Current research activities:

34-year assessment

We are currently conducting a phone interview with our participants at age 34. Key aims are to determine the degree of continuity and the predictors of discontinuity from infancy forward. The interview includes questions on living situation, level of education, employment, income, relationship status, health, substance use, criminal activity, and stressful life events.

Assessment of the quality of romantic relationships

All participants involved in an intimate relationship of 6 months or longer are asked if they would like to come to our lab to participate in the romantic relationship assessment. Individually, they are given the Attachment Script Assessment, the Speech Sample, and a series of questionnaires that assess relationship quality and satisfaction.  As a couple, they are observed in a series of discussions relating to support and conflict. During one of the discussions, we also measure their heart rate, respiration, and perspiration, in order to assess their physiological response to the task.

Second generation assessment

We ask our participants who have children between the ages of 12-months to 42-months if they would like to participate in a series of tasks with their children. These tasks are the same as those that we did with them and their mothers. At 12-months we assess the quality of the parent-infant attachment using the Strange Situation. At 24-months we observed the parent and child in a problem-solving situation. Finally, at 42-months we observe the parent and child interacting in a series of teaching tasks.

Recent doctoral dissertations from the project:

Shaffer, A. E. (2007). Comparing multiple types of boundary dissolution in adolescence: Relations to childhood antecedents and early adulthood outcomes. Doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota.

Haydon, K. C. (2008). Pathways to generalized and partner-specific attachment representations in adulthood: A developmental perspective on the organization of romantic behavior. Doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota.

Kovan, N. M. (2008). The continuity of parenting across two generations using a prospective, longitudinal design. Doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota.

Quevedo, K. (2008). Developmental risk factors and patterns of continuity leading to adult depression. Doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota.

Coffino, B. (2009). The role of depression and social relationship in the intergenerational transmission of parenting. Doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota.

Whaley, G. J. L. (2010). Factors related to the development, maintenance, and/or resolution of unresolved/disorganized states of mind regarding abuse in a sample of maltreated individuals. Doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota.

Shlafer, R. J. (2010). Intergenerational transmission of criminal behavior: Understanding the effects of family criminality, interparental violence, maltreatment, and hostile parenting. Doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota.

Hesemeyer, P. S. (2011). Relationship tension and contextual stress as factors promoting discontinuity in parenting quality across time. Doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota.

Salvatore, J. E. (2011). Moderating processes in the link between early caregiving and adult individual and romantic functioning: The distinctive contributions of early adult romantic relationships. Doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota.