Overview
Jennifer Lansford is the director of the Center for Child and Family Policy and S. Malcolm Gillis Distinguished Research Professor of Public Policy in the Sanford School of Public Policy.
Dr. Lansford's research focuses on the development of aggression and other behavior problems in youth, with an emphasis on how family and peer contexts contribute to or protect against these outcomes. She examines how experiences with parents (e.g., physical abuse, discipline, divorce) and peers (e.g., rejection, friendships) affect the development of children's behavior problems, how influence operates in adolescent peer groups, and how cultural contexts moderate links between parenting and children's adjustment.
Dr. Lansford's research focuses on the development of aggression and other behavior problems in youth, with an emphasis on how family and peer contexts contribute to or protect against these outcomes. She examines how experiences with parents (e.g., physical abuse, discipline, divorce) and peers (e.g., rejection, friendships) affect the development of children's behavior problems, how influence operates in adolescent peer groups, and how cultural contexts moderate links between parenting and children's adjustment.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
S. Malcolm Gillis Distinguished Research Professor of Public Policy
·
2023 - Present
Sanford School of Public Policy
Research Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy
·
2015 - Present
Sanford School of Public Policy
Director of the Center for Child and Family Policy
·
2022 - Present
Center for Child and Family Policy,
Sanford School of Public Policy
Affiliate, Duke Global Health Institute
·
2025 - Present
Duke Global Health Institute,
University Institutes and Centers
Recent Publications
Supporting Families Through Policies: Effective and Recommended Policies for Communication Technology, Digital Interventions, and Remote Work
Journal Article Journal of Family Issues · February 1, 2026 Among the megatrends the United Nations identified in 2020, technology strongly influences how families live. Communication technology, digital interventions, and remote work require families to integrate technology into their activities, use digital tools ... Full text CiteThe interaction among household chaos, parental rejection, and parental control in predicting adolescent executive function.
Journal Article Developmental psychology · December 2025 The present study examines the interaction between household chaos, parental control, and parental rejection/acceptance (i.e., warmth) in predicting adolescent executive function (EF) skills in a diverse sample. We tested a three-way interaction to underst ... Full text Open Access CiteBeyond the individual: Household activity of daily living limitations, urban-rural residence, and mental health
Journal Article Ssm Mental Health · December 1, 2025 Activity of daily living (ADL) limitations, such as difficulty walking or dressing, are increasing as populations age and experience more chronic conditions. To understand the scope of ADLs and make interventions more effective, it is important to examine ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Intervention Impacts on Child Wellbeing and Parenting across Generations
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development · 2017 - 2029Advancing Equity in Adolescent Health through Evidence-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs and Services
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Department of Health and Human Services · 2023 - 2028Mid-Life Health Inequalities in the Rural South: Risk and Resilience
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by University of Vermont · 2023 - 2028View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor ·
2000
Ph.D.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor ·
1997
M.A.
Duke University ·
1995
B.A.