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College of Health and Human Sciences

Human Development and Family Studies Emotion, Regulation, and Relational Processes

Faculty and graduate students in the ERRP area conduct research on emotion regulation and self-regulation processes in human development, in romantic, familial, and social relationships, in the context of the cultural environment. As part of our emphasis on translational and community-based research, many of us conduct and evaluate interventions to promote positive regulatory processes throughout the lifespan.

Meet our Research Faculty

Faculty Specializations

Self-Regulation of Emotions and Behavior

Dr. Karen Barrett

  • Emotion regulation and its influence on typical & atypical development
  • Mindfulness-based emotion regulation intervention for young children
  • Tablet assessment of executive functions and school readiness
  • Social emotions (e.g., guilt and shame) and cultural influences on them

Regulation of Close Emotional Relationships

Dr. Zeynep Biringen

  • Adult-child emotional availability assessment and prevention/intervention
  • Mindfulness as means to stress regulation
  • Parental alienation in context of high-conflict divorce

Romantic Relationship Regulation

Dr. Kelley Quirk

  • Relationship education
  • Couple therapy effectiveness
  • Awareness of romantic relationship danger signs

Family Relationships and Child Regulation

Dr. Rachel G. Lucas-Thompson

  • Parent-child relationships, marital conflict, and child health
  • Multidimensional assessment of stress physiology
  • Mindfulness as a buffer

Emotional Aging

Dr. Gloria Luong

  • Social and emotional regulation
  • Stress reactivity, health, and well-being
  • Cultural differences

Our Labs, Centers, and Programs

Research Labs

Centers and Programs

We are Accepting Applications

For Our Ph.D. Program

The Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University is accepting applications to our Ph.D. program in Applied Developmental Sciences and Master’s program in Prevention Science. Our ADS doctoral program ranks in the top 20 within the U.S.