My research examines the development of adolescents’ peer relationships and sexuality from a developmental psychopathology framework. I am particularly interested in normative trajectories romantic and sexual development and how these processes might go awry for adolescents with interpersonal risk histories relationships. Toward this end, I am conducting studies examining 1) conflict and intimacy skills in youth with histories of family conflict and 2) the development of friend and romantic relationships among youth with sexual abuse histories. This research involves multiple methodologies, including questionnaires, interviews, and observations from youth and their relationship partners. In addition, I have a grant from NIH to examine individual differences in the ways youth resolve abuse experiences and their relation to psychosocial adjustment.
