Makenna Moeller, MA

Name: Makenna Moeller

Makenna graduated with a B.A. degree in psychology and is currently a graduate student working towards her doctorate degree in clinical psychology at Loma Linda University. Her research interests include looking at the bidirectional relationship between chronic illness and modifiable behaviors in children, and the outcome these have on their quality of life. She plans to become a pediatric psychologist who works within an interdisciplinary team to help address and improve the physical, mental, and behavioral health of children who suffer from chronic diagnoses. She is passionate about working with children and is excited to make a career out of it!

Name of Doctoral Project: Associations Between Caregiver Factors and the Adolescent Sleep-Pain Relationship

Defended: February 26th, 2025

Clinical Interests:  Pediatric psychology, Interdisciplinary/Integrated care, Bidirectional relationship between pediatric behavioral, mental, and emotional health and chronic illness, Behavioral parent training  

Research Interests:  Pediatric sleep, pediatric pain, caregiver-child interactions 

Clinical Placements(past to current): 

Pediatric Neurology Clinic 

Redlands Unified School District (Testing) 

CHOC Feeding Disorders Track  

Brain Wellness Institute (Testing)  

SAC Pediatrics 

Manuscripts

Perez, K., Moeller, M., Van Dyk, T.R. (Under Review). The Effect of Diabetes Distress on the Relationship between Diabetes Knowledge and Diabetes-Related Self-efficacy in Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes.

Moeller, M., Cole, J., Sweeney, M., Van Dyk, T.R. (In Preparation). Associations Between Caregiver Factors and the Adolescent Sleep-Pain Relationship.

Poster Presentations

Ring, C., Zelaya, A., Moeller, M., Sanner, C., Neece, C., Van Dyk., T.R. (2025, August 7-9). Examining the Effect of Online Interventions on Diet and Physical Activity Behaviors in Autistic Youth. Poster accepted at the American Psychological Association Annual Conference, Denver, Colorado.

Moeller, M., Van Dyk, T.R. (2025, April 3-5). Parent-Child Communication as it Relates to the Adolescent Sleep-Pain Relationship. Poster accepted at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, Phoenix, Arizona.

Moeller, M., Esquibel, K., Morales, N., Van Dyk, T.R. (2024, April 25-27). Caregiver Mental Health Predicts Child Insomnia While Controlling for Child Internalizing Mental Health Symptoms. Poster accepted to be presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana.  

Morales, N., Mazzone, E., Esquibel, K., Moeller, M., Van Dyk, T.R. (2024, April 25-27). Sleep Hygiene as a Target for Intervention to Reduce Co-morbid Pain Among Adolescents With a Sleep Disturbance. Poster accepted to be presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana.  

Esquibel, K., Moeller, M., Morales, N., Dobalian, D., Van Dyk, T.R. (2024, April 24 -28). Association of Recent Life Events and Caregiver Mental Health with Sleep Disturbance in Preschool Aged Children. Poster submitted for presentation at the Western Psychological Association Annual Conference, San Francisco, California.