Current Projects
Gene-Environment Interactions and Epigenetic Mechanisms of Pubertal Development
A few rare diseases aside, all children will experience pubertal maturation and the subsequent onset of reproductive behaviors, although considerable variability exists in their timing and tempo. One contextual factor reliably linked to pubertal development, particularly in women, are adverse rearing environments, such as biological father absence and associated familial stressors. The causal mechanism of these associations is a topic of debate, however. In this project, we use DNA derived genotypes and polygenic scores to test whether presumed environmental associations with puberty and adolescent sexual behaviors alternatively reflect gene-environment correlations. In addition to this genes plus (or versus) environment approach, we also use a transactional approach - in the form of gene-environment interactions - to test if these environmental effects are conditioned by genetic and/or epigenetic variation.
Parent and Peer Influences on the Development of Adolescent Aggression and Delinquency
Aggression and delinquency during adolescence can have serious negative consequences for adolescents, the effects of which can extend into adulthood. Further, these behaviors not only affect adolescents themselves, but others around them as well. Accurate characterization of aggression and delinquency and how they change during adolescence is critical for understanding how, when, and why parents and peers influence these behaviors. The goal of this project is to examine how aggression and delinquency change during adolescence and how facets of parenting and peer behaviors influence this change. A host of longitudinal modeling techniques - including growth curves, panel models, latent class trajectory models, and time-varying effects models - are used in this work to address unique questions about the influence of parents and peers on adolescent behavior problems.
The Implications of Genetics for Prevention and Intervention
The role that genetics play in adolescent development and behavior may have important implications for how interventions are designed, when interventions are delivered, and potentially who does and does not receive intervention programming. The goal of this project is to study how genetic variability can influence the effectiveness of intervention programming. Similarly, we seek to understand how genetic risks, such as increased risk for substance use, can be mitigated by prevention and intervention programs.