Research & Projects

Dr. Cromer conducts research that addresses the prevention and treatment of psychological trauma that can be experienced in response to adverse life experiences. Dr. Cromer is passionate about social justice and works to build human resilience to adversity in at-risk and disadvantaged populations. Dr. Cromer’s prevention work is informed by mindfulness and cognitive behavioral theories, aimed to help people improve self-regulation, sleep, and develop a healthy, flexible cognitions. Dr. Cromer and her team are researching the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares in Children (CBT-NC), helping youth ages 6-17 sleep better. Related work in her lab explores assessment of pediatric sleep, and different aspects of the course and etiology of nightmares as they relate to possible suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth.

Dr. Cromer is cultivating an area of research concentration in historical trauma. She has published on the important distinction between historical trauma the intergenerational transmission of trauma. She has examined how family communication about historical trauma, identity, and betrayal trauma relate to experiences of historical trauma. Along with her historian colleague, Dr. Kristen Oertel, she is developing an academic undergraduate minor in Historical Trauma and Transformation. Dr. Cromer’s lab takes a culturally humble approach to our work.

Current Studies

Clinical Outcomes of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares in Children (CBT-NC)
The CBT-NC Project (in collaboration with Dr. Tara Buck at OU School of Community Medicine Child Psychiatry) is a randomized, controlled clinical trial of a nightmare treatment for children aged 6-17. CBT-NC is a five-session therapy that requires no medications or overnight visits. All therapy sessions occur over telehealth. We are enrolling participants now. For more information, please contact us at 918-631-3242 or email lep0204@utulsa.edu. Therapy is provided free, and all research assessments are compensated with gift cards.

Historical Trauma and Intergenerational Resilience
Dr. Cromer’s research in this area investigates how legacies of historical trauma—such as genocide and colonization—shape identity, psychological well-being, and meaning-making at both individual and collective levels. Along with her students, she is currently analyzing data from studies examining the impact of historical trauma among Jewish American college students and the Indigenous people of Guåhan/Guam. These projects explore how awareness of collective trauma, ethnic identity, colonial mentality, and institutional responses intersect to influence mental health and resilience.

In addition to empirical research, Dr. Cromer is developing a theoretical model that distinguishes historical trauma from intergenerational trauma. Her framework conceptualizes historical trauma as identity-based, affecting core beliefs about the self, others, and the world. This perspective emphasizes the importance of understanding trauma not only as something passed down through families, but also as something embedded in cultural memory, institutional systems, and community narratives.

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University of Tulsa Pre-Candidacy Projects

Lauren Prince (2024)
Investigating predictors of initiation, persistence, and outcome in a cognitive behavioral therapy for children with nightmares

Elissar El Sabbagh (2022)
A systematic review of nightmare prevalence in school-aged children

Aviva Johns (2021)
Examining the role of family communication and identity in understanding the impact of historical trauma

Jack Stimson (2020)
Studying possible predictors of injury in football players

Brooke Pangelinan (2020) 
Examining nightmare distress and frequency changes across treatment, in children

Devin Barlaan (2018)
A pilot study: The relationship between adverse childhood experience (ACEs), parenting stress and efficacy among military and veteran parents

Mollie Rischard (2018)
The role of executive function in predicting children’s outcomes in a cognitive behavioral therapy for trauma-related nightmares

Kristen Gray (2017)
Examining posttraumatic nightmare content in children and its relation to posttraumatic psychopathology

Danielle Zanotti (2014)
Family deployment preparedness, reintegration attitudes, and PTSD symptoms in military fathers with young children

Emily Kaier (2013)
Adverse childhood experiences: Allostatic load and health among elite athletes

Ashley Louie (2013)
Military family stress and resilience

Katherine Cunningham (2012)
Human trafficking myth acceptance, sexual trauma history, and attitudes about trafficking victims

University of Tulsa Senior Projects

Emma Abas (2025)
Islamic Perspectives on Dreams and Nightmares and Recommendations for Improving Sleep in Muslim Populations

Tanairis Garcia (2025)
Nightmares as Spiritual Disturbances: Exploring Susto in Hispanic Communities

Sarah Tran (2025)
Parasomnia Perceptions and Cultural Considerations for Southeast Asian Communities

Caroline Capuellupo (2023)
The Association Between Nightmare Chronicity and Suicide in Adolescents

Adrian Melton (2023), TURC project 
Examining African American Historical Trauma

Cecilia Nguyen (2023)
The Impact of Historical/Intergenerational Trauma among Southeast Asians 

Allie Morton (2021)
Examining the relationship of nightmares to suicidality in children

Andrew Helt (2020), TURC project 
Studying reasons for declining participation in clinical research of parents whose children are suffering from nightmares

Katie Sinor (2020)
An investigation of the impact on car accidents when high schools shift to later school start times

Hannah Walker (2018)
Promoting health and resilience on college campuses: An examination of the University of Tulsa’s bicycle encouragement program

Erin Camp (2016)
Examining the perceived cost and benefit of research participation among military mothers

Brandi Krieg (2015)
Examining the impact of stress on musculoskeletal injuries.

Isaura Enrique (2015)
Examining the effects of sleep hygiene in Hispanic children

Tom Gaus (2014)
Correlates of depression in athletes

Brooke Hinch (2014)
Examining the relationship between two measures of executive function in young children

Chase Winterberg (2013)
Attachment during military reintegration

Mitchell Johnson (2012)
Psychological help-seeking stigma among NCAA athletes

Kaylene Rojas (2012)
A study about the benefits of interacting with a therapy dog following a medical exam

Research In Action

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