Current Lab Research Projects

Dads Active in Daughters Developing Successfully (D.A.D.D.S)
(Funded by the Research Consortium on Children and Families)

Positive and supportive social relationships may serve an important, bolstering role for African American girls' psychological and school functioning. Though much of this work has explored parental contributions, it has focused mostly on how mothers influence girls' outcomes. Fathers or father-figures, as important others in the lives of African American girls, have received relatively less attention. This investigation explores father-daughter relationships in African American households. In particular, this study examines both father and daughter perceptions of this relationship, including relationship quality, socialization practices (e.g., racial and academic socialization) and parental involvement. Further, this investigation explores demographic and psycho-social correlates (e.g., parenting self-efficacy; fathering ideologies) of fathering practices. Also, this investigation links these aspects of fathering to girls' psychological and school adjustment.

D.A.D.D.S Recruitment Commercial

February/March D.A.D.D.S. Newsletter

May/June D.A.D.D.S. Newsletter

 

Emerging Adulthood Among African American Youth

Emerging adulthood, defined as a distinct developmental period (18-25 years of age), has been characterized as a time of identity exploration and transition for many youth (Arnett, 2000). Using university and community-based samples, this investigation explores African American youths’ views about adult responsibilities, including familial responsibilities, perceived gender roles, beliefs about community involvement and career-related/educational goals. Additionally, this study explores contextual stressors (e.g. school/work stress; encounters with racial discrimination; family stress) that may adversely influence youth functioning during this period as well as culturally-specific and developmentally-appropriate protective factors (e.g., racial identity; social support; coping behaviors).

Social-Contextual Influences of African American Males’ Fatherhood Ideologies: Implications for Paternal Involvement

To date, the preponderance of the literature has focused on providing descriptive information on fathers (e.g., demographics) as well as illustrating their parenting behaviors. An important piece of this puzzle is illuminating why fathers decide to engage in the parenting process (Lamb, 1995). One possible factor associated with engagement in parenting practices and behaviors is fathers’ ideologies and beliefs about the roles and responsibilities of parents. These ideologies about parenting may serve as an impetus for engagement in or disengagement from parenting (e.g., Smetana & Daddis, 2002). Thus, the demonstrated relationships between fathering antecedents parenting practices may be explained more appropriately by taking into account both parenting and fathering-specific ideologies. The current study explores socio-demographic factors (e.g. co-parenting relationship; intergenerational influences) associated with African American fathers' parenting ideologies.

Socialization Processes in African American Families: Influences of Gender

Gender has been suggested as one of the most influential factors of socialization (Bronstein, 2006; Leaper & Friedman, 2007; Reid, Cooper, & Banks, 2008). These gendered socialization practices, particularly within the familial context, begin early in the lifespan and intensify as youth enter adolescence (Galambos, 2004). Given the distinct social experiences of African American males and females, parents may tailor racial socialization messages to best prepare them for their environment and subsequent social encounters. This investigation examines how adolescent gender may influence both quantitative (e.g., frequency of particular message) and qualitative (e.g., content of message) aspects of parental socialization. In particular, this investigation explores gendered influences on race-specific (e.g., racial pride; racial barrier) and academic socialization practices. Also, to better understand the gendered nature of racial socialization, both maternal and paternal socialization practices (parent report) as well as adolescents’ perceptions of these messages are examined.   

Socioal Contextual Influences on the Mental Health of African American Adolescent Girls

Given studies have indicated that depressive and anxiety symptoms arise during adolescence, it is important to understand both stressors that may exacerbate these symptoms as well as potential protective factors during this developmental period. Exploring factors that increase and reduce likelihood of both anxiety and depressive symptoms in adolescence not only have implications for adolescent well-being, but also have implications for mental and physical health outcomes in adulthood. Yet, very few studies exist that adequately explore the etiology of depressive and anxiety-related disorders among a sample of African American adolescent females. The goal of this investigation is to move beyond the view of health as an individualistic and deficit perspective toward a view of health that is socially-embedded with specific emphasis on understanding the mental health of African American adolescent females within their relational, social, and environmental contexts. Moreover, this research begins to explore how race and gender, conjointly, influence the social experiences of African American girls. To explore the research questions, this investigation utilizes both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.