The Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR) Lab is dedicated to understanding how people flourish amidst hardship. We focus on identifying factors that promote resilience during and in the aftermath of trauma as well as key strengths that foster a sense of wellbeing among survivors. Critical to this work is the notion that wellbeing is more than the absence of mental health concerns; rather, it is the experience of happiness, health, and prosperity. Wellbeing research enables us to discover qualities that allow survivors to live their lives to the fullest.
Featured Publications
Posttraumatic Resilience and Growth: A Network Analysis of Character Strengths Among Sexual Assault Survivors
If you would like a copy of any publication listed below, please feel free to reach out via email.
2026
38. Vogt, D., Kumar, S. A., Caine, E. D., Gamble, S., Karras, E., & Borowski, S. (2026). Disrupting posttrauma networks: Identifying candidate intervention targets to improve military veterans’ mental health and well-being. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 118, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2026.103113
2025
37. Barden, E. P., Kumar, S. A., Sager, J. C., Thompson-Hollands, J., Lee, D. J., Harper, K., Keane, T. M., & Marx, B. P. (2025). Posttraumatic stress and growth among female and male veterans: The contribution of romantic relationship and friendship functioning. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 38, 399-409. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.23134
36. Borowski, S., Caine, E. D., Kumar, S. A., Karras, E., Gamble, S., & Vogt, D. (2025). Well-being and suicidal ideation in U.S. veterans: Age cohort effects during military-to-civilian transition. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 68, 944-953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2025.01.023
35. Howard Valdivia, R. L., Edwards, M. E., Jones, H. R., Kumar, S. A., & Jaffe, A. E. (2025). A prospective examination of sexual assault labeling and posttraumatic stress: Does trust in the perpetrator make a difference? Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 26, 392-414. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2025.2481476
34. Kumar, S. A., & Simpson, L. E. (2025). Bouncing back: Resilience and trauma. In R. Hitching (Ed.), The road to resilience: Overcoming challenges and building inner strength (pp. 64-73). ABCT.org.
33. Kumar, S. A., Taverna, E., Mitchell, K. S., Smith, B. N., & Vogt, D. (2025). Purpose in life and posttraumatic stress symptoms among military veterans: A network analysis. Military Psychology, 38, 37-49. https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2024.2447650
32. Kumar, S. A., Vogt, D., Miller, A. N., Mitchell, K. S., Brock, R. L., & DiLillo, D. (2025). Posttraumatic resilience and growth: A network analysis of character strengths among sexual assault survivors. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 1-12. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001857
31. Taverna, E., Iverson, K. M., Kumar, S. A., Vogt, D., & Mitchell, K. S. (2025). Beyond physical and mental health: The broader impacts of intimate partner violence on psychosocial well-being among women and men veterans. Stress and Health, 41, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3526
2024
30. Kumar, S. A., Edwards, M. E., Bogen, K. W., Grandgenett, H. M., Eagan, S. R., Zosky, J. E., Gervais, S. J., & DiLillo, D. (2024). Progressive moral foundations and empathic concern: Facilitators of sexual assault bystander intervention. Psychology of Violence, 15, 121-132. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000536
29. Kumar, S. A., Taverna, E., Borowski, S., Smith, B. N., & Vogt, D. (2024). From posttraumatic stress symptoms to suicidal ideation among military veterans: Pathways founded on meaning and gratitude. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 37, 594-605. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.23033
28. Simpson, L. E., Kumar, S. A., Brockdorf, A. N., Brock, R. L., Messman, T. L., Gratz, K. L., & DiLillo, D. (2024). The cumulative impact of recurrent experiences of intimate partner violence on emotion dysregulation: A longitudinal investigation. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 40, 2760-2783. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241278996
27. Taverna, E., Kline, N. K., Kumar, S. A., & Iverson, K. M. (2024). Experiences of intimate partner violence and valued living among women veterans: The role of self-efficacy. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 37, 913-923. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.23059
26. Vogt, D., Borowski, S., Kumar, S. A., Lee, L. O., & Schnurr, P. P. (2024). Psychosocial well-being at the time of trauma exposure and prevention of PTSD. JAMA Network Open, 7, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.40388
2023
25. Kumar, S. A., Borowski, S., & Vogt, D. (2023). Meaning in life following service among post-9/11 military veterans: A latent growth mixture model analysis. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 16, 723-744. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12513
24. Vogt, D., Kumar, S. A., & Lee, L. O. (2023). Examining functioning and well-being outcomes in PTSD treatment. PTSD Research Quarterly, 34, 1-9. ISSN: 1050-1835
2022
23. Brock, R. L., Calkins, F. C., Hamburger, E. R., Kumar, S. A., Laifer, L. M., Phillips, E., & Ramsdell, E. L. (2022). Learning from adversity: What the COVID-19 pandemic can teach us about family resiliency. Family Process, 62, 1574-1591. http://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12849
22. Brockdorf, A. N., Holland, K. J., Kumar, S. A., Jaffe, A. E., & DiLillo, D. (2022). Alcohol use before sexual violence and cognitive appraisals: Differential associations with barriers to help-seeking. Violence Against Women, 29, 777-799. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012221097144
21. Jaffe, A. E., Kumar, S. A., Hultgren, B. A., Smith-LeCeavalier, K. N., Garcia, T. A., Canning, J. R., & Larimer, M. E. (2022). Meaning in life and stress-related drinking: A multicohort study of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addictive Behaviors, 129, 107281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107281
20. Kumar, S. A., Brockdorf, A. N., Jaffe, A. E., Church, H. R., Messman, T. L., & DiLillo, D. (2022). Mindful awareness promotes resilience: Buffered links among childhood sexual abuse severity, goal-directed emotion dysregulation, and psychopathology. Mindfulness, 13, 993-1006. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01854-2
19. Kumar, S. A., Edwards, M. E., Grandgenett, H. M., Scherer, L. L., DiLillo, D., & Jaffe, A. E. (2022). Does gratitude promote resilience during a pandemic? An examination of mental health and positivity at the onset of COVID-19. Journal of Happiness Studies, 23, 3463-3483. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00554-x
18. Kumar, S. A., Franz, M. R., DiLillo, D. & Brock, R. L. (2022). Promoting resilience to depression among couples during pregnancy: The protective functions of intimate relationship satisfaction and self-compassion. Family Process, 62, 387-405. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12788
17. Layous, K., Kumar, S. A., Arendtson, M., & Najera, A. (2022). The effects of rumination, distraction, and gratitude on positive and negative affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 124, 1053-1078. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000440
16. Nester, M. S., Brand, B. L., Schielke, H. J., & Kumar, S. A. (2022). An examination of the relations between emotion dysregulation, dissociation, and non-suicidal self-injury among dissociative disorder patients. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 13, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2022.2031592
15. Otto, E. A., Kumar, S. A., & DiLillo, D. (2022). Music’s impact on the sexualization of Black bodies: Examining links between hip-hop and sexualization of Black women. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 27, 145-153. https://doi.org/10.24839/2325-7342.JN27.2.145
2021
14. Franz, M. R., Kumar, S. A., Brock, R. L., Calvi, J. L., & DiLillo, D. (2021). Parenting behaviors of mothers with posttraumatic stress: The roles of cortisol reactivity and negative emotion. Journal of Family Psychology, 36, 130-139. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000865
13. Jaffe, A. E., Kumar, S. A., Ramirez, J., & DiLillo, D. (2021). Is the COVID-19 pandemic a high-risk period for college student alcohol use? A comparison of three spring semesters. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 45, 854-863. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.14572
12. Kumar, S. A., Brock, R. L., & DiLillo, D. (2021). Partner support and connection protect couples during pregnancy: A daily diary investigation. Journal of Marriage and Family, 84, 494-514. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12798
11. Kumar, S. A., Hein, C. L., DiLillo, D., & Pietrzak, R. H. (2021). Resilience to suicidal ideation among U.S. military veterans with posttraumatic stress: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Military Behavioral Health, 10, 328-337. https://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2021.2015019
10. Kumar, S. A., Jaffe, A. E., Brock, R. L., & DiLillo, D. (2021). Resilience to suicidal ideation among college sexual assault survivors: The protective role of optimism and gratitude in the context of posttraumatic stress. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 14, S91-S100. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001141
2019
9. Brand, B. L., Kumar, S. A., & McEwen, L. E. (2019). Coverage of child maltreatment and adult trauma in graduate psychopathology textbooks. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 11, 919-926. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000454
8. Kumar, S. A., Brand, B. L., & Courtois, C. A. (2019). The need for trauma training: Clinicians’ reactions to training on complex trauma. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 14, 1387-1394. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000515
7. Kumar, S. A., Franz, M. R., Brock, R. L., & DiLillo, D. (2019). Posttraumatic stress and parenting behaviors: The mediating role of emotion regulation. Journal of Family Violence, 35, 417-426. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-019-00124-5
2018
6. Kumar, S. A., & Mattanah, J. F. (2018). Interparental conflict, parental intrusiveness, and interpersonal functioning in emerging adulthood. Personal Relationships, 25, 120-133. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12231
2017
5. Davila, J., Mattanah, J. F., Bhatia, V., Latack, J. A., Feinstein, B. A., Eaton, N. R., Daks, J., Kumar, S. A., Lomash, E., McCormick, M., & Zhou, J. (2017). Romantic competence, healthy relationship functioning, and well-being in emerging adults. Personal Relationships, 24, 162-184. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12175
4. Kumar, S. A. (2017). From student to professional: Thoughts on roadblocks and keys to success. In J. D. Sinnott (Ed.), Identity flexibility during adulthood: Perspectives on adult development (pp. 197-209). Springer.
3. Webermann, A., Brand, B. L., & Kumar, S. A. (2017). Intimate partner violence among patients with dissociative disorders. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36, 1441-1462. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260517746943
2. Webermann, A., Brand, B. L., Schielke, H., Kumar, S. A., & Myrick, A. (2017). Depression and culture in the TOP DD Network Study: Assessing depressive symptoms, self-harm, and hospitalization among dissociative patients across four cultures. Acta Psychopathologica, 3, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.4172/2469-6676.100111
2016
1. Kumar, S. A., & Mattanah, J. F. (2016). Parental attachment, romantic competence, relationship satisfaction, and psychosocial adjustment in emerging adulthood. Personal Relationships, 23, 801-817. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12161