Heather Turner

Heather Turner

Professor
Phone: (603) 862-3670
Office: Mcconnell Hall, Room 303d, Durham, NH 03824
Websites:
Curriculum Vitae
Heather A. Turner is Professor of Sociology and Senior Research Associate at the Crimes against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Turner’s research program has concentrated on social stress processes and mental health, including the effects of violence, victimization, and other forms of adversity on the social and psychological development of children and adolescents. Dr. Turner has over 15 years of research experience on childhood exposure to violence, has conducted numerous national surveys, and has published over 125 articles, many focusing on the childhood adversity and mental health. She was a principal investigator for the OJJDP funded National Surveys of Children’s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV I, NatSCEV II and NatSCEV III) – studies designed to obtain comprehensive estimates of children’s exposure to multiple forms of violence and victimization across the full developmental spectrum (ages 0-17). Dr. Turner is the Director of the International Conference on Social Stress Research and past the Chair of the Sociology of Mental Health Section of the American Sociological Association (ASA).

Courses Taught

  • SOC 625: Mental Health and Society
  • SOC 740/840: Sociology of Mental Health
  • SOC 905: Research Practicum

Education

  • Ph.D., Human Development&Family Study, University of California - San Francisco
  • B.A., Sociology, University of Western Ontario

Research Interests

  • Aging and life course
  • AIDS
  • Sociology of the family
  • Stress processes and mental health
  • Survey research

Selected Publications

  • Gewirtz-Meydan, A., Turner, H. A., Finkelhor, D., Jones, L. M., Colburn, D. A., & Mitchell, K. J. (2025). Measuring Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA): Psychometric Validation and Analysis of the IBSA Scale.. Child Maltreat, 10775595251338188. doi:10.1177/10775595251338188

  • Turner, H. A., Finkelhor, D., & Colburn, D. (2025). Contexts and Characteristics of Imaged-Based Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children: Incident Dynamics in a National Sample.. Child Maltreat, 30(1), 68-81. doi:10.1177/10775595241233970

  • Finkelhor, D., Cavanaugh, C., Turner, H., Colburn, D., Sutton, S., & Mathews, B. (2024). When Is Online Sexual Solicitation of a Minor Considered Sexual Abuse? Recommendations for Victim Prevalence Surveys.. Trauma Violence Abuse, 25(5), 4117-4129. doi:10.1177/15248380241268835

  • Colburn, D. A., Finkelhor, D., & Turner, H. A. (2023). Help-Seeking From Websites and Police in the Aftermath of Technology-Facilitated Victimization.. J Interpers Violence, 38(21-22), 11642-11665. doi:10.1177/08862605231186156

  • Turner, H. A., Finkelhor, D., & Colburn, D. (2023). Predictors of Online Child Sexual Abuse in a U.S. National Sample.. J Interpers Violence, 38(11-12), 7780-7803. doi:10.1177/08862605221149090

  • Finkelhor, D., Turner, H. A., Shattuck, A., & Hamby, S. L. (2015). Prevalence of Childhood Exposure to Violence, Crime, and Abuse Results From the National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence. JAMA PEDIATRICS, 169(8), 746-754. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.0676

  • Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., Ormrod, R., & Hamby, S. L. (2009). Violence, Abuse, and Crime Exposure in a National Sample of Children and Youth. PEDIATRICS, 124(5), 1411-1423. doi:10.1542/peds.2009-0467

  • Finkelhor, D., Orrarod, R. K., & Turner, H. A. (2007). Poly-victimization: A neglected component in child victimization. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT, 31(1), 7-26. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2006.06.008

  • Finkelhor, D., Hamby, S. L., Ormrod, R., & Turner, H. (2005). The Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire: Reliability, validity, and national norms. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT, 29(4), 383-412. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2004.11.001

  • Finkelhor, D., Ormrod, R., Turner, H., & Hamby, S. L. (2005). The victimization of children and youth: A comprehensive, national survey. CHILD MALTREATMENT, 10(1), 5-25. doi:10.1177/1077559504271287

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  • Most Cited Publications