Julie C. Rusby, Ph.D., Senior Scientist
Contact
Education & Training
Ph.D., 1998
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
School Psychology
B.A., 1978
University of California at Santa Cruz
Sociology/Community Studies
honors
Dr. Julie C. Rusby, a Senior Research Scientist at Oregon Research Institute, has retired. Her expertise has covered the areas of child and youth social development, early childhood development and school readiness, and the prevention of behavioral and substance use problems. Her research has primarily focused on how social environments (parents, peers, and schools) influence the social-emotional development of young children and youth. Dr. Rusby received her Ph.D. in School Psychology at the University of Oregon in 1998 and she developed and evaluated child care, parenting, and school-based interventions. She also developed several real-time and observational data collection methodologies, including microsocial coding systems and Ecological Momentary Assessment.
Dr. Rusby’s research on adolescents includes studies of social networks and peer influence on adolescent social adjustment, social and environmental risk and protective mechanisms on adolescent substance use, behavioral correlates of adolescent perceptions and moods, the impact of peer victimization on moods and behavior, observations of middle school environments, and a randomized-controlled trial (RCT) of Positive Behavior Intervention and Support in middle schools. Dr. Rusby also developed the Carescapes program, a video-based interactive workshop training for providers of home-based child care aimed at promoting social competence in preschool-age children, and led two RCTs of the Carescapes program on child care provider and child developmental outcomes. Other studies pertaining to early childhood development include RCTs evaluating the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) online system, investigations of home-based child care quality, observational research on parent-child interactions and on children’s behavior in classroom and playground environments, and evaluating a community implementation of a program to promote physical activity and healthy eating in child care settings.
Current Projects
Online vs Staff Delivery: Child & Family Outcomes, Cost Analysis and Satisfaction
PROJECT PERIOD09/05/13 - 08/31/19 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Evaluating an Online Parenting Support System Disseminated by Pediatric Practices
PROJECT PERIOD04/01/13 - 03/31/19 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Peer Influence and Selection Mechanisms Underlying Adolescent Problem Behaviors
PROJECT PERIOD09/30/13 - 06/30/19 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Social-Spatial Risk and Protective Mechanisms in Urban Adolescent Substance Use
PROJECT PERIOD04/01/12 - 03/31/17 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Efficacy Trial of Carescapes: Promoting Social Development in Home-based Child Care
PROJECT PERIOD03/01/09 - 02/28/14 FUNDING AGENCYUnited States Department of Education CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Reducing Teacher Stress & Building a More Effective School Culture
PROJECT PERIOD06/10/09 - 05/31/15 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Ecological Momentary Assessment of Peer Affiliation, Perceptions, and Behavior
PROJECT PERIOD06/01/09 - 05/31/11 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Adolescent Peer Social Network Dynamics and Problem Behavior
PROJECT PERIOD04/01/08 - 04/30/14 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
PROJECT PERIOD03/01/10 - 02/28/14 FUNDING AGENCYUnited States Department of Education CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Publications
Westling, E., Rusby, J. C., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M., (2022). A longitudinal study of e-cigarette, cigarette, and marijuana use sequence in youth. Tobacco Insights, 15, 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1179173X221101813
Rusby, J. C., Prinz, R. J., Metzler, C. W., Crowley, R., & Sanders, M. R. (2022). Attending to task demands: Systematic observation of parent directives and guidance in varying situational contexts. Child Youth Care Forum, 51, 421–437. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-021-09637-x
Prinz, R. J., Metzler, C. W., Sanders, M. R., Rusby, J. C, & Cai, C. (2022). Online-delivered parenting intervention for young children with disruptive behavior problems: a noninferiority trial focused on child and parent outcomes. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 63(2), 199-209. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13426
Johnson-Shelton, D., Ricci, J., Westling, E., Peterson, M., & Rusby. J. C. (2022). Program evaluation of Healthy Moves™: A community-based Trainer in Residence professional development program to support generalist teachers with physical education instruction. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 19, 125-131. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2021-0505
Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crowley, R., Mills, K. L., & Light, J. M. (2019). Associations between marijuana use and anxious mood lability during adolescence. Addictive Behaviors, 92, 89-94.
Light, J. M., Mills, K. L., Rusby, J. C., & Westling, E. (2019). Friend selection and influence effects for first heavy drinking episode in adolescence. Journal of Study on Alcohol and Drugs, 80(3), 349–357.
Morowska, A., Ditman, C. K., & Rusby, J. C. (2019). Promoting self-regulation in young children: The role of parenting interventions. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 22(1), 43–51.
Rusby, J. C., Mason, M., Gau, J. F., Westling, E., Light, J. M., Mennis, J., Zaharakis, N. M., & Flay, B. R. (2019). Relational victimization and peer affiliate prosocial behaviors in African American adolescents: Moderating effects of gender and antisocial behavior. Journal of Adolescence, 71, 91-98.
Metzler, C. W., & Rusby, J. C. (2018). Broadcast media-based approaches to positive parenting. In M. R. Sanders & T. G. Mazzucchelli (Eds.), The power of positive parenting: Transforming the lives of children, parents and communities using the Triple P System (pp. 284-293). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Rusby, J. C., Light, J. M., Crowley, R., & Westling, E. (2018). Influence of parent-youth relationship, parental monitoring, and parent substance use on adolescent substance use onset. Journal of Family Psychology, 32, 310-320.
Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M. (2018). Legalization of recreational marijuana and community sales policy in Oregon: Impact on adolescent willingness and intent to use, parent use, and adolescent use. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 32, 84-92. doi:10.1037/adb0000327
Turner, K. M. T., Dittman, C. K., Rusby, J. C., & Lee, S. (2018). Parenting support in an early childhood learning context. In M. R. Sanders & T. G. Mazzucchelli (Eds.), Changing children’s lives through competent parenting: Transforming the lives of children, parents, and communities using the Triple P System (242-251). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Zaharakis, N., Mason, M. J., Mennis, J., Light, J., Rusby, J. C.,Westling, E., . . . Way, T. (2018). School, friends, and substance use: Gender differences on the influence of attitudes toward school and close friend networks on cannabis involvement. Prevention Science, 19, 138-146. doi:10.1007/s11121-017-0816-y
Mason, M. J., Zaharakis, N. M., Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Light, J. M., Mennis, J., & Flay, B. R. (2017). A longitudinal study predicting adolescent tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use by behavioral characteristics of close friends. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. Advance online publication. doi:10.1037/adb0000299
Westling, E., Rusby, J. C., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M. (2017). Electronic cigarette use by youth: Prevalence, correlates, and use trajectories from middle school to high school. Journal of Adolescent Health, 60, 660–666.
Mason, M. J., Light, J. M., Mennis, J., Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crewe, S., . . . Flay, B. R. (2017). Neighborhood disorder, peer network health, and substance use among young urban adolescents. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 178, 208-214. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.05.005
Rusby, J. C., Crowley, R., Jones, L. B., & Smolkowski, K. (2017). Providing opportunities to learn in home-based child care settings: Observations of learning contexts and behavior [Special issue]. Early Education and Development, 28, 715-726. doi:10.1080/10409289.2017.1303305
Rusby, J. C., Jones, L. B., Crowley, R., & Smolkowski, K. (2016). An efficacy trial of Carescapes: Home-based child care practices and children’s social outcomes. Child Development, 87(4), 1291–1310. doi:10.1111/cdev.12541
Mennis, J., Mason, M., Light, J., Rusby, J., Westling, E., Way, T., . . . Flay, B. (2016). Short communication: Does substance use moderate the association of neighborhood disadvantage with perceived stress and safety in the activity spaces of urban youth? Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 165, 288-292.
Mason, M., Mennis, J., Light, J., Rusby, J., Westling, E., Crewe, S., . . . Zaharakis, N. (2016). 'Parents, peers, and places: Young urban adolescents’ microsystems and substance use involvement': Erratum. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25, 1712-1712. doi: 10.1007/s10826-016-0392-y
Mason, M., Mennis, J., Light, J., Rusby, J., Westling, E., Crewe, S., Way, T., Flay, B., & Zaharakis, N. (2016) Parents, peers and places: Young urban adolescents’ microsystems and substance use involvement. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25, 1441–1450.
Rusby, J. C., Metzler, C. W., Sanders, M. R., & Crowley, R. (2015). Emulating real-life situations with a play task to observe parenting skills and child behaviors. Journal of Family Psychology, 29, 201-210.
Biglan, A., Gau, J. M., Jones, L. B., Hinds, E., Rusby, J. C., Cody, C., & Sprague, J. (2015). The role of experiential avoidance in the relationship between family conflict and depression among early adolescents. Journal Of Contextual Behavioral Science, 4, 30-36. doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2014.12.001
Mason, M., Mennis, J., Way, T., Light, J., Rusby, J., Westling, E., & ... McHenry, C. (2015). Young adolescents' perceived activity space risk, peer networks, and substance use. Health & Place, 34, 143-149. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.04.005
Light, J. M., Rusby, J. C., Nies, K. M., & Snijders, T. B. (2014). Antisocial behavior trajectories and social victimization within and between school years in early adolescence. Journal Of Research on Adolescence, 24(2), 322-336.
Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M. (2013). Psychosocial correlates of physical and sedentary activities of early adolescent youth. Health Education & Behavior, 41(1), 42-51. doi:10.1177/1090198113485753
Rusby, J. C., Jones, L. B., Crowley, R., & Smolkowski, K. (2013). Associations of caregiver stress with working conditions, caregiving practices, and child behaviour in home-based child care. Early Child Development and Care, 183, 1589-1604. doi:10.1080/03004430.2012.742992
Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M. (2013). Concurrent and predictive associations between early adolescent perceptions of peer affiliates and mood states collected in real time via ecological momentary assessment methodology. Psychological Assessment, 25(1), 47–60. doi:10.1037/a0030393
Metzler, C. W., Sanders, M. R., & Rusby, J. C. (2013). Multiple levels and modalities of measurement in a population-based approach to improving parenting. In A. Booth & S. M. McHale (Series Eds.), & S. McHale, P. Amato, & A. Booth (Vol. Eds.), National Symposium on Family Issues: Emerging methods in family research (pp. 197-214). New York, NY: Springer.
Light, J., Greenan, C., Rusby, J., Nies, K., & Snijders, T. (2013). Onset to first alcohol use in early adolescence: A network diffusion model. Journal Of Research On Adolescence, 23(3), 487-499. doi:10.1111/jora.12064
Rusby, J. C., Jones, L. B., Crowley, R., Smolkowski, K., & Arthun, C. (2013). Predictors of home-based child care providers’ participation in professional development workshops and coaching. Child & Youth Care Forum, 42, 439-455. doi:10.1007/s10566-013-9209-y
Rusby, J. C, Jones, L. B., Crowley, R., & Smolkowski, K. (2013). The Child Care Ecology Inventory: A domain-specific measure of home-based child care quality to promote social competence for school readiness. [Special issue on family child care]. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 28, 947-959. doi:10.1016/j.ecresq.2013.02.003
Biglan, A., Layton, G., Jones, L.B., Hankins, F. M., & Rusby, J. C. (2013). The value of workshops on psychological flexibility for early childhood special education staff. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 32(4), 196–210. doi:10.1177/0271121411425191
Metzler, C.W., Sanders, M.R., Rusby, J.C., & Crowley, R. (2012). Using consumer preference information to increase the reach and impact of media-based parenting interventions in a public health approach to parenting support. Behavior Therapy, 43, 257-270. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2011.05.004
Rusby, J.C., Crowley, R., Sprague, J., & Biglan, A. (2011). Observations of the middle school environment: The context for student behavior beyond the classroom. Psychology in the Schools, 48, 400-415. doi:10.1002/pits.20562
Rusby, J. C., Smolkowski, K., Marquez, B., & Taylor, T. K. (2008). A small-scale randomized efficacy trial of Carescapes: Enhancing children’s social development in child care homes. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 23(4), 527-546. doi:10.1016/j.ecresq.2008.08.003
Rusby, J.C., Foster, E.M., & Taylor, T.K. (2008). Associations of classroom structure and behavior management practices with at-risk student behavior in first grade. In D. H. Molina (Ed.), School psychology: 21st century issues and challenges. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers.
Rusby, J.C., Taylor, T.K., & Foster, E.M. (2007). A descriptive study of school referrals in first grade. Psychology in the Schools, 44(4), 333-350. doi:10.1002/pits.20226
Taylor, T.K., Burns, G.L., Rusby, J.C., & Foster, E.M. (2007). Oppositional defiant disorder toward adults and oppositional defiant disorder toward peers: Initial evidence for two separate constructs. Psychological Assessment, 18, 239-243.
Rusby, J. C., Taylor , T. K., & Johnson-Shelton, D. (2006). The Playground Atmosphere Rating (PAR): Examining the extent to which adult supervision and physical features of the playground are associated with first-grade student behavior. Proceedings of Persistently Save Schools 2006: Collaborating with Students, Families, and Communities. Washington, DC: Hamilton Fish Institute.
Rusby, J.C., Forrester, K.K., Biglan, A., & Metzler, C.W. (2005). Relationships between peer harassment and adolescent problem behaviors. Journal of Early Adolescence, 25(4), 453-477.
Rusby, J.C., Taylor, T.K., & Marquez, B. (2004). Promoting positive social development in family childcare settings. Early Education and Development, Special Issue on Prevention interventions with young children, 15(4), 449-470.
Rusby, J.C. (2003). Setting up to support social development: A guide for family child care providers. Carescapes videotape training program. Eugene, OR: Iris Media, Inc.
Rusby, J.C. (2002). Training needs and challenges of family child care providers. Child and Youth Care Forum, 31(5), 287-299.
Metzler, C.W., Biglan, A., Rusby, J.C, & Sprague, J. (2001). Evaluation of a comprehensive behavior management program to improve school-wide positive behavior support. Education and Treatment of Children, 24(4), 448-79.
Rusby, J.C., Estes, A.E., & Dishion, T. (2000). The interpersonal process code. Abstracted in J. Touliatos, B.F. Perlmutter, & G.W. Holden (Eds.), Handbook of family measurement techniques, Vol. 2. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Biglan, T., Metzler, C. W., Fowler, R. C., Gunn, B., Taylor, T. K., Rusby, J., & Irvine, B. (1997). Improving childrearing in America’s communities. In P. A. Lamal (Ed.), Cultural contingencies: Behavioral analytic perspectives on cultural practices (pp. 185-213). Westport, CT: Praeger.
Rusby, J. (1995). Assessing social competence to identify preschool children in need of intervention services: Issues in definition and methodology. In T. Tobin & A. Deffenbaugh (Eds.), Topics in behavior disorders, Vol. 6: Issues, controversies, and trends (pp. 2-8). Eugene, OR: University of Oregon, Behavior Disorders.
Experience
2013-2022 (retired in 2023)
Senior Research Scientist
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR.
2007-2012
Research Scientist
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR.
2001-2006
Associate Scientist
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR.
1998-2001
Research Associate
Center for Community Interventions on Childrearing, Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR.
1998-1999
Research Associate
Early Childhood Research Institute, University of Oregon (sub-contract with University of Minnesota)
1997-1998
Project Manager
CASY Project, Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR.
1996-1997
School Intervention Specialist
Community Action for Successful Youth (CASY) Project, Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR.
1995-1996
Research-Based School Psychology Intern
Management and Prevention Project, School Psychology Dept., University of Oregon, Eugene, OR.
1995-1996
School Psychology Intern
Bethel School District, Eugene, OR.
1992-1995
Data Analyst: Prevention Intervention Research Center
Oregon Social Learning Center, Eugene, Or.
1990-1992
School Data Coordinator. Linking Interests for Families and Teachers Project
Oregon Social Learning Center, Eugene, OR
1989-1990
Observation Supervisor: Longitudinal and NIDA studies
Oregon Social Learning Center, Eugene, OR
1987-1988
Research Asst., Observer and Data Manager
Treatment and Longitudinal Studies, Oregon Social Learning Center, Eugene, OR
1977-1981, 1986
Preschool Teacher/Child Care Provider
throughout California, Colorado, & Alaska.