Melissa A. Barnett, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Division of Family Studies & Human Development
McClelland Park, Room 301M
650 N Park Ave Tucson, AZ 85721-0078
Phone: (520) 621-4738 Fax: (520) 621-3401
Email:barnettm@arizona.edu
Scholarly interests and Activities | Selected Publications | Courses | Curriculum Vitae | Frances McClelland Institute Fathers, Parenting, and Families Research Initiative
Scholarly interests and Activities
My research is guided by a variety of theoretical perspectives, including ecological systems theory, lifespan theory, family systems theory and family stress/process models. Specifically, my research considers how particular family relationships interact with each other and with the larger cultural and socioeconomic environment to influence parental well-being, parenting and coparenting behaviors, and early child social and emotional development. I am currently pursuing two related lines of research.
Non-Maternal Caregivers
My research examines how significant adults, including fathers and grandmothers, influence early child development directly through interactions with the child, and indirectly through relationships with the mother. Considering other family members or adults who play significant support and caregiving roles is especially relevant to child development in disadvantaged and ethnic minority communities. Failure to include these individuals in research may lead to the development of short-sighted interventions and policies focused on mother-child relations.
Family Instability
Complex family and household configurations characterize many disadvantaged communities. Family-level instability, including household residence, caregiver status, and maternal relationship status, is a significant risk factor for poor adjustment among young children. The influence of various forms of instability on child and adult well-being likely varies as a function of individual (e.g., temperament, gender), relationship (e.g., conflict, support) and contextual (e.g., neighborhood danger, ethnicity) characteristics. Disentangling these interactions requires longitudinal research that broadens the definition of family and focuses on change and stability. I am beginning to pursue this line of research.
Methodology
Observational coding techniques represent the core of my methodological approach. I conduct research on parent-child interactions, coparenting, and adult-adult relationships through the use of filmed, standardized interactions that are then coded for specific behaviors and patterns of behavior by trained coders. Data from these observations are used in conjunction with more traditional questionnaire data.
Selected Publications
Barnett, M.A. (2008). Economic disadvantage in complex family systems: Expansion of family stress models. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 11(3), 145-161.
Barnett, M.A., Deng, M., Mills-Koonce, W.R., Willoughby. M. & Cox, M. (2008). Interdependence of parenting of mothers and fathers of infants. Journal of Family Psychology, 22(3), 561-573.
Barnett, M.A. & Key Family Life Project Investigators (2008). Mother and grandmother parenting in low-income three-generation rural households. Journal of Marriage and Family, 70, 1241-1257.
Barnett, M.A., Shanahan, L.S., Deng, M. Haskett, M.H. & Cox, M.J. (in press). Independent and interactive contributions of parenting behaviors and beliefs in the prediction of early childhood behavior problems. Parenting: Science and Practice.
Barnett, M.A. & Taylor, L.C. (2009). Parental recollections of school experiences and current kindergarten transition practices. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 30(2), 140-148.
Courses
FSHD 323: Infancy and Child Development
FSHD 392: Directed Research (Research Methods)
FSHD 567: Theories of Human Development
