Judith C. Scott
Assistant Professor
Dr. Judith C. Scott is an assistant professor at Boston University School of Social Work. Her research focuses on how trauma such as physical child maltreatment and racism (interpersonal and structural), protective processes including ethnic-racial socialization and coping, and contextual factors affects parenting and mental health among families across cultures.
An interdisciplinary researcher, Dr. Scott uses community-based participatory approaches and qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods in her work. Her current and past research focuses on Black and Asian children and families with consideration of ethnic variation and immigrant experiences. Her secondary research interest is providing program evaluations to small and medium non-profit community organizations serving families.
Dr. Scott is a consulting editor for the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and a member of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Office of Youth and Young Adult Services Racial Equity Movement Advisory Board and the Boston University School of Public Health Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health Advisory Board.
Specialties
• Trauma
• Mental health
• Children and families from diverse cultures
• Child maltreatment
• Ethnic-racial socialization
• Parenting
• Community-based participatory research
Research Areas
Related News
View All- Professor Judith Scott Elected Treasurer of SRCD Black Caucus
BU School of Social Work proudly announces that Professor Judith Scott has been elected Treasurer of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Black Caucus for the 2025–2027 term. Her appointment began at the recent SRCD Biennial Meeting held in Minneapolis. Founded in 1973, the SRCD Black Caucus is a multidisciplinary organization committed to … Continue reading Judith C. Scott
- Professor Scott & Colleagues Recommend Anti-Racist Changes to the Child Welfare System
The child welfare system (CWS) has been criticized for discriminating against children and families of color. While research often looks at individual or community issues, it often has not addressed CWS’s historical or systemic problems. A recent article by Profs. Judith Scott at BU School of Social Work (BUSSW), Bridget Cho at University of South … Continue reading Judith C. Scott
- SRCD Asian Caucus: Professor Judith Scott Recognized for New Study on Supporting Asian Parents in Discussing Racism
Professor Judith Scott from BU School of Social Work (BUSSW) was featured as a Spotlight member of the Society for Research in Child Development’s (SRCD) Asian Caucus for her work with Asian communities. In an interview with the caucus, Professor Scott discusses her new study on the protective effects of ethnic-racial socialization (ERS). ERS refers … Continue reading Judith C. Scott
Education
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BS (Clinical Psychology and Computer Science)
Tufts University
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MPP (Urban and Environmental Policy)
Tufts University
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MSW
Boston College
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PhD
Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development, Tufts University
Courses
CP 759 Introduction to Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups
CP 772 Clinical Practice with Families
Publications
Published
Ha, Y.S., Scott, J.C., Collins, M.E. & Suh, H.S. (2022) Understanding relations between state-level variation in TANF spending and substantiated child maltreatment in the U.S. Journal of Social Service Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2022.2078456
Scott, J.C., McDermott, E., Harris, A., Johnson, K.G., Pinderhughes, E.E. & Spencer, M.B. (2021) Looking through a kaleidoscope: A Phenomenological Ethnic-Racial Socialization Conceptual Model and its application to U.S. Black and Latino youth and families. Journal of Social Issues, 77 (4), 1327 – 1350
Hahm, H C., Ha, Y.S., Scott, J.C., Wongchai, V., Chen, J.A. & Liu, C.H. (2021) Perceived COVID-19-related anti-Asian discrimination predicts Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms among Asian American youth. Psychiatry Research, 308, 114084
Scott, J.C., Pinderhughes, E.E., & Johnson, S.K., (2020) How does racial context matter?: Family preparation-for-bias messages and racial coping reported by Black youth. Child Development, 91(5), 1471-1490.
Scott, J.C. & Pinderhughes, E.E. (2019) Distinguishing between demographics and contextual factors linked to early childhood physical discipline and physical maltreatment among Black families. Child Abuse & Neglect, 94, 104020
Collins, M.E. & Scott, J.C. (2019) Intersection of race and religion of youth in foster care: Examining policy and practice. Children and Youth Services Review, 98, 163-170
Pinderhughes, E.E., Scott, J.C., & Matthews, J.A.K. (2019) Youth of color in care: Intersecting identities and vulnerabilities. In Fitzgerald, H.E, Johnson, D.J., Qin, D.B., Villarruel, F.A., & Norder, J. (Eds.) Handbook of children and prejudice: Integrating research, practice and policy (pgs. 353- 373). Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland
Accepted & In-Progress
Bogan., E. Adams-Bass, V., Francis, L., Gaylord-Harden, N., Seaton, E., Scott, J.C., & Williams, J. (in press) “Wearing a mask won’t protect us from our history”: The impact of COVID-19 on Black children and families. Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Social Policy Report
Cho, B, Fleckman, J. & Scott, J.C. (accepted) Anti-Black racism within child welfare services: Past, present, and future. American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) Advisor Special Issue.
Presentations
Johnson, K.G., Scott, J.C., Liu, J., Wang, J., Sopper, C., Zhang, X., Weng, Y., Fleckman, J., Cho, B., Yau, Y. , & Li, G., (2021, April). Discrimination experiences among low-income Chinese immigrant families living in the Greater Boston area. Presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Virtual Biennial Meeting.
Scott, J.C., Zhang, X., Wang, J., Liu, J., Sopper, C., Johnson, K.G., Weng, Y., Fleckman, J., Cho, B., Yau, Y. & Li, G. ((2021, April).). What is positive parenting?: Perspectives from low-income Chinese immigrant caregivers living in the Greater Boston area. Presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Virtual Biennial Meeting.*
Scott, J.C., Pinderhughes, E.E., and Johnson, S.K. (2019, March) The effects of physical maltreatment and physical discipline on internalizing symptoms among young African- American children. Paper presented as part of the symposium, “Early childhood child maltreatment, risk factors, and effects on children’s health” (Chair: Scott, J.C.) at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
Scott, J.C. (2019, March) Presenter, Forming interdisciplinary partnerships to engage communities in the promotion of child well-being. Professional development workshop held at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
Johnson, K.G.* and Scott, J.C. (2019, March) Enough is enough: The experience of Black homicide survivors in Boston. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
Mistry, J., Scott, J.C., and Kiyama, F. (2019, March) Narrative constructions of developmental progression: Making sense of “mixed” ethnic identities. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
Johnson, K.G.*, Zhang, X.†, and Scott, J.C. (2019, January) Cultural exchanger: Using a narrative approach to evaluate a culturally-based family agency. ePoster presented at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA
Scott, J.C., Pinderhughes, EE., and Johnson, S.K. (2018, April) Coping with teachers’ racial discrimination: Links to academic outcomes among Black youth. Paper presented as part of the symposium, “Racial coping among Black and Latino youth” (Chair: Scott, J.C.) at the Society for Research on Adolescence Biennial Meeting, Minneapolis, MN
Scott, J.C., Pinderhughes, E.E., Johnson, S.K, and Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group (2018, January) Variation in African American parents' use of early childhood physical discipline. ePoster presented at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
Zhang, X., Zhang, E., Cinney, A., Debenedetto, A., Nealon-Shapiro, C., Shin, H.R., Scott, J.C., & Pinderhughes, E.E. (2017, April) “They make slanty eyes at me”: Racial and adoption microaggressions in the lives of international transracial adoptees. Poster presented at Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Austin, TX
Johnson, K.G., Scott, J.C., Liu, J., Wang, J., Sopper, C., Zhang, X., Weng, Y., Fleckman, J.,
Cho, B., Yau, Y. , & Li, G., (2021, April). Discrimination experiences among low-income Chinese immigrant families living in the Greater Boston area. Presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Virtual Biennial Meeting.
Scott, J.C., Zhang, X., Wang, J., Liu, J., Sopper, C., Johnson, K.G., Weng, Y., Fleckman, J.,
Cho, B., Yau, Y. & Li, G. (2021, April). What is positive parenting?: Perspectives from low-income Chinese immigrant caregivers living in the Greater Boston area. Presented at the Society for Research in Child Development Virtual Biennial Meeting.*
Scott, J.C., Pinderhughes, E.E., and Johnson, S.K. (2019, March) The effects of physical maltreatment and physical discipline on internalizing symptoms among young African- American children. Paper presented as part of the symposium, “Early childhood child maltreatment, risk factors, and effects on children’s health” (Chair: Scott, J.C.) at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
Scott, J.C. (2019, March) Presenter, Forming interdisciplinary partnerships to engage
communities in the promotion of child well-being. Professional development workshop held at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
Scott, J.C., Pinderhughes, E.E., and Johnson, S.K. (2016, October). Preparing Black boys for bias: Understanding family messages and boys’ coping strategies related to racially hostile situations. Poster presented at Society for Research in Child Development Special Topics Meeting: Babies, Boys and Men of Color, Tampa, FL
Scott, J.C. (2016, October). Member of a roundtable panel: Mentoring males of color across the lifespan: Building from personal and professional assets and vulnerabilities. Society for Research in Child Development Special Topics Meeting: Babies, Boys and Men of Color, Tampa, FL
Grants
2022–2023: Principal Investigator, Supporting Asian Parents and Children Talking about Race and Racism (ACTRR): A pilot ethnic racial socialization intervention study for Chinese and Vietnamese Families, Boston University Initiative on Cities
2020–2024: Co-Investigator, Black Women First Evaluation and Technical Assistance Provider (ETAP), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), (Subcontract PI: Linda Sprague Martinez)
2019–2020: Principal Investigator, Cultural and contextual influences on parenting among low-income Chinese immigrant caregivers living in the Greater Boston area, Doris Duke Fellowship for the Promotion of Child Well-Being Research-to-Action Grants, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2015-2017: Doris Duke Fellowship for the Promotion of Child Well-Being. Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Professional Activities and Certifications
2022–present: Boston University School of Public Health Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health Advisory Board, Member
2022–present: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Youth and Young Adult Services Racial Equity Movement Advisory Board, Member
2021–present: Consulting Editor, Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
2018–2021: Member, Society for Research in Child Development Black Caucus Social Policy Committee
2010: Part-time Social Worker, Family & Children’s Service of Greater Lynn, Lynn, MA
2008–2010: Liaison for School Based Programs, Family & Children’s Service of Greater Lynn, Lynn, MA
2006–2010: Social Worker, Family & Children’s Service of Greater Lynn, Lynn, MA
Awards and Honors
2019: Society for Research in Child Development Outstanding Dissertation Award, Baltimore, MD
2017: Eliot Pearson Doctoral Research Practice Integration Award, Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development, Tufts University
2017: 2017 Eliot Pearson Doctoral Research Practice Integration Award, Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development, Tufts University.
2015-2017: Doris Duke Fellowship for the Promotion of Child Well-Being, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
2016: Third Place, Student Poster Competition at the Society for Research in Child Development Special Topics Meeting: Babies, Boys and Men of Color, Tampa, FL.
2014-2015: Graduate Institute for Teaching (GIFT) Fellowship, Tufts University, Medford, MA.
2014: 2014 Senior Survey Significant Impact Nomination, Tufts University, Medford, MA.