My main area of focus is the development of healthy social-emotional outcomes during infancy and early childhood. I am primarily interested in studying children who live in economically disadvantaged families and communities, and examining how healthy, positive parent-child interactions can act as a buffer against other stressors associated with living in poverty.
Working as an infant-toddler teacher at Early Head Start has also motivated my interest in early intervention programs for economically disadvantaged and high-risk families. I am interested in the overall impact these programs have on children’s social-emotional outcomes, as well as how these programs can enhance early parent-child interactions, helping to establish a foundation of sensitive, responsive caregiving.
Mortensen, J. A., & Barnett, M. A. Contextual instability and the parenting of Mexican Mothers with toddlers. Poster submitted to the Annual Conference of the National Council on Family Relations, Orlando, FL., November, 2011.
Barnett, M. A.,Mortensen, J. A., & Tilley, E. Social support as a resource for Mexican-American mothers of toddlers. Paper submitted for presentation at the Annual Conference of the National Council on Family Relations, Orlando, FL., November, 2011