Stephanie Milan, PhD

Associate Professor (PI)

Department of Psychological Sciences

Research Overview

Broadly, my research and clinical work is aimed at promoting positive outcomes among families at heightened risk due to poverty and environmental stressors (e.g., exposure to violence). Within this broad area, I have focused specifically on adolescents transitioning to adulthood and high-risk mothers because successful interventions with these groups have the potential to yield intergenerational benefits. My current research addresses three topics: 1) risk and protective factors during the transition to early motherhood; 2) the cultural and relational context of adolescent health; and 3) children’s developmental trajectories within the context of maternal and family risk. My approach to these topics is guided by attachment theory (Bowlby, 1988), developmental contextualism (Lerner, 1986), and developmental niche models (Super & Harkness, 1994). Research projects affiliated with InCHIP have included a qualitative study of psychological barriers to mental health treatment in low-income depressed pregnant women and an evaluation of a youth development program for high risk adolescents and young adults.

Education

Yale University Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, 2000-2002
Clinical Pre and Postdoctoral Fellowship

Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, 1995-2001
Ph.D., Clinical/Quantitative Psychology (joint degree)

Recent/Selected Publications

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