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 10 waves of data from approximately 400 adolescents across their four years of high school, including a two-week daily diary protocol during their eleventh grade school year, and we are now following this cohort for two years beyond high school. This research is funded by an SRCD Small Grant (PIs: Hoffman & Schacter), a Wayne State University Research Grant (PI: Schacter), and a Spencer Foundation Small Research Grant on Education (PIs: Hoffman & 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. Recently, with funding from NICHD (1R21HD105882-01A1; MPIS: Marusak & Schacter), we followed up with this cohort to examine links between adolescents’ past experiences of peer victimization, physiological markers of threat sensitivity, and anxiety symptom development.
PROJECT LIFT
Despite substantial evidence that adolescent friendships significantly impact young people’s short and long-term well-being, interventions aimed at promoting healthy adolescent friendships are surprisingly scarce. In collaboration with Dr. Julie Wargo Aikins, we designed Project LIFT (Learning Insights into Friendships in Teens) to fill this gap. Funded by a grant from the Mental Research Institute, we have developed an 8-week online educational program to teach adolescents about the science of friendship. We are currently conducting a pilot trial of the program among youth in Metro Detroit. To learn more or get involved, please email projectlift@wayne.edu.
