Selena Baca, MA
Contact Info
Biography —
My research interests center around risk and protective factors of serious mental health outcomes following adversity (e.g., childhood trauma). I hope to address questions such as: How can we protect youth from developing poor mental health outcomes following adverse experiences? What factors in a child’s environment differentiate those who experience adversity and have poor outcomes and those who remain resilient? My goal is to develop research that informs intervention efforts for youth following harmful early life experiences.
Education —
Selected Publications —
Baca, S.A., Crawford, J.N., & Allard, C.B. (In press). PTSD, Depression, and Suicidality among Survivors of Childhood Sexual Trauma (CST), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), and Sexual Revictimization (CST+MST). Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.
Szpunar, M., Malaktaris, A., Baca, S.A., Hauger, R., & Lang, A. J. (In press). Are Alterations in Estradiol, Cortisol, and Inflammatory Cytokines Associated with Depression during Pregnancy and Postpartum? An Exploratory Study. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity.
Malaktaris, A., Lang, A. J., Casmar, P., Baca, S., Hurst, S., Jeste, D. V., & Palmer, B. (2020). Pilot study of compassion meditation training to improve social connectedness and well-being among older adults. Clinical Gerontologist, 1-14.
Szpunar, M.J., Crawford, J. N., Baca, S.A., & Lang, A. J. (2019). Suicidal ideation in pregnant and postpartum women veterans: An initial clinical needs assessment. Military Medicine, 185(1-2), e105-e111.
Lang, A.J., Malaktaris, A.L., Casmar, P., Baca, S.A., Golshan, S., Harrison, T., & Negi, L. (2019). Compassion meditation for posttraumatic stress disorder in veterans: A randomized proof of concept study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 32(2), 299-309.
Selected Presentations —
Baca, S.A., Behrens, B., Edler, K., Boyer, C., Hibel, L., Valentino, K. (2021, November). Attunement and Transmission of Cortisol in Maltreating Mother-Child Dyads following Reminiscing and Emotion Treatment (RET). Poster to be presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology, Chicago, IL.
Neumann, A. A., Lang, A. J., Baca, S.A., Szpunar, M. J., Garstein, M.A. (2021, November). Perinatal PTSD Symptoms Translate to Maladaptive Parenting Beliefs and Behavior: Examining Pathways Shaping Maternal-Infant Bonding for Veteran Women. Poster to be presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology, Chicago, IL.
Szpunar, M., Malaktaris, A., Baca, S., Hauger, R., Lang, A. J. (2020, December). Alterations in Estradiol and Inflammatory Cytokines from Pregnancy to Postpartum in Women Veterans with Depression: A pilot investigation. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Virtual Conference.
Baca, S.A., Goger, P., Kado, M., & Weersing, V.R. (2020, November). Reduction in Avoidance Mediates the Impact of Transdiagnostic Brief Behavioral Therapy for Youth Anxiety and Depression. Poster presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Virtual Conference.
Szpunar, M.J., Baca, S.A., Braun S, Hauger R, & Lang A. (2020, May). Cortisol, Estradiol and Interleukin-6 Alterations in Peripartum Women Veterans From Pregnancy to Postpartum: A Pilot Investigation. Poster presented at the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology Annual Meeting, Virtual Conference.
Neumann, A.A., Lang, A.J., Baca, S.A., Szpunar, M., &. Gartstein, M.A. (2019, September). Prenatal Stress Effects on Infant Temperament in a Sample of Women Veterans. Poster presented at the annual Center for Reproductive Biology retreat, Leavenworth, WA.
Herbert, M., Casmar, P., Baca, S.A., Lang, A.J. (2018, November). Cognitively-Based compassion training for veterans with PTSD: The role of meditation adherence. Poster presented at the 34th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies: Promoting Societal Change, Washington, DC.
Nugent, M., Malaktaris, A., Baca, S.A., Lang, A. 2018. Reducing suicidal ideation in veterans in an RCT of transdiagnostic acceptance and commitment therapy: Examining the role of hope and psychological flexibility. Poster accepted to the 34th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies: Promoting Societal Change, Washington, DC.
Malaktaris, A., Baca, S.A., Casmar, P., Golshan, S., Harrison, T., Negi, L., & Lang, A. J. (2018, November). Chronic Pain and PTSD: A Pilot Study of Cognitive-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®). Poster presented at the convention of the Mind and Life Institute’s International Symposium for Contemplative Research, Phoenix, AZ.
Baca, S.A., Malaktaris, A., Lang, A.J. (2018, May). Using technology to expand the reach of meditation programs: A feasibility study of group compassion meditation training for veterans with PTSD delivered via telemental health. Poster presented at the 30th Association for Psychology Science Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA.
Malaktaris, A., Baca, S.A., Casmar, P., Golshan, S., Harrison, T., Negi, L., & Lang, A. J. (2017, November). A pilot study of compassion meditation for PTSD. Poster presented at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies: Trauma and Complexity: From Self to Cells, Chicago, IL.
Baca, S.A., Crawford, J.N., & Allard, C.B. (2017, November). Sexual trauma history and associated symptoms among treatment-seeking male and female veterans. Poster presented at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies: Trauma and Complexity: From Self to Cells, Chicago, IL.
Baca, S.A., Crawford, J.N., & Allard, C.B. (2017, September). Sexual trauma history and its relationship to PTSD, depression, and suicidality among treatment-seeking veterans. Poster presented at the 22nd International Summit of the Institute on Violence, Abuse & Trauma: Building