Current Research
In the Development and Resilience Lab, we study risk and protective factors that affect important developmental outcomes such as substance use, suicidal behavior, academic achievement and resilience. Our lab has a developmental focus, i.e., we are interested in understanding how behaviors change or remain stable over time. We work with individuals of all ages, although our recent projects mainly involve children, adolescents and young adults.
Below are four specific themes of our current research.
Below are four specific themes of our current research.
Sleep and Health
Recent research has shown that sleep difficulties are an important risk factor for many physical and mental health outcomes, e.g., early onset of substance use, depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts. However, it is unclear whether good sleep has a protective effect on the individual. Past research has relied on subjective report of sleep, e.g., parental ratings, children's report. Subjective report is correlated with but not the same as objective sleep assessment via actigraphy and polysomnography (study of EEG during sleep). One of our projects examines the effects of good sleep, poor sleep and sleep hygiene on health and behavior. We plan to collect data from 200 children and their parents on this study. This is an ongoing study funded by a R01 award from the National Institute of Health. Click here if you are interested in participating in the study.
Substance Use and Abuse
Alcohol and other illicit drug use affects many children, adolescents and young adults in the U.S. However, we do not yet fully understand the risk and protective factors associated with the early onset of substance use and the emergence of substance-related problems, e.g, driving under the influence of alcohol. Our projects examine different factors that may increase the risk of substance use and abuse. Additionally, we also examine factors that may protect individuals from such risk.
Suicide Ideation and Attempts
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people in the U.S. Previous research has found an association between sleep problems and suicidal behavior. However, it is still unclear whether the association can be largely explained by depression. Recent research showed that statistically controlling for depression (holding depressive symptoms constant), sleep problems prospectively predicted suicidal ideation and self-harm behaviors, including suicidal attempts in both adolescents and adults. Our projects examine whether sleep problems may be a risk factor for suicidal ideation and behavior and whether such a relationship may be mediated and moderated by depression and substance use.
Resilience in Spite of Adversity
There is relatively little research devoted to the understanding the factors that predict and promote resilience (i.e., the ability to do well in spite of adversity) among high risk populations. One of our current projects examines factors that affect resilience in children who have parents with a history of substance abuse and mental illness. We focus on individual factors such as effortful control, executive functions, sleep, intrinsic motivation as well as environmental factors such as nurturance and support from parents and other caretakers.