Sixth Year Graduate Student
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Department of Psychology
Email: MollyRFranz@gmail.com
Molly is a doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology Training Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is currently completing her internship at the VA Boston Healthcare System. She is a recipient of a F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. She is interested in examining how PTSD impacts intimate partner and parent-child relationships. Additionally, she continues to conduct research examining risk factors for sexual violence perpetration and victimization, and in particular, how distal (e.g., history of trauma) and contextual factors (e.g., alcohol intoxication) interact to influence sexual violence.
Molly graduated from Boston University in 2010 with a bachelor of arts in Psychology. She then spent three years working as a research coordinator at the National Center for PTSD at the Boston VA where she was involved in longitudinal research examining mental health and family outcomes among service members deployed to Iraq.
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RESEARCH FUNDING
Source: American Psychological Association
Type: Dissertation Research Award
Amount: $1,000
Status: Active. Funding period 12/2016 – 12/2017
Source: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Type: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F31HD089687-01)
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount: $94,692 (Total Direct Costs)
Status: Active. Funding period 08/2016 – 08/2018
Source: Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Consortium (SBSRC)
Type: Voucher for Salivary Bioscience Lab (SBL), Dissertation project
Amount: $3,194
Status: Active. Funding period 08/2016 – 09/2017
PUBLICATIONS
*Brock, R., *Franz, M. R., O’Bleness, J., & Lawrence, E. (in press). The dynamic interplay between daily satisfaction with intimate relationship functioning and depressed mood in low SES outpatients. Family Process. *Indicates the first two authors contributed equally to this publication
Riemer, A. R., Haikalis, M., Franz, M. R., Dodd, M. D., DiLillo, D., & Gervais, S. J. (in press). Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder: An initial investigation of the effects of alcohol, attractiveness, warmth, and competence on the objectifying gaze in men. Sex Roles.
Franz, M. R, Haikalis, M., Riemer, A. R., Parrott, D. J., Gervais, S. J., & DiLillo, D. (2018). Further validation of a laboratory analog sexual aggression task: Associations with novel risk factors for sexual violence. Violence and Victims, 33, 486-503.
Franz, M. R., Grandgenett, H. M., Haikalis, M., Hein, C. L., Jaffe, A. E., & Steel, A. L. (2017). Taking a gap year: A guide for prospective clinical psychology Ph.D. students. the Behavior Therapist, 40, 212-217.
Franz, M.R, DiLillo, D., & Gervais, S. (2016). Sexual objectification and sexual assault: Do self-objectification and sexual assertiveness account for the link? Psychology of Violence, 6, 262-270.
Watkins, L. E., Franz, M. R., DiLillo, D., Gratz, K. L., Messman-Moore, T. L. (2015). Does drinking to cope explain links between emotion-driven impulse control difficulties and hazardous drinking? A longitudinal test. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 29, 875-884.
Palombo, D.J., Kapson, H.S., Lafleche, G., Vasterling, J.V., Marx, B.P., Franz, M.R., Verfaellie, M. (2015). Alterations in autobiographical memory for a blast event in OEF/OIF veterans with mild TBI. Neuropsychology, 29, 543-549.
Franz, M.R., Wolf, E.J., MacDonald, H.Z., Marx, B.P., Proctor, S.P., Vasterling, J.V. (2013). Relationships among predeployment risk factors, warzone threat appraisal, and postdeployment PTSD symptoms. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26, 498-506.
Han, S.C., Gallagher, M.W., Franz, M.R., Chen, M.S., Cabral, F.M., Marx, B.P. (2013). Childhood sexual abuse, alcohol use, and PTSD symptoms as predictors of adult sexual assault among lesbians and gay men. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 28, 2505-2520.
Vasterling, J.J., Brailey K., Proctor, S.P., Kane, R., Heeren, T., Franz, M.R. (2012). Effects of mild TBI, PTSD, and depression on neuropsychological performance and functional health in Iraq-deployed U.S. army soldiers. British Journal of Psychiatry, 201, 186-192.
MacDonald, H.Z, Franz, M.R., Vasterling, J.J. (2012). Assessment and treatment of neuropsychological deficits in PTSD. In R.A. McMackin, E. Newman, J.M. Fogler, & T.M. Keane, (Eds.), Trauma Therapy in Context: The Science and Craft of Evidence-Based Practice. Washington: American Psychological Association.
PRESENTATIONS
Panelists: Foa, E. B., Kilpatrick, D. G., Marx, B. P., McNally, R. J., & Resick, P. A., Moderators: Franz M. R. & Hein, C. (2017, November). The Current State of PTSD Diagnosis: Controversies and Future Directions. Panel presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, San Diego, CA.
Franz, M.R., Kumar, S., Alexander, E., Sanders, A., Smith, T., & DiLillo, D. (2017, November). Difficulties in emotion regulation explain the link between PTSD and dysfunctional parenting. Poster to be presented at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, San Diego, CA.
Leonard, E., Franz, M. R., & Brock, R. L. (2017, November). Interparental relationship quality during pregnancy impacts infant socioemotional development via early parent-infant bonding. Poster to be presented at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, San Diego, CA
Franz, M., Hein, C., Jaffe, A., Messman-Moore., T., Gratz, K., DiLillo, D. (2016, November). Emotion dysregulation as a prospective predictor of PTSD following sexual assault. Oral paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Dallas, TX.
Franz, M., Pogue, J., Meidlinger, K., Hansen, D. (2016, November). Parental abuse history and child psychopathology among sexually abused youth: Examining the contributions of parent psychological symptoms and parenting stress. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Dallas, TX.
Franz, M. R., Brock, R. L. (2016, October). Does partner support buffer the effects of PTSD on daily emotional distress and experiential avoidance? Poster to be presented at the 50th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New York, NY.
Jaffe, A. E., Franz, M. R., Hoffman, L., & DiLillo, D. (2016, October). The effect of psychosocial treatment on PTSD and substance use disorder: An application of multilevel meta-analysis. Poster to be presented at the 50th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New York, NY.
Franz, M.R., Haikalis, M., Gervais, S., & DiLillo, D. (2014, November). Sexual Objectification and Sexual Assault: Do Self-Objectification and Sexual Assertiveness Account for the Link? Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.
Haikalis, M., Franz, M.R., DiLillo, D., & Gervais, S. (2014, November). Does looking lead to touching? Sexual objectification as a predictor of sexual assault perpetration. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.
Haikalis, M., Franz, M.R., DiLillo, D., & Gervais, S. (2013, November). Women’s Alcohol Use and Sexual Victimization: Investigating Sexual Objectification as a Mediator. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Nashville, TN.
Franz, M.R., Gorman, K.G., Lachowicz, M.J., Holowka, D.W., Rodriguez, P., Schnurr, P.P., Lunney, C.A., Weathers, F., Sloan, D.M., Keane, T.M., Marx, B.P. (2012, November). Communication deficits as a mediator between PTSD severity and intimate relationship problems among combat veterans. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, National Harbor, MD.
Lachowicz, M.L., Franz, M.R., Gorman, K.G., Holowka, D.W., Marx, B.P., Gates, M.A., Rosen, R.C., Keane, T.M. (2012, November). Deployment and post-deployment experiences in Iraq-deployed soldiers: Comparison of soldiers deployed during the Iraq invasion, insurgency, and surge. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, National Harbor, MD.
Gorman K. R., Lachowicz M.J., Franz, M.R., Holowka D.W., Rodriguez P., Schnurr P.P., Lunney, C.A., Weathers. F., Sloan, D.M., Keane, T.M., Marx, B.P. (2012, November). The interaction between PTSD symptom clusters and relationship status on patient reported health functioning. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Los Angeles, CA.
Fink, H. L., Han, S. C., Franz, M. R., Chen, M. S., Holowka, D. W., Marx, B. M., Gates, M. A., Rosen, R. C. & Keane, T. M. (2012, April). Post-deployment social support as a mediator between military sexual trauma and PTSD among OIF/OEF veterans. Poster session presented at the meeting of Anxiety Disorders Association of America, Arlington, Virginia.
Grant, M.D., Franz, M.R., Kremen, W.S., Franz, C.E., Panizzon, M.S., Toomey, R., McKenzie, R.E., Xian, H., Tsuang, M. & Lyons, M.J. (2011, November). Genetic and environmental influences on religiosity in a middle-aged twin cohort. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Boston, MA.
Franz, M.R., MacDonald, H.Z., Marx, B.P., Brailey, K., Proctor, S.P., & Vasterling, J.J. (2011, November). Predictors of deployment concerns in Active Duty and National Guard personnel. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Baltimore, MD.
Han, S., Gallagher, M.W., Franz, M. R., Chen, M. S., Cabral, F. M., & Marx, B. P. (2011, November). Childhood sexual abuse, drinking behavior, and PTSD symptoms as predictors of sexual assault among sexual minorities. Poster session to be presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Baltimore, MD.
Franz, M.R., Gibson, L.E., Mesholam-Gately, R.I., Seidman, L.J., McCarley, R.W. (2011, March). Proverb comprehension in schizophrenia: Trajectories among high risk, first-episode and chronic groups. Poster session presented at the annual Harvard Medical School Psychiatry Research Day and Mysell Lecture, Boston, MA.
SCHOLARSHIPS/HONORS
Presidential Fellowship, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2018-2019)
Dean's Fellowship, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2017-2018)
Othmer Fellowship, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2013-2016)
James Cole Fellowship, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2013-2014)