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
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
