Brigitte Vittrup, Ph.D.

Contact

bvittrup@twu.edu
940-898-2624
SH 202-I

Biography

Dr. Vittrup currently serves as the Interim Dean for the College of Professional Education. Her background is in developmental psychology with a minor in statistics. Her teaching expertise includes child development, research methods, and statistics, and her research focuses on child and family issues, including racial socialization, racial attitudes, and media influences on children. Dr. Vittrup's research has been featured in academic journals, as well as major news outlets including Washington Post, Newsweek, and NPR. In addition, she has presented her research findings to various audiences, including researchers, parents, lawyers, and early childhood professionals. 

Education

Ph.D., Developmental Psychology, University of Texas System : Austin, Austin, Texas
M.A., Psychology, University of Texas System: Austin, Austin, Texas
B.A., Psychology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
B.S., Radio-Television-Film, University of Texas System: Austin, Austin, Texas

Research Interests

Child Development; Developmental Psychology; Parental Socialization, Children's Racial Attitudes, Racial/Ethnic Socialization Practices, Child Guidance; Media Influences on Children

Latest Articles

Racial/ethnic socialization practices of Asian-White interracial couples raising their biracial children in the United States
Journal of Family Issues (2024)
Haemin Kim-Breunig, Brigitte Vittrup

Prekindergarten teachers' perspectives on classroom environments and barriers to optimal learning spaces
Early Childhood Education Journal (2023)
Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez, Brigitte Vittrup

White parents' socialization of racial attitudes: A commentary on Scott et al.
Perspectives on Psychological Science (2021)
Rebecca Bigler, Erin Pahlke, Amber Williams, Brigitte Vittrup

The indirect effects of police racial bias on African American families
Journal of Family Issues (2020)
Catina Miller, Brigitte Vittrup

Type 1 diabetes in adolescence: Considerations for mental health professionals
Journal of Child & Adolescent Counseling (2020)
Nicole Carroll, Brigitte Vittrup

Colorblind or color-conscious: White American mothers' approaches to racial socialization
Journal of Family Issues (2018)
Birgitte Vittrup

Barriers to childhood obesity prevention: Parental knowledge and attitudes
Pediatric Nursing (2018)
Birgitte Vittrup, Danielle McClure

Promoting positive gender development
Texas Child Care: The Quarterly Journal for Caregivers Everywhere (2018)
Zlata Stankovic-Ramirez, Brigitte Vittrup

The negative effects of insufficient support systems on Kuwaiti mothers of children with disabilities
Digest of Middle East Studies (2017)
Tahani Alsabah, Brigitte Vittrup

Early childhood teachers' approaches to multicultural education and perceived barriers to disseminating anti-bias messages
Multicultural Education (2016)
Birgitte Vittrup

Parental perceptions of the role of media in their young children's lives
Journal of Early Childhood Research (2016)
Birgitte Vittrup, Sharla Snider, Katherine K Rose, Jacqueline Rippy

How to improve group work: Perspectives from students
Faculty Focus (2015)
Birgitte Vittrup

Chapters

Media influences on children
in How to raise confident multicultural children | Faraxa Publishing (2018)
Brigitte Vittrup

Dealing with prejudice
in How to raise confident multicultural children | Faraxa Publishing (2018)
Brigitte Vittrup

Internally Funded Projects

TWU Small Grants Program
TWU Office of Research and Sponsored Programs | $750.00 | 2019
Research Grant

TWU Small Grants Program
TWU Office of Research and Sponsored Programs | $650.00 | 2018
Research Grant

Texas Woman's University Creative Arts and Humanities Grant
TWU Office of Research and Sponsored Programs | $4,248.00 | 2017
Research Grant

Professional Affiliations

• Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)
• Society for Research in Human Development (SRHD)