Fam
mily Science a
and Interventtion Research
h Area
Bennett Pierrce Preventio
on Research C
Center
The
e Pennsylvaniia State Univversity
FAMILY SCIENCE & INTEERVENTIO
ON
The Family Science & Interventiion Research
h Area in the
e Bennett Piierce Preven
ntion Researrch
Center iss dedicated to understanding and su
upporting faamily processses believed
d to promote
health an
nd well-bein
ng in childre
en, youth and
d adult care
egivers. Area
a faculty, re
esearch
associate
es and stude
ents conductt innovative,, high-qualitty empiricall studies dessigned to
advance scientific kn
nowledge off the family as a contexxt for human
n developme
ent, interacttive
processes within the
e family, and
d the effectss of preventtive interven
ntions on fam
mily functio
oning
and indivvidual development. These scientifiic goals are performed in the servicce of helpingg
families adapt to hisstorical, eco
onomic, med
dical, and no
ormative life
e-course cha
anges in order to
foster resilience for all family members.
m
Backgrou
und
Research
hers have ide
entified a nu
umber of intterpersonal and relation
nal family processes
associate
ed with the mental, emo
otional, and
d behavioral health of c hildren and youth. Some of
these pro
ocesses have
e been focall points for productive
p
p
programs off research an
nd primary
targets of
o change in family-centtered preven
ntive interve
entions. Empirical support is accruiing
for effec
ctive interve
entions to prromote these
e basic famiily processess across the life-course.. For
example, interventio
on research here at the PRC and elssewhere hass helped firsst-time pare
ents
adapt to their new liife roles and
d parent tog
gether more effectively,, helped parrents and fo
osterparents learn
l
effectiive behaviorral managem
ment strateggies to reducce child beh
havior proble
ems,
help prom
mote strong
g relationship
ps between parents and
d youth as protection aggainst
adolesce
ent substance use, and used
u
brief te
echniques w
with parents to decrease
e the likeliho
ood
that theiir college-bo
ound youth will
w binge drrink.
Goals
The goals of the Fam
mily Science & Interventtion Researcch Area inclu
ude the follo
owing:
1. To co
onduct rigorous studies designed to elucidate kkey family fa
actors and p
processes in the
development of mental, emo
otional and behavioral p
problems in children an
nd youth.
2. To de
evelop and evaluate
e
the
e efficacy off innovative family-base
ed interventions.
3. To prrovide trainiing experien
nces on basicc and applie
ed research projects forr graduate and
undergraduate sttudents.
4. To ad
dvance know
wledge regarrding effectiive preventiive intervention techniq
ques, including
strate
egies to enh
hance participation, enssure fidelity,, and facilitate dissemin
nation of family
focussed preventiion programs.
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Family Science and Intervention Research Area
Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center
The Pennsylvania State University
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Mark Feinberg, Ph.D.
Research Professor
Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center
The Pennsylvania State University
mfeinberg@psu.edu
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