Category: Faculty Partner Research

Arielle Borovsky – A study comparing children with developmental language disorder and typically developing peers found that difficulties in sentence prediction stem from both vocabulary knowledge and online processing abilities. Children with DLD showed weaker lexicosemantic knowledge and additional challenges in sustaining predictions over time, highlighting the combined role of language and cognitive processing in early language development.

Kim Updegraff – A study of Latino children found that daily experiences of sibling relational aggression were associated with poorer mood, more physical health symptoms and, in some cases, more negative peer relationships. The findings highlight the important role sibling relationships play in children’s overall well-being and development.

Libby Richards – A longitudinal study of older adults found that strained relationships with close others were consistently linked to higher risk of physical, psychological and financial elder mistreatment. Social engagement was not a significant predictor, highlighting relationship quality as a more important factor in understanding and preventing elder mistreatment.

Kim Updegraff – A family-focused prevention program designed to strengthen sibling relationships and parenting in Latino families showed high levels of participation, attendance, and satisfaction among both caregivers and children. The study also found that cultural and family factors such as familism values, ethnic socialization, and cultural orientation influenced engagement, expectations, and overall program experiences.

Ximena Arriaga – Individuals experiencing partner abuse often face psychological conflict between maintaining attachment and ensuring personal safety. This work explores how abusive dynamics can foster self-doubt and dependency, leading individuals to reinterpret or minimize harmful behavior as a coping mechanism. The framework highlights how these cognitive responses can contribute to psychological entrapment and informs approaches for more effective support and intervention.

Kristine Marceau – Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with higher levels of child psychopathology from early childhood through adolescence. Findings from a large U.S. cohort show that prenatal tobacco exposure is linked to both overall symptom severity and a tendency toward more externalizing problems, with few differences across age or sex.

Heather Eicher-Miller – A 2026 study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examines how proposed changes to SNAP, specifically expanded work requirements and the elimination of SNAP-Ed, could influence food security, diet quality, and public health in the United States. The research highlights how income instability, employment disruptions, and reduced access to nutrition education may impact families’ access to nutritious food, with potential trade-offs for health outcomes. These findings provide timely insights for understanding the connections between program design, nutrition, and overall well-being.

Breanya Hogue – Strengthening reading motivation is key to helping K–12 students become independent readers. This brief highlights strategies for educators and caregivers, including offering student choice, building engaging reading environments, and modeling reading habits at school and at home. These approaches support sustained reading engagement and long-term literacy development.

Xinran Lehto – A new publication examines destination experience design and management practices, offering insights into how tourism destinations can shape visitor experiences. The work highlights strategies for creating meaningful, well-designed travel experiences and contributes to research in tourism planning and hospitality management.

Leanne Nieforth – Educators report positive outcomes from school visiting dog programs, including improved student focus, social connection, and safe human-animal interactions. Involvement in planning and predictable visits enhance program success.