Biography
My research focuses on charting the development of cognitive, social, and emotional functioning from early childhood into early adulthood. I am interested in identifying the factors that contribute to individual differences in self-regulation and developmental trajectories within and across the above domains. By examining the intersecting contributions of context through cultural and socioeconomic conditions and nurture through family relationships and secure attachment, my research highlights contextual factors that shape developmental trajectories of self-regulation, which in turn influence long-term functioning in adolescence and emerging adulthood.
Education Background
Ph.D. - 2021 Syracuse University
M.Ed. - 2012 Jilin University
B.Eng. - 2008 University of Jinan
Courses Taught
- Introduction to Psychology
- Cultural Psychology
- Diversity Science
- Prenatal, Infancy, and Child Development
- Psychology of Trauma and Violence
Research Interests
Grounded in Diversity Science, my research is driven by a commitment to improving the well-being of children and families through empirical studies. Specifically, my research interests focus on understanding the various ecological influences affecting self-regulation in children, from intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure to parental mental health and socioeconomic disparities. In doing so, my research aims to identify key mechanisms of risk and resilience in early life and adolescence.
My dedication to these research areas has driven me to leverage large, longitudinal secondary datasets to investigate associations among IPV exposure, parental mental health, parenting strategies, self-regulation, and adolescent well-being by constructing advanced statistical models. Methodologically, I utilize a broad range of approaches, from longitudinal designs and latent profile analyses to machine learning, to obtain insights into psychological science.
Publications
Selected Recent Publications (*denotes undergraduate students)
- Zhang, Y., Liu, Q., & Wang, X. (2026). Children’s exposure to intimate partner violence and co-occurrence with child maltreatment in early childhood: Latent classes and risk factors. Psychology of Violence. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000686
- *Lindsay, D., *Kepner, M., & Zhang, Y. (2026). Trauma, discrimination, and intimate partner violence: Intergenerational pathways in racially minoritized communities. Journal of Behavioral Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-026-00697-9
- Zhang, Y., Fang, J., & Krishnakumar, A. (2026). Detecting patterns of intimate partner violence using qualitative analyses and machine learning algorithms. Prevention Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-026-01923-1
- Zhang, Y., Fang, J., & Liu, A. (2026). Leveraging machine learning to uncover ethnic-specific predictors of maternal postpartum depression. Prevention Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-026-01880-9
- Zhang, Y., Pudasainee-Kapri, S., Razza, R., & *Madre, N. (2026). Household instability and self-regulation in Head Start children: The mediating and moderating roles of bedtime routines. Infant Mental Health Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.70071
- Liu, Q., Zhang, Y., & Razza, R. (2025). Reciprocal relationships among household chaos, parenting stress, and children’s behavioral self-regulation from early to middle childhood. Family Process 64(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.70053
- Zhang, Y., Fang, J, Luo, X. *Garcia, T, *Lindsay, D., *Madre, N, *Melley, E., *Paredes, J., & *Penna, A. (2025). Exploring the Efficacy of ChatGPT in Understanding and Identifying Intimate Partner Violence. Family Relations. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.13176
- Pudasainee-Kapri, S., Zhang, Y., & Razza, R. (2025). Longitudinal links between early sleep routine, emotional regulation, and behavioral outcomes in Head Start children. Infant Behavior and Development. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2025.102027
- Zhang, Y., Shen, F., *Paredes, J., & Wang, C. (2024). Appreciation of differences: Promoting diversity and flourishing among college students. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-09-2023-0439
- Wang, Q., Wu, Y, Feng, R, *Hao, X., Felver, J., Zhang, Y., & Razza, R (2024). Adaptation and validation of the Mindful Student Questionnaire in Chinese adolescent students: Factor analyses and validity results. Mindfulness. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02299-x
- Zhang, Y., Shen, F., *Paredes, J., *Madre, N., *Lindsay, D., *Penna, A., *Morris, T., & Liu, Q. (2023). Exploring the complex links between childhood exposure to intimate partner violence, maltreatment, and self-regulation: A three-wave cross-lagged study. Child Abuse & Neglect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106507
- Zhang, Y., *Cannata, S., Razza, R, & Liu, Q. (2023). Intimate partner violence exposure and self-regulation in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00636-1
- Zhang, Y., & Razza, R. (2022). Father involvement, couple relationship quality, and maternal postpartum depression: The role of ethnicity among low-income families. Maternal and Child Health Journal 26, 1424-1433. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-022-03407-4
- Zhang, Y., Razza, R., Wang, Q., & Bergen-Cico, D. (2022). Mechanisms of change underlying mindfulness-based practice among adolescents. Mindfulness 13, 1445-1457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01881-z
- Zhang, X., Zhang, Y., & Vasilenko, S. (2022). The longitudinal relationships among poverty, material hardship and maternal depression in the United States: A latent growth mediation model. Archives of Women's Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-022-01238-4
Selected Conference Presentations (*denotes undergraduate students)
- Zhang, Y. & Liu, Q (May 2025). From entry to engagement: A latent class analysis of family involvement in early head start. Poster accepted at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) 2025 Biennial Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
- Zhang, Y., Fang, J., Luo, X., *Garcia, T., *Lindsay, D., *Madre, N., *Melley, E., *Paredes, J., & *Penna, A. (2024, November). Exploring the efficacy of ChatGPT in understanding and identifying intimate partner violence [Poster presentation]. National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, Bellevue, WA.
- Zhang, Y., Korakutty, S., Razza, R., Ohl, A., Schelly, D., & Dey, S. (2024, November). Exploring the links between early family experiences and childhood self-regulation: Advancements in predictive analysis via machine learning [Poster presentation]. National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference, Bellevue, WA.
- Zhang, Y., Fang, J., *Penna, A., *Melley, E. (2024, July) Cultural patterns in parental and family planning roles affecting postpartum depression: A machine learning study. Paper presented at the International Association for Relationship Research (IARR) International Conference 2024, Boston, M.A.
- Zhang, Y., Korakutty, S., Razza, R., Ohl, A., Sheley, David., & Dey, S. (2024, May) Exploring early childhood self-regulation: Advancing predictive analysis with machine Learning. Paper presented at 2024 Association of Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA.
- Zhang, Y., *Paredes, J., Liu, Q., *Madre., N. (2024, May) Family dynamics and the development of self-regulation in childhood: A scoping review. Paper presented at 2024 Association of Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA.
- Zhang, Y., *Paredes, J., & Wang, C. (2024, April). Effects of college diversity courses on the appreciation of diversity, cultural competence, and flourishing. Paper presented at 2024 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
- Zhang, Y. (2023, October). Timing of a semester and college students’ subjective well-being: The predicting roles of mindfulness and emotional regulation. Paper symposium at the Biennial Conference of the Society for the Study of Human Development (SSHD), Philadelphia, PA.
- Zhang, Y., & Razza, R. (2023, June). Children in Families with Intimate Partner Violence: Timing and Effects on the Developmental Trajectories of Behavioral Self-Regulation. Paper presented at the Society for Prevention Research (SPR) Annual Meeting, Washington D.C.
- Zhang, Y., *Paredes, J., *Cannata, S., & Wang, C. (2023, May) Appreciation of Differences: Diversity Seeking, Cultural Competence, and Flourishing in College Students. Poster presented at 2023 Association for Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention, Washington, D.C.,
- Zhang, Y., & Razza, R. (2023, May) Children in Families with Intimate Partner Violence: Developmental Trajectories and Longitudinal Mediation Effects of Behavioral Self-Regulation for Risky Behaviors in Adolescence. Paper symposium presented at 2023 Association of Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention, Washington, D.C.
- Zhang, Y., Liu, Q., *Lindzy, D. (2023, May) Intimate Partner Violence Victimization, Parenting Stress, and Self-Regulation in Children: A longitudinal Mediation Study. Paper presented at 2023 Association of Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention, Washington, D.C.
- Zhang, Y., Pudasainee-Kapri, S., *Madre, N., *Vinluan, D., & *Penne, A. (2023, May) Household Instability, Early Bedtime Routine, Emotional Regulation, and Attentional Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study among Children from Low-income Families. Paper presented at 2023 Association of Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention, Washington, D.C.
- Liu, Q., Razza, R., Merrin, G., & Zhang, Y. (2023, March) Differential Growth Trajectories of Self-Regulation from Early Childhood to Adolescence: Implications for Adolescent Behavioral Outcomes. Paper presented at Society for Research in Child Development 2023 Biennial Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Zhang, Y., *Cannata, S., *Paredes, J. & & Wang, C. (2023, March) Diversity Seeking and Flourishing in College Students. Poster at Society for Research in Child Development 2023 Biennial Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Zhang, Y., & *Madre, N. (2023, March) Intimate partner violence exposure, child maltreatment, and behavioral self-regulation in childhood: A three-wave cross-lagged study. Paper presented at Society for Research in Child Development 2023 Biennial Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah