Melissa Barnett Research Lab
Our Mission
To Leverage Relationship Quality Across Contexts to Promote Positive Child Development
Our program of research identifies how relationships with caregivers, including mothers, fathers, grandparents and early childhood teachers independently and interactively impact early childhood development. We examine factors that influence the quality of these relationships, including caregiver mental health, family conflict, coparenting and co-caring dynamics, poverty, community characteristics (e.g., rurality) and social support. Across our research projects, we focus on identifying familial and contextual assets among families at risk for compromised relationships and caregiver and child wellbeing. The ultimate goal of this research is to inform policy and program development that promotes resilience and wellbeing of caregivers and young children from economically disadvantaged and marginalized communities.
Current Projects
Family Relationships and Child Development Among Low-Income, Unmarried Families
We are engaged in a series of secondary data analysis projects related to identifying sources of risk and resilience across the transition to parenthood for predominantly low-income, unmarried couples. The focus of these projects include fathers' parenting, understanding how family and contextual factors influence young children's development, and examination of how the quality of multiple family relationships (e.g., parenting, coparenting, parental romantic relationships) jointly impact adult and child wellbeing. Collaborators include Melissa Curran (Human Development and Family Science, UA) and current and former graduate students.
Grandparenting In Multigenerational Family Systems
The goal of this work is to understand the experiences and wellbeing of grandparents who are highly involved in raising their grandchildren. We engage in a variety of activities, including primary data collection and secondary data analysis. We consider how intergenerational relationships and complex family dynamics and contextual characteristics (e.g., rurality) are associated with health and wellbeing among grandparents, grandchildren and parents. Collaborators include Loriena Yancura (University of Hawaii).
Caregiving Experiences of Toddlers Across Contexts: Parent-Child and Teacher-Child Relationship Quality in Early Head Start
This secondary data analysis project focuses on identifying matches or mismatches between the quality of relationships toddlers experience with their caregivers at home and with their teachers in Early Head Start classrooms. We consider child, family, teacher and child care center characteristics that influence relationship quality combinations across these two critical contexts. This project is funded by the Administration for Children and Families. Collaborators include Caroline Black (Northern Arizona University)
Find Dr. Barnett’s publications at Research Gate or Google Scholar.
Melissa A. Barnett, Ph.D. |Professor, Human Development & Family Science
Victoria Cooper | Graduate Research Assistant
Priscilla Zambrano, MS | Graduate Research Assistant
Each semester the lab includes a talented team of undergraduate research assistants.
We regularly collaborate with community partners. We welcome building new community collaborations!