![Ariel A. Williamson, PhD, DBSM](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_and_center_300x375/public/providers-new-williamson-ariel.jpg?itok=XC-O94PD)
Ariel A. Williamson, PhD, DBSM
Areas of expertise: Behavioral sleep medicine, Behavioral parent training, Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
About Ariel A. Williamson
Titles
Psychologist
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Certifications
Diplomate in Behavioral Sleep Medicine (DBSM) – Board of Behavioral Sleep Medicine
Awards and Honors
2021, Health Disparities Research Institute Scholar, NIMHD
2021, Summer Institute on Randomized Behavioral Clinical Trials Scholar, NIH OBSSR
2020, Diane J. Willis Award for Outstanding Article in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology
2020, Society for Pediatric Research Fellow
2020, Mixed Methods Research Training Program Scholar, NIH/Johns Hopkins University
2019-2021, Loan Repayment Program Award Renewal, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
2018-2023, K23 Career Development Award, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
2018-2019, Career Development Award, Sleep Research Society Foundation
2017, Early Investigator Merit-Based Travel Award, Sleep Research Network
2017, Young Investigator Research Forum, American Academy of Sleep Medicine
2017, Implementation Science Institute Scholarship, University of Pennsylvania
2016 and 2017, Student Merit Award, Sleep Research Society
2015-2016, Fellowship, Leaders of Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, CHOP
2014 and 2015, Professional Development Award, University of Delaware
2014-2015, Dissertation Fellowship, University of Delaware
2015, Travel Award, Leaders of Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Leadership and Memberships
Memberships in Professional Organizations
Sleep Research Society
- 2022-present, Sleep Research Network
2022-present, American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation
2017-present, Board Member, Beds for Kids Program, www.ohaat.org
2016-present, Sleep Expert, Pediatric Sleep Council, www.babysleep.com
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
- Division 54, Society for Pediatric Psychology and Integrated Primary Care Special Interest Group
- Division 53, Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
Society for Behavioral Sleep Medicine
Society for Pediatric Research
Editorial and Academic Positions
Editorial Positions
Associate Editor, Sleep Health: Journal of the National Sleep Foundation
Ad Hoc Reviewer
Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology
Journal of Child and Family Studies
Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings
Journal of Developmental Psychology
Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health
Health Psychology
School Mental Health
Journal of Research on Adolescence
Training & Education in Professional Psychology
Academic and Institutional Committees
2022-present, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion of Clinical Research Subcommittee, Research Institute
2021-present, Community-Engaged Pilot Grant Program Committee, PolicyLab
2021-present, Research Subcommittee, Health Equity Committee, Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
2020-present, Co-lead, Research Subcommittee, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Research Interests
Socio-ecological factors linked to pediatric sleep problems and pediatric sleep health disparities Application of implementation science principles Pediatric sleep health promotion and sleep problem management in primary care and in partnership with community organizations; integrated behavioral health
Education & training
Graduate Degree
PhD in Clinical Psychology - University of Delaware, Newark, DE
MA in Clinical Psychology - University of Delaware, Newark, DE
MA in Counseling Psychology, Child Track - Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Internship
Predoctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology and Integrated Behavioral Health - Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Fellowship
Behavioral Sleep Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Publications
Publications
2022
Xanthopoulos, M.S., Williamson, A.A., Burlingame, C.C., Afolabi-Brown, O., Tapia, I.E., Cielo, C., Moore, M., & Beck, S.E. (2022). Continuous positive airway pressure care for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea: A long-term quality improvement initiative. Pediatric Pulmonary. doi: 10.1002/ppul.26075 [e-pub ahead of print].
Brown, S. M., Rodriguez, K., Smith, A.D., Ricker, A., & Williamson, A. A. (2022). Associations between childhood maltreatment and behavioral disturbances across the lifespan: A systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 64 (Mar 2022):101621. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2022.101621. PMID: 35367857.
Williamson, A. A., Johnson, T. J., & Tapia, I. E. (2022). Health disparities in pediatric sleep disordered breathing. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews. doi: 10.1016/j.prrv.2022.01.005 [e-pub ahead of print].
Lupini, F., Leichman, E. S., Gould, R., Walters, R., Mindell, J. A., & Williamson, A. A. (2022). Correlates of a caregiver-reported child sleep problem and variation by community disadvantage. Sleep Medicine, 90 (Feb 2022): 83-90. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2022.01.009.
Williamson, A. A., Okoroji, C., Cicalese, O., Evans, B. C., Ayala, A., Harvey, B., Honore, R., Kratchman, A., Beidas, R. S., Fiks, A. G., Power T. J., & Mindell, J. A. (2022). Sleep Well!: An adapted behavioral sleep intervention implemented in urban primary care. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 18(4): 1153-1166. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.9822. PMID: 34910624 PMCID: PMC8974371
2021
Goldstein, T.R., Jonassaint, C.R., Williamson, A. A., Franzen, P.L. Sleep health disparities: A promising target for preventing suicide in Black youth? (2021). Journal of Psychiatry and Brain Science, 6 (Dec 2021): e210021. doi: 10.20900/jpbs.20210021.
Williamson, A. A. (2021). Standing on the shoulders of giants: A decade of research on digital pediatric sleep interventions. Pediatric Pulmonology, 56(8): 2791-2791. doi: 10.1002/ppul.25530. PMID: 34125993 PMCID: PMC8298280.
Xanthopoulos, M.S., Williamson, A. A., & Tapia, I.E. (2021). Positive airway pressure for the treatment of the childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Pediatric Pulmonology, 57(8): 1897-1903. doi: 10.1002/ppul.25318. PMID: 33647183 PMCID: PMC8408267
Mitchell, J.A., Morales, K.H., Williamson, A.A., Huffnagle, N., Eck, C., Jawahar, A., Juste, L., Fiks, A. G., Zemel, B. S., & Dinges, D. F. (2021). Engineering a mobile platform to promote sleep in the pediatric primary care setting. Sleep Advances, 2(1): zpab006. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpab006. PMID: 33173886 PMCID: PMC7654877
Williamson, A. A., Davenport, M., Cicalese, O., & Mindell, J. A. (2021). Sleep problems, cumulative risks, and psychological functioning in early childhood. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 46(7):878-890. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsab022. PMID: 33738501 PMCID: PMC8357222
Williamson, A. A., Gould, R. A., Leichman, E. S., Walters, R. M., & Mindell, J. A. (2021). Socioeconomic disadvantage and early childhood sleep: Real-world findings from a mobile health application. Sleep Health, 7(2):143-152. doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2021.01.002.
Mayne, S. L., Mitchell, J. A., Virudachalam, S., Fiks, A. G., & Williamson, A. A. (2021). Neighborhood environments and sleep among children and adolescents: A systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 57 (June 2021):101465. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101465.
Mayne, S. L., Morales, K. H., Williamson, A. A., Basner, N., Grant, S. F. A., Dinges, D. F., Zemel, B. A., & Mitchell, J. A. (2021). Associations of the residential built environment with adolescent sleep outcomes. SLEEP, 44(6): zsaa276. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa276. PMID: 33507268 PMCID: PMC8193550
Meltzer, L. J., Williamson, A. A., & Mindell, J. A. (2021). Pediatric sleep health: It matters, and so does how we define it. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 57 (June 2021):101425. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101425
Williamson, A. A., Zendarski, N., Lange, K., Quach, J., Molloy, C., Clifford, C. A., & Mulraney, M. (2021). Sleep problems, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and domains of health-related quality of life: bidirectional associations from early childhood to early adolescence. SLEEP, 44(1):zsaa139. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa139.
Billings, M., E., Cohen, R. T., Baldwin, C. M., Johnson, D. A., Palen, B. N., Parthasarathy, S., Patel, S. R., Russell, M., Tapia, I. E., Williamson, A. A., & Sharma, S. (2021). Disparities in sleep health and potential intervention models: A focused review. CHEST, 159(3):1232-1240. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.09.249.
2020
Mitchell, J. A., Morales, K. H., Williamson, A. A., Huffnagle, N., Ludwick, A., Grant, S. F. A., Dinges, D. F., & Zemel, B. A. (2020). Changes in sleep duration and timing during the middleto- high school transition. Journal of Adolescent Health, 67(6):829-836. doi: 10.1016/.jadohealth.2020.04.024.
Mautone, J.A., Cabello, B., Egan, T.E., Rodrigues, N.P., Davis, M., Figge, C.J., Sass, A.J., & Williamson, A.A. (2020). Exploring predictors of treatment engagement in urban primary care. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 8(3): 228-240. doi: 10/1037/cpp0000366.
Daniel., L.C., Childress, J.L, Flannery, J.L., Weaver-Rogers, S., Garcia, W.I., Bonilla-Santiago, G., & Williamson, A.A. (2020). Identifying modifiable factors linking parenting skills and sleep outcomes in racial/ethnic minority children. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 45(8): 867-876. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsaa034.
Williamson, A. A., Mindell, J. A., Hiscock, H., & Quach, J. (2020). Longitudinal sleep problem trajectories are associated with multiple impairments in child well-being. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(1):1092-1103. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13303
*Williamson, A. A., Milaniak, I., Watson, B., Cicalese, O., Fiks, A. G., Power, T. J., Barg, F. K., Beidas, R. S., Mindell, J. A., & Rendle, K. A. (2020). Early childhood sleep intervention in urban primary care: Caregiver and clinician perspectives. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 45(8): 933- 945. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jaa024. *Received the 2020 Diane J. Willis Award for Outstanding Article in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology
Williamson, A. A., Meltzer, L. J., & Fiks, A. (2020). A stimulus package to address America’s sleep debt crisis. JAMA Pediatrics, 174(2):115-116. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.4806. PMID: 3186006.
Leichman, E. S., Gould, R. A., Williamson, A. A., Walters, R. M., & Mindell, J. A. (2020). Effectiveness of an mHealth intervention for infant sleep disturbances. Behavior Therapy, 51(4): 548-558. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2019.12.011.
Williamson, A. A., & Mindell, J. A. (2020). Cumulative socio-demographic risk factors and sleep outcomes in early childhood. SLEEP, 43(3):233. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsz233. PMID: 31555826.
2019
Williamson, A. A., Mindell, J. A., Hiscock, H., Quach, J. (2019). Sleep problem trajectories from birth to ages 10-11 years: Impact of early cumulative socio-ecological risks. The Journal of Pediatrics, 215(Dec 2019):229-237. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.07.055. PMID: 31564429.
Williamson, A. A., Mindell, J. A., Hiscock, H., Quach, J. (2019). Child sleep behaviors and sleep problems from infancy to school-age. Sleep Medicine, 69(Nov 2019):5-8. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2019.05.003. PMID: 31600659
Shadowen, N., Williamson, A. A., Guerra, N. G., Ammigan, R., & Drexler, M. (2019). Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among international students: Implications for university support offic
es. Journal of International Student Studies, 9(1):130-149. doi: 10.32674/jis.v9i1.277.Williamson, A. A., Leichman, E. S., Walters, R. M., Mindell, J. A. (2019). Caregiver-perceived outcomes in toddlers sleeping in cribs versus beds. Sleep Medicine, 54(Feb 2019):16-21. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2018.10.012. PMID: 30529772
2018
Mindell, J.A., & Williamson, A. A. (2018). Benefits of a bedtime routine in young children: Sleep, development, and beyond. Sleep Med Rev. 2018 Aug;40:93-108. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2017.10.007. Epub 2017 Nov 6.
Puzino, K., Guite, J.W., Moore, M., Lewen, M.O., & Williamson, A.A. (2018). The relationship between parental responses to pain, pain catastrophizing, and adolescent sleep in adolescents with chronic pain. Children’s Health Care, 47: 239-260. doi: 10.1080/02739615.2017.1327358
Fowles, T.R., Masse, J. J., McGoron, L., Beveridge, R. M., Williamson, A. A., Smith, M.A., & Parrish, B. P. (2018). Intensive home-based vs. clinic-based parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT): Comparative effectiveness and attrition in the context of dissemination and implementation. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27(4), 1115-1129. doi: 10.1007/s10826-017-0958-3.
Grassetti, S. N., Williamson, A. A., Herres, J., Kobak, R., Layne, C. M., Kaplow, J. B., & Pynoos, R. S. (2018). Evaluating referral, screening, and assessment procedures for middle school trauma/grief-focused treatment groups. School Psychology Quarterly, 33(1), 10-20. doi: 10.1037/spq0000231.
2017
Aleman, X., Duryea, S., Guerra, N. G., McEwan, P., Stampini, M., & Williamson, A. A.* (2017). The effects of musical training on child development: a randomized trial of El Sistema in Venezuela. (*authorship is alphabetical). Prevention Science, 18(7), 865-878. doi: 10.1007/s11121-016-0727-3
Herres, J., Williamson, A. A., Kobak, R. R., Layne, C., Kaplow, J., Saltzman, W., & Pynoos, R. (2017). Internalizing and externalizing symptoms moderate treatment response to school-based trauma and grief component therapy for adolescents. School Mental Health, 9(2), 184-193. doi: 10.1007/s12310-016-9201-1
Mindell, J.A., Leichman, E. S., Lee, C., Williamson, A. A., & Walters, R. M. (2017). Implementation of a nightly bedtime routine: How quickly do things improve? Infant Behavior and Development, 49, 220-227. doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2017.09.013.
Williamson, A. A., Raglin-Bignall, W. J., Swift, L. E., Hung, A. H., Robins, P. M., Power, T. J. & Mautone, J. A. (2017). Ethical and legal issues in integrated care settings: Case examples from pediatric primary care. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 5, 196-208. doi: 10.1037/cpp0000157
Williamson, A. A., Rubens, S., Patrick, K., Moore, M., & Mindell, J. A. (2017). Differences in sleep patterns and problems by race in a clinical sample of Black and White preschoolers. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 13(11), 1281-1288. doi: 10.5664/jcsm/6798.
2016
Ahn, Y., Williamson, A. A., Seo, H-J., Sadeh, A., & Mindell, J. A. (2016). Sleep patterns among Korean infants and toddlers: A global comparison. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 31, 261-269. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2016.31.2.261
Blechner, M. S., & Williamson, A. A. (2016). Behavioral consequences of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). In DelRosso, L., & Cielo, C. (Eds.) special issue on Pediatric OSAS, Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, 46, 19-26. doi: 10.1016/j.cppeds.2015.10.007
Mindell, J. A., Sedmak, R., Boyle, J. T., Butler, R., & Williamson, A. A. (2016). Sleep Well! A pilot study of an education campaign to improve sleep of socioeconomically disadvantaged children. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 12, 1593-1599. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.6338
Rubens, S., Patrick, K. E., Williamson, A. A., Moore, M., & Mindell, J. A. (2016). Individual and socio-demographic factors related to presenting problem and diagnostic impressions at a pediatric sleep clinic. Sleep Medicine, 25, 67-72. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2016.06.017
Williamson, A. A., Harrison, R. R., Reader, S., K, & Tynan, D.W. (2016). Parent-child groups for externalizing disorders: Outcomes, socio-demographic moderators, attendance, and attrition in a real-world setting. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 1 (2-3), 126-143, doi: 10.1080/23794925.2016.1227945.
Williamson, A. A., Patrick, K. E., Rubens, S. L., Mindell, J. A., & Moore M. (2016). Pediatric sleep disorders in an outpatient sleep clinic: Clinical needs of children with neurodevelopmental conditions. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 4(2),188-199. doi:10.1037/cpp0000135
2015
Grassetti, S. N., Herres, J., Williamson, A. A., Yarger, H. A., Layne, C. M., & Kobak, R. R. (2015). Narrative focus predicts symptom change trajectories in group treatment for traumatized and bereaved adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 44, 933-941. doi: 10.1080/15374416.2014.913249
Lucas-Molina, B., Williamson, A. A., Pulido, R., & Pérez-Albéniz, A. (2015). Effects of teacher-student relationships on peer harassment: A multilevel study. Psychology in the Schools, 52, 298-315. doi:10.1002/pits.21822
2014
Williamson, A. A., Knox, L., Guerra, N. G., & Williams, K. R. (2014). A pilot randomized trial of community-based parent training for immigrant Latina mothers. American Journal of Community Psychology, 53, 47-59. doi: 10.1007/s10464-013-9612-4.
Williamson, A. A., Guerra, N. G., & Tynan, D. W. (2014). The role of health and mental health care providers in gun violence prevention. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 2, 88-98. doi: 10.1037/cppp0000055
Lucas-Molina, B., Williamson, A. A., Pulido, R., & Calderón, S. (2014). Adaptation of the Participant Role Scale (PRS) in a Spanish youth sample: Measurement invariance across gender and relationship with sociometric status. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 29, 2904-2930. doi: 10.1177/0886260514527822
Castro-Olivo, S., Palardy, G., Albeg, L. A., & Williamson, A. A. (2014). Validation of the Coping with Acculturative Stress in American schools (CASAS) scale. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 40, 3-15. doi: 10.1177/1534508413500983
2013
Williamson, A. A., Dierkhising, C. B., & Guerra, N. G. (2013). Brief report: Piloting the Positive Life Changes (PLC) program for at-risk adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 36, 623-628. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.03.004
2012
Guerra, N. G., Williamson, A. A., & Sadek, S. (2012). Youth perspectives on bullying in adolescence. The Prevention Researcher, 19, 14-16.
Editorials, Reviews, Chapters
2019
Williamson, A. A. & Mason, T.B.A. (2019). Parasomnias among children with neurodevelopmental delays. In J. Accardo (Ed.), Sleep in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities: An Evidence-Based Guide (pp. 85-91). Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-98414-8
2017
Njoroge, W., Williamson, A. A., Mautone, J. A., Robins, P. M., & Benton, T. (2017). Professional competencies and training guidelines for behavioral health providers in pediatric primary care. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 26, 717-731. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2017.06.002.
2016
Meltzer, L. J., Thomas, J. H., & Williamson, A. A. (2016). Sleep Disturbances. In R. J. R. Levesque (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Adolescence (pp.1-12). New York: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-32132-5_98-2
Williamson, A. A., Guerra, N. G., & Shadowen, N. L. (2016). From school bullying to dating violence: Coercive developmental processes and implications for intervention. In T. Dishion & J. Snyder (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook on Coercive Dynamics in Close Relationships (pp. 300-312). New York: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199324552.013.22
Williamson, A. A., Moore, M., & DelRosso, L. (2016). A 4-year-old child with paroxysmal nocturnal events. In American Academy of Sleep Medicine (Ed.), Case Book of Sleep Medicine (pp. 425-429). Darien, IL: American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
2015
Williamson, A. A., Modecki, K. L., & Guerra, N. G. (2015). Social-emotional learning programs in high school. In J. A. Durlak, C. Domitrovich, R. P. Weissberg, & T. P. Gullotta (Eds.). Handbook of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL): Research and Practice (pp. 181-196). New York: Guildford Press.
2013
Williamson, A. A., Guerra, N. G., & Lucas-Molina, B. L. (2013). What can high schools do to prevent cyber bullying? In R. Hanewald (Ed.), From Cyber Bullying to Cyber Safety: Issues and Approaches in Educational Contexts (pp. 225-243). New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers.