Current Research Projects
Our research examines how young people’s interpersonal relationships contribute to their development across different social settings. We incorporate longitudinal survey methods in schools, behavioral and physiological observations in the lab, and ambulatory assessments as young people go about their daily lives. You can read more about our ongoing and upcoming projects below and view our recent publications here.
Promoting Relationship & Identity Development in Education (PRIDE) Study
We are collaborating with Dr. Adam Hoffman (Cornell University) on the Promoting Relationship and Identity Development in Education (PRIDE) study. This longitudinal project examines changes in adolescents’ peer experiences, identity development, and health across high school and evaluates the effectiveness of a brief social-psychological affirmation intervention. To date, we have collected six waves of data from approximately 400 adolescents across their first three years of high school and conducted a two-week daily diary protocol during their eleventh grade school year. This research is funded by an SRCD Small Grant (PIs: Hoffman & Schacter) and a Wayne State University Research Grant (PI: Schacter)
Peer Adjustment & Teen Health (PATH) study
In collaboration with Dr. Hilary Marusak and Dr. Tanja Jovanovic (Wayne State School of Medicine), the Peer Adjustment and Teen Health in Education (PATH) study examines early adolescents’ experiences of peer victimization, threat processing, and mental health. In 2020, we concluded online survey data collection with approximately 200 parent and adolescent (ages 10-14) dyads from the Metro Detroit area. Now, with funding from NICHD (1R21HD105882-01A1; MPIS: Marusak & Schacter), we are following up with this cohort to examine links between adolescents’ past experiences of peer victimization, physiological markers of threat sensitivity, and anxiety symptom development.
Peers and asthma in adolescent life (PAAL) study
To better understand how we can leverage peer relationships to promote young people’s health, this line of our research focuses on how peer stress and support affect the well-being of adolescents with asthma. We recently concluded an online needs assessment that evaluated the social and emotional challenges faced by 400 youth with asthma. Now, funded by an American Psychological Foundation Visionary Grant (PI: Schacter), we are designing a new study that uses ecological momentary assessment (EMA) via mobile technology to assess the acute effects of everyday peer experiences on day-to-day changes in the physical and mental health of adolescents with asthma. The project will provide critical preliminary data to inform the development of a peer mentoring intervention for teens with asthma.
