Erin Sheets

Education

Ph.D., University of Colorado at Boulder, 2008
Clinical Psychology

M.A., University of Colorado at Boulder, 2004
Clinical Psychology

A.B., Duke University, 2001
Psychology and Spanish

Areas of Expertise

• Clinical Psychology

• Major Depressive Disorder

• Stress Reactivity

• Social Belonging

Personal Information

Link to Erin Sheets’s Website
Licensed Psychologist, State of Maine

Current Research

My research program integrates theories and methods of clinical psychology and affective science to understand the impact of stress and interpersonal functioning on mood disorders. This research primarily focuses on depression during emerging adulthood (ages 18 – 25). Currently, I am particularly interested in the ways in which sense of belonging and the ways in which mindsets impact mental health. I utilize a variety of research methods to examine these topics, including ecological momentary assessment, interpersonal laboratory tasks, diagnostic interviews, and quantitative self-report measures. Overall, my work identifies particular beliefs and behaviors that may disrupt interpersonal relationships, increase negative affect, and lead to the onset of depression. These studies inform interpersonally-based depression prevention efforts.

Publications

Selected Publications (* denotes Colby College student/alumnus author)

Sheets, E. S., & Young, D. (2024). A brief, group social belonging intervention to improve mental health and academic outcomes in BIPOC and first-generation to college students. Clinical Psychological Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026231220060

Huebschmann, N. A.*, & Sheets, E. S. (2021). Don’t fear conflict: Relationship stress beliefs in friend, familial, and romantic relationships. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 26(2), 252-261. https://doi.org/10.24839/2325-7342.JN26.2.252

Sheets, E. S., & Armey, M. F. (2020). Daily interpersonal and noninterpersonal stress reactivity in current and remitted depression. Cognitive Therapy and Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10608-020-10096-2

Huebschmann, N. A.*, & Sheets, E. S. (2020). The right mindset: Stress mindset moderates the association between perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 33, 248-255. doi: 10.1080/10615806.2020.1736900

Rabasco, A. N.*, & Sheets, E. S. (2016). The effects of face-to-face and online social stress on emotion identification. Modern Psychological Studies, 22(1), 53-63.

Sheets, E. S., Bujarski, S., Leventhal, A. M., & Ray, L. A. (2015). Emotion differentiation and intensity during acute tobacco abstinence: A comparison of heavy and light smokers. Addictive Behaviors, 47, 70-73. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.03.024

Sheets, E. S., & Craighead, W. E. (2014). Comparing chronic interpersonal and noninterpersonal stress domains as predictors of depression recurrence in emerging adults. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 63,36-42. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2014.09.001

Sheets, E. S., & Kraines, M.* (2014). Personality disorder traits as a moderator of poor social problem-solving skills and depressive symptoms. Journal of Individual Differences, 35(2), 103-110. doi: 10.1027/1614-0001/a000132

Sheets, E. S., Duncan, L. E., Bjornsson, A. S., Craighead, L. W., & Craighead, W. E. (2014). Personality pathology factors predict recurrent major depressive disorder in emerging adults. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 70(6), 536-545. doi: 10.1002/jclp.22028

Sheets, E. S., Craighead, L. W., Brosse, A. L., Hauser, M., Madsen, J. W., & Craighead, W. E. (2013). Prevention of recurrence of major depression among emerging adults by a group cognitive-behavioral/interpersonal intervention. Journal of Affective Disorders, 147, 425-430. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2012.08.036

Craighead, W. E., Sheets, E. S., Craighead, L. W., & Madsen, J. W. (2011). Recurrence of MDD among previously depressed young adults: A prospective study of personality pathology and cognitive distortions. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 2(2), 83-97. doi: 10.1037/a0020456