Associate Professor

Program: Psychology

Email: bholfeld@mun.ca

Phone: 709-639-2740

 

Credentials

B.A. (Hons.) (University of Manitoba), M.Sc., Ph.D. (University of North Dakota), Postdoctoral Fellowship (University of Victoria)

 

Research interests

The key objective of my program of research is to foster healthy relationships for children, adolescents, and young adults in online and offline environments. I study the role of digital technology (e.g., cyber bullying, social media, video gaming, sexting, cyber dating violence) in the social and emotional development of children, adolescents, and young adults.

 

Teaching

I teach survey courses in developmental and social psychology (PSYC 2025 and 2125), and contemporary issues courses in developmental and social psychology (PSYC 3025 and 3125).
I also teach a required course in Introduction to Psychology II (PSYC 1001), an elective course in Forensic Psychology (PSYC 3120), Senior Seminar in Psychology (PSYC 4925), and Independent Project in Psychology (PSYC 4950).
I typically supervise honours student projects and I am willing to take up to two students each year.

 

Representative scholarly contributions 

Martin-Storey, A., Dirks, M., Holfeld, B., Craig, W., Paquette, G., Exner-Cortens, D., Zaine, Y-L., & Morgan, R. (in press). Linking cissexist and heterosexist violence and sexual violence among adolescents and young adults: A scoping review of the quantitative literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2026.102138

Dryburgh, N. S. J.*, Martin-Storey, A., Craig, W. M., Holfeld, B., & Dirks, M. A. (2025). Quantifying toxic friendship: A preliminary investigation of a measure of victimization in the friendship of adolescents. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 40(7-8), 1800-1823. doi: 10.1177/08862605241265418 

Leung, E., St. Onge-Shank, C.*, Holfeld, B., Brake, C.*, Poole, A.*, Konishi, C., & Craig, W. (2024). A scoping review of the social ecological factors that promote healthy dating relationships during adolescence. Current Psychology, 43, 24054-24079. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06129-8

Holfeld, B., Mishna, F., Craig, W., & Zuberi, S.* (2024). A latent profile analysis of the consensual and non-consensual experiences among adolescents. Youth and Society, 56(4), 713-733. doi: 101177/0044118X231202814

Morrison, K. E.*, Hymel, S., Craig, W., Dirks, M., & Holfeld, B. (2023). Teen perceptions of adolescent dating violence. Journal of Adolescence, 95, 1348-1364. https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12206

Martin-Storey, A., Dirks, M., Holfeld, B., Dryburgh, N.*, & Craig, W. (2021). Family relationship quality during the COVID-19 pandemic: The value of adolescent perceptions of change. Journal of Adolescence, 93, 190-201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.11.005

Holfeld, B., & Mishna, F. (2021). The development of post-traumatic stress symptoms among adolescents who experience cyber and traditional victimization over time. Journal of Youth and Adolescence Special Issue: Youth Exposure to Online Risks: Theory, Predictors, and Consequences, 50(12), 2339-2350.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-021-01394-3

Holfeld, B., & Baitz, R.* (2020). The mediating and moderating effects of social support and school climate on the association between cyber victimization and internalizing symptoms. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 49(11), 2214-2228. doi: 10.1007/s10964-020-01292-0

Holfeld, B., Stoesz, B., & Montgomery, J. (2019). Traditional and cyber bullying and victimization among youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Investigation of the frequency, characteristics, and psychosocial correlates. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 24(2), 61-76. 

Holfeld, B., & Mishna, F. (2019). Internalizing symptoms and externalizing problems: Risk factors for or consequences of cyber victimization? Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48(3), 567-580. doi: 10.1007/s10964-018-0974-7

 

Current research projects and grants

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) 2023 – 2025

Title: Building Capacity to Prevent Gender-Based Violence – Development and Evaluation of Evidence-Based Tools for Canadian Educators

Role: Co-investigator

 

SSHRC Knowledge Synthesis Grant 2023 – 2024

Title: Addressing the overlap between sexual violence, and sexuality and gender-based minority stressors: Advancing understanding by centering 2SLGBTQIA+ adolescents and young adults

Role: Collaborator

 

SSHRC Insight Development Grant 2021 – 2024

Title: An examination of the protective effects of resilience in children’s early experiences of cyber victimization

Role: Principal Investigator

 

Awards and recognitions

Recipient of the Grenfell Campus Engagement Award 2017-18

 

Honours, graduate and post-graduate supervision

Honours Theses

• Fall/Winter 2024-25 Tianna Brake: I know what you did last summer!
• Fall/Winter 2024-25 Vicky Quao: The push and pull of social media
• Fall/Winter 2023-24 Kaley Burry: What’s the deal with cyber dating violence?
• Fall/Winter 2023-24 Rebecca Goulding: Why Instagram?
• Fall/Winter 2022-23 Susan Graham: Understanding how technology is used in adult relationships
• Fall/Winter 2021-22 Soumya Jain: To emoji or not to emoji?
• Fall/Winter 2021-22 Rebecca Sherstobetoff: How and why we use TikTok
• Fall/Winter 2020-21 Abigail Poole: Making it work: What’s important in romantic relationships?
• Fall/Winter 2020-21 Heather Collins: Smartphones and social networking site use: Does it really matter?  
• Fall/Winter 2019-20 Sara Ford: The impact of online experiences across social networking platforms
• Fall/Winter 2018-19 Sophia Hewitt: The impact of smartphone technology use on adults’ face-to-face relationships