Dr. Melanie Zimmer-Gembeck and the Zlab
Publications
Peer Rejection, Victimization, Bullying,
Aggression, Defending, Rejection Sensitivity
see the list below
​​Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Scott, R. A. (2026). The role of peers in academic performance and relationship success. To appear in Laursen, B., Bukowski, W. M., Veenstra, R., & Rubin, K. H. (Eds.). Handbook of Peer Interactions, Relationships, and Groups (3rd Ed.). Guilford.
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Hawes, T., Scott, R. A., Skinner, E. A., & Kindermann, T. A. (2026). Seeking support or concealing? A longitudinal study of adolescents’ friendships, peer victimization, depression, and coping with peer relationship stressors.Developmental Psychology, 62(2), 350–364. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0002096
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Dellers, L. Y. E., Duffy, A. L., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2026). Sexual minority men’s mental health: Associations with gay community intragroup marginalisation beyond heterosexist discrimination. Journal of Homosexuality, 73(4), 792-822. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2025.2485157
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Steinvik, H., Duffy, A. L., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2025). Adolescents' compassion is distinctly associated with more prosocial and less aggressive defending against bullying when considering multiple empathic emotions and costs. Journal of Adolescence, 97(6), 1494-1506.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12513
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Steinvik, H. R., Duffy, A. L. & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2024). Can empathy and compassion activation affect adolescents’ empathic responses, compassion, and behavioral intentions when witnessing bullying? International Journal of Bullying Prevention.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-024-00254-5
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Dellers, L. Y. E., Duffy, A. L., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2024). Manifestations and harms of intragroup marginalization within the male gay community: A qualitative study of gay and bisexual men. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity.
https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000724
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Scott, R. A., & Hawes, T. (2024). Appearance-related teasing, rejection sensitivity, acceptance, and coping as risks and resources associated with online appearance preoccupation over one year. Computers in Human Behavior, 158, Article 108319.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2024.108319
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Kellij, S., Lodder, G. M. A., Giletta, M., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., GüroÄŸlu, B., & Veenstra, R. (2024). Are there negative cycles of peer victimization and rejection sensitivity? Testing ri-CLPMs in two longitudinal samples of young adolescents. Development and Psychopathology, 36(2), 844-856.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579423000123
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Skinner, E. A. (2024). Stress appraisals and coping across and within academic, parent, and peer stressors: The roles of adolescents’ emotional problems, coping flexibility, and age. Adolescents, 4(1), 120-137.
https://doi.org/10.3390/adolescents4010009
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Steinvik, H., Duffy, A., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2024). Bystanders’ responses to witnessing cyberbullying: The role of empathic distress, empathic anger, and compassion. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 6(4), 399-410.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-023-00164-y
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Kindermann, T. A., & Gardner, A. A. (2023). Peer stressors and peer relationship dynamics in the development of coping. In E. A. Skinner & M. J. Zimmer-Gembeck (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of the development of coping (Chapter 23). Cambridge University Press. ***In memory of Dr. Thomas Kindermann***
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Hawes, T., Scott, R. A., Campbell, T., & Webb, H. J. (2023). Adolescents’ online appearance preoccupation: A 5-year longitudinal study of the influence of peers, parents, beliefs, and disordered eating. Computers in Human Behavior, 140, 187569.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107569
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Rudolph, J., & Gardner, A. A. (2022). Are you looking at me? A longitudinal vignette study of adolescent appearance rejection sensitivity and coping with peer evaluation. Body Image, 43, 253-263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.09.002
Titova, S., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Mendez, N., Zimmermann, G., & Van Petegem, S. (2022) Adolescent coping with peer exclusion: A person-centered analog approach. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 31(5), 1290-1305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-02060-9
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Rudolph, J., & Pariz, J. (2022). A cascade of rejection and appearance preoccupation: Adolescents’ body dysmorphic symptoms and appearance rejection sensitivity over 4 years. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 40(1), 17-34. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12377
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Clear, S. Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Hawes, T., Duffy, A. L., & Barber, B. L. (2021). Mindfulness, rejection and recovery of positive mood and friendliness: A Cyberball study. Emotion, 21(8), 1731-1743. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000987
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Clear, S. J., & Campbell, S. M. (2021). Peer relationships and stress: Indirect associations of dispositional mindfulness with loneliness, social anxiety and depression via ways of coping. Journal of Adolescence, 93 (Dec), 177-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.11.003
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Rudolph, J., Webb, H. J., Henderson, L., & Hawes, T. (2021). Face-to-face and cyber-victimization: A longitudinal study of offline appearance anxiety and online appearance preoccupation. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 50(12), 2311–2323. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-020-01367-y
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Duncan, N., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Gardner, A. A., & Modecki, K. M. (2021). The measurement and benefit of decentering for coping self-efficacy, flexibility, and ways of coping with interpersonal stress. Personality and Individual Differences, 179, 110932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.110932
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Webb, H. J., Kerin, J., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2021). Increases in emotional eating during early adolescence and associations with appearance teasing by parents and peers, peer victimization, depression and social anxiety. Journal of Early Adolescence, 41(5), 754-777. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431620950469
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Gardner, A. A., Hawes, T., Masters, M. R., Waters, A. M., & Farrell, L. J. (2021). Rejection sensitivity and the development of social anxiety symptoms during adolescence: A five-year longitudinal study. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 45(3), 204-215. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025421995921
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Gardner, A. A., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Modecki, K. L. (2020). A longitudinal model of rejection sensitivity and internalizing symptoms: Testing emotion regulation deficits as a mechanism and outcome of symptoms. Journal of Personality, 88, 1045-1057.doi:10.1111/jopy.12549
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Hawes, T., Campbell, S. M., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2020). Unique associations of social media use and online appearance preoccupation with depression, anxiety, and appearance rejection sensitivity. Body Image: An International Journal of Research, 33, 66-76. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.02.010
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Gardner, A. A., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Campbell, S. M. (2020). Attachment and emotion regulation: A person-centered examination and relations with coping with rejection, friendship closeness, and emotional adjustment. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 38, 125-143. doi:10.1111/bjdp.12310
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Clear, S. J., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Duffy, A. L., & Barber, B. L. (2020). Internalizing symptoms and loneliness: Direct effects of mindfulness and protection against the negative effects of peer victimization and exclusion. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 44, 51-61. doi:10.1177/0165025419876358
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Ferguson, S., Duffy A., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Laursen, B. (2019). The Adolescent Friendship Structure Inventory (AFSI): A review and empirical consolidation of existing measures. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 16, 654-665. doi:10.1080/17405629.2018.1488684
click here for the paper
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Duffy, A., & Stuart, J. (2019). Let's get physical: Recent research on relations of adolescent peer victimization with psychosomatic symptoms, sleep, and body weight. Invited review for Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Psychology, 24, e12162. doi:10.1111/jabr.12162
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Duncan, N., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Furman, W. (2019). Sexual harassment and appearance-based peer victimization: Unique associations with emotional adjustment by gender and age. Journal of Adolescence, 75, 12-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2019.06.016
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Gardner, A., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2018). Rejection sensitivity and responses to rejection: Serial mediators linking parenting to emerging adults’ depression and trait anxiety. Journal of Relationships Research, 9. doi:10.1017/jrr.2018.8
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Webb, H. J., Farrell, L. J., & Waters, A. M. (2018). Girls’ and boys’ trajectories of appearance anxiety from age 10 to 15 years are associated with earlier maturation and appearance-related teasing. Development and Psychopathology, 30(1), 337-350. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579417000657.
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Lavell, C. H., Webb, H. J., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J, & Farrell, L. J. (2018). A prospective study of adolescents’ body dysmorphic symptoms: Peer victimization and the direct and protective roles of emotion regulation and mindfulness. Body Image: An International Journal of Research, 24, 17-25. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.11.006.
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Webb, H. J. (2017). Body image and peer relationships: Unique associations of adolescents’ social status and competence with peer- and self-reported appearance victimization. Journal of Adolescence, 61, 131-140. https://doi.org/110.1016/j.adolescence.2017.10.002
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Densham, K., Webb, H. J., , M. J., & Nesdale, D. (2017). Early adolescents' body dysmorphic symptoms as compensatory responses to appearance-based rejection sensitivity: Testing a parental socialization model. An International Journal of Research, 23, 162-170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.09.005
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Webb, H. J., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Farrell, L., Waters, A., Nesdale, D., & Downey, G. (2017) "Pretty pressure" from peers, parents, and the media: A longitudinal study of appearance-based rejection sensitivity. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 27, 718-735. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12310. One of the Journal's top 20 downloaded papers in the first 12 months of publication.
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Duffy, A. L., Penn, S., Nesdale, D., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2017). Popularity: Does it magnify associations between popularity prioritization and the bullying and defending behavior of early adolescent boys and girls? Social Development, 26, 263-277. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12206.
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Webb, H. J., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. & Mastro, S. (2016). Stress exposure and generation: A conjoint longitudinal model of body dysmorphic symptoms, peer acceptance, popularity, and relational victimization. Body Image: An International Journal of Research, 18, 14-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.04.010.
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Nesdale, D., Webb, H. J., Khatibi, M., & Downey, G. (2016). A longitudinal rejection sensitivity model of depression and aggression: Unique roles of anxiety, anger, blame, withdrawal, and retribution. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 44, 1291-1307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-016-0127-y
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Ferguson, S., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Duffy, A. (2016). A longitudinal study of aggression and victimization in early adolescence: Gender differences in the moderating effects of social status. Journal of Relationships Research, 7, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1017/jrr.2016.9
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2016). Peer rejection, victimization, and relational self-system processes in adolescence: Toward a transactional model of stress, coping, and developing sensitivities. Child Development Perspectives, 10(2), 122-127. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12174.
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Webb, H. J., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2016). A longitudinal study of appearance-based rejection sensitivity and the peer appearance culture. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 43, 91-100. 10.1016/j.appdev.2016.01.004.
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Mastro, S., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Webb, H., Farrell, L., & Waters, A. (2016). Young adolescents’ body dysmorphic symptoms: Social problems, self-perceptions and comorbidities. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 8, 50-5
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Van Petegem, S., & Skinner, E. A. (2016). Emotion, controllability and orientation towards stress as correlates of children’s coping with interpersonal stress, Motivation and Emotion, 40, 178-191. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-015-9520-z.
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Skinner, E. A. (2015). Adolescent vulnerability and the distress of rejection: Associations of adjustment problems and gender with control, emotions, and coping. Journal of Adolescence, 45, 149-159. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.09.004
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2015). Emotional sensitivity before and after coping with rejection: A longitudinal study, Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 41(Nov-Dec), 28-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2015.05.001
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Webb, H. J., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Mastro, S., Farrell, L., Waters, A. W., Lavell, C. (2015). Young adolescents’ body dysmorphic symptoms: Associations with same- and cross-sex peer teasing via appearance-based rejection sensitivity. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 43, 1161-1173. doi:10.1007/s10802-014-9971-9
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Rowe, S., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J, Rudolph, J., & Nesdale, D. (2015). A longitudinal study of rejecting and autonomy-relevant parenting, rejection sensitivity, and socioemotional symptoms in early adolescents, Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 43(6), 1107-1118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-014-9966-6
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Webb, H., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2014). The role of friends and peers in adolescent body dissatisfaction: A review and critique of 15 years of research, Journal of Research on Adolescence, 24, 564-590. doi.org/10.1111/jora.1208
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Ferguson, S., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2014). Associations of parental and peer rejection with preadolescents’ loneliness: Emotional sensitivities as mediators, Journal of Relationships Research, 5, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1017/jrr.2014.9
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. & Duffy, A. (2014). Heightened emotional sensitivity intensifies the association between relational aggression and victimization among girls but not boys. Development & Psychopathology, 26, 661-673.
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Lavell, C., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Farrell, L., & Webb, H. (2014). Victimization, social anxiety, and body dysmorphic concerns: Appearance-based rejection sensitivity as a mediator. Body Image: An International Journal of Research, 11, 391-395. doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.06.008.
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Croft, C., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2014). Friendship conflict, conflict responses, and instability: Unique links to anxious and angry forms of rejection sensitivity, Journal of Early Adolescence, 34, 1094-1119. doi.org/10.1177/0272431613518972.
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Rudolph, J., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2014). Parent relationships and adolescents’ depression and social anxiety: Indirect associations via emotional sensitivity to rejection threat. Australian Journal of Psychology, 66, 110-121. doi.org/10.1111/ajpy.12042.
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Nesdale, D., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Roxburgh, N. (2014). Peer group rejection in childhood: Effects of rejection ambiguity, rejection sensitivity, and social acumen, Journal of Social Issues, 70, 12-28. doi.org/10.1111/josi.12044.
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​Webb, H. J., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Donovan, C. L. (2014). The appearance culture between friends and adolescent appearance-based rejection sensitivity, Journal of Adolescence, 37, 347-358.
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​Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Nesdale, D., Fersterer, J, & Wilson, J. (2014). An experimental manipulation of rejection: Effects on children’s attitudes and mood depend on rejection sensitivity and relationship history, Australian Journal of Psychology, 66, 8-17. doi: 10.1111/ajpy.12029.
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Trevaskis, S, Nesdale, D, & Downey, G. (2013). Relational victimization, loneliness and depressive symptoms: Indirect associations via self and peer reports of rejection sensitivity, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43(4), 568-582. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-013-9993-6.
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Nesdale, D., McGregor, L., Mastro, S., Goodwin, B., & Downey, G. (2013). Comparing reports of peer rejection: Associations with rejection sensitivity, victimization, aggression, and friendship, Journal of Adolescence, 36(6), 1237-1246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.10.002
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Skinner, E. A., Morris, H., & Thomas, R. (2013). Anticipated coping with interpersonal problems: Links with the emotional reactions of sadness, anger, and fear, Journal of Early Adolescence, 33, 682-706.
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​Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Pronk, R. E., Goodwin, B., Mastro, S, & Crick, N. R. (2013). Connected and isolated victims of relational aggression: Associations with peer group status and differences between girls and boys. Sex Roles, 68, 363-377.
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Nesdale, D. (2013). Anxious and angry rejection sensitivity, social withdrawal, and retribution in high and low ambiguous situations. Journal of Personality, 81, 29-38. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2012.00792.x.
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McGregor, L., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Creed, P. A. (2012) Family structure, interparental conflict and parenting as correlates of children’s relationship expectations. Journal of Relationships Research, 3, 44-56. doi: 10.1017/jrr.2012.6
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McGregor, L., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Creed, P. A. (2012). Development and validation of the Children’s Optimistic and Pessimistic Expectations of Relationships Scale. Australian Psychologist, 47, 58-66.
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Pronk, R. E. (2012), Relation of depression and anxiety to self- and peer-reported relational aggression. Aggressive Behavior, 38, 16-30. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.20416
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Lees, D, & Skinner, E. A. (2011). Children’s emotions and coping with interpersonal stress as correlates of social competence, Australian Journal of Psychology, 63, 131-141.
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Mathieson, L. C., Murray-Close, D., Crick, N. R., Woods, K. E., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Geiger, T. C., & Morales, J. R. (2011). Hostile intent attributions and relational aggression: The moderating roles of emotional sensitivity, gender, and victimization. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 39, 977-987.
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McLachlan, J., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & McGregor, L. (2010). Rejection sensitivity in childhood and early adolescence: Peer rejection and protective effects of parents and friends. Journal of Relationships Research. 1, 31-40. doi: 10.1375/jrr.1.1.31
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J, & Kindermann, T. A. (2010). Introduction: Capturing the peer context: Developmental issues, statistical methods, and new directions. Journal of Adolescence, 33, 783-786.
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Kindermann, T. A., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Duffy, A. (2010). Capturing the peer context: Common themes and necessary synergies. Journal of Adolescence, 33, 891-895.
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Wright, M., Creed, P. A., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2010). The development and initial validation of a brief daily hassles scale suitable for use with adolescents, European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 26, 217-223.
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Pronk, R., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2010). It’s “mean”, but what does it mean to adolescents?: Aggressors’ and victims’ understanding of relational aggression. Journal of Adolescent Research, 25, 175-204.
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Waters, A. M., & Kindermann, T. (2010). A social relations analysis of liking for and by peers: Associations with gender, depression, peer perception, and worry. Journal of Adolescence, 33, 69-81.
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Lees, D., Bradley, G., & Skinner, E. A. (2009). Use of an analogue method to examine children’s appraisals of threat and emotion in response to stressful events. Motivation and Emotion, 33, 136-149.
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Hunter, T. A., Waters, A. M., & Pronk, R. (2009). Depression as a longitudinal outcome and antecedent of young adolescents’ peer relationships and peer-relevant cognition. Development and Psychopathology, 21, 555-577.
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Gallaty, K., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2008). The daily social and emotional worlds of adolescents who are psychologically maltreated by their partners, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37, 310-323.
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Anthonysamy, A., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2007). Peer status and the behaviors of maltreated children and their classmates in the early years of school, Child Abuse & Neglect, 31, 971-991.
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Hunter, T. A., & Pronk, R. (2007). A model of behaviors, peer relations and depression: Perceived social acceptance as a mediator and the divergence of perceptions, Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26, 273-283.
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Petherick, J., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2006). Attachment patterns during year 12: Rejection sensitivity, loneliness, social competence, and support as correlates of stability and change, Australian Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, 23, 65-86.
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Chipuer, H. M., Hanisch, M., Creed, P. A., & McGregor, L. (2006). Relationships at school and environmental fit as resources for adolescent engagement and achievement, Journal of Adolescence, 29, 911-933.
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Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Geiger, T. C., & Crick, N. R. (2005). Relational and physical aggression, prosocial behavior, and peer relations: Gender moderation and bidirectional associations. Journal of Early Adolescence, 25, 421-452. doi: 10.1177/0272431605279841 (selected to be reprinted in the book Taking sides: Clashing views in adolescence. New York: McGraw-Hill).
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Anthonysamy, A., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2004). Behaviour problems and peer rejection in pre-school and early elementary school children. Australian Journal of Psychology, 56, 2-3.
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Geiger, T. A., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Crick, N. R. (2004). The science of relational aggression: Can we guide intervention? In M. M. Moretti, C. Odgers, & M. Jackson (Eds.), Girls and aggression: Contributing factors and intervention strategies. Perspectives in Law and Psychology Series (pp. 27-40). New York: Kluwer.​
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