Projects
Multicultural and Multiethnic Families and Youth
Families can face heightened stress when adjusting to a new culture or when navigating values from different cultures within the family. In our research with multicultural and multiethnic families, we are interested in understanding both strengths and challenges experienced by families and children of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We also seek to identify individual differences amongst families to understand diversity in experiences that may impact multiethnic and immigrant children's flourishing.
Core projects in this theme: The multiracial parent-youth study | Trajectories of multiracial children's mental health | Interviews with interethnic couples study | Acculturation gaps and cognitions study | Acculturation, resilience, and well-being of immigrants study
Mindfulness within and beyond the Family
Mindfulness—nonjudgmental, present-focused attention and awareness—is associated with a range of well-being outcomes, including less stress, better emotion regulation, and even loving thoughts about others. In this line of research, we examine how parents' mindfulness may help their parenting and ultimately foster children's well-being. We also aim to understand what kinds of parenting skills help children become more mindful.
Core projects in this theme: Cohort mindfulness project | Daily dynamics of mindful parenting study | Family Dynamics Project | Mindfulness and well-being in midlife study | Mindfulness in youth project
Other Projects
The Parenting by Domains Program, a research collaboration with Dr. Joan Grusec and a team of clinicians, is a research-backed parenting education program held online over several weeks. We are currently pilot testing a version of this program with parents of 3 to 12 year old children.
In collaboration with Dr. Brendan Andrade at CAMH and Niagara region mental health clinics in Ontario, we are creating a novel assessment for parent motivation and readiness that will be used to help families optimally benefit from mental health services for children.
Our research is supported by
