Research Area of Specialization: Individual Development — Adolescence
Adolescent Development faculty in HDFS pursue programs of research that span this developmental period, from the transition into adolescence through emerging adulthood. Their work cuts across all areas of the department, including family relationships, prevention, and methodology, and utilizes a range of methods, including surveys, diaries, interviews, and observations. Examples of current research projects include: Community-based violence prevention in adolescents; Heavy alcohol use among college students; Gender, ethnicity, and sexual behavior among college students; Links between parenting practice and adolescent dieting and eating problems; The development of sexual orientation; Family relationships and adolescent gender socialization.
- Mayra Bamaca
- Adolescent development and adjustment among ethnic minority youth, with an emphasis on Latino adolescents living in the U.S.
- Douglas Coatsworth
- Prevention research and theory; design and evaluation of family-based interventions to promote development and to prevent mental health and behavioral problems in children and adolescents; resilience.
- Bo Cleveland
- Interaction of genetic and environmental influences on adolescent and young adult risk-behaviors, including alcohol and tobacco use, aggression, and delinquency; contribution of traits to the selection and modification of social contexts.
- Ann Crouter
- Interrelationships of parents' employment situations, family processes, and children's and adolescent's social development; gender socialization in middle childhood and adolescence.
- Anthony D'Augelli
- Community interventions; issues in the development of sexual orientation.
- Scott Gest
- Links between reading skills and social competence in elementary school; peer relations; early reading tutoring as a preventive intervention; longitudinal study of patterns of risk and adaptation from childhood to adulthood; behavioral inhibition and related internalizing dimensions of personality and psychopathology.
- Kathryn Hood
- The development of aggressive and inhibited behavior: Sex differences, menstrual cycle effects, effects of selective breeding, developmental theory, and longitudinal studies on the lifespan.
- Eva Lefkowitz
- Development during adolescence and emerging adulthood, with a focus on sexual attitudes and behaviors, gender role development, romantic relationships, religiosity, ethnic identity, body image, and communication.
- Jennifer Maggs
- Adolescent social development and health; transition to adulthood; risk behaviors; prevention science; research methods; alcohol expectancies.
- Susan McHale
- Family relationships and family roles (particularly gender roles) in childhood and adolescence; differential socialization of siblings.
- Ed Smith
- Adolescent development with a focus on the design, implementation, and evaluation of interventions to prevent problem behaviors.
- Fred Vondracek
- Career development across the life span; research settings include schools, work sites, and communities.