Laura V. Scaramella, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Graduate Coordinator
Research Interests
Dr. Scaramella's research examines how children's temperamental characteristics and parents' childrearing style interact during early childhood to affect children's risk for developing problem behavior during childhood and adolescence. Using a longitudinal sample of 550 families that have been followed annually for close to 15 years, the influence of parenting experiences during adolescence (family of origin) on the style of parenting used in one's family of procreation is examined. This work examines conditions under which intergenerational parenting and behavioral continuities emerge. Using a sample of 400 adoptive families and birth parents, the additive and interactive influences of environmental factors (adoptive family) and genetic factors (birth parents) on child adjustment (adopted child) are being examined. Finally, a sample of mothers and children are currently being recruited from area Head Start Centers to examine how quality of mother-child interactions, at the level of the interaction, affect preschool children's acquisition of skills to regulate their own emotions and to resolve interpersonal disputes.
Recent Publications
Scaramella, L. V. & Conger, R. D. (2004). Continuity versus discontinuity: The nature of change in parent and adolescent conflict. In R. D. Conger, F. O. Lorenz, & K. A. S. Wickrama (Eds.), Continuity and change in family relations: Theory, methods, and empirical findings (pp. 241-265) Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Scaramella, L.V. & Leve, L. D. (2004). Clarifying parent-child reciprocities during early childhood: The early childhood coercion model. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 7, 89-107.
Conger, R. D., Neppl, T., Kim, K. J., & Scaramella, L. V. (2003). Angry and aggressive behavior across three generations: A prospective, longitudinal study of parents and children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 31, 143-160.
Hollenstein, T., Leve, L. D., Scaramella, L. V., Milfort, R., & Neiderhiser, J. M. (2003). Openness in adoption, knowledge of birthparent information, and adoptive family adjustment. Adoption Quarterly, 7, 43-52.
Scaramella, L. V. & Conger, R. D. (2003). Intergenerational continuity of hostile parenting and its consequences: The moderating influence of children’s negative emotional reactivity. Social Development, 12, 420-439.
Scaramella, L. V., Conger, R. D., Spoth, R., & Simons, R. L. (2002). Evaluating a social contextual model of delinquency: A cross-study replication. Child Development, 73, 175-195.
Stewart, E. A., Simons, R. L., Conger, R. D., & Scaramella, L. V. (2002). Beyond the interactional relationship between delinquency and parenting practices: The contribution of legal sanctions. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 39, 36-59.
Leve, L. D., Scaramella, L. V., Fagot, B. I. (2001). Infant temperament, pleasure in parenting, and marital happiness in adoptive families. Infant Mental Health Journal, 22(5), 545-558.
Scaramella, L. V., & Keyes, A. (2001). The social contextual approach and rural adolescent substance use: Implications for prevention in rural settings. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 4, 231-251.
Rueter, M. A., Scaramella, L. V., Ebert-Wallace, L., & Conger, R. D. (1999). First onset of depressive and anxiety disorders predicted by longitudinal course of internalizing symptoms and parent-adolescent disagreements. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56, 726-732.
Scaramella, L. V., Conger, R. D., & Simons, R. L. (1999). Parental protective influences and gender-specific increases in adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 9, 111-141.
Scaramella, L. V., Conger, R. D., Simons, R. L., & Whitbeck, L. B. (1998). Predicting risk for pregnancy by late adolescence: A social contextual perspective. Developmental Psychology, 34, 1233-1245.
Conger, K. J., Conger R. D., & Scaramella, L. V. (1997). Parents, siblings, psychological control, and adolescent adjustment. Journal of Adolescent Research, 12, 113-138.
last modified 07/15/08