Psychology professor recognized for early career achievements in child mental health research


The American Psychological Foundation (APF) has named Lindsay Malloy, assistant professor of psychology, the first recipient of the annual Division 37 Dianne J. Willis Early Career Award.

Lindsay MalloyThis prestigious award was created to honor talented young psychologists who are making contributions toward informing, advocating for, and improving the mental health and well-being of children and families, particularly through policy. Malloy will be acknowledged in the American Psychological Association’s monthly magazine for the award.

“I was absolutely thrilled to hear this great news,” Malloy said. “I’ve been able to work with so many wonderful people and it feels really great to have our collaborative research recognized by others in the field – by our peers – in this way. It feels like our research is getting out there and having an impact, so that feels really good.”

Malloy’s research focuses on children’s memory and narratives and how children share their experiences, especially negative experiences, with others. She is also interested in the implications of developmental research findings for the U.S. legal system. Malloy is currently working with graduate and undergraduate students on several projects ranging from investigating how ADHD influences children’s event reports to examining interrogations and confessions among adolescents.

As Director of the Development, Context, and Communication Lab, Malloy leads a team of researchers studying children’s cognitive and social development at FIU. Their work helps advance scientific understanding of child development, and provides information and tools for teachers, social workers and legal professionals who conduct important work with children every day.

Malloy recently received a grant from the Law and Social Science Division of the National Science Foundation to examine children’s willingness to recant allegations of adult wrongdoing. She and her students are collecting data for that project in Los Angeles this summer.

Since 1953, APF has been supporting innovative research and programs for students and early career psychologists, working to make a difference in people’s lives and provide knowledge on critical issues around the globe.

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