Dr. Sheri Madigan
Positions
Chair: SSHRC Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Child Development
Professor
Full Member
Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education
Full Member
Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Owerko Centre
Contact information
Web presence
For media enquiries, contact
Background
Credentials
R.Psych, College of Alberta Psychologists, 2016
C.Psych, The College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario, 2010
Educational Background
Bachelor of Science Psychology, Trent University, 1999
Master of Arts - Masters Developmental Psychology, University of Western Ontario, 2001
Doctorate of Philosophy Clinical Psychology, University of Western Ontario, 2007
Postdoctoral Fellowship Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 2010
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Psychology, University of Toronto, 2015
Research
Areas of Research
Investigating child mental health outcomes, caregiver-child attachment, and parenting behaviors that shape children's developmental trajectories.
Investigating the impact of childhood maltreatment and adversity on developmental outcomes and intergenerational patterns, with a focus on understanding and implementing trauma-informed care approaches. This work focuses on identifying factors that foster resilience and promote healing in individuals, families, and across generations.
Investigating the impact of parent and child screen time and digital media on child development and mental health. This area of research seeks to explore both the potential benefits and risks of digital media, including how it may support children’s learning and sense of connection, as well as how it may disrupt family interactions and contribute to children's developmental challenges.
Collaborating with practitioners, caregivers, youth, and community organizations to help to bridge the gap between research and practice. This focus includes developing and implementing accessible, evidence-based assessments and digital health solutions.
Background. Dr. Madigan is a Professor, registered clinical psychologist, Tier II Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Child Development, and Killam Laureate in the Department of Psychology within the Faculty of Arts, as well as a member of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute and Hotchkiss Brain Institute. She currently serves as the Director of Clinical Training for the graduate program in Clinical Psychology.
Research Program. As a clinician-scientist, Dr. Madigan’s research centers on maternal and child mental health, caregiver-child relationships, adversity, resilience, and child development. She collaborates with practitioners, caregivers, youth, and community partners to develop practical tools and resources that aim to address the clinical needs of children and families. Her funded national and international transdisciplinary initiatives, including the CARE Collaboration, COPE with trauma, and ACEsHub, all emphasize psychoeducation as a central approach to bridging gaps between research and practice, tackling real-world challenges, and supporting clinical and community needs more effectively.
Research Contributions. Dr. Madigan’s research program sits at the juxtaposition of social sciences and health and therefore she is funded by both SSHRC and CIHR, including a CIHR Project Grant (2022-2028), as well as a SSHRC Partnership Grant (2024-2031). She has published over 215 journal articles, many of which are in high-impact outlets such as JAMA Pediatrics, Lancet Psychiatry, World Psychiatry, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Child Development, and Psychological Bulletin. She is recognized as one of the top 1% of cited scholars globally by Clarivate (Web of Science) and has been ranked among the top 25 most productive psychologists worldwide by ScholarGPS. Many of her publications feature prominently as "most-viewed" or "top-cited" publications in various outlets. Her research program has been acknowledged through receipt of mid-career awards, including the Royal-Mach-Gaensslen Prize for Mental Health Research, the American Psychological Association (APA) Division of Child and Family Policy's mid-career award for Child Maltreatment Research, and induction into the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists, as well as early career awards from the World Association for Infant Mental Health, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Dr. Madigan serves on the Editorial Board for JAMA Pediatrics and the International Advisory Board for Attachment and Human Development.
Research outreach. Dr. Madigan is dedicated to producing academic work that translates into tangible real-world impacts. Dr. Madigan has given over 200 media interviews, written 50 opinion editorials where her contributions have garnered widespread attention based on readership metrics approximately 2 million reads), and she has provided monthly segments on CTV Calgary Morning Live since 2017 as their child development and mental health expert. Dr. Madigan is also passionate about disseminating research to those interacting with families. She has trained over 300 practitioners worldwide in the use of an observational tool for assessing disruptive forms of caregiving behavior associated with disorganized child-parent attachment. She also regularly gives presentations to parents, caregivers, educators, clinicians, and health practitioners on child development and mental health. Dr. Madigan’s efforts in knowledge mobilization were recognized via receipt of a Public Engagement Award from the University of Calgary and the Psychology Association of Alberta John G. Paterson Media Award.
Research Team: Supervision and mentorship are top priorities for Dr. Madigan. She is committed to cultivating a positive and inclusive lab culture that emphasizes genuine support, diversity, and inclusivity. The Determinants of Child Development Lab currently includes four postdoctoral fellows, four graduate students in Clinical Psychology, Research Associates, a Knowledge Translation Specialist, Research Assistants, a Lab Manager, as well as undergraduate honours students and volunteers. Over the years, Dr. Madigan has mentored seven postdoctoral fellows, many of whom now hold faculty positions at institutions across Canada, along with five MSc students and two PhD students who have successfully completed their training under her guidance. She considers it both a privilege and an honour to continue collaborating with her former trainees.
Participation in university strategic initiatives
Courses
| Course number | Course title | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| PSY651 | Development & Psychopathology | Fall 2024 |
Awards
- American Psychological Association (APA) Division of Child and Family Policy (Div 37) Section on Child Maltreatment, Mid-Career Award. 2024
- John G. Paterson Media Award, Psychology Association of Alberta John G. Paterson Media Award. 2024
- Royal-Mach-Gaensslen Prize for Mental Health Research, Mach-Gaensslen Foundation. 2022
- College of New Scholars, Artists, Scientists, Royal Society of Canada. 2021
- Danieli Young Professional Award, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies . 2021
- Public Engagement Award, Faculty of Arts, University of Calgary. 2020
- Killam Emerging Research Leader (University of Calgary), Killam Laureates. 2018
- CIHR Brain Star Award, Canadian Institutes of Health Research. 2017
- Emerging Leader Award, Faculty of Arts, University of Calgary. 2017
- New Investigator Award, World Association for Infant Mental Health. 2014
Publications
In the News
- To Play or Not to Play With Your Kid? It shouldn’t be this hard to decide. The Atlantic. (2024)
- How to talk to your kids about online sexual extortion. CBC - The Current. (2023)
- Teen mental health support can learn from cancer care in Ontario, psychologist says. CBC - The Current. (2023)
- Screen Time and Child Development. JAMA Pediatrics Podcast. (2023)
- Children under 2 shouldn’t have any screen time at all, new doctor guidelines recommend. The Globe and Mail. (2022)
- Screens vs Kids. The Nature of Things . (2020)
- Youth depression and anxiety doubled during the pandemic, new analysis finds. CNN. (2021)
- Pandemic’s toll on mental health of mothers exceeds fears of researchers, Lancet study finds. The Globe and Mail. (2021)
- How will babies born during the pandemic meet the world? . The Big Story Podcast . (2020)
- Study links high levels of screen time to slower child development. The Guardian. (2019)
- Teenagers Are Sexting — Now What?. The New York Times. (2019)
- The Minefield of Talking With Your Children About Sexting. The Wall Street Journal. (2018)
- Sexting Among Teens is on the Rise. ABC’s Good Morning America . (2018)
- Too Much Screen Time Can Have Lasting Consequences for Young Children’s Brains. Time. (2018)
- Brothers And Sisters Teach Each Other About Empathy From A Young Age. HuffPost. (2018)
- Here’s How Many Young People Are Seeing Unwanted Sexual Content Online. Time. (2018)
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