About

Rob Heffer is a Clinical Professor at Texas A&M University College of Arts and Sciences within the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences. His research area is primarily focused on clinical child and adolescent psychology, which involves studying typical and aberrant behavior and development among children and adolescents. His work emphasizes understanding the myriad family, interpersonal, biological/medical, and socio-ecological contexts in which young persons are embedded. Significant overlap exists among clinical child/adolescent, developmental, school, and family psychology, with particular interest in pediatric psychology or child health psychology, including health, wellness, medical illness and injury, and developmental disabilities. Heffer's scholarly activities include evidence-based psychological assessment and systems interventions, with a focus on understanding family and child functioning within developmental and bioecological contexts and prioritizing practical application. A secondary area of his scholarly activity involves professional issues in education and training in applied psychology. He serves as Clinic Director and Associate Director of Clinical Training and actively participates in the Association of Psychology Training Clinics. His work aims to clarify processes involved in individual and family adaptation to pediatric chronic illness and disability, as well as promoting health and wellness.

Research topics

• Psychology
• Epistemology
• Psychotherapist
• Social psychology

Selected publications

• Maternal Social Phobia, but not Generalized Anxiety, Symptoms Interact with Early Childhood Error-Related Negativity to Prospectively Predict Child Anxiety Symptoms

  Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology · 2025-01-06 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Stuck in an Existential Quagmire: The Role of Perceived True Self-Knowledge in Client Stuckness

  Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology · 2020 · 3 citations

  • Psychology
  • Social psychology
  • Psychotherapist

  Introduction: Research suggests that perceived true self-knowledge is important for well-being. However, less discussion exists about how perceived true self-knowledge affects therapy outcomes. We suggest that perceived true self-knowledge may be important when attempting to address client stuckness (i.e., lack of progress in therapy; Beaudoin, 2008). We argue that when clients perceive a lack of true self-knowledge, they are unable to draw upon the true self-concept as a source of meaning. This may hinder therapeutic progress and contribute to client stuckness. Methods: We present theoretical evidence for the role of perceived true self-knowledge in experiences of stuckness. Then, we present case studies of two stuck clients and their therapeutic interventions as preliminary evidence for our model. Results: Direct strategies geared at enhancing true self-knowledge by helping the client construct coherent self-concepts worked for one client, but not for the other. Indirect strategies, grounded in social psychological research, are outlined as a method of enhancing perceptions of true self-knowledge for clients who do not benefit from direct strategies. Discussion: Potential moderators for the effectiveness of direct versus indirect strategies to enhance true self-knowledge are discussed. We then outline promising avenues for future research that include attempts to investigate the prevalence of self-alienation in clinical populations, and the effectiveness of strategies aimed at enhancing perceived true self-knowledge among clients experiencing stuckness.

  PublisherDOI

• Diabetes management mediating effects between diabetes symptoms and health-related quality of life in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes

  Pediatric Diabetes · 2018-06-21 · 37 citations

  article

  OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to investigate the mediating effects of diabetes management in the relationship between diabetes symptoms and generic health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with type 1 diabetes. The secondary objective explored patient health communication and perceived treatment adherence barriers as mediators in a serial multiple mediator model. METHODS: The PedsQL 3.2 Diabetes Module 15-item diabetes symptoms summary score, 18-item diabetes management summary score, and PedsQL 4.0 generic core scales were completed in a 10-site national field test study by 418 AYA aged 13 to 25 years with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes symptoms and diabetes management were tested for bivariate and multivariate linear associations with overall generic HRQOL. Mediational analyses were conducted to test the hypothesized mediating effects of diabetes management as an intervening variable between diabetes symptoms and generic HRQOL. RESULTS: The predictive effects of diabetes symptoms on HRQOL were mediated in part by diabetes management. In predictive analytics models utilizing multiple regression analyses, demographic and clinical covariates, diabetes symptoms, and diabetes management significantly accounted for 53% of the variance in generic HRQOL (P < 0.001), demonstrating a large effect size. Patient health communication and perceived treatment adherence barriers were significant mediators in an exploratory serial multiple mediator model. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes management explains in part the effects of diabetes symptoms on HRQOL in AYA with type 1 diabetes. Patient health communication to healthcare providers and perceived treatment adherence barriers further explain the mechanism in the relationship between diabetes symptoms and overall HRQOL.

  PublisherDOI

• Diabetes symptoms predictors of health-related quality of life in adolescents and young adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes

  Quality of Life Research · 2018-05-21 · 7 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (Peds<scp>QL</scp>) 3.2 Diabetes Module for youth with Type 2 diabetes: reliability and validity

  Diabetic Medicine · 2018-10-21 · 21 citations

  article

  Abstract Aim To test the measurement properties of the revised and updated Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (Peds QL ) 3.2 Diabetes Module originally developed in Type 1 diabetes in youth with Type 2 diabetes. Methods The Peds QL 3.2 Diabetes Module and Peds QL Generic Core Scales were administered in a field test study to 100 young people aged 9–25 years with Type 2 diabetes. Factor analysis was conducted to determine the factor structure of the items. Results The 15‐item Diabetes Symptoms Summary Score and 12‐item Type 2‐specific Diabetes Management Summary Score were empirically derived through factor analysis. The Diabetes Symptoms and Type 2‐specific Diabetes Management Summary Scores showed acceptable to excellent reliability across the age groups tested (α = 0.85–0.94). The Diabetes Symptoms and Type 2‐specific Diabetes Management Summary Scores evidenced construct validity through large effect size correlations with the Generic Core Scales Total Scale Score ( r = 0.67 and 0.57, respectively). HbA 1c was correlated with the Diabetes Symptoms and Type 2‐specific Diabetes Management Summary Scores ( r = −0.13 and −0.22). Minimal clinically important difference ( MCID ) scores were 5.91 and 7.39 for the Diabetes Symptoms and Type 2‐specific Diabetes Management Summary Scores. Conclusions The Peds QL 3.2 Diabetes Module Diabetes Symptoms Summary Score and Type 2‐specific Diabetes Management Summary Score exhibited satisfactory measurement properties for use as youth self‐reported diabetes symptoms and diabetes management outcomes for clinical research and clinical practice for young people with Type 2 diabetes.

  PublisherDOI

• PedsQL 3.2 Diabetes Module for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: Reliability and Validity in Type 1 Diabetes

  Diabetes Care · 2018-07-30 · 105 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to report on the measurement properties of the revised and updated Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 3.2 Diabetes Module for children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The 33-item PedsQL 3.2 Diabetes Module and PedsQL Generic Core Scales were completed in a 10-site national field test study by 656 families of patients ages 2–25 years with type 1 diabetes. RESULTS The 15-item Diabetes Symptoms Summary Score and 18-item Diabetes Management Summary Score were derived from the factor analysis of the items. The Diabetes Symptoms and Diabetes Management Summary Scores evidenced excellent reliability (patient self-report α = 0.88–0.90; parent proxy report α = 0.89–0.90). The Diabetes Symptoms and Diabetes Management Summary Scores demonstrated construct validity through medium to large effect size correlations with the Generic Core Scales Total Scale Score (r = 0.43–0.67, P &amp;lt; 0.001). HbA1c was significantly correlated with the Diabetes Symptoms and Diabetes Management Summary Scores (r = −0.21 to −0.29, P &amp;lt; 0.001). Minimal clinically important difference scores ranged from 5.05 to 5.55. CONCLUSIONS The PedsQL 3.2 Diabetes Module Diabetes Symptoms and Diabetes Management Summary Scores demonstrated excellent measurement properties and may be useful as standardized patient-reported outcomes of diabetes symptoms and diabetes management in clinical research, clinical trials, and practice in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder

  2015-03-02 · 5 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Ethnicity as a moderator of how parents’ attitudes and perceived stigma influence intentions to seek child mental health services.

  Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology · 2015-04-20 · 82 citations

  articleSenior author

  OBJECTIVE: Research has identified several variables that affect utilization of mental health services. However, more could be explored regarding ethnic differences among parents seeking help for their children. METHOD: In our study, 238 caregivers were recruited from the southern United States to examine ethnic differences in intentions to access child mental health services with the Parental Attitudes Toward Psychological Services Inventory (Turner, 2012) as the primary measure. RESULTS: Group comparisons indicated that African-American parents reported less positive attitudes and more stigma than European-American or Hispanic-American parents. Moderation analyses found (a) attitudes were associated with a higher level of parental help-seeking intention among European Americans, but not among African Americans or Hispanic Americans and (b) stigma was associated with a lower parent-reported likelihood of help-seeking for Hispanic Americans, but not for European Americans or African Americans. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnicity deferentially impacts attitudes and stigma associated with seeking mental health services. Public education efforts to increase service use should be tailored toward under-served groups to be more effective.

  PublisherDOI

• Parent and Peer Influence on Recreational Use of Pain Medication: Are Their Influences Similar to That of Marijuana Use?

  ISRN Addiction · 2013-08-28 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Parent and peer disapproval were examined as potential predictors of recreational use of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription pain medication. Risk perception was studied as a potential mediator of the effects of parent and peer disapproval. Four hundred and sixty-five college students (M age = 18.57, SD = 0.86) were recruited between September 2009 and September 2010. Participants completed an online survey about their recreational medication use, other substance use, and correlates of use. Path analyses showed that predictors of OTC and prescription pain medication recreational use are largely similar to predictors of marijuana use in college students such that risk perception mediated both the effect of parent and peer disapproval on dichotomous misuse, and peer disapproval had a significant direct effect on dichotomous misuse. Prevention interventions for recreational use of pain medication should target risk perception and peer disapproval.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Perceptions of Preventive Health Care and Healthy Lifestyle Choices for Low Income Families: A Qualitative Study

  ISRN Preventive Medicine · 2013-04-03 · 9 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  This paper examines Head Start parents' perceptions of preventive health and healthy lifestyle choices and Head Start administrators' perceptions of the needs of parents they serve. To address the preventive health of the population, it is necessary that we explore perceptions, risks, and protective factors of preventive health. Focus groups were conducted with parents and administrators to elicit this information and to obtain suggestions for improving preventive health and healthy lifestyle choices among this group. Overall, nutrition and physical activity emerged as themes in parents' definition of preventive health and healthy lifestyle choices. They further identified social support and education as major protective factors for engaging in preventive health and healthy lifestyle choices. Results of this study can be used to inform research and practice to develop interventions to increase preventive health and healthy lifestyle choices among low income families.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Erlanger A. Turner

  Pepperdine University

  8 shared

• Jessica C. Kichler

  8 shared

• Jennifer L. Miller

  Northwestern University

  8 shared

• James W. Varni

  Texas A&M University

  7 shared

• Sasha A. Fleary

  The Graduate Center, CUNY

  7 shared

• Mary Lou Kelley

  Lakehead University

  7 shared

• Sarah Corathers

  7 shared

• Beth H. Garland

  Texas Children's Hospital

  6 shared