Education

B.A., Religious Studies, Kenyon College
M.A., Clinical Psychology, University of Louisville

Background and Interests

My research interests are in the psychosocial factors associated with the utilization of protective health behaviors, particularly cancer screening. I am interested not only in how psychosocial variables predict the utilization of cancer screening, but also in how psychological sequelae can arise from engaging in these health behaviors. As a student in clinical psychology, I am particularly interested in fostering the study of psychological factors in the context of cancer prevention and control that are reliable and empirically valid. My dissertation project will examine the role of worry in the context of ovarian cancer screening with two primary aims: (1) to examine how worry manifests at three time points in the screening process, and (2) to examine whether the common methods of assessing worry in the cancer prevention and control literature demonstrate acceptable construct validity.

This year, I have a clinical placement at the Louisville VA Medical Center, where I am a graduate student therapist with the Geriatric Home Based Primary Care team. This is a unique multidisciplanary team that provides in-home clinical services to aging veterans who are too disabled to present for treatment on the VA campus.

In my free time, I like to read, travel, and spend time with my friends and family. Although I am a student at UofL, I am a fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes fan to the core. I enjoy dominating the friendly rivalry between me and Jamie Studts, who is a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, and Christina Studts, who disturbingly chooses to favor Notre Dame.

Current Projects

The Role of Worry in Ovarian Cancer Screening

Behavioral, Cognitive, and Affective Responses to Lung Cancer Screening

Publications

Leyfer, O., Ruberg, J., & Woodruff-Borden, J. (2006).  Examination of the utility of the Beck Anxiety Inventory and its factors as a screener for anxiety disorders. [PDF]   The Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 20, 444-458.

Ruberg, J., Chagpar, A., McMasters, K., & Studts, J. Breast Presentations Cancer Worry and Decisions Regarding Risk-Stratification and Risk-Reduction Strategies. Poster accepted to the 40th Annual Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Conference, Chicago, IL, November 2006.

Ruberg, J., Leyfer, O., & Woodruff-Borden, J.  An examination of the utility of the BAI and BAI-PC for detecting panic disorder in  primary care settings.  Poster presented at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Boston, MA.  Poster selected as Meritorious Student Poster.

Ruberg, J., McGuffin, S., Roetzer, L., & Studts, J.  Emotional vs. rational appeals to register for the National Marrow Donor Program: An Experimental Study.  Poster presented at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, Boston, MA.

Ruberg, J., Leyfer, O., Brewer, V., & Woodruff-Borden, J.  Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV, Child and Parent Versions: Factors influencing parent-child agreement and composite diagnoses.  Poster presented at the 38th annual Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Woolaway-Bickel, K., Vaynberg, O., Ruberg, J., & Schmidt, N.B. (2002, November) Differential anxiety symptomatology and safety maneuver usage in Asian- and Caucasian-Americans: potential  targets for behavioral intervention.  Poster presented at the 36th annual Association for Advancement  of Behavior Therapy conference, Reno, NV.

Woolaway-Bickel, K., Ruberg, J., Graf, C., Larkou, L., & Schmidt, N.B. (2002, November) The maintenance of clinical anxiety pathology: development and validation of the Safety Maneuver Questionnaire.  Poster presented at the 36th annual Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy conference, Reno, NV.