Research Interests

What are the factors that contribute to the risky behaviors of adolescents? Do the communication patterns of parents make a difference? Socialization of adolescents and emerging adults regarding sensitive issues such as sexuality and drug/alcohol use has been a major focus of my research. Specifically, using observational methods, I have addressed the following questions:

• In what ways do the socialization practices of parents and peers add to our understanding of sexual risk among adolescents and emerging adults?
   
• What do mothers and adolescents talk about when discussing sexuality, and how do these topics relate to adolescents' sexual risk?
   
• In what ways does the quality and affective nature of mother-adolescent sexuality communication relate to risky adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviors?

Adolescent and Emerging Adult Relationships

What are the characteristics of adolescent and emerging adult relationships that put them at risk? Currently, I am working on research examining the connections between emerging adults' friendships and their physical health. Specifically, in my lab we are assessing emerging adults' use of technology for interacting with friends and how the use of that technology relates to their physical health.

Another project I am currently working on examines emerging adults' romantic relationships. Specifically, I am assessing the links between the importance of their romantic relationships, the quality of their relationships, and risky sexual behavior.