Background and Education
Academic Appointments
2022 - Assistant Professor of Family Science, Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma.
2019-2022 Assistant Professor, Child and Family Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg Mississippi.
Education
2015-2020 Ph.D., Marriage and Family Therapy. Florida State University
2013-2015 M.A., Marriage and Family Therapy. Syracuse University
2008-2013 B.S., Psychology. Oklahoma State University
Professional Credentials
2025 Assistant Trainer, IFS-Institute
2024- Approved Consultant, IFS-Institute
2023- Certified Internal Family Systems Therapist (#CSL-2059)
2022 - AAMFT Approved Supervisor
2022 - LMFT- State of Michigan (License# 4101007260)
Professional Experience
2022 - Research Associate, Center for Immigrant Health and Education,
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Peer Reviewed Articles
* Denotes undergraduate student collaborator
** Denotes master student collaborator
*** Denotes doctoral student collaborator
Accepted and In Press
Fitzgerald, M (in press). Estimating Dyad Level Processes in MFT Research: General Overview of The Common Fate Model and Extensions into Mediation, Moderation, Growth, and Hybrid Models. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
Fitzgerald, M., Galovan, A., Papp, V., Brosi, M., Cox, R (2025). Reasons for Separation and Divorce, Coparenting, and Child Behavioral and Emotional Difficulties: A Common Fate Hybrid Model Analysis. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.
Lawrence, T., Fitzgerald, M., Wojciechowski, T. A Longitudinal Examination into Substance Use as a Mediator Linking Childhood Abuse to PTSD Symptoms: Impact of Developmental Timing of Abuse. Children Abuse and Neglect
Fitzgerald, M., Shoemaker, E.* Antecedents and Consequences of School Burnout: A Short-Term Longitudinal Study Linking Childhood Maltreatment to Sleep Problems Via Trait Mindfulness and School Burnout. Traumatology
Fitzgerald, M. (in press) Longitudinal Associations Between Childhood Maltreatment and Allostatic Load Among Midlife and Older Adults: Moderating Role of Perceived Stress and Gender. Traumatology
**Guidry, K., Fitzgerald, M. (in press) Differential Impact of College Women’s Psychological and Physical IPV Victimization on Fathering and Mental Health. Contemporary Family Therapy
Fitzgerald, M, Papp, V. Payne, J. (In press). Measurement Invariance in Couple Constructs Across Race: Examination into the Relationship Mindfulness Measure and Positive-Negative Relationship Quality Scale. Mindfulness
Hall, H.,*** Papp, V.,*** Fitzgerald, M. (In press). Childhood Sexual Abuse and IL6 Mediated by Change in BMI over an 18-Year Period: A Growth Curve Model. Child Abuse and Neglect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106914
Fitzgerald, M., Gallus, K. (in press) Conceptualizing and Measuring Childhood Adversity: A Comprehensive Critique of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Measure. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 10.1037/ort0000785
Fitzgerald, M., Bishop, A. (in press) Challenging the Use of the Overall ACE Score: Comparing Total ACEs, Maltreatment, and Household Dysfunction on Mental Health Problem Among White, African American, and Native American Adult Women in Correctional Custody. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 10.1037/ort0000784
Lawrence, T., Wojciechowski, T., Fitzgerald, M., Watson, S. (in press) The Transition from Physical Sibling Abuse to Bullying Perpetration Through Trait Anger: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of Adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12356
Fitzgerald, M., Hall, H.*** (in press) Childhood Sexual Abuse and Cholesterol Risk: Testing Body Mass Index as a Mediator in a National Sample of Adults. Child Abuse and Neglect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106848
Tadros, E, Notice, M, Fitzgerald, M. Gomez, E., Canterbury, M (in press). Marriage and Family Therapists Relationship Commitment During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Psychosociological Research in Family and Culture. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jprfc.2.2.6
Fitzgerald, M. Papp, V*** (in press). Childhood Maltreatment is Longitudinally Associated with Cardiometabolic Biomarkers Through Marital Quality: Do Health Locus of Control and Eating Habits Matter? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. IF: 2.8
Fitzgerald, M. Hall, H** (In press) It Doesn’t Add Up: Educational Achievement Mediates Child Maltreatment Subtypes to Allostatic Load. Child Abuse and Neglect. IF: 4.86.
Papp, V.,*** Fitzgerald, M (in press) Childhood Abuse and Chronic Physical Health Conditions: A Longitudinal Analysis of Familial Support and Strain as Mediators. Contemporary Family Therapy. IF 1.3
Thege, B., Moore, A., Szabo, G., Fitzgerald. M., Hodgins, D., Kim, H. (in press). Psychometric properties of the Generalised Version of the Screener for Substance and Behavioural Addictions (SSBA-G): A comprehensive screening tool for substance-related and behavioural addictions. Psychiatry Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115459. IF: 11.3
Fitzgerald, M., & Lunt, K. (in press). What aspects of dispositional mindfulness mediate the association between childhood emotional maltreatment and posttraumatic stress disorder? Traumatology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000476
Fitzgerald, M., Berthiaume, K., & Schuler, J. (in press). Pathways from childhood maltreatment to the quality of adult intimate relationships: Inquiry into mindfulness, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and attributions. Traumatology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000447. IF: 3.2
Fitzgerald, M. Williams, L** (in press). When Childhood States Become Adult Traits: Examination of Trait Anxiety and Anger as Mediators Linking Childhood Maltreatment to Marital Outcomes in Midlife Adults Over Time. Psychology of Violence. IF: 3.75
*Dunn, N., Esplin, J., Fitzgerald, M. (in press). Moving Out of Your Mind and Into Your Body: Yoga Buffers the Effects of Childhood Maltreatment on PTSD Symptoms. Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2066956 IF. 3.08
2024
Fitzgerald, M. (in press). Serial Indirect Effects from Childhood Maltreatment to Adult Chronic Health Conditions Through Contemporary Family Relationships and Mental Health Problems: Inquiry into Stress and Sleep Problems. Psychological Trauma, Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, Vol 16(Suppl 1). https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001469. IF: 9.40.
2023
Fitzgerald, M. Morgan, A. (2023). Marital Quality and Depression as Mediators Linking Childhood Maltreatment to Adult Physical Health. Child Abuse and Neglect, 141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106189. IF: 4.86.
Fitzgerald, M. Wright, L. Bishop, A. (in press) Childhood Sexual Abuse and Forgiveness: Relationship Enhancing or Relationship Detracting? Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 23(4). https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2023.2174469. IF: 2.19.
Fitzgerald, M. Shuler, J.*** (2023) Examining Attachment and Dyadic Coping in a Serial Mediational Model Linking Childhood Maltreatment to the Quality of Adult’s Intimate Relationships. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 22(4). https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2022.2149650 IF: N/A.
Fitzgerald, M., Morgan, A. (2023) Childhood Maltreatment and Provision of Support and Strain Given to Family Members in Adulthood: The Role of Social Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships 40(6). https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075221137320 IF: 3.04
Grames, H., Sims, P., Holden, C., Rollins, P., Jeanfreau, M., & Fitzgerald, M. (2023). The changing face of telesupervision and digital training in response to COVID‐19. Journal of Family Therapy, 45(2), 211-222. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12415 IF: 1.84
Fitzgerald, M., Notice, M. (2023) The Longitudinal Association Between Childhood Abuse and Positive and Negative Familial Interactions in Midlife and Older Adults: The Role of Mindfulness and Gender. Journal of Research on Aging, 45(3-4). https://doi.org/10.1177/01640275221108869 IF: 2.59
Fitzgerald, M., Notice, M. (2023). Childhood Embedded: Childhood Abuse and Chronic Physical Health Conditions Over a Ten-Year Period. Journal of Public Health 45(2). https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdac063 IF: 2.34
Fitzgerald, M., Esplin, J. (2023). Marital Quality as a Mechanism Linking Childhood Abuse to Adult Emotional Reactivity, Affective Symptoms, and Aggression. Journal of Family Issues, 44(6), 1488-1507. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X211059831. IF: 2.10
2022
Fitzgerald, M. (2022) Attachment as a Mediator Linking Childhood Abuse to Attributions in Adult Intimate Relationships. The Family Journal 30(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807221104121IF: N/A
Fitzgerald, M. (2022) Childhood Maltreatment is Associated with Adult Psychopathology Through Decreased Dispositional Mindfulness. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 31(10). IF. 2.06 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2022.2043971
Hamstra, C*., Fitzgerald, M. (2022). Longitudinal Effects from Childhood Abuse to Bullying Perpetration in Adolescents: The Role of Mental Health and Social Problems. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 15(3), 869-881. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-021-00409-2. IF: N/A
2021
Fitzgerald, M., Esplin, J., Wright, L., Gallus, K., Hardy, N. (2021). Dyadic Parent-Adolescent Relationship Quality as Pathways from Maternal Childhood Abuse to Adolescent Psychopathology. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 48(3), 827-844. doi: 10.1111/jmft.12555. IF: 2.38.
Fitzgerald, M., Berthiaume, K. (2021b). A Longitudinal Investigation into Marital Quality as a Mediator Linking Childhood Abuse to Positive and Negative Affective Symptoms. Journal of Gerontology Series B: Social Sciences, 76(10), 2112-2120. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbab095. IF: 4.08
Fitzgerald, M., Kawar, C. (2021) Mindfulness and Attachment as Concurrent Mediators of Childhood Maltreatment and Depressive, Anxious, and Dissociative Symptoms. Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, 23(3), 229-244. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2021.1989120. IF: 1.80.
Fitzgerald, M (2021d). A Drive for Redemption: Relationship Quality as a Mediator Linking Childhood Maltreatment to Symptoms of Social Anxiety and Depression. Journal of Adult Development. doi: 10.1007/s10804-021-09383-3. IF: .74.
Fitzgerald, M. (2021c) Relating from the Past or the Present: Relationship Mindfulness as a Mediator Linking Childhood Maltreatment to Adult Relationship Quality. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy. doi:10.1080/15332691.2021.1926387. IF: N/A.
Fitzgerald, M., Grames, H. (2021) Childhood Maltreatment and Mindfulness: Implications for Older Adult’s Marital Outcomes. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 21(2), 151-166. doi:10.1080/15332691.2021.1922114. IF: N/A.
Fitzgerald, M., Barton, C** (2021). Self-Qualities and Self-Leadership as Pathways Linking Childhood Maltreatment to Depression and Relationship Quality, 44(2), Contemporary Family Therapy. doi: 10.1007/s10591-021-09577-7. IF: N/A.
Fitzgerald, M., Berthaiume, K. (2021a) Does Spirituality Moderate the Relationship Between Child Maltreatment and Adult Men and Women’s Mental Health Problems? Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 31(2). 10.1080/10926771.2021.1912875. IF: 1.03.
†Fitzgerald, M. (2021b) Cool, Calm, and Collected: Associations Between Self-Leadership and Adult Mental and Relational Health Outcomes. American Journal of Family Therapy, 50(1), 57-71. IF: N/A. doi: 10.1080/01926187.2020.1865218
†Featured in in the March 2021 Internal Family Systems Foundation News
Fitzgerald, M., Spuhler, B., Hamstra, C*. (2021) The Intersection of Childhood Maltreatment and Marriages: Implications for Adult’s Health. Journal of Family Issues, 42(11). doi: 10.1177/0192513X20984505. IF: 1.61
Fitzgerald, M. (2021a). Developmental Pathways from Childhood Abuse to Young Adult Romantic Relationship Functioning. Journal of Trauma and Dissociation 22(5), 581-597. doi: 10.1080/15299732.2020.1869653. IF. 1.85
2020
Fitzgerald, M., Gallus, K. (2020). Emotional Support as a Mechanism Linking Childhood Maltreatment and Adult’s Depressive and Social Anxiety Symptoms. Child Abuse and Neglect. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104645. IF: 2.889.
Fitzgerald, M., Ledermann, T., Grzywacz, J., Hamstra, C.* (2020). Childhood Abuse and Positive and Negative Relationship Quality: The Role of Depression. Journal of Relationships Research, 11, e14. doi: 10.1017/jrr.2020.6. IF: N/A.
†Fitzgerald, M., London-Johnson, A., & Gallus, K. L. (2020). Intergenerational transmission of trauma and family systems theory: An empirical investigation. Journal of Family Therapy, 42(3), 406-424. doi: 10.1111/1467-6427.12303
†Featured in the Fall 2020 NDACAN Updata Newsletter (Vol. 51)
*Top Cited Article in 2020-2021*
Fitzgerald, M., Hamstra, C.* Ledermann, T (2020). Childhood Maltreatment and Adult’s Provisions of Emotional Support Given to Family, Friends, and Romantic Partners: An Examination of Gender Differences. Child Abuse and Neglect. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104520. IF: 2.889.
Fitzgerald, M., Ledermann, T (2020). Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Abuse, Relationship Quality, and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Mother-Adolescent Dyads. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 46(2), 352-365. doi: 10.1111/JMFT.12420 IF: 1.984.
2019
Tripodi, S., Pettus-Davis, C., Bender, K., Fitzgerald, M., Renn, T., Kennedy, S. (2019). Pathways to Recidivism for Women Released from Prison: The Influence of Childhood Trauma, Mental Health Problems and Substance Abuse. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 46, 1219-1236. doi: 10.1177/0093854819867119 IF: 2.168
2018
Lancaster, M., Jackson, L., Youngberg, S., Fitzgerald, M., McWey, L. (2018). Peer Relationships, Harsh Parenting and Adolescent Mental Health Concerns. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 27, 1060-1074 doi: 10.1080/10926771.2018.1425789. IF: N/A
2017
Cooper, A., Seibert, G. S., May, R. W., Fitzgerald, M., Fincham, F. D. (2017). School Burnout and Interpersonal Violence: The Role of Self-Control. Personality and Individual Differences, 112, 18-25. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2017.02.047 IF: 1.946;
2016
May, R. W., Seibert, G. S., Sanchez-Gonzalez, M. A., Fitzgerald, M., & Fincham, F. D. (2016). Dispositional Self-Control: Relationships with Aerobic Capacity and Morning Surge in Blood Pressure. Stress, 20, 46-52. doi: 10.1080/10253890.2016.1260543. IF: 2.715
Seibert, G. S., May, R. W., Fitzgerald, M., & Fincham, F. D. (2016). The Relationship Between School Burnout and Diminished Self-Control. Learning and Individual Differences, 49, 120-127. doi: 10.1016/j.lindif.2016.05.024. IF: 1.28