HDFS Research

Human Development and Family Sciences

Working closely with faculty, our students explore diverse topics such as self-regulation in young children, family caregiving for dependent adults, development in at-risk adolescents, fatherhood, families in poverty, and stress and coping.

Faculty involvement in federally funded research, as well as community and policy initiatives, provides opportunities for students to develop and apply new knowledge.

Research topics

HDFS Tenured and Tenure Track Faculty are actively involved in research projects related to their background and interests.

Research presentations and publications

Human Development and Family Studies graduate students typically leave Oregon State with a record of presentations and publications.

Students present their research annually at national meetings, including the American Psychological Association, the American Sociological Association, the Gerontological Society of America, the National Council on Family Relations, and the Society for Research in Child Development.

In the last five years, graduate students have co-authored articles published in prestigious, scholarly journals such as the American Journal of Public Health, Early Childhood Research Quarterly, Journal of Family Theory and Review, the Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, and Research in Human Development.

Members of the HDFS faculty work with graduate students as colleagues and co-authors.

Recent publications

(This is not an exhaustive list. We are still rebuilding our database of faculty publications. Visit individual faculty profiles for more extensive lists of their publications.)

2025

Ni, Y., Geldhof, G.J., Settersten, R.A., Tominey, S.L. (2025) Civic Participation and Meaning in Life: Similarities and Differences Across Diverse Youth Youth & Society

Korucu, I., Duncan, R.J., Kenny, S.A., Gonzales, C.R., Ahmadi, A., Karing, J.T., McClelland, M. (2025) The Head–Toes–Knees–Shoulders Task as a Screening Tool for Kindergarten-Level Achievement Behavioral Sciences 15(11)

Cameron, C. E., Priore, M., Kenny, S., Cook‐Cottone, C., McClelland, M. M., Gigante, V. (2025) Head-Toes for Neurodiverse Learners: Adapting an Existing Behavioral Self-regulation Assessment Child & Youth Care Forum

Nasir, V., Hosseini, A., Binfield, L., Hasani, N., Ghotb, S., Diederichs, V., Fox, G., McCann, A.J., Riggio, M.A., Chandler, K.D., Hansen, E. (2025) Human‑centric Industry 5.0 manufacturing: a multi‑level framework from design to consumption within Society 5.0 International Journal of Sustainable Engineering 18(1)

Dore, E.C., Collin, D.F., Rothwell, D.W., Hamad, R. (2025) Easing Cash Assistance Rules and Breastfeeding JAMA Health Forum 6(8)

Bradetich, A., Nichols, M.J., Chandler, K.D. (2025) It’s the Thought that Counts: Pregnancy Intention and Relationship Stressors Across SES Journal of Family Issues

Merculief, A., McClelland, M., Foster, S., Geldhof, J., Lipscomb, S., Anderson, K., Kile, M. L. (2025) Socioeconomic and racial-ethnic disparities in flame retardant exposure and executive function skills in preschool children Environmental Health 24

Turner, S.G., Hooker, K., Jarrott, S.E., John Geldhof, G. (2025) Development of a New Measure of Intergenerational Contact Journal of Adult Development

Pollé, S., Sankalaite, S., Huizinga, M., McClelland, M. M., Spilt, J. L., Baeyens, D. (2025) Teacher-student interactions as a pathway to strengthen working memory in primary school students: a microtrial study protocol Frontiers in Education 10

Ahmadi, A., McClelland, M., Pourmohamadreza Tajrishi, M., Geldhof, J., Rothwell, D., Hatfield, B. (2025) Adaptation and psychometric properties of the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task in young Iranian children Child Neuropsychology

Research group
2CW Research Group
The Child Welfare and Child Well-being (2CW) research group seeks to generate knowledge and utilize evidence to better support children, adolescents and their families, especially those facing adversity. The ultimate goal, therefore, is to improve Child Welfare and enhance Child Well-being.

Director: Brianne Kothari, PhD, MA

Website: 2CW Research Group
Research project
Community Belonging Measurement Project
The Community Belonging Measurement Project, a collaboration between Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Oregon State University-Cascades, explores how belonging and resilience contribute to well-being in Central Oregon.

Investigators
- Brianne Kothari, PhD, Oregon State University-Cascades
- Shannon Lipscomb, PhD, Oregon State University-Cascades
- Jackilen Shannon, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University
Website: Community Belonging Measurement Project
Research group
Connect Research Group
The Connect Research Group aims to identify ways to support children, families, and communities to overcome adversity and build resilience through connection.

Director: Shannon Lipscomb, PhD

Website: The Connect Research Group
Research group
Family Policy Group
The Family Policy Group is a network of faculty and students who seek to advance the study of family policy at Oregon State University.

PI: David Rothwell, MSW, PhD

Website: Family Policy Group
Research laboratory
Family, Work, & Well-Being Lab
Family and work are significant influences in our lives.

The Family, Work, & Well-Being Research Laboratory studies diverse family, work, and work-family integration experiences to improve the health and well-being of people and their families.

We envision a world where everyone, regardless of race, gender, age, sexuality, or zip code, can thrive both while with their families and while working.

Director: Kelly Chandler, PhD

Website: Family, Work, & Well-Being Lab
Research program
Kindergarten Readiness Research Program
The Kindergarten Readiness Research Program is dedicated towards helping young children enter school ready to learn. As a research lab, our team works to develop ways to measure and improve self-regulation skills in young children.

Director: Megan McClelland, PhD

Website: The Kindergarten Readiness Research Program