Editorial: The Journal of Pediatric Psychology—The Next Five Years

Abstract

I am delighted to be the new Editor of the Journal of Pediatric Psychology (JPP)! Because of the work of so many superb former editors, we begin 2013 with a healthy and vibrant journal, with so much to look forward to in the coming years. I am particularly grateful to Dennis Drotar and his editorial team for handing over a journal that has a high rate of submissions, a competitive rejection rate, and an excellent ‘‘time to first editorial decision.’’ I hope to continue to maintain this level of quality, while continuing to publish methodologically strong research articles. I am also pleased that the following individuals have agreed to be Associate Editors for the journal: Dean Beebe, John Lavigne, Tonya Palermo, Lori Stark, Ric Steele, and Tim Wysocki. We have already been working together as a team for a year (we began reviewing all newly submitted papers in January 2012), and I am delighted to have all of them on board. Also, I am particularly fortunate that Susan Wood has agreed to continue to serve as the Editorial Assistant for the journal. As any developmentally oriented scholar knows, healthy development consists of continuity and change. Applying these concepts to JPP, I seek to retain the strong tradition that JPP has established by continuing to highlight the best research in our field, including first-rate systematic reviews of such research (see new initiative in this area later in the text). In the context of such continuity, I also seek to help JPP grow in new directions, increasing its appeal and usefulness to the readership as well as its impact on the larger field of pediatric psychology. In this editorial, I provide my goal-oriented 5-year plan for JPP. I hope that when I write my closing editorial at the end of 2017, we will have accomplished these goals. Goal 1: Publish on Topical, Innovative, and Contemporary Issues in Pediatric Psychology