Professor Emeritasallypowers@cns.umass.eduLaboratory Website: Adolescent and Family Research LabResearch Area(s): Clinical PsychologyCenter and Institute Affilitation: Center for Neuroendocrine StudiesCenter for Research on FamiliesNeuroscience & Behavior Graduate ProgramRudd Adoption Research ProgramTabsResearch As a developmental psychopathologist, my research investigates the interaction of normal developmental processes and psychopathology in adolescents. My research examines the interaction of neuroendocrine, social, and psychological factors in depression and anxiety disorders throughout the human life span. My most recent studies investigate a biopsychosocial model of factors hypothesized to contribute to the gender difference in the prevalence of adolescent and young adult depression. Colleague Paula Pietromonaco and I are currently conducting a longitudinal study of close relationships and health in early marriages of opposite-sex couples through the Growth in Early Marriage (GEM) project. I am a member of the Neuroscience and Behavior Program and am affiliated with the Developmental Science area. Publications Winer, J. P., Powers, S. P., & Pietromonaco, P. R. (2016). Early pubertal timing and childhood family adversity interact to predict newlywed women’s anxiety symptoms. Journal of Child and Family Studies. doi: 10.1007/s10826-016-0575-6 Ge, F., Pietromonaco, P., DeBuse, C. J., Powers, S. I., & Granger, D. A. (2016). Concurrent and prospective associations between HPA axis activity and depression symptoms in newlywed women. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 73, 125-132. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.07.217 Powers, S. I., Laurent, H. K., Gunlicks-Stoessel, M. R., Balaban, S., & Bent, E. (2016). Depression and anxiety predict sex-specific cortisol responses to interpersonal stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 69, 172-179. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.04.007 Laws, H., Sayer, A., Pietromonaco, P. R., & Powers, S. I. (2015). Longitudinal changes in spouses’ cortisol response patterns: Physiological convergence in newlywed couples. Health Psychology, 34 (11), 1075-1089. doi.org/10.1037/hea0000235 Beck. L. A., Pietromonaco, P. R., DeVito, C. C., Powers, S. I. & Boyle, A. M. (2014). Congruence between Spouses' Perceptions and Observers' Ratings of Responsiveness: The Role of Attachment Avoidance. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40, 164 -174. doi/10.1177/0146167213507779 Beck. L. A., Pietromonaco, P. R., DeBuse, C. J., Powers, S. I. & Sayer, A. (2013). Spouses’ attachment pairings predict neuroendocrine, behavioral, and psychological responses to marital conflict. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 105, 388 - 424. doi.org/10.1037/a0033056 Laurent, H. L., Powers, S. I., & Granger, D. A. (2013). Refining a multisystem view of the stress response: Coordination among cortisol, alpha-amylase, and subjective stress in response to a relationship conflict. Physiology & Behavior, 119, 52 – 60. doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.05.019 Laurent, H. K., Powers, S. I., Laws, H., Gunlicks-Stoessel, M., Bent, E., & Balaban, S. (2013). HPA regulation and dating couples’ behaviors during conflict: Gender-specific associations and cross-partner interactions. Physiology & Behavior, 118, 218 – 226. doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.05.037 Pietromonaco, P. R., DeBuse, C., & Powers, S. I. (2013). Does adult attachment get under the skin? Adult romantic attachment and cortisol responses to stress: Current Directions in Psychological Science, 22, 63-68. doi.org/10.1177/0963721412463229 Kreher, D. A., Powers, S. I., & Granger, D. A. (2012). The relationship between cortisol, salivary alpha-amylase, and cognitive bias in young women. Behavioral Neuroscience, 126(1), 157-166. doi.org/10.1037/a0026654 Powers, S. I. (2011). Genes, hormones, and family behavior: Is adolescence a unique phase? In A. Booth, S. McHale, & N. Landsdale (eds.) Biosocial foundations of family processes. New York: Springer, 105 – 113. doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7361-0_8 Powers, S. I., Battle, C. L., Dorta, K., & Welsh, D. P. (2010). Adolescents’ submission and conflict behaviors with mothers predict current and future internalizing problems. Research in Human Development, 7 (4), 257-273. doi.org/10.1080/15427609.2010.526522 Hayes, U., Balaban, S. F., Perry-Jenkins, M., Smith, J., & Powers, S. I. (2010). Role of pelvic sensory signaling during delivery on postpartum mental health. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 28, 307 — 323. doi.org/10.1080/02646831003630039 Gunlicks-Stoessel, M. L. & Powers, S. I. (2009). Romantic partners’ coping strategies and patterns of cortisol reactivity and recovery in response to relationship conflict. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 28, 630 - 649. doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2009.28.5.630 Smith, A. & Powers, S. I. (2009). Off-time pubertal timing predicts physiological reactivity to post-puberty interpersonal stress. Journal of Research in Adolescence, 19, 441 – 458. PMID: 19823698 doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-7795.2009.00602.x Gunlicks, M. & Powers, S. I. (2008). Adolescents’ emotional experiences of mother-adolescent conflict predict internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Journal of Research in Adolescence, 18, 621-642. doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-7795.2008.00574.x Laurent, H. & Powers, S. I. (2007). Emotion regulation in late adolescent couples: Temperament, attachment, and HPA reactivity. Biological Psychology, 6, 61-71. doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2007.06.002