About Dr. Ruby Charak
Dr. Ruby Charak (pronouns: she/her/ella; UTRGV Ally) received her Ph.D. in Clinical and Developmental Psychology from the Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 2015 under the supervision of Dr. Hans M. Koot. She was a postdoctoral scholar and data manager/analyst in the Department of Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2014-2016 under the mentorship of Dr. David DiLillo. Before embarking on her doctoral research journey, she was an Assistant Professor (tenured) at the Department of Psychology, University of Jammu, India.
In 2016, Dr. Charak joined the UTRGV faculty and she is currently an Associate Professor (tenured) and the director of the UTRGV Adversities in Childhood and Trauma Studies (ACT) Lab. Dr. Charak is a parent to a toddler and three fur babies (a family of three short-haired cats: mother and the siblings) and spends her free time being at their beck and call. She actively volunteers and provides support to local nonprofit organizations and is a member of the Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network, a consortium of nonprofit organizations in the RGV working on health, housing, and immigration problems.
Dr. Charak’s program of research is aimed at identifying the risk and protective factors associated with child trauma, revictimization experiences, and related traumatic stress reactions. With a keen awareness of the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ and racially and ethnically diverse individuals, Dr. Charak is strongly committed to working with underrepresented groups, ensuring that her research is inclusive and culturally sensitive. With a diverse background and comprehensive training, Dr. Charak prioritizes the use of culturally sensitive instruments when measuring childhood trauma and traumatic stress reactions. Related, her research extends to evaluating the psychometric properties of scales and instruments in underserved and diverse populations, including those residing in low- and middle-income countries. Furthermore, her recent research has a particular focus on assessing the diagnostic validity of developmental trauma disorder as a mental health outcome among trauma-exposed children and adolescents.
Research Expertise
Dr. Charak's research encompasses the comprehensive identification of adverse interpersonal processes, including child maltreatment, polyvictimization, revictimization across the lifespan, and the assessment of traumatic stress reactions, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and developmental trauma disorder in adolescents and emerging adults. With a strong dedication to research that transcends geographical and racial boundaries, Dr. Charak has worked extensively with diverse adolescents and young adults from underserved regions within the United States and across the globe. Since joining the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in 2016, she has further expanded her research focus on revictimization, concentrating on adolescents and Hispanic youth. In addition, her research portfolio now includes investigations into technology-mediated abuse, particularly in the context of cyber intimate partner violence (cyber IPV) within interpersonal relationships.
Furthermore, Dr. Charak has conducted in-depth studies into the associated mental health disparities affecting individuals living in low-income ethnic enclaves along the South Texas-Mexico border, and among minoritized LGBTQAI+ individuals. Her overarching research goal is to develop preventative strategies for reducing violence and victimization during adolescence and emerging adulthood, as well as to address individual psychopathology and family dysfunction. Dr. Charak brings a wealth of statistical expertise to her research, including proficiency in structural equation modeling, mixture modeling, and latent variable modeling. She frequently employs these advanced statistical techniques also mixed method designs to gain deeper insights in her research. Dr. Charak's statistical acumen has led her to serve as a statistical consultant on projects funded by the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Menninger Clinic in Houston, Texas.
In her ongoing commitment to understanding the nuanced and lived experiences of underserved communities, Dr. Charak has also begun to incorporate mixed method designs into her research work. This approach allows her to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the individuals she serves and the communities she works with.
Professional Services
Dr. Charak is on the editorial board of Child Abuse and Neglect:The International Journal, Psychology of Violence, Child Abuse Review, and European Journal of Psychotraumatology. StressPoints. In the past, Dr. Charak has served as the co-Chair of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity Special Interest Group of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the Chair of the Child Maltreatment and Interpersonal Violence Special Interest Group of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), and was also the faculty co-advisor to the UTRGV Psi-Chi: The International Honor Society in Psychology, and the UTRGV Psychology Club. She is a UTRGV Ally and welcomes collaborations with students/researchers from all walks of life.
Courses Offered
- PSYC 4313: Abnormal Psychology (undergraduate course)
- PSYC 4360: Clinical and Counseling Psychology (undergraduate course)
- PSYC 3337: Developmental Psychology: Lifespan (undergraduate course)
- PSYC 6332: Research Design (Ph.D. course)
- PSYC 7100: Research/Thesis (Ph.D. course)
- PSYC 8303: Advanced Statistics for Psychological Research III (Ph.D. course)
- PSYC 8375: Trauma Elective (Ph.D. course)
- PSYC 8376: Family Violence Elective (Ph.D)
- PSYC 9300: Dissertation
- PSYC 7300/7301: M.A. Thesis (M.A. courses)
Teaching Interests
Dr. Charak currently teaches courses in Clinical Psychology, Research Methods, Advanced Statistics, and Trauma Psychology. She has previously taught graduate and undergraduate courses in Developmental Psychology.
Representative Publications
(*Student mentee)
Childhood Adversities/Child Maltreatment
- Charak, R., *Cano-Gonzalez, I., & Ronzon-Tirado, R., Schmitz, R., M. Tabler, J., Karsberg, S., & Ford, J. (2023). LGBTQ+ identity related abuse childhood and associations with depression and suicide behavior in adulthood: role of cisheterosexism and emotional suppression. Child Abuse and Neglect (accepted).
- Roley-Roberts, M., Charak, R., Jeffs, A., & Hovey J. (2023). The unique relationship between childhood sexual abuse, self-injury, and suicide ideation: the mediating role of emotion dysregulation. Child Abuse Review, 32(2).org/10.1002/car.2787 (2021).
- Charak, R., Ford, J. D., Modrowski, C. A., & Kerig, P. K. (2019). Polyvictimization, emotion dysregulation, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, and behavioral health problems among justice-involved youth: A latent class analysis. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 47, 287-298.
- Charak, R., DiLillo, D., Messman-Moore, T. L., & Gratz, K. L. (2018). Latent classes of lifetime sexual victimization characteristics in women in emerging adulthood: Differential relations with emotion dysregulation. Psychology of Violence, 8, 570-579.
- Charak, R., Byllesby, B. M., Roley, M., Claycomb, M. A., Durham, T. A., Ross, J., Armour, C., & Elhai, J. D. (2016). Latent classes of childhood poly-victimization and association with suicidal behavior among adult trauma victims: Moderating role of anger. Child Abuse and Neglect, 62, 19-28. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.10.010
- Charak, R., & Koot, H. M. (2015). Severity of maltreatment and personality pathology in adolescents of Jammu, India: A latent class approach. Child Abuse and Neglect, 50, 56-66. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.05.010
PTSD
- Ford. J. D., Charak, R., Modrowski, C. A., & Kerig, P. K. (2018). PTSD and dissociation symptoms as mediators of the relationship between polyvictimization and psychosocial and behavioral problems among justice involved adolescents. Journal of Trauma and Dissociation-Special Issue on Polyvictimization and its adverse impact across the lifespan, 19, 325-346.
- Erwin, M. C., Charak, R., Durham, T. A., Armour, C., Lv, X., Southwick, S., Pietrzak, R. H., & Elhai, J. D. (2017). The 7-factor hybrid model of DSM-5 PTSD symptoms and alcohol consumptions and consequences in a national sample of trauma-exposed veterans. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 51, 14-21.
- Claycomb, M., Charak, R., Kaplow, J., Layne, C. M., Pynoos, R., & Elhai, J. D. (2016). Persistent complex bereavement disorder symptom domains relate differentially to PTSD and depression: A study of war-exposed Bosnian adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 44, 1361-1373. doi. 10.1007/s10802-015-0107-7
- Charak, R., Armour, C., Elklit, A., Angmo, D., Elhai, J. D., & Koot, H. M. (2014). Factor structure of PTSD, and relation with gender in trauma survivors from India. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 5, 25547. doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v5.25547.
- Charak, R., Armour, C., Elklit, A., Koot, H. M., & Elhai, J. D. (2014). Assessing the latent factor association between the dysphoria model of PTSD, and positive and negative affect in trauma victims from India. Psychological Injury and Law, 7, 122-130. doi:10.1007/s12207-014-9192-0
LGBTQIA+ Young Adults
- Charak, R., *Cano-Gonzalez, I., Ronzon-Tirado, R., Ford, J. D., Byllesby, B. M., Shevlin, M., Karatzias, T., Hyland, P., & Cloitre, M. (2023). Factor structure of the International Trauma Questionnaire in trauma exposed LGBTQ+ adults: Role of accumulating traumatic events and minority stress heterosexist experiences. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 15(4), 628-636. doi.10.1037/tra0001440.
- Schmitz, R. M., & Charak, R. (2022). “I went into this as one person, and then came out a totally different person”: Native LGBTQ2S+ young adults’ conceptions of trauma. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(5-6), 3293-3319. doi.10.1177/0886260520948523
- *Villarreal, L., Charak, R., Schmitz, R.M., *Hsieh, C., & Ford, J. D. (2021). The relationship between sexual orientation outness, heterosexism, emotion dysregulation, and alcohol use in gay, lesbian, and bisexual emerging adults. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health, 25(1), 94-115. doi.10.1080/19359705.2020.1809588
- Charak, R., *Villarreal, L., Schmitz, R. M., Hirai, M., & Ford, J. D. (2019). Patterns of childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence, emotion dysregulation, and mental health symptoms among gay, lesbian, and bisexual emerging adults: A 3-step latent class approach. Child Abuse and Neglect, 89, 99-110.10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.01.007. PMID: 30654290
Technology-mediated/Cyber IPV
- Gilbar, O., Charak, R., *Trujillo, O., *Cantu, J. I., *Cavazos, V., & Lavi, I. (2023). A meta-analysis of cyber intimate partner violence: its associations to face-to-face intimate partner violence and how it reflects gendered intimate partner violence. Trauma, Violence, and Abuse, 24(30), 1948-1965. doi.org/10.1177/15248380221082087
- *Cantu, J. I., Charak, R., Popan, J., & Cantos, A. (2023). Cognitive reappraisal as a protective factor in the associations between cyber intimate partner victimization and depression in Hispanic emerging adults. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 32(1-2), 71-87. doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2022.2112331
- *Cano-Gonzalez, I., Charak, R., Gilbar, O., Racionero-Viñas, R., & Strait, M. K. (2020). Witnessing parental violence and intimate partner cyber IPV perpetration in hispanic emerging adults: The mediating role of attitudes towards IPV. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1177/0886260520975834
- *Cantu, J. I., & Charak, R. (2020). Unique, additive, and interactive effects of intimate partner cybervictimization types on depression in Hispanic emerging adults. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1177/0886260520915552.
- *Trujillo, O., *Cantu, J. I., & Charak, R. (2020). Unique and additive effects of intimate partner cybervictimization types on alcohol use in lesbian, gay, and bisexual emerging adults. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2019.077
For a complete list of publications please visit ResearchGate or Google Scholar.
Selected Invited Lectures/Talks
- Charak, R. (2023, September). The cascading traumatic effects of gun violence among victim/survivors and their families. Invited talk at the Rio Grande Valley Gun Violence Prevention Forum, Texas Doctors for Social Responsibility, McAllen, TX, USA.
- Charak, R. (2023, April). Multiple marginalizations and traumatic stress reactions in LGBTQ+ adults. Invited talk at the Psychiatry Grand Rounds, University of Connecticut Health Science Center, CT, USA.
- Charak, R. (2022, November). Trauma and minority stress in LGBTQ+ populations: needs and treatment approaches. Invited talk at the 3rd International Trauma Informed Care Conference, Centre for developmental and complex trauma, United Kingdom.
- Charak, R. (2022, May). Trauma 101. Invited speaker at the Joining Forces: Responding to Child Abuse Conference, organized by the Children’s Advocacy Center for Hidalgo and Starr Counties, Edinburg, Texas.
- Charak, R. (2021, October). Cyber IPV: Is it old wine in a new bottle? Invited speaker at a seminar on cyber intimate partner violence organized by Bar Illan University, Israel.
- Charak, R., Altema-McNeely, N., & Cuéllar, C. E. (2021, April). Integrating diversity and inclusion in syllabi and courses. Invited speaker presented at the Teaching Seminar, Center for Teaching Excellence, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas.
- Charak, R., & Schmitz, R. M. (2021, March). Mixed methods: Understanding the pandemic related health issues through interdisciplinary research. Invited speaker presented at the Research Seminar, Gender and Women Studies, Center for Diversity and Inclusion and the School of Interdisciplinary Programs and Engagement, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas.
- Charak, R. & Cano-Gonzalez, I. (2021, February). Research and activities at the UTRGV ACT lab. Invited speakers at the Psychology Student Alliance for Research, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas.
- Charak, R. (2020, September). Interpersonal victimization among minoritized groups in the United States. Invited speaker at the Research Seminar, School of Law, Psychology and Social Work, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
- Charak, R. (2019, December). To tell or not to tell: Issues around child abuse disclosure and related mental health challenges. Invited speaker at the Starr County Conference: Responding to Child Abuse Conference, Rio Grande City, Texas.
- Charak, R. (2019, April). Cycle of abuse and related psychological consequences. Invited speaker at the Joining Forces: Responding to Child Abuse Conference, Edinburg, Texas.
- Charak, R. (2019, April). Use of latent class analyses in deciphering patterns of lifetime interpersonal violence and related traumatic stress reactions. Invited talk at the UTRGV South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Edinburg, Texas.
- Charak, R., Cantu, J. I., & Villarreal, L. (2019, April). Writing an academic journal article: a mentor-mentee perspective. Invited talk at the UTRGV Center for Teaching Excellence, Edinburg, Texas.
- Charak, R. (2018, November). Basics of child abuse, domestic violence, and trauma-informed care. Invited speaker at the 15th Annual Forensic Sciences Conference, South Padre Island, Texas.
- Charak, R. (2018, February). Caught in the folds of sexual (re)victimization. Invited panel speaker at the UTRGV FESTIBA, Edinburg, Texas.
- Charak, R. (2017, November). The psychological trauma of childhood maltreatment. Invited speaker at the 14th Annual Forensic Sciences Conference, South Padre Island, Texas.
- Charak, R. (2017, March). Exposure to victimization during childhood: risk to resilience. Invited talk presented at Brain Day, International Museum of Art and Science, McAllen, Texas.
- Charak, R. (2015, July). Child abuse and neglect in India: Is it of epidemic proportions? Invited lecture presented at the Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska.
- Charak, R. (2013, April). Child abuse and neglect in India: Challenges in the field. Invited lecture presented at the Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, California.
- Charak, R. (2011, September). Strategies to handle examination anxiety. Invited lecture presented at the Government Higher Secondary School for Boys, Jammu, India (honorarium received).
- Charak, R. (2010, June). Managing peer pressure. Invited lecture presented at the Harbans Bhalla Educational Trust, Jammu, India.
- Charak, R. (2008, November). Stress management. Invited lecture presented at the Sher-e-Kashmir Agriculture University, R. S. Pura, India.