Anthony Cifre, PhD, MS
he/him/his
Assistant Professor in the Child Study CenterDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Education
PhD
University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2025)
University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2025)
MA
University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2023)
University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2023)
MS
Southern Connecticut State University, Sport Psychology (2020)
Southern Connecticut State University, Sport Psychology (2020)
Featured Publication
Do weighted blankets improve sleep among children with a history of maltreatment? A randomized controlled crossover trial
Contact Info
Education
PhD
University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2025)
University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2025)
MA
University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2023)
University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2023)
MS
Southern Connecticut State University, Sport Psychology (2020)
Southern Connecticut State University, Sport Psychology (2020)
Featured Publication
Do weighted blankets improve sleep among children with a history of maltreatment? A randomized controlled crossover trial
Contact Info
Education
PhD
University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2025)
University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2025)
MA
University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2023)
University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2023)
MS
Southern Connecticut State University, Sport Psychology (2020)
Southern Connecticut State University, Sport Psychology (2020)
Featured Publication
Do weighted blankets improve sleep among children with a history of maltreatment? A randomized controlled crossover trial
Contact Info
About
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Titles
Assistant Professor in the Child Study Center
Biography
Dr. Anthony Cifre is a pediatric psychologist with a focus on treatment for youth with a variety of chronic medical conditions including craniofacial anomalies. Dr. Cifre received his masters and doctorate in clinical child psychology from the University of Houston in Houston, TX before completing his internship and fellowship training in pediatric psychology at the Yale Child Study Center. He also has extensive experience treating disruptive and oppositional behaviors in preschool-aged children and providing cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia to children, adolescents, and adults. Dr. Cifre's research centers on sleep health disparities in marginalized populations, including youth in foster care and gender/sexual minorities.
Last Updated on July 01, 2026.
Appointments
Child Study Center
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Fellowship
- Yale School of Medicine (2026)
- Residency
- Yale School of Medicine (2025)
- PhD
- University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2025)
- MA
- University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2023)
- MS
- Southern Connecticut State University, Sport Psychology (2020)
- BS
- West Virginia University, Sport and Exercise Psychology (2014)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Behavioral Medicine; Pediatrics; Sleep; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
Public Health Interests
Mental Health; Child/Adolescent Health
ORCID
0000-0002-3755-8257
Research at a Glance
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Anthony Cifre's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Anthony Cifre is interested in exploring.
8Publications
22Citations
Publications
Featured Publications
Do weighted blankets improve sleep among children with a history of maltreatment? A randomized controlled crossover trial
Cifre A, Vieira A, Baker C, Myers A, Rech M, Kim J, Zhang Y, Alfano C. Do weighted blankets improve sleep among children with a history of maltreatment? A randomized controlled crossover trial. Journal Of Clinical Sleep Medicine 2024, 20: 1405-1413. PMID: 38607244, PMCID: PMC11367729, DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.11152.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsImprove sleepHistory of maltreatmentSleep quality ratingsSubjective sleep diarySample of childrenSleep onset latencyWeighted blanketMaltreated childrenTotal sleep timeIndices of sleepWithin-subjectSleep diaryNon-pharmacological interventionsSleep onsetOnset latencyBiological sexSleep disruptionSleep outcomesTime of participationChild ageSleep timeEstimates of total sleep timeActigraphy-basedFoster careSleepSleep Health among Children Adopted from Foster Care: The Moderating Effect of Parent–Child Sleep Interactions
Cifre A, Budnick C, Bick J, McGlinchey E, Ripple C, Wolfson A, Alfano C. Sleep Health among Children Adopted from Foster Care: The Moderating Effect of Parent–Child Sleep Interactions. Behavioral Sleep Medicine 2024, 22: 472-487. PMID: 38263632, DOI: 10.1080/15402002.2024.2303467.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsFoster careSleep healthChildren's sleepCaregivers of childrenImprove sleep healthHealth of childrenSpecific sleep problemsAssociated with lower levelsChildren's sleep disturbancesOverall sleep qualityMental healthScore matched sampleCareSleep interactionsElevated riskSleep problemsSleep qualityPropensity score matched sampleNight terrorsSleep disturbanceHealthSleep disruptionParental involvementNighttime awakeningsModerating effect
2025
Factor Structure and Psychometric Evaluation of the Parent–Child Sleep Interactions Scale (PSIS) Among Children Adopted From Foster Care
Vieira A, Rojo-Wissar D, Zhang Y, Cifre A, Rech M, Myers A, Alfano C. Factor Structure and Psychometric Evaluation of the Parent–Child Sleep Interactions Scale (PSIS) Among Children Adopted From Foster Care. Child Psychiatry & Human Development 2025, 1-12. PMID: 41460451, DOI: 10.1007/s10578-025-01943-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsParent-Child Sleep Interactions ScaleConfirmatory factor analysisExploratory factor analysisChild sleep problemsItem factor loadingsInternal consistency reliabilityFactor structureSymptoms of separation anxietySleep problemsConsistency reliabilityFoster careFactor analysisThree-factor solutionParent-child interactionsHistory of placementInteraction ScalePreschool-aged childrenAnxiety symptomsChild depressionSeparation anxietyConvergent validityPsychometric propertiesSleep-dependentPsychometric evaluationThree-factor
2023
Markers of distress among behavioral and physical health evacuees prior to emergency departure from Antarctica
Kim J, Cifre A, Bower J, Connaboy C, Simpson R, Alfano C. Markers of distress among behavioral and physical health evacuees prior to emergency departure from Antarctica. Acta Astronautica 2023, 202: 311-318. DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.10.052.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPhysical symptomsPsychological crisisElevated anxiety symptomsSelf-report assessmentsMarkers of distressElevated physical symptomsAnxiety symptomsPsychiatric reasonsPositive emotionsMedical evacueesSelf-RegulationBaseline scoresLongitudinal studyMonthly assessmentsYears of ageSymptomsHigh-risk profileMonthly reportsMedical reasonsEmotionsDistressBaselineEmergency
2022
Correction to: Children’s Emotional Expressivity After Sleep Restriction Forecasts Social Problems Years Later
Alfano C, Kim J, Cifre A, Palmer C. Correction to: Children’s Emotional Expressivity After Sleep Restriction Forecasts Social Problems Years Later. Affective Science 2022, 3: 516-516. PMID: 36048429, PMCID: PMC9382917, DOI: 10.1007/s42761-022-00107-8.Commentaries, Editorials and Letters
2021
Children’s Emotional Expressivity After Sleep Restriction Forecasts Social Problems Years Later
Alfano C, Kim J, Cifre A, Palmer C. Children’s Emotional Expressivity After Sleep Restriction Forecasts Social Problems Years Later. Affective Science 2021, 3: 383-388. PMID: 36046006, PMCID: PMC9382988, DOI: 10.1007/s42761-021-00078-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsSleep restrictionEmotional expressionResponse to positive imagesFacial expressions of emotionChildren's socioemotional functioningPositive facial expressionsChildren's emotional expressionsChildren's social problemsChildren's facial expressionsExpressions of emotionSocial problemsSocioemotional functioningEmotional AssessmentFacial expressionsLong-term social problemsSleep patternsSleepInadequate sleepChildrenEmotionsPositive imageParticipantsAdultsParentsValidation of the Mental Health Checklist (MHCL) during COVID‐19 lockdown
So C, Kim J, Cifre A, Gonzalez R, Bower J, Alfano C. Validation of the Mental Health Checklist (MHCL) during COVID‐19 lockdown. Journal Of Community Psychology 2021, 50: 502-514. PMID: 33999434, PMCID: PMC8242690, DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22600.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMental Health ChecklistConfirmatory factor analysisMeasures of psychological well-beingMeasures of depressionConvergent validity analysisPsychological Well-BeingHealth checklistCommunity sampleConvergent validityPsychometric propertiesConfirmatory factor analysis indicesPsychological healthMental healthFactor analysisExtended periods of isolationWidespread social distancingValidity analysisWell-beingAntarctic missionsMentalCOVID-19 lockdownChecklistPeriod of isolationAnxietyDepression
2020
College Student Sleep and Executive Functioning: An Examination of Potential Moderators
Cifre A, Walters K, Budnick C. College Student Sleep and Executive Functioning: An Examination of Potential Moderators. Translational Issues In Psychological Science 2020, 6: 412-427. DOI: 10.1037/tps0000258.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderExecutive dysfunctionExecutive functionState sleepinessAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptomatologyExamination of potential moderatorsLevels of impulsivitySleep disturbanceCollege student populationHierarchical linear regressionSleep debtAttention-deficit/hyperactivityUndergraduate participantsCognitive resourcesPotential moderatorsAffective statesCollege studentsInsomniaPoor sleepFocal moderatorSymptomatologySleepCollegeStudent populationModerately
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity One Size Does Not Fit All: Trauma-informed approaches to pediatric behavioral sleep interventions
06/13/2026 - PresentOral PresentationSLEEP 2026DetailsBaltimore, MD, United StatesCollaborators- Candice AlfanoStony Brook University
Honors
honor Viola W. Bernard Fellowship
07/01/2025Yale School of Medicine AwardChild Study CenterDetailsUnited Stateshonor YASC Service Travel Award
04/01/2025Yale School of Medicine AwardYale Alumni Service CorpsDetailsUnited States
News & Links
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News
- December 22, 2025
Recognizing Fall 2025 Award Recipients at Yale Child Study Center
- June 23, 2025
Cifre Receives Yale Alumni Service Corps Argentina Travel Award
- September 16, 2024
New Clinical Framework Addresses Racism, Enhances Mental Health Care
- August 08, 2024
Yale Child Study Center welcomes new clinical trainees for the 2024-2025 academic year
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Contacts
Locations
Child Study Center
Academic Office
350 George Street
New Haven, CT 06511