Headshot of Dr.Karen P. Kochel

Dr. Karen P. Kochel

She/Her
Associate Professor of Psychology
Curriculum Vitae

  • Profile

    Karen P. Kochel is a child developmental scientist who researches child, adolescent, and emerging adult psychological adjustment within interpersonal and school contexts. In particular, she investigates processes through which psychological symptoms contribute to and result from maladaptive peer relationships, including peer victimization, as well as the role of friendship and other potentially protective mechanisms. Kochel is also engaged in collaborative work as co-lead of The WEB Project, a research-based initiative aimed at examining, as well as developing and evaluating, means for improving student belonging at UR.

    Kochel pairs her classroom teaching in child development, mental health, and statistics with a strong commitment to mentoring UR psychology students in research. She was the recipient of the University of Richmond’s Distinguished Educator Award in 2024 and the Community Engaged Scholarship Award in 2022.

    Expand All
    • Awards

      University of Richmond Distinguished Educator Award (2024)

      University of Richmond Community Engaged Scholarship Award (2022)

    • Presentations

      Kochel, K.P. (2019, March). Investigating depressed children's perceptions of their social competence. In C.L. Bagwell (Chair), Children's perceptions of their social world: Effects on socioemotional adjustment and peer relations. Paper presented at the Society for Research in Child Development, Baltimore, Maryland.

      Kochel, K.P. & Maki, M.* (2019, March). Investigating pathways from children’s depressive symptoms to peer relationships: The role of teacher support. Poster presented at the meeting for the Society for Research in Child Development, Baltimore, Maryland.

      Kochel, K.P. & Stomski, M.* (2019, March). Are dysphoric children with depression-linked behaviors at elevated risk for peer relationship disturbances? Poster presented at the meeting for the Society for Research in Child Development, Baltimore, Maryland.

      Kochel, K.P., & Rafferty, D.* (2018, July). Transactions between children’s depressive symptoms and peer relationship difficulties: The role of social helplessness. In Interpersonal relationships, health, and well-being. Paper presented at the International Association for Relationships Research Conference, Fort Collins, Colorado.

      Kochel, K.P., Bagwell, C.L., Ladd, G.W., & Rudolph, K.D. (2018, April). Do the social-behavioral deficits of depressed adolescents interfere with friendships? In R. Schwartz-Mette (Chair), New directions in the study of friendships and emotional adjustment: New measures, new constructs and a fresh look at our theories. Paper presented at the meeting for the Society for Research in Adolescence, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

      Kochel, K.P., & Sweezy, S.* (2018, April). Self  versus teacher perceptions of social competence among sociometric and perceived popular preadolescents. Poster presented at the meeting for the Society for Research in Adolescence, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

      * Denotes UR undergraduate author

    • Memberships

      Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)

  • Selected Publications
    Journal Articles

    Kochel, K. P. (2023). Leadership in children and adolescents. In G.R. Goethals, S.T. Allison, & G.J. Sorenson (Eds.), The Sage Encyclopedia of Leadership Studies. Sage Publications.

    Kochel, K. P., Bagwell, C. L., & Rosen, S.* (2023) College students’ loneliness, feelings about social media, and depressive symptoms during COVID-19: Between and within-person temporal associations. Interdisciplinary Journal of Leadership Studies, 2, 21-37.   https://scholarship.richmond.edu/ijls/vol2/iss2/2/

    Kochel, K.P., Bagwell, C.L., & Abrash, R.* (2022). Empirically derived psychological profiles of college students: Differential associations with COVID-19 impact and social adjustment. Emerging Adulthood, 10(5), 1299-1311. https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968221119946

    Kochel, K.P., & Rafferty, D. (2020). Prospective associations between children’s depressive symptoms and peer victimization: The role of social helplessness. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 38(1), 15-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12301

    Kochel, K.P., & Bagwell, C.L. (2017). Applying symptoms-driven models of depression to the investigation of peer relationship adversity: Mediating and moderating mechanisms. [Special Issue Foreward]. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2017.05.005

    Kochel, K.P., Bagwell, C.L., Ladd, G.W., & Rudolph, K.D. (2017). Do positive peer relations mitigate transactions between depressive symptoms and peer victimization in adolescence? Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 51, 44-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2017.04.003

    Miller, C. F., Kochel, K. P., Wheeler, L. A., Updegraff, K. A., Fabes, R. A., Martin, C. L., & Hanish, L. D. (2017). The efficacy of a relationship building intervention in 5th grade. Journal of School Psychology, 61, 75-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2017.01.002

    DeLay, D., Zhang, L., Hanish, L. D., Miller, C., Fabes, R. A., Martin, C. L., Kochel, K. P., & Updegraff, K. (2016). Peer influence on academic performance: A social network analysis of social-emotional intervention effects. Prevention Science, 17(8), 903-913. doi:10.1007/s11121-016-0678-8

    Kochel, K.P., Ladd, G.W., Bagwell, C.L., & Yabko, B.A. (2015). Bully/victim profiles’ differential risk for worsening peer acceptance: The role of friendship. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 41, 38-45. doi: 10.1016/j.appdev.2015.05.002

    Kochel, K.P., Ladd, G.W., & Rudolph, K.D. (2012). Longitudinal associations among youth depressive symptoms, peer victimization, and low peer acceptance: An interpersonal process perspective. Child Development, 83(2), 637-650. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2011.01722.x

    Kochel, K.P., Miller, C.F., Updegraff, K.A., Ladd, G.W., & Kochenderfer-Ladd, B.J. (2012). Associations between fifth graders’ gender atypical problem behavior and peer relationships: A short-term longitudinal study. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41(8), 1022-1034. doi: 10.1007/s10964-011-9733-8

    Ladd, G.W., Kochenderfer-Ladd, B.J., Eggum, N.D., Kochel, K.P., & McConnell, E.M. (2011). Characterizing and comparing the friendships of anxious solitary and unsociable preadolescents. Child Development, 82(5), 1434-1453. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2011.01632.x

    Book Chapters

    Bagwell, C.L., & Kochel, K.P. (2022). Can friends also be foes? In M. Jones (Ed.), Peer relationships in classroom management: Evidence and interventions for teaching (1st ed., pp. 159-182). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003148647

    Bagwell, C.L., Kochel, K.P., & Schmidt, M.E. (2015). Friendship and happiness among adolescents. In M. Demir (Ed.), Friendship and Happiness (pp. 99-116). Netherlands: Springer.

    Kochenderfer-Ladd, B.J., Ladd, G. W., & Kochel, K. P. (2009). A child and environment framework for studying risk for peer victimization. In M.J. Harris (Ed.), Bullying, rejection, and peer victimization: A social cognitive neuroscience perspective (pp. 27-52). New York, NY: Springer Publishing.

    Ladd, G.W., Herald-Brown, S.L., & Kochel, K.P. (2009). Peers and motivation. In K. Wentzel & A. Wigfield (Eds.), Handbook on motivation at school (pp. 323-348). New York, NY: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

    * Indicates current or former UR undergraduate co-author.