Dr. D’Onofrio explores the causes and treatments of psychological problems across the lifespan. The three general approaches he uses to study the processes underlying associations among risk factors for psychological problems are: quasi-experimental methods, longitudinal analyses, and intervention studies.
Quasi-experimental methods are approaches based on individuals who are not randomly assigned to conditions but that use design features to test alternative hypotheses that could explain the statistical relations between risk factors and outcomes. For example, by comparing differentially exposed siblings and cousins in large epidemiological studies, he has explored the consequences of smoking, preterm birth and other prenatal risk factors.
Dr. D’Onofrio uses longitudinal analyses to study sensitive periods of development and explore how risk factors influence and are influenced by individuals. He uses intervention studies, particularly randomized controlled studies, to explore interventions for divorcing and separating couples.
Dr. D’Onofrio’s research has been covered by major news outlets across the world, including the British Broadcasting Corporation, CBS News, the Economist, the Globe and Mail, National Public Radio, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. He also has made numerous presentations to community groups, including judges and lawyers associated with family courts.
Dr. D’Onofrio is a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University in Bloomington, and he is director of clinical training. He earned his doctorate degree in clinical psychology in 2005 from the University of Virginia.
