Research Topic

Social Emotional Health and Well-Being

Understanding how families, systems, and public policies impact the social, emotional, and cognitive development of children and adolescents is at the heart of much of CCFP’s work. Our researchers engage in longitudinal studies, partnerships with state and local agencies serving children and families, and develop and evaluate innovative programs and services to understand and support child and youth development.

Latest Research

Journal Articles

Black Girl Embodied Motivation: A Critically, Race-Gender Reimagined Motivation Theory

In this paper, a longstanding gap in the educational psychology literature is addressed by introducing a critically, race-gender reimagined motivation framework created specifically for investigating the academic motivation of Black girls.

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Journal Articles

Editorial: Health and psychological adaptations to life challenges and stressful conditions

This research brings together 11 studies to explore how individuals and communities adapt to adversity, highlighting resilience mechanisms, protective factors, and implications for tailored interventions in high-stress environments.

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Experts

Experts

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Jennifer Lansford

CCFP Director | S. Malcolm Gillis Distinguished Research Professor of Public Policy
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Katie Rosanbalm

Associate Research Professor
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Christina Gibson-Davis

Professor of Public Policy and Sociology
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Kenneth Dodge

William McDougall Distinguished Professor of Public Policy Studies
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Marcos Rangel

Associate Professor of Public Policy and Economics
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Elizabeth Snyder-Fickler

Senior Research Scientist
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Nicole Lawrence

Senior Research Scientist
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Ann Skinner

Research Scientist
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Drew Rothenberg

Research Scientist
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Helen Milojevich

Research Scientist
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Understanding How Interpersonal Relationships and Social Support During War Promote Resilience and Recovery

This study focuses on understanding how Ukrainian youth and young adults are navigating the challenges of war not only regarding their coping strategies and individual adjustment, but also in how they are developing meaningful relationships with peers, partners, and parents, and the ways in which they are seeking and receiving support.

learn more about Understanding How Interpersonal Relationships and Social Support During War Promote Resilience and Recovery
learn more about Understanding How Interpersonal Relationships and Social Support During War Promote Resilience and Recovery

Midlife Health in the Rural South: Risk and Resilience

Project Description Midlife Health in the Rural South: Risk and Resilience (Midlife HiRS) aims to recruit residents of eastern North Carolina (NC), with particular focus on residents living in what has historically been referred to as Black Belt Counties of NC, to participate in a baseline survey and short follow-up surveys about health and life…

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learn more about Midlife Health in the Rural South: Risk and Resilience

Daily Diary Study of Youth Adjustment in the Russia-Ukraine War

This project will pilot a daily diary study of youth in Ukraine and Poland to develop a state-of-the art assessment tool for measuring within-person changes in coping and adjustment related to the war in Ukraine.

learn more about Daily Diary Study of Youth Adjustment in the Russia-Ukraine War
learn more about Daily Diary Study of Youth Adjustment in the Russia-Ukraine War

Megatrends and the Family

This project will produce research and policy reports on four megatrends identified by the United Nations related to families and (1) climate change, (2) technology, (3) migration and urbanization, and (4) demographic trends.

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learn more about Megatrends and the Family
September 10, 2025
Journal Articles

Children’s Sensitivity to Facial Emotional Expressions: The Mediating Roles of Maternal Warmth and Home Environment

This study shows that children from higher-socioeconomic (SES) households are more accurate at recognizing facial emotions than those from lower-SES households, with maternal warmth and home environment partly explaining these differences.

learn more about Children’s Sensitivity to Facial Emotional Expressions: The Mediating Roles of Maternal Warmth and Home Environment