Lisa Armistead

Ph.D., University of Georgia, 1993

Distinguished University Professor

Most generally, my research focuses on the role of families in the lives of children and adolescents. Over the past several years, I have investigated the impact of various family stressors on child and adolescent functioning. More recently, my research focus has narrowed to the intersection of HIV and families. In particular, I investigate the impact of maternal HIV infection on children and the use of families to prevent youth HIV infection. I have conducted this work domestically with African American families and internationally in South Africa. Through this research, my colleagues and I have identified several family process variables that serve as mechanisms through which a mother’s illness affects her child. Some of these include parenting skills, the parent child relationship, disclosure of maternal HIV status and maternal, as well as child, social support.

My most recent project is funded by the National Institutes of Health and is a randomized controlled trial of the Teaching, Raising, and Communicating with Kids (TRACK) program. My UCLA-based colleagues and I designed TRACK to assist HIV+ mothers with disclosing their status to their children. Analyses indicate the intervention resulted in mother-to-child disclosure of HIV status and other positive outcomes for mothers and their children.

Research Interests

Most generally, my research focuses on the role of families in the lives of children and adolescents. Over the past several years, I have investigated the impact of various family stressors on child and adolescent functioning. More recently, my research focus has narrowed to the intersection of HIV and families. In particular, I investigate the impact of maternal HIV infection on children and the use of families to prevent youth HIV infection. I have conducted this work domestically with African American families and internationally in South Africa. Through this research, my colleagues and I have identified several family process variables that serve as mechanisms through which a mother’s illness affects her child. Some of these include parenting skills, the parent child relationship, disclosure of maternal HIV status and maternal, as well as child, social support.

My most recent project is funded by the National Institutes of Health and is a randomized controlled trial of the Teaching, Raising, and Communicating with Kids (TRACK) program. My UCLA-based colleagues and I designed TRACK to assist HIV+ mothers with disclosing their status to their children. Analyses indicate the intervention resulted in mother-to-child disclosure of HIV status and other positive outcomes for mothers and their children.

Clinical Interests

My clinical interests overlap with my research agenda in that I focus on families and family stressors in my work with children and adolescents. Specifically, I have expertise in parenting interventions and other behavioral interventions for child internalizing and externalizing problems. I limit my clinical work with adults to the presenting problems of mood and anxiety disorders. I adhere to the scientist-practitioner model and work primarily from a cognitive-behavioral orientation.

Representative Publications (Student co-authors are italicized)

Armistead, L., Goodrum, N., Schulte, M., Marelich, W., LeCroix, R., & Murphy, D. (2018). Does maternal HIV disclosure self-efficacy enhance parent-child relationships and child adjustment? AIDS and Behavior. 10.1007/s10461-018-2042-4

Self-Brown, S., Culbreth, R., Wilson, R., Armistead, L., Kasirye, R., & Swahn, M. H. (2018). Individual and parental risk factors for commercial sexual exploitation among high-risk youth in Uganda. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518771685

LeCroix, R., Goodrum, N., Hufstetler, S., & Armistead, L. (2017). Community Data Collection with Children of Mothers Living with HIV: Boundaries of the Researcher Role. American Journal of Community Psychology, 60, 368-374. DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12193

Tarantino, N., Goodrum, N.M., Salama, C., LeCroix, R., Gaska, K., Cook, S., Skinner, D. & Armistead, L. (2017). South African Adolescents’ Neighborhood Perceptions Predict Longitudinal Change in Child and Family Functioning. Journal of Early Adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431617725196

Schulte, M. Armistead, L., Marelich, W., Payne, D., Goodrum, N. & Murphy, D. (2017). Maternal parenting stress and child perception of family functioning among families affected by HIV/AIDS. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care 28, 784-794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jana.2017.05.004

Goodrum, N., Armistead, L., Tully, E., Cook, S., and Skinner, D. (2017). Parenting and youth sexual risk in context: The role of community factors. Journal of Adolescence, 57, 1-12.

Murphy, D., Armistead, L., Payne, D., Marelich, W.D., & Herbeck, D. (2016). Pilot trial of a parenting and self-care intervention for HIV-positive mothers: The IMAGE program. AIDS Care, 29, 40-48.

Tarantino, N. & Armistead, L. (2016). A Parent-Based Intervention to Prevent HIV among Adolescent Children of Mothers Living with HIV: The Ms Now! Program. Vulnerable Children & Youth Studies, 11, 160-172.

Tarantino, N., Goodrum, N., Armistead, L., Cook, S., Skinner, D., & Toefy, Y. (2014). Safety-related moderators of a parent- based HIV prevention intervention in South Africa. Journal of Family Psychology, 28, 790-799.

Goodnight, B., Salama, C., Grim, E., Anthony, E., Armistead, L. Cook, S., Skinner, D., & Toefy, Y. (2014). Perceived Control and Communication about Sex: A Study of South African Families. African Journal of AIDS Research, 13, 31-36.

Armistead, L., Cook, S., Skinner, D., Toefy, Y., Anthony, E. R. Zimmerman, L., Salama, C., Hipp, T., Goodnight, B., & Chow, L. (2014). Preliminary results from a family-based HIV prevention intervention for South African youth. Health Psychology, 33, 668-676.

Anthony, E., Hipp, T., Darnell, D., Armistead, L., Cook, S., & Skinner, D. (2014). Caregiver-Youth Communication about Sex in South Africa: The Role of Maternal Child Sexual Abuse History. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 23, 657-673.

Tarantino, N., Anthony, E., Zimmerman, L., Armistead, L., Cook, S., Skinner, D., & Toefy, Y. (2014). Talking to young people about sex in South Africa: Neighborhood and social influences. Journal of Community Psychology, 42, 656-672.

Salama, C., Morris, M., Armistead, L. Koenig, L., Demas, P., Ferdon, C., & Bachanas, P. (2012). Depression and conduct disorder problems in youth living with HIV: The independent, and interactive roles of coping and neuropsychological functioning. AIDS Care and Research, 25, 160-168.

Miller, K.S., Lin, C., Poulson, M., Fasula, A., Wyckoff, S, Forehand, R., Long, N.  & Armistead, L. (2011). Enhancing HIV Communication between Parents and Children: Efficacy of the Parents Matter! Program. AIDS Education and Prevention, 23, 550-563.

Murphy, D. A., Armistead, L., Marelich, W. D., Payne, D. L, & Herbeck, D. M. (2011). Pilot Trial of a Disclosure Intervention for HIV+ Mothers: The TRACK Program. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79, 203-214.