PROJECTS
KIDS AND ADULTS TOGETHER (KAT) STUDY
Parents play an important role in helping their children learn how to navigate a complex world. Behavioral synchrony, including matching affect, eye gaze, and vocalizations during discreet events, is associated with maternal sensitivity and quick repair of ruptures between parent and child, which in turn are associated with increased self-regulation, attachment security, and fewer behavioral problems in children. Previous research, however, has only begun to investigate how physiological synchrony is related to behavioral synchrony and child outcomes more broadly.
With funding from the American Psychological Foundation, we recently completed a study to measure both behavioral and physiological synchrony in parent-child pairs. We recently secured a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) award to extend this study, with recruitment to begin in January 2024.
ASSESSING COLLEGE STUDENTS' EXPERIENCES
OF SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVERSITY DUE TO EARLY STRESS (ACE OF SPADES)
Early experiences of adversity have lingering, long-term impacts on young adults' adjustment. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been used to assess individual experiences of early stress, but the impact of these stressors may depend on current experience of stress or other psychological factors. To investigate this, we collected information from college students in New Orleans from January 2022-May 2022. Publications from this project are currently under review!
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF LIVING
IN COVID-19 AFFECTED NOLA (PELICAN)
The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects on youth and their families, and families in Southeastern Louisiana may be at particular risk due to their prior exposure to devastating hurricanes such as Katrina, Gustav, and Isaac. In response to this emergency, researchers in the BE-RAD Lab collected data on the psychological impact of COVID-19 related quarantine, disruption of routines, and financial hardships on Louisiana families. Published papers from this project can be found on our "Publications" page, with several others under review.