简介

My research is in self and identity, family and social relationships, and culture. Major themes include: (1) Relational approaches to self and identity: I am interested in how self-evaluations and social identifications vary across relationships (e.g., parents, same-ethnic peers, different-ethnic peers) and ultimately influence adjustment. I also examine how ethnic identity operates within the specific social context of the family. (2) Protective influences in development: With a focus on youth from ethnic minority backgrounds, I am interested in uncovering ways to promote healthy well-being and more adaptive social relationships. Does cultural background or ethnic identification have a protective role in development? What are the precise mechanisms by which these positive effects occur (e.g., through a deeper sense of social belonging or purpose in life)? In upcoming work, I plan to integrate biological, social, and cultural factors into an interdisciplinary framework to better understand how multiple processes interact in development.