviour
Eleni Kelly
Date: 2016
Thesis Title: The Contributions of Parental Sensitivity and Distress Regulation on Executive Functioning
Alessandro Perri
Date: 2015
Thesis Title: The Relationship Between Acute Infant Pain Reactivity, Regulation, and Attachment: A Longitudinal Analysis
Victoria Ingram
Date: 2015
Thesis Title: Moderation of Caregiver Sensitivity in the Relation between Infant and Preschool Pain Regulation and Preschool Externalizing Behaviour
Tatiana Nichol
Date: 2015
Thesis Title: Predicting Sleep Problems from Pain Regulation During 6-Month and Preschool Immunizations
Nick Zabara
Date: 2015
Thesis Title: The Effects of Parental and Child Anxiety on Parental Perceptions of Child Pain
Pooria Shafia
Date: 2015
Thesis Title: Stress-Pain: Is Caregiver Sensitivity a Moderating Factor?
Drexler Ortiz
Date: 2015
Thesis Title: The Influence of Caregiver Culture on Pain Expression in Preschool Children
Maria Khan
Date: 2014
Thesis Title: Executive Functioning and Behavioural Pain Inhibition
Angelina Pinhasov
Date: 2014
Thesis Title: Maternal Sensitivity and Parental Situational Versus Broad Anxiety Reports
Masa Calic
Date: 2014
Thesis Title: Pleasure versus Pain- Are there relationships in Anticipating Negative and Positive Stimuli?
Emma Fletcher
Date: 2014
Thesis Title: Understanding School Readiness and Preschool Pain Regulation
Nicole Atkinson
Date: 2013
Thesis Title: Accuracy of Pain Appraisal and its Relationship with Parental Sensitivity Across the First Year of Life
Anjani Kapoor
Date: 2013
Thesis Title: Do Individual Differences in Infant Pain Regulation Trajectories Predict Parent Temperament Ratings
Matthew Pelcowitz
Date: 2013
Thesis Title: Predicting Attachment Security from the Immunization Pain Context
Amanda Suleiman
Date: 2013
Thesis Title: Predicting Attachment Security from the Immunization Pain Context
Sofia Tsibouras
Date: 2012
Thesis Title: The Effects of Early Caregiving During Immunization on Infant Attachment Status
Dana Shaevitch
Date: 2012
Thesis Title: An Analysis of Infant Pain Reactivity and Regulation in the Context of Medical History
Alexandra Olteanu
Date: 2012
Thesis Title: The Effects of Pregnancy and Delivery Complications on Infant Pain During a Routine Immunization
Mohammed Affan Jamal
Date: 2010
Thesis Title: The Expectation of Nociceptive Events in Infancy: Predicting Anticipatory Anxiety Towards Immunization Needles from Past Immunization Pain Experience
Adrienne Lenehan
Date: 2010
Thesis Title: Infant Pain Response and Caregiver Soothing Behaviours at 2- and 12 Months
Sheetal Mistry
Date: 2010
Thesis Title: Parental Judgments of Infant Immunization Pain at 6 and 12-Months of Age: The Role of Time Spent with Infant When in Pain
Crystal Orlovski
Date: 2010
Thesis Title: Effects of Specific Caregiver Soothing Behaviours on Immediate Infant Pain Regulation During Routine Immunization
Jill Vinall Miller
Date: 2008
Thesis Title: The Influence of Culture on Maternal Soothing Behaviors and Infant Pain Expression in the Immunization Context
Michelle Viecili
Date: 2008
Thesis Title: . The Influence of Coping Strategies and Chronic Pain Level on Parent-Child Consistency in Reporting Coping Strategies
Nicole Racine
Date: 2008
Thesis Title: Effects of Maternal Anxiety and Maternal Camera Focus on Infant Pain During a Routine Immunization
Daniella Goldberg
Date: 2008
Thesis Title: Moderating Effect of Maternal Anxiety on the Relationship Between Verbal Reassurance and Infant Pain
Rebecca Doppelt
Date: 2007
Thesis Title: The Influence of Cultural Stress and Depression on Maternal Soothing Behaviours
Jonathan Danson
Date: 2006
Thesis Title: Effects of Maternal Perceived Social Support and Degree of Infant Pain on Maternal Soothing Behaviours
Glynnis DuBois
Date: 2006
Thesis Title: Maternal Soothing Behaviours, why the differences?
Kate Kalousek
Date: 2006
Thesis Title: An Examination of Depression and its Influence on Maternal Soothing Behaviours and Self Reported Cognitions Towards Infant
Aruvita Aggraval
Date: 2006
Thesis Title: Does Maternal Anxiety Effect Pain Perception in Infants?