Christina M. Gibson-Davis
Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy
Christina M. Gibson-Davis is a professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, with a secondary appointment in sociology. Her research interests center around social and economic differences in family formation patterns. Her current research focuses on the how divergent patterns of family formation affect economic inequality.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
- Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University 2019
- Professor of Sociology, Sociology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2019
- Faculty Research Scholar of DuPRI's Population Research Center, Duke Population Research Center, Duke Population Research Institute 2010
- Affiliate of the Center for Child and Family Policy, Center for Child and Family Policy, Sanford School of Public Policy 2015
Contact Information
- 228 Rubenstein Hall, Box 90312, Durham, NC 27708
- Box 90312, Durham, NC 27708-0245
-
cgibson@duke.edu
(919) 613-7364
-
Gibson-Davis CV 2022
- Background
-
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., Northwestern University 2001
- B.A., Bates College 1992
-
Previous Appointments & Affiliations
- Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Sanford School of Public Policy, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University 2018 - 2022
- Associate Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University 2011 - 2019
- Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology, Sociology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2012 - 2019
- Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Psychology & Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2011 - 2018
- Assistant Professor of Sociology, Sociology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2007 - 2011
- Assistant Professor of Public Policy Studies, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University 2002 - 2011
- Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Psychology & Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2008 - 2011
- Assistant Professor, Psychology & Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2006 - 2008
- Assistant Professor of Psychology: Social and Health Sciences, Psychology & Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2005 - 2006
- Recognition
-
In the News
-
JAN 8, 2021 Child and Family Policy -
JUN 3, 2020 Sanford School of Public Policy -
MAY 18, 2018 Sanford School of Public Policy -
FEB 12, 2016 Duke Campaign Stop 2016 -
JUL 13, 2015 The News & Observer -
JUL 6, 2015 The News & Observer -
JUL 3, 2015 the News & Observer -
JUN 26, 2015 WUNC -
JUN 26, 2015 -
MAY 27, 2015 WUNC -
APR 14, 2015 The Conversation -
APR 14, 2015 The Conversation -
JUL 7, 2014 New York Magazine
-
-
Awards & Honors
- Expertise
-
Subject Headings
-
Global Scholarship
-
Expertise
-
Research
-
- Research
-
Selected Grants
- Net Worth Poverty and Children's Development awarded by National Institutes of Health 2022 - 2024
- PSID Child Development Supplement and the PSID Transition into Adulthood Supplement awarded by University of Michigan 2020 - 2021
- The Role of Wealth in the Transition to Young Adulthood for Minority Youth awarded by Russell Sage Foundation 2019 - 2020
- The Racial Marriage Gap and Student Achievement: A New Look at an Old Conundrum awarded by William T Grant Foundation 2016 - 2019
- Immigration Enforcement and Birth Outcomes: Evidence from North Carolina awarded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2017 - 2019
- The Link between Education, Engagement, and Well-being awarded by National Science Foundation 2014 - 2017
- Collaborative Research: Leveraging Matched Administrative Datasets to Improve Educational Practice and Long Run Life Outcomes: Toward Building a National Interdisciplinary Network awarded by National Science Foundation 2012 - 2017
- Family Structure and Inequality in Contemporary America awarded by National Science Foundation 2015 - 2017
- Meeting the Bar: A Propensity Score Analysis of BSF Impacts by Couples' Economic Status awarded by Department of Health and Human Services 2014 - 2016
- Duke Center for Geospatial Medicine awarded by National Institutes of Health 2004 - 2008
-
External Relationships
- National Institutes of Health
- Publications & Artistic Works
-
Selected Publications
-
Academic Articles
-
Gibson-Davis, C., Boen, C. E., Keister, L. A., & Lowell, W. (2023). Net worth poverty and adult health. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 318, 115614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115614Full Text
-
Rackin, H. M., & Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2022). Familial Deaths and First Birth. Population and Development Review, 48(4), 1027–1059. https://doi.org/10.1111/padr.12522Full Text
-
Percheski, C., & Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2022). Marriage, Kids, and the Picket Fence? Household Type and Wealth among U.S. Households, 1989 to 2019. Sociological Science, 9(7), 159–183. https://doi.org/10.15195/v9.a7Full Text
-
Gibson-Davis, C., Keister, L. A., Gennetian, L. A., & Lowell, W. (2022). Net Worth Poverty and Child Development. Socius : Sociological Research for a Dynamic World, 8. https://doi.org/10.1177/23780231221111672Full Text
-
Gibson-Davis, C., & Hill, H. D. (2021). Childhood wealth inequality in the United States: Implications for social stratification and well-being. Rsf, 7(3), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.7758/RSF.2021.7.3.01Full Text
-
Bitler, M., Genetian, L. A., Gibson-Davis, C., & Rangel, M. A. (2021). Means-Tested Safety Net Programs and Hispanic Families: Evidence from Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 696(1), 274–305. https://doi.org/10.1177/00027162211046591Full Text
-
Gibson-Davis, C., Keister, L. A., & Gennetian, L. A. (2021). Net Worth Poverty in Child Households by Race and Ethnicity, 1989-2019. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 83(3), 667–682. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12742Full Text
-
Tome, R., Rangel, M. A., Gibson-Davis, C. M., & Bellows, L. (2021). Heightened immigration enforcement impacts US citizens' birth outcomes: Evidence from early ICE interventions in North Carolina. Plos One, 16(2), e0245020. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245020Full Text
-
Holbein, J. B., Hillygus, D. S., Lenard, M. A., Gibson-Davis, C., & Hill, D. V. (2020). The Development of Students' Engagement in School, Community and Democracy. British Journal of Political Science, 50(4), 1439–1457. https://doi.org/10.1017/S000712341800025XFull Text
-
Gibson-Davis, C., Gassman-Pines, A., & Lehrman, R. (2018). "His" and "Hers": Meeting the Economic Bar to Marriage. Demography, 55(6), 2321–2343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13524-018-0726-zFull Text
-
Rackin, H. M., & Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2018). Social Class Divergence in Family Transitions: The Importance of Cohabitation. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 80(5), 1271–1286. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12522Full Text
-
Gibson-Davis, C. M., & Percheski, C. (2018). Children and the Elderly: Wealth Inequality Among America's Dependents. Demography, 55(3), 1009–1032. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13524-018-0676-5Full Text
-
Rackin, H. M., & Gibson-Davis, C. (2017). Low-income Childless Young Adults' Marriage and Fertility Frameworks. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 79(4), 1096–1110. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12405Full Text
-
Ananat, E. O., Gassman-Pines, A., Francis, D. V., & Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2017). Linking job loss, inequality, mental health, and education. Science, 356(6343), 1127–1128. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aam5347Full Text
-
Schenck-Fontaine, A., Gassman-Pines, A., Gibson-Davis, C. M., & Ananat, E. O. (2017). Local Job Losses and Child Maltreatment: The Importance of Community Context. The Social Service Review, 91(2), 233–263. https://doi.org/10.1086/692075Full Text
-
Gibson-Davis, C. M., Vernot, C., Butler, M., Hall, N., Taylor, L., Eastwood, K., & Zhang, X. (2017). They Should Say "I Don't": Norms About Midpregnancy Marriage and Job Loss. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 79(2), 405–418. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12379Full Text
-
Gassman-Pines, A., Ananat, E. O., & Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2014). Effects of statewide job losses on adolescent suicide-related behaviors. American Journal of Public Health, 104(10), 1964–1970. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2014.302081Full Text Open Access Copy
-
Gibson-Davis, C. (2014). Magic moment? Maternal marriage for children born out of wedlock. Demography, 51(4), 1345–1356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13524-014-0308-7Full Text Open Access Copy
-
Gibson-Davis, C., & Rackin, H. (2014). Marriage or carriage? Trends in union context and birth type by education. Journal of Marriage and Family, 76(3), 506–519. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12109Full Text Open Access Copy
-
Ananat, E. O., Gassman-Pines, A., & Gibson-Davis, C. (2013). Community-wide job loss and teenage fertility: evidence from North Carolina. Demography, 50(6), 2151–2171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13524-013-0231-3Full Text Open Access Copy
-
Rackin, H., & Gibson Davis, C. M. (2012). The role of pre- and postconception relationships for first time parents. Journal of Marriage and Family, 74, 526–539.Open Access Copy
-
Jiang, M., Foster, E. M., & Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2011). Breastfeeding and the child cognitive outcomes: a propensity score matching approach. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 15(8), 1296–1307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0677-5Full Text Open Access Copy
-
Gibson-Davis, C. (2011). Mothers but not wives: The increasing lag between nonmarital births and marriage. Journal of Marriage and Family, 73(1), 264–278. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00803.xFull Text
-
Foster, E. M., Jiang, M., & Gibson Davis, C. M. (2010). The Effect of WIC on the Health of Newborns. Health Services Research, 45, 1083–1104.Open Access Copy
-
Miang, J., Foster, E. M., & Gibson Davis, C. M. (2010). The Effect of WIC on Breastfeeding: A New Look at an Established Relationship. Children and Youth Services Review, 32, 264–273.
-
Gibson Davis, C. M., & Gassman Pines, A. (2010). Early Childhood Family Structure and Mother-Child Interactions: Variation by Race and Ethnicity. Developmental Psychology, 46(1), 151–164.
-
Gibson Davis, C. M. (2009). Money, Marriage, and Children: Testing the Financial Expectations and Family Formation Theory. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71, 146–161.
-
Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2008). Family structure effects on maternal and paternal parenting in low-income families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 70(2), 452–465. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2008.00493.xFull Text
-
Gibson Davis, C. M. (2008). The Effect of Family Structure on Maternal and Paternal Parenting. Journal of Marriage and Family, 70, 452–465.
-
Gibson-Davis, C. M., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2007). The association of couples' relationship status and quality with breastfeeding initiation. Journal of Marriage and Family, 69(5), 1107–1117. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2007.00435.xFull Text
-
Gibson Davis, C. M., & Brooks Gunn, J. (2007). The Association between Maternal Relationship Status and Breastfeeding Behaviors. Journal of Marriage and Family, 69, 1107–1117.Link to Item
-
Duncan, G. J., & Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2006). Connecting child care quality to child outcomes: drawing policy lessons from nonexperimental data. Evaluation Review, 30(5), 611–630. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193841x06291530Full Text
-
Gibson Davis, C. M., & Brooks Gunn, J. (2006). Breastfeeding and the Verbal Ability of Three-Year-Olds in a Multi-City Sample. Pediatrics, 118, e1444–e1451.Link to Item
-
Duncan, G. J., & Gibson Davis, C. M. (2006). Childcare Quality and Child Outcomes: Drawing Policy Lessons from Nonexperimental Data. Evaluation Review, 30(5), 611–630.Link to Item
-
Gibson Davis, C. M., & Brooks Gunn, J. (2006). Couples’ Immigration, and Ethnicity as Determinants of Breastfeeding. American Journal of Public Health, 96(4), 641–646.Link to Item
-
Gibson Davis, C. M., & Foster, E. M. (2006). A Cautionary Tale: Using Propensity Scores to Estimate the Impact of Food Stamps on Food Insecurity. Social Service Review, 80, 93–126.
-
Gibson-Davis, C. M., Magnuson, K., Gennetian, L. A., & Duncan, G. J. (2005). Employment and the risk of domestic abuse among low-income women. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67(5), 1149–1168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2005.00207.xFull Text
-
Gibson Davis, C. M., Edin, K., & McLahanan, S. (2005). High Hopes but Even Higher Expectations: The Retreat from Marriage Among Low-Income Couples. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67, 1301–1312.
-
Gibson, C. M. (2003). Privileging the participant: The importance of sub-group analysis in social welfare evaluations. American Journal of Evaluation, 24(4), 443–469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ameval.2003.09.002Full Text
-
Gibson, C., & Weisner, C. (2002). Rational and Ecocultural Circumstances of Program Take-Up Among Low-Income Working Parents. Human Organization, 61(2), 154–166.
-
Huston, A. C., Duncan, G. J., Granger, R., Bos, J., McLoyd, V., Mistry, R., … Ventura, A. (2001). Work-based antipoverty programs for parents can enhance the school performance and social behavior of children. Child Development, 72(1), 318–336. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00281Full Text
-
Gassman-Pines, A., Gibson-Davis, C. M., & Ananat, E. (n.d.). How Economic Downturns Affect Children’s Development: An Interdisciplinary Perspective on Pathways of Influence (In preparation). Child Development Perspectives.Open Access Copy
-
Gibson-Davis, C. M., Ananat, E., & Gassman-Pines, A. (n.d.). Midpregnancy Marriage and Divorce: Why the Death of Shotgun Marriage Has Been Greatly Exaggerated (Submitted).
-
Gibson-Davis, C., & Percheski, C. (n.d.). A Penny on the Dollar: Racial Inequities In Wealth among Households with Children (Accepted). Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World.
-
Rackin, H., & Gibson-Davis, C. M. (n.d.). Money, marriage, and children: Qualitative evidence using Network Text Analysis (Submitted).
-
-
Book Sections
-
Ananat, E. O., Gassman-Pines, A., & Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2011). The effects of local employment losses on children's educational achievement. In Whither Opportunity?: Rising Inequality, Schools, and Children’s Life Chances (pp. 299–313).
-
Ananat, E., Gassman-Pines, A., & Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2011). The effects of plant closings on children's educational achievement. In G. J. Duncan & R. Murnane (Eds.), Whither Opportunity? Rising Inequality, Schools, and Children’s Life (pp. 299–313). New York: Russell Sage.
-
Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2007). Expectations and the economic bar to marriage among low-income couples. In Unmarried Couples with Children (Vol. 9781610441865, pp. 84–103).
-
Magnuson, K. A., & Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2007). Child support among low-income noncustodial fathers. In Unmarried Couples with Children (Vol. 9781610441865, pp. 228–251).
-
Magnuson, K., & Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2007). Explaining the patterns of child support among low income noncustodial fathers. In K. Edin & P. England (Eds.), Unmarried Couples with Children (pp. 228–251). New York: Russell Sage.
-
Gibson-Davis, C. M., & Duncan, G. I. (2005). Qualitative/quantitative synergies in a random-assignment program evaluation. In T. Weisner (Ed.), Discovering Successful Pathways in Children’s Development: Mixed Methods in the Study of Childhood and Family Life (pp. 283–303).Link to Item
-
Gibson-Davis, C. M. (n.d.). Marriage, Partnering, and Fertility (In preparation). In D. Brady & L. Burton (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Social Science of Poverty. Oxford University Press.
-
-
Scholarly Editions
-
Ananat, E. O., Gassman-Pines, A., Francis, D., & Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2011). Children Left Behind: The Effects of Statewide Job Loss on Student Achievement.
-
-
Theses and Dissertations
-
Gibson-Davis, C. M. (2001). Inside the Black Box: Motivation and Selection in Social Service Utilization. Presented at the Human Development and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
-
-
- Teaching & Mentoring
-
Recent Courses
- PUBPOL 495S: Honors Seminar 2023
- PUBPOL 496S: Honors Seminar 2023
- PUBPOL 850: Social Policy 2023
- PUBPOL 909: Dissertation Proposal Seminar II 2023
- PUBPOL 495S: Honors Seminar 2022
- PUBPOL 496S: Honors Seminar 2022
- PUBPOL 908S: Dissertation Proposal Seminar I 2022
- PUBPOL 909: Dissertation Proposal Seminar II 2022
- PUBPOL 120: Undergraduates Internship Requirement 2021
- PUBPOL 908S: Dissertation Proposal Seminar I 2021
- Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
-
Presentations & Appearances
- The Great Recession and the Nonmarital Fertility Ratio. December 17, 2013 2013
- The Great Recession, Job Loss, and Fertility: Evidence from North Carolina. May 1, 2012 2012
- The Effect of Job Loss on the Birthrates of Young Women. November 1, 2010 2010
- Did Marriage and Fertility Get a Divorce? The Differential Association of Earnings on Marriages and Births. February 1, 2010 2010
- The Association between Fathers’ Informal Employment and Marriage. December 12, 2008 2008
- Towards a Unified Theory: Understanding the Associations. December 12, 2008 2008
-
Outreach & Engaged Scholarship
- Bass Connections Faculty Team Leader. Making Young Voters: Policy Reforms to Increase Youth Turnout. 2018 - 2019 2018 - 2019
- Bass Connections Faculty Team Member. Making Young Voters: Policy Reforms to Increase Youth Turnout. August 2017 - May 2018 2017 - 2018
- Bass Connections Faculty Team Leader. Data+ Project Lead. 2017 2017
- Bass Connections Faculty Team Member. Racial and Educational Inequality as a Consequence of Family Structure: Learning from Shotgun Marriages. August 2014 - May 2015 2014 - 2015
- Bass Connections Faculty Team Member. Racial and Educational Inequality as a Consequence of Family Structure: Learning from Shotgun Marriages. August 2013 - May 2014 2013 - 2014
Some information on this profile has been compiled automatically from Duke databases and external sources. (Our About page explains how this works.) If you see a problem with the information, please write to Scholars@Duke and let us know. We will reply promptly.
