Biography
My research focuses on charting the development of cognitive, social, and emotional functioning from early childhood into early adulthood. I am interested in identifying the factors that contribute to individual differences in self-regulation and developmental trajectories within and across the above domains. By examining the intersecting contributions of context through cultural and socioeconomic conditions and nurture through the family relationships and secure attachment, my research highlights contextual factors that shape developmental trajectories of self-regulation, which in turn influences long-term functioning in adolescence and emerging adulthood.
Education Background
Ph.D. - 2021 Syracuse University
M.Ed. - 2012 Jilin University
B.Eng. - 2008 University of Jinan
Courses Taught
- Introduction to Psychology
- Cultural Psychology
- Diversity Science
Research Interests
Grounded in Diversity Science, my research is driven by the commitment to improve the well-being of children and families through empirical studies. Specifically, my research interests focus on understanding the various ecological influences affecting self-regulation in children, from intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure to parental mental health and socioeconomic disparities. In doing so, my research aims to identify key mechanisms of risk and resilience in early life and adolescence.
My dedication to these research areas has driven me to leverage large longitudinal secondary datasets to investigate the associations among IPV exposure, parental mental health, parenting strategies, self-regulation, and adolescent well-being through the construction of advanced statistical models. Methodologically, I utilize a broad range of approaches—from longitudinal designs and latent profile analyses to machine learning—to obtain insights into psychological science.
Publications
(*denotes undergraduate students)
- Zhang, Y., Shen, F., *Paredes, J., & Wang, C. (2024). Appreciation of differences: Promoting diversity and flourishing among college students. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-09-2023-0439
- Wang, Q., Wu, Y, Feng, R, *Hao, X., Felver, J., Zhang, Y., & Razza, R (2024). Adaptation and validation of the Mindful Student Questionnaire in Chinese adolescent students: Factor analyses and validity results. Mindfulness. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02299-x
- Zhang, Y., Shen, F., *Paredes, J., *Madre, N., *Lindsay, D., *Penna, A., *Morris, T., & Liu, Q. (2023). Exploring the complex links between childhood exposure to intimate partner violence, maltreatment, and self-regulation: A three-wave cross-lagged study. Child Abuse & Neglect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106507
- Zhang, Y., *Cannata, S., Razza, R, & Liu, Q. (2023). Intimate partner violence exposure and self-regulation in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00636-1
- Zhang, Y., & Razza, R. (2022). Father involvement, couple relationship quality, and maternal postpartum depression: The role of ethnicity among low-income families. Maternal and Child Health Journal 26, 1424-1433. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-022-03407-4
- Zhang, Y., Razza, R., Wang, Q., & Bergen-Cico, D. (2022). Mechanisms of change underlying mindfulness-based practice among adolescents. Mindfulness 13, 1445-1457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01881-z
- Zhang, X., Zhang, Y., & Vasilenko, S. (2022). The longitudinal relationships among poverty, material hardship and maternal depression in the United States: A latent growth mediation model. Archives of Women's Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-022-01238-4
- Wang, C., Zhang, Y., Moss, J. D., Bonem, E. M., & Levesque-Bristol, C. (2020). Multilevel factors affecting college students’ perceived knowledge transferability: From the perspective of self-determination theory. Research in Higher Education, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-020-09592-x
- Jung, E., Zhang, Y., Hwang, W., & Zhang, Y. (2018). Parental health and children’s functioning in immigrant families: Family roles and perceived treatment at school. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27, 1899-1913. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-018-1032-5
- Jung, E., Hwang, W., Zhang, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2018). Do parents’ educational expectations in adolescence predict adult life satisfaction? Family Relations, 67(October), 552–566. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12323
- Jung, E., Zhang, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2016). Future professionals’ perceptions of play and intended practices: The moderating role of efficacy beliefs. Early Child Development and Care, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2016.1169178
Selected Conference Presentations (*denotes undergraduate students)
- Zhang, Y. (2023, October). Timing of a semester and college students’ subjective well-being: The predicting roles of mindfulness and emotional regulation. Paper symposium at the Biennial Conference of the Society for the Study of Human Development (SSHD), Philadelphia, PA.
- Zhang, Y., & Razza, R. (2023, June). Children in Families with Intimate Partner Violence: Timing and Effects on the Developmental Trajectories of Behavioral Self-Regulation. Paper presented at the Society for Prevention Research (SPR) Annual Meeting, Washington D.C.
- Zhang, Y., *Paredes, J., *Cannata, S., & Wang, C. (2023, May) Appreciation of Differences: Diversity Seeking, Cultural Competence, and Flourishing in College Students. Poster presented at 2023 Association for Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention, Washington, D.C.,
- Zhang, Y., & Razza, R. (2023, May) Children in Families with Intimate Partner Violence: Developmental Trajectories and Longitudinal Mediation Effects of Behavioral Self-Regulation for Risky Behaviors in Adolescence. Paper symposium presented at 2023 Association of Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention, Washington, D.C.
- Zhang, Y., Liu, Q., *Lindzy, D. (2023, May) Intimate Partner Violence Victimization, Parenting Stress, and Self-Regulation in Children: A longitudinal Mediation Study. Paper presented at 2023 Association of Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention, Washington, D.C.
- Zhang, Y., Pudasainee-Kapri, S., *Madre, N., *Vinluan, D., & *Penne, A. (2023, May) Household Instability, Early Bedtime Routine, Emotional Regulation, and Attentional Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study among Children from Low-income Families. Paper presented at 2023 Association of Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention, Washington, D.C.
- Liu, Q., Razza, R., Merrin, G., & Zhang, Y. (2023, March) Differential Growth Trajectories of Self-Regulation from Early Childhood to Adolescence: Implications for Adolescent Behavioral Outcomes. Paper presented at Society for Research in Child Development 2023 Biennial Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Zhang, Y., *Cannata, S., *Paredes, J. & & Wang, C. (2023, March) Diversity Seeking and Flourishing in College Students. Poster at Society for Research in Child Development 2023 Biennial Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Zhang, Y., & *Madre, N. (2023, March) Intimate partner violence exposure, child maltreatment, and behavioral self-regulation in childhood: A three-wave cross-lagged study. Paper presented at Society for Research in Child Development 2023 Biennial Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah