Gaithri Fernando, Ph.D.

Professor

 

TEACHING INTERESTS

My teaching interests arise from my clinical experience, and include abnormal and clinical psychology, posttraumatic stress, test construction, personality, and developmental psychopathology, as well as clinical and neuropsychological assessment. My teaching style tends to vary with the level of courses I teach: more didactically oriented in the introductory courses and more discussion-oriented in the higher-level courses. When possible, I use supplementary reading and speakers to complement the textbook.

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RESEARCH

I direct the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at CSULA. My primary interests are in posttraumatic stress in the context of war and extreme traumas such as torture, bomb blasts, and assassination attempts. I am also interested in exploring posttraumatic stress in the context of child abuse and domestic violence. However graduate students in my lab are encouraged to develop and run their own projects as they relate to assessment and intervention. I enjoy working with students, and our research team presents papers at several conferences each year, including those organized by the Western Psychological Association, the American Psychological Association, and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Current research projects include: developing psychosocial assessments in traditional cultures, and attitudes and predictors of interpersonal violence.

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PUBLICATIONS

Fernando, G.A. (Ed.). (Proposal submitted). Special Issue on South Asian Mental Health. Proposal submitted for approval to International Journal of Psychology.

Fernando, G.A. (2012). Bloodied but unbowed: Resilience examined in a South Asian community. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 82, 367-375.

Fernando, G.A. (2012). The roads less travelled: Mapping some pathways on the global mental health research road map. Invited paper submitted to a Special Issue (Global Mental Health), Transcultural Psychiatry, 49 (3-4), 396-417.

Fernando, G.A. (2011). Psychosomatic medicine. In The McGraw-Hill encyclopedia of science an technology. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Fernando, G.A. (2011). Mental illness. In The McGraw-Hill encyclopedia of science and technology. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Fernando, G.A. (2011). A journey to remember: Counseling and Psychology book review. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 18, 216-217.

Fernando, G.A. (2010). Resilience in Sri Lankans exposed to disasters: A qualitative study. Conference on Well-Being & Resilience, pp. 282-301.

Fernando, G. A., Miller, K.M., & Berger, D. (2010). Growing pains: The impact of disaster-related and daily stressors on the lives of youth in Sri Lanka. Child Development, 81 [Special issue: Disasters and Their Impact on Children], 1181-1192.

Miller, K.E., Fernando, G.A., & Berger, D.E. (2009). Daily stressors in the lives of Sri Lankan youth: A mixed methods approach to assessment in a context of war and natural disaster. Intervention, 7 [Special Issue: Mixed Methods Research in Disasters and Complex Emergencies], 187-203.

Fernando, G. A. (2008). Assessing mental health and psychosocial status in communities exposed to traumatic events: Sri Lanka as an example. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 78, 229-239.

Miller, K.E., & Fernando, G. A. (2008). Epidemiological assessments in emergency settings: Recommendations for enhancing a potentially useful tool. Intervention, 6, 255-260.

Fernando, G. A. (2007). A space of one's own. [Book review, Cultural Psychology of Immigrants]. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 13, 265-266.

Fernando, G. A. (2005). Making meaning after the tsunami disaster: Risk and resilience in Sri Lanka. Traumatic StressPoints, 19, 1,12.

Fernando, G. A. (2005). Interventions for survivors of the tsunami disaster: Report from Sri Lanka. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 267-268.

Fernando, G. A. (2005). "We Don't Need Psychologists, We Need Help": Can Psychology Really Help Tsunami Survivors in Sri Lanka? Variability, 1,12.

Eugene, D., & Fernando, G. (2005). Mirroring Feelings in Unexpected Ways: Experiences of a Play Therapist Working in Sri Lanka. Clinical Psychology of Ethnic Minorities Newsletter, 17-19.

Fernando, G. A. (2004). Working with survivors of war in non-western cultures: The role of the clinical psychologist. Intervention: International Journal of Mental Health, Psychosocial Work and Counseling in Areas of Armed Conflict, 2, 108-117.

Gorsuch, R.L., Mylvaganam, G., Gorsuch, K., & Johnson, R. (1997). Generalization of the Intrinsic/Extrinsic scales to Asian cultures. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 7(4), 253-261.

Mylvaganam, G., & Gordon, E. (1995). Acculturation: Some considerations. Proceedings of the annual meeting of the regional Asian American Psychological Association, 1, 42-48.

Durvasula, R., & Mylvaganam, G. (1994). Mental health of Asian Indians: Relevant issues and community implications. Journal of Community Psychology, 22(2) [Special Issue: Asian American Mental Health], 97-108.

Henderson, V., Buckwalter, G., & Mylvaganam, G. (1992). Handedness and longevity in patients with autopsy-confirmed Alzheimers Disease. The Annals of Neurology, 32, 243.

 

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PRESENTATIONS

Fernando, G.A. (2012, September). Vicarious trauma and self-care. Paper presented at Workshop on Vicarious Trauma & Self Care, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.

Fernando, G.A., Ordonez, S., Zambrano-Morales, E., Mendoza, E., & Moon, K. (2011, August). How "positive" is positive coping? An examination of coping in Sri Lankan youth exposed to disasters. Paper presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.

Lui, P., & Fernando, G. (2011, August). A new scale and theoretical model assessing subjective well being: the WEBS. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Indiana Psychological Association, IN.

Fernando, G.A. (2011, April). Intimate partner violence: A global mental health priority? Invited paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Los Angeles, CA.

Fernando, G.A., Zambrano-Morales, E., Mendoza, E., & Ordonez, S. (2011). Using academic and social burden scales to predict student retention. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Los Angeles, CA.

Lui, P., & Fernando, G. (2011, April). Factor structure of the Well-being Scale (WeBS). Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Los Angeles, CA.

Fernando, G. (2010, August). Do attitudes towards intimate partner violence predict its recognition? Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Diego, CA.

Fernando, G., & Lui, P. (2010, August). Testing two theoretical models of well being. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Diego, CA.

Fernando, G. (2010, June). Key issues in conducting mental health research in traditional communities. Invited paper presented at the London School of Economics Conference on Global Mental Health, London, U.K.

Fernando, G. (2010, April). Acculturation and its relationship to well being and academic achievement in college students. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Cancun, Mexico.

Fernando, G., & Lui, P. (2010, April). Assessing well being in college students. In G.A. Fernando (Chair), Assessing mental health and quality of life in college students: Cultural considerations. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Cancun, Mexico.

Hoetzlein, M, Ramos, M., & Fernando, G. (2010, April). Development and validation of an acculturation scale. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Cancun, Mexico.

Zambrano-Morales, E., Mendoza, E., & Fernando, G.A. (2010, April). Assessing academic and socialburden in college students. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Cancun, Mexico.

Fernando, G., Hannah, A., & Laurin, D. (2009, November). Examining ethnic differences in exposure to traumatic stressors among Sri Lankan school children. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Atlanta, GA.

Fernando, G., & Garcia, J. (2009, April). Predictors of intimate partner violence in college students and the general community. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR.

Laurin, D., Garcia, J., Gordon, G., & Fernando, G. (2009, April). Profiles of intímate partner violence among college students and the general community: Implications for pathways in future IPV.

Fernando, G., Garcia, J., Laurin, D., & Gordon, G. (2009, January). Exposure to traumatic and daily stressors among children in Sri Lanka. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the European Psychiatric Association, Portugal.

Fernando, G., Chan, S., & Rocha, L. (2008, August). Predictors of intimate partner violence in a multi-ethnic college sample. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA.

Fernando, G., Garcia, J., Chan, S., Miller, K., Uyanavithanage, S., & Prasad, J. (2008, August). The impact of traumatic exposure on emotional and psychosocial functioning of children in Sri Lanka. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA.

Fernando, G., Chan, S., Garcia, J.., & Rocha, L. (2008, May). Validating a measure of acceptance of intimate partner violence in a college population. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Irvine, CA.

Rocha, L., Garcia, J., Chan, S., Chen, C., & Fernando, G. (2008, May). The relationship between traditional gender role beliefs and intimate partner violence. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Irvine, CA.

Garcia, J., Rocha, L., Fernando, G., & Riggio, H. (2007, November). Reliability and validity of scales assessing incidence of interpartner violence among college students. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research, Los Angeles, CA.

Joseph, J., Mota, E., Chan, S., Miller, K., & Fernando, G. (2007, August). Predictors of anxiety among Sri Lankan school children. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.

Peterson, L., Herbert, S., Chen, C., Miller, K., & Fernando, G. (2007, August). Trauma exposure and depression in Sri Lankan children. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.

Herbert, S., Petersen, L., Chan, S., Miller, K. & Fernando, G. (2007, April). Assessing PsychosocialFunctioning In Sri Lankan School Children. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Vancouver, Canada.

Mota, E., Joseph, J., Chen, C., Miller, K., & Fernando, G.. (2007, April). Trauma exposure, PTSD, and psychosocial functioning in Sri Lankan children. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Vancouver, Canada.

Fernando, G. (2006, December). Hunting the Snark, swinging on a star or weaving meaningful narratives? Conducting culturally grounded research and practice for survivors of torture in traditional cultures. In G. Fernando (Chair), Culturally grounded research and treatment with torture survivors. Symposium presented at the meeting of the International Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Survivors, Berlin, Germany.

Fernando, G. (2006, November). Vicarious trauma in Sri Lankan counselors. In K. Putnam (Chair), International Research and Intervention to Support Resilience Among Aid Workers Exposed to Trauma. Panel presentation conducted at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Hollywood, CA.

Fernando, G. (2006, November). Conducting culturally relevant and meaningful assessment in Sri Lanka: The Sri Lankan Index of Psychosocial Status. In G. Fernando (Chair), Cross-cultural Assessment of Trauma. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Hollywood, CA.

Mota, E., Herbert, S., Petersen, L. & Fernando, G. (2006, November). Predictors of anxiety and depression among Sri Lankan children: A regional comparison. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Hollywood, CA.

Peterson, L., Anwyl, H., & Fernando, G. (2006, November). Self efficacy and collectivism: Validating two scales for a multicultural population. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research, Los Angeles, CA.

Fernando, G. (2006 June). Perceptions of local and international nongovernmental organizations in a traumatized community: The case of Sri Lanka. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the World Congress of Trauma, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Silva, C., Makanui, P.K, & Fernando, G. (2006, April). Living and learning in Sri Lanka: Students' attitudes and feelings. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Palm Springs, CA.

Peterson, L., Silva, C., & Fernando, G. (2006, February). Developing and validating a test anxiety scale for a multicultural population: The Multicultural Assessment of Test Anxiety (MATA). Paper presented at the CSULA Research Symposium, Los Angeles, CA.

Fernando, G (2005, November). Differential impact of traumatic events on the psychosocial well being of Sri Lankans.In E. Triffleman (Chair), In the wake of the tsunami: Research principles, practices, and results. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Toronto, Canada.

Fernando, G., (2005, November). Training counselors in Sri Lanka: Challenges and successes. In G. Fernando (Chair), Dissemination in cross-cultural assessment: Challenges and successes. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Toronto, Canada.

Makanui, P.K., Silva, C., & Fernando, G. (2005, September). Attitudes towards teachers and studies and academic self esteem among Sri Lankan students: Qualitative and quantitative analyses. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research, Irvine, California.

Fernando, G., & Kayser-Boyd, N. (2005, July). After the tsunami disaster: Cultural factors in recovery. Paper presented at the International Congress for Projective Methods, Barcelona, Spain.

Fernando, G., & Makanui, P.K. (2005, June). Children of Sri Lanka: Exposure to violence, mental health symptoms, and self esteem. In K. Putnam (Chair), Traumatic Exposure and its Impact on Children. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Stockholm, Sweden.

Fernando, G., Makanui, K., & Grasman, C. (2005, May). Self esteem and anxiety in Sri Lankan school children. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the California Psychological Association, Pasadena, CA.

Grasman, C., Makanui, P.K., & Fernando, G. (2005, April). Depression and anxiety in a sample of school-going children in Sri Lanka. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the California Psychological Association, Pasadena, California.

Perez, C., & Fernando, G. (2005, April). Developing and validating a test anxiety scale. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, Oregon.

Rodriguez, C., Makanui, P.K., Giniel, A., Grasman, C., & Fernando, G. (2005, April). The relationship between exposure to violence and self esteem. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR.

Fernando, G. (2004, November). Exposure to violent events among school children in Sri Lanka. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, New Orleans, LA.

Fernando, G. (2004, November). Torture in Sri Lanka: Psychosocial and psychological issues. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, New Orleans, LA.

Fernando, G., Rodriguez, C., & Galindo, E. (2004, September). Domestic violence intervention programs for ethnocultural minority groups: Review and analysis. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Family Violence and Sexual Assault Institute, San Diego, CA.

Goldbeck, J.P., Rodriguez, C.A., Gevorkian, M., & Fernando, G. (2004, August). Personal control and trauma-induced depression in Sri Lankan Youth. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Sanchez, S., Giniel, A., Leung, D., & Fernando, G (2004, August). Violence exposure, religion, guilt, and anxiety among children in Sri Lanka. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Rodriguez, C.A., Goldbeck, J.P., Gevorkian, M., Tafoya, C., & Fernando, G. (2004, April). Perceived personal control and its relationship to anxiety: Report from Sri Lanka. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Phoenix, Arizona.

Sanchez, S., Giniel, A., Sarabia, E., Leung, D., Gomez, L., & Fernando, G (2004, April). Positive mental health attributes among youth in Sri Lanka. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Phoenix, Arizona.

Fernando, G. (2003, August). Psychological and psychosocial impact of torture on survivors. Paper presented at the 111^th annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Canada.

Fernando, G., Sanchez, S., Chepi, E., & Rivera, A. (2003, August). Psychological impact of exposure to violence among youth in Sri Lanka. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Canada.

Fernando, G. (2003, May). Psychological and psychophysiological impact of torture. Poster presented at the 83^rd annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Vancouver, Canada.

Fernando, G., Rivera, A., Chepi, E., & Sanchez, S. (2003, May). Long-term exposure to violence among children: Report from Sri Lanka. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Vancouver, Canada.

Mylvaganam, G., Wang, C.Y., & Sue, S. (1995, August). Conceptualization of depression among Asian Americans. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, New York, New York.

Mylvaganam, G., Teng, E.L., & Powars, D.P. (1995, April). Recruiting problems in medico-psychological research: Individual, familial, and social factors. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Los Angeles, California.

Mylvaganam, G., Tingus, K., Teng, E.L., & Powars, D.P. (1995, February). Long term neuropsychological effects of sickle cell disease. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Seattle, Washington.

 

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EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND