Professional Bio

Research Interests

My research has focused on understanding how genes and environment work together to shape development throughout the lifespan. Much of this research has focused on interpersonal relationships – including parent-child, spouse, sibling and peer relationships. Examining how individuals influence their environments, and what role genetics may play in this (gene-environment correlation), has long been a focus. I have also examined gene x environment interaction (GxE) and the role of early life experiences, including prenatal experiences, in shaping development throughout the lifespan. My more recent research has included an examination of the roles of neighborhood context and pubertal hormones on child and adolescent development in combination with the other environmental and genetic influences. I have used studies of twins, siblings, adopted children, and other family members to examine these research questions. All of my research has included extensive assessment of the environment within the household, family relationships, peer relationships, adult and child adjustment, temperament and personality and other related measures. Most recently, in an effort to help address rural health disparities, I have begun a collaboration with Drs. Rina Eiden and Danielle Downs to understand risk and protective processes in families living throughout rural Pennsylvania.

Recent Publications:

*indicates student (current or prior)

Liu, C.*, Moore, G. A., Roben, C. K., Ganiban, J. M., Leve, L. D., Shaw, D. S., Natsuaki, M. N., Reiss, D., & Neiderhiser, J. M. (in press). Examining Research Domain Criteria (RDoc) constructs for anger expression and regulation in toddlers. Journal of Abnormal Psychology.

Ramos, A., M.*, Shewark, E. A.*, Fosco, G. M., Shaw, D. S., Natsuaki, M. N., Leve, L. D., & Neiderhiser, J. M. (2022). Re-examining the association between the interparental relationship and parent-child interactions: Incorporating heritable influences. Developmental Psychology, 58, 43-54.

Cree, R. A., Liu, C.*, Gueorguieva, R., Neiderhiser, J. M., Leve, L. D., Connell, C. M., Shaw, D. S., Natsuaki, M. N., Ganiban, J. M., Beekman, C., Smith, M. V., & Reiss, D. (2021). Using an adoption design to test genetically based differences in risk for child behavior problems in response to home environmental influences. Development and Psychopathology, 33, 1229-1247. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579420000450

Ganiban, J. M.,  Liu, C., Zappaterra, L., An, S., Natsuaki, M. N., Neiderhiser, J. M., Reiss, D., Shaw, D. S., & Leve, L. D. (2021). Gene x environment interactions in the development of preschool effortful control, and its implications for childhood externalizing behaviors. Behavior Genetics, 51(5), 448-462. doi: 10.1007/s10519-021-10073-9

Nagpal, N.*, Ramos, A.M.*, Hajal, N., Massey, S. H., Leve, L.D., Shaw, D.S., Ganiban, J.M., Reiss, D., & Neiderhiser, J.M. (2021). Psychopathology Symptoms are Associated with Prenatal Health Practices in Pregnant Women with Heavy Smoking Levels. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 25, 330–337. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-03048-5

Natsuaki, M. N., Stepanyan, S. T., Neiderhiser, J. M., Shaw, D. S., Ganiban, J. M., Reiss, D., & Leve, L. D. (2021). Do I Look Gawky? The Association between Pubertal Asynchrony and Peer Victimization. Children, 8(9), 794. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8090794

Rivera, G.N., Vess, M., Brooker, R.J., Stichter, M. & Neiderhiser, J.M. (2021) Exploring Relations between Beliefs about the Genetic Etiology of Virtue and the Endorsement of Parenting Practices, Parenting, 21(2), 79-107, DOI: 10.1080/15295192.2020.1792185

Shewark, E. A.*, Ramos, A. M.*, Liu, C.*, Ganiban, J. M., Fosco, G., Shaw, D. S., ... & Neiderhiser, J. M. (2021). The role of child negative emotionality in parenting and child adjustment: Gene–environment interplay. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 62, 1453-1461. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13420

Whisman, M. A., du Pont, A., Rhee, S. H., Sbarra, D. A., Spotts, E. L., Lichtenstein, P., Ganiban, J. M., Reiss, D., & Neiderhiser, J. M. (2021). Genetically informative analysis of the association between intimate relationship adjustment and health. Health Psychology, 40(8), 546-555.  https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000982