Grant Funding
F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral National Research Service Award | 2024-2026
Sponsor: Patrick T. Davies Ph.D. | National Institute of Mental Health
Identifying Risk Mechanisms Underpinning the Association Between Callous-Unemotional Traits and Externalizing Behavior
Impact Score: 1.9 | Percentile: 10th
Recent Selected Publications
Cao, V.T., Davies, P.T., Thompson, M.J., & El-Sheikh, M. (2025). Identifying Antecedents to the Cascade of Children’s CU Traits and Psychological Adjustment: The Interplay Between the Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Nervous Systems. Child Development.
Davies, P.T., Cao, V.T., Hendrickson, M. V. & Thompson, M. T. (2025). Lessons Learned from Witnessing Constructive Interparental Conflict and their Beneficial Implications for Children. Developmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001952
Davies, P.T., Cao, V.T., Sturge-Apple, M.L., Cicchetti, D. (2024). Advancing Differential Susceptibility Research: Development and Validation of the Temperamental Sensitivity Q-Scale. Developmental Psychology.
Davies, P.T. & Cao, V.T. (2025). Family Conflict and Conflict Management Developmental Implications for Children. In N. C. Overall, J. A. Simpson, & J. A. Lavner (Eds.), Research Handbook of Couple and Family Relationships. Cheltenham Glos, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.
Cao, V. T., Davies, P. T., & Sturge-Apple, M. L. (2024). Disentangling the Relationship Between Callous-Unemotional Traits and Unsupportive Parenting Through a Developmental Lens. Development and Psychopathology. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579423000263
Davies, P.T., Cao, V.T., Patel, M.D., & Sturge-Apple, M.L. (2023). Why Does Children’s Temperamental Exuberance Increase their Vulnerability to Externalizing Symptoms: A Process Oriented Approach. Development and Psychopathology. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579422001304
Selected Presentations & Symposia
Cao, V.T., Davies, P.T., Thompson, M.J. & El-Sheikh, M. Psychophysiological Antecedents to the Cascade of Children’s CU Traits and Later Psychological Adjustment. Symposium paper presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development. Minneapolis, MN (May 1-3, 2025).
Cao, V.T., Davies, P.T., & Baker, A. The Beneficial Sequelae of Constructive Interparental Conflict: Children’s Effortful Control and Positive Affect as Mechanisms. Symposium paper presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development. Minneapolis, MN (May 1-3, 2025).
Cao, V.T., Davies, P.T., & Gibb, B. E. Identifying Sources of Heterogeneity in the Associations Between Children’s Affect- Biased Attention and CU Trait Development: The Moderating Role of Emotion Understanding. Presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy. Cypress (May 16-19, 2024).
Cao, V.T., Patel, M.D., Davies, P.T., & Sturge-Apple, M.L. Why Does Children’s Temperamental Exuberance Increase their Vulnerability to Externalizing Symptoms?: A Process-Oriented Approach. Poster to be at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development. Salt Lake City, Utah (Mar. 23-25, 2023).
Cao, V.T., Davies, P.T., & Sturge-Apple, M.L. Temperamental Antecedents of Callous-Unemotional Traits and Externalizing Problems. Poster to be at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development. Salt Lake City, Utah (Mar. 23-25, 2023).
Cao, V.T., Davies, P.T., & Sturge-Apple, M.L. Disentangling the Relationship Between Callous-Unemotional Traits and Unsupportive Parenting Through a Developmental Lens. Poster to be presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy. Cypress, Greece (Remote Due to COVID) (May 18-22, 2022).
Recent Awards and Media
University of Rochester | Fred Rogosch Award | Dec 2025
University of Rochester | Best First-Authored Publication Award | Dec 2025
University of Rochester | Alfred Baldwin Award | Dec 2024
University of Rochester AS&E GEPA | Professional Development Award | Jan 2024
Society of Research in Child Development (SRCD) | Graduate Student Travel Award | Jan 2023
Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathology (SSSP) | Best Blitz Talk Award | May 2022
The Collegian | Bailey Jensen | December 2016
Members of Penn State’s service organization ServeState speak on their passion for volunteering
Vanessa Cao 