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Portrait of Sara Bufferd

Directory Entry For: Sara Bufferd

Professor
College of Arts & Sciences - Psychology
502-852-9174 sara.bufferd@louisville.edu
Academic Profile

Biography

I will be reviewing graduate applications for admission in Fall 2027*. Applications are due December 1, 2026.

*Before you apply, please carefully review this information about my lab and my mentorship.

Research Interests

  • Developmental psychopathology
  • Childhood factors that contribute to the onset and course of anxiety and mood dysregulation (e.g., irritability, sadness) and related difficulties (e.g., eating disorders)
  • Temperament, psychosocial functioning, stress, sleep, and parenting behavior.
  • Characterizing the spectrum of emotions and behaviors in preschool-aged children and related contextual factors to clarify risk for psychological difficulties over time.

 

Selected Publications

*Student/trainee under my mentorship

Alacha, H. F., *Isaac, A., *Gemmell, N., Dougherty, L. R., Olino, T. M., & Bufferd, S. J. (2026). Comparison of global and daily ratings of associations between anxiety and depressive behaviors and impairment in preschool-aged children. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 57, 89-100. doi: 10.1007/s10578-024-01697-z

 

*Faulkner, L. M., Levinson, C. A., Klein, D. N. & Bufferd, S. J. (In press). Impact of parent lifetime depression and anxiety on youth body dissatisfaction and disordered eating symptoms during adolescence. Behavior Therapy.

 

*Alacha, H. F. & Bufferd, S. J. (2025). Peer functioning and anxiety risk in children with elevated ADHD symptoms. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 33(4), 204–221. https://doi.org/10.1177/10634266251363946

 

*Alacha, H. F., Lefler, E. K., & Bufferd, S. J. (In press). Important mechanisms in the development of anxiety in children with ADHD: The role of associated features of ADHD and interpersonal relationships. Child Psychiatry & Human Development. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-024-01796-x

 

*Rodriguez, A., *Isaac, A., Dougherty, L. R., Klein, D. N., & Bufferd, S. J. (2025). Sleep difficulties across preschool age: Associations with parenting behavior and parental psychopathology. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 34, 1031-1047. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-025-03020-3

 

+*Isaac, A., Bufferd, S. J., & Mekawi, Y. (2025). Racism and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning in childhood as risks for health disparities across the lifespan. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 176, 107416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107416 +Selected as an Editor’s Choice article

 

Silver, J., Hawes, M., Dougherty, L., Bufferd, S., Kessel, E., Olino, T., Carlson, G., & Klein, D. (2024). Irritability and temperament: Concurrent and prospective relationships in childhood and adolescence. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 53, 156-168. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2023.2286586 

 

Bufferd, S. J., *Isaac, A., Olino, T., M., & Dougherty, L. R. (2024). Mapping the duration and severity of preschool-aged children’s depressive behaviors. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 65, 1156-1164. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13954 

 

Grieshaber, A., Silver, J., Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2024). Early childhood anxiety disorders: continuity and predictors in adolescence. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33, 1817-1825. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02287-5 

 

*Maldonado, A., *Gonzalez, R., Bufferd, S.J., Garcia, D.O., & D’Anna-Hernandez, K. (2024). Psychosocial determinants of mental health care use among Mexican-origin women from farmworker families in southern California. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 51, 90-100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-023-09860-5 

 

Silver, J., Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Goldstein, B. L., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2023). Is the distinction between tonic and phasic irritability meaningful in 3-year-old children? European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 32, 1755-1763. doi: 10.1007/s00787-022-01995-8

 

*Isaac, A., *Rodriguez, A., D’Anna-Hernandez, K., *Gemmell, N., *Acedo, G., Dougherty, L. R., & Bufferd, S. J. (2023). Preschool-aged children’s hair cortisol and parents’ behavior, psychopathology, and stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 151,106052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106052 

 

Silver, J., Mackin, D., Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Goldstein, B. L., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2023). Tonic and phasic irritability in 6-year-old-children: Differential correlates and outcomes. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 64, 234-243. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13688 

 

Bufferd, S. J., Olino, T. M., & Dougherty, L. R. (2023). Quantifying severity of preschool-aged children’s internalizing behaviors: A daily diary analysis. Assessment, 30, 190-209. doi: 10.1177/10731911211046661  

 

Bufferd, S. J., Levinson, C. A., Olino, T. M., Dougherty, L. R., Dyson, M. W., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. 
(2022). Temperament and psychopathology in early childhood predict body dissatisfaction and eating disorder 
symptoms in adolescence. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 151, 104039. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104039   

 

Silver, J., Olino, T. M., Carlson, G. A., Dougherty, L. R., Bufferd, S. J., & Klein, D. N. (2022).
Depression in 3–6-year-old children: Clinical and psychosocial outcomes in later childhood and adolescence. 
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 63, 984-991. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13553

 

Chad-Friedman, E., Leppert, K. A., Olino, T. M., Bufferd, S. J., & Dougherty, L. R. (2022). Affective dynamics and mean levels of preschool irritability and sadness: Predictors of children’s psychological functioning two years later. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 53, 244-255. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-021-01121-w 

 

Finsaas, M., Kessel, E., Dougherty, L., Bufferd, S. J., Danzig, A., Davila, J., Carlson, G., & Klein, D.
(2020). Early childhood psychopathology prospectively predicts social functioning in early adolescence. 
Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 49, 353-364. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2018.1504298

 

Leppert, K. A., Bufferd, S. J., Olino, T. M., & Dougherty, L. R. (2019). A daily diary analysis of preschool depressive behaviors: Prospective associations and moderators across 14 days. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 47, 1547-1558. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10802-019-00535-4

 

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., & Olino, T. M. (2019). Mapping the frequency and severity of anxiety in preschool-aged children. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 63, 9-17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2019.01.006

 

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Olino, T. M., Dyson, M. W., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2018). Temperament distinguishes persistent/recurrent from remitting anxiety disorders across early childhood. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 47, 1004-1013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2016.1212362 

 

Finsaas, M. C., Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2018). Preschool psychiatric disorders: homotypic and heterotypic continuity through middle childhood and early adolescence. Psychological Medicine, 48, 2159-2168. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291717003646

 

Olino, T.M., Bufferd, S.J., Dougherty, L.R., Dyson, M.W., Carlson, G.A., & Klein, D.N. (2018). The 
development of latent dimensions of psychopathology across early childhood: Stability of dimensions and moderators of change. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 46, 1373-1383. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10802-018-0398-6

 

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., & Olino, T. M. (2017). Mapping the frequency and severity of depressive behaviors in preschool-aged children. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 48, 934–943. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10578-017-0715-2

 

*Parisette-Sparks, A., Bufferd, S. J., & Klein, D. N. (2017). Parental predictors of children’s shame and guilt at age 6 in a multi-method, longitudinal study. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 46, 721-731. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2015.1063430

 

Barrios, C. S., Bufferd, S. J., Klein, D. N., & Dougherty, L. R. (2017). The interaction between
parenting and children’s cortisol reactivity at age 3 predicts increases in children’s internalizing and
externalizing symptoms at age 6. Development and Psychopathology, 29, 1319-1331. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0954579417000293

 

 Dougherty, L. R., Smith, V. C., Bufferd, S. J., Kessel, E. M. Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2016). Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder at the age of 6 years and clinical and functional outcomes 3 years later. Psychological Medicine, 46, 1103-1114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291715002809

 

 

Bufferd, S. J., Dyson, M. W., Hernandez, I. G., & Wakschlag, L. S. (2016). Explicating the “developmental” in preschool psychopathology. In D. Cicchetti (Ed.), Developmental Psychopathology, Third Edition (pp. 152-186). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

 

Carlson, G. A., Danzig, A. P., Dougherty, L. R., Bufferd, S. J., & Klein, D. N. (2016). Loss of temper and irritability: The relationship to tantrums in a community and clinical sample. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 26, 114-122. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cap.2015.0072

 

Dougherty, L. R., Smith, V. C., Bufferd, S. J., Kessel, E., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2015). Preschool irritability predicts child psychopathology, functional impairment, and service use at age nine. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 56, 999-1007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12403

 

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Olino, T. M., Dyson, M.W., Laptook, R. S., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2014). Predictors of the onset of depression in young children: A multi-method, multi-informant longitudinal study from ages 3 to 6. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 55, 1279-1287. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12252

 

Olino, T. M., Dougherty, L. R. Bufferd, S. J., Carlson, G. A, & Klein, D. N. (2014). Testing models of psychopathology in preschool-aged children using a structured interview-based assessment. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 42, 1201-1211. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10802-014-9865-x

 

Dougherty, L. R., Smith, V. C., Bufferd, S. J., Carlson, G. A., Stringaris, A., Leibenluft, E., & Klein, D. (2014). DSM-5 Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder: Correlates and predictors in young children. Psychological Medicine, 44, 2339-2350. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291713003115

 

Danzig, A. P., Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N.  (2013). Longitudinal associations between preschool psychopathology and school-age peer functioning. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 44, 621-632. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10578-012-0356-4

 

Dougherty, L. R., Smith, V. C., Bufferd, S. J., Stringaris, A., Leibenluft, E., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2013). Preschool irritability: Longitudinal associations with psychiatric disorders at age six and parental psychopathology. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 52, 1304-1313. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2013.09.007

 

Dougherty, L. R., Tolep, M. R., Bufferd, S. J., Olino, T. M., Dyson, M. W., Traditi, J., Rose, S.A., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2013). Preschool anxiety disorders: Comprehensive assessment of clinical, demographic, temperamental, familial, and life stress correlates. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 42, 577-589. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2012.759225

 

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Carlson, G. A., Rose, S. R., & Klein, D. N. (2012). Psychiatric disorders in preschoolers: Continuity from ages 3 to 6. American Journal of Psychiatry, 169, 1157-1164. http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.12020268

 

Kim, J., Carlson, G. A., Meyer, S. E., Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Dyson, M. W., Laptook, R. S., Olino, T. M., & Klein, D. N. (2012). Correlates of the CBCL-dysregulation profile in preschool-aged children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 53, 918-926. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02546.x

 

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N. (2011). Parent-reported mental 
health in preschoolers: Findings using a diagnostic interview. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 52, 359-369. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2010.08.006

 

Dougherty, L. R., Bufferd, S. J., Carlson, G. A., Dyson, M. W., Olino, T. M., & Klein, D. N. (2011). Preschoolers' observed temperament and psychiatric disorders assessed with a parent diagnostic interview. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 40, 295-306. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2011.546046

 

Klein, D. N., Kotov, R., & Bufferd, S. J. (2011). Personality and depression. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 7, 5.1-5.27. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032210-104540

 

Nemeroff, R., Levitt, J. M., Faul, L., WonPat-Borja, A. J., Bufferd, S. J., Setterberg, S., & Jensen, P. S. (2008). Establishing ongoing, early identification programs for mental health problems in our schools: A feasibility study. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 47, 328-338. https://doi.org/10.1097/CHI.0b013e318160c5b1

Degrees and Certifications

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Stony Brook University, 2005-2012
Predoctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology
Yale School of Medicine, 2010-2011
B.S.
Cornell University, 1999-2003