News
Mixing Ages in Head Start Stunts Academic Progress
Four-year-olds in the nation’s largest preschool program fare worse with 3-year-olds in their classrooms, according to new research that shows a common practice in most Head Start programs may stunt children’s learning. Three-fourths of Head Start classes teach 3- and 4-year-old children together, but a new study, led by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin, found that older children...Seniors' Social Lives and Health
Dr. Karen Fingerman, professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, has recently been awarded a $2.4 million grant over the next five years from the National Institute on Agingto study how social interactions improve the health of older adults. Participants will use wearable electronic devices and cellphone apps to monitor their physical activity and social interactions in real...
Dr. Stephen Russell Joins HDFS Faculty
Dr. Stephen Russell joined the faculty in Human Development in Family Sciences in the summer of 2015 as the Priscilla Pond Flawn Regents Professor of Child Development. Dr. Russell completed his Ph.D. in sociology at Duke University with a concentration in life course studies and demography. After a postdoctoral fellow position at UNC-Chapel Hill, he served as a faculty member at...
Relationships are Key to Health across the Lifespan
A wealth of research indicates that maintaining a satisfying romantic relationship is critical for one’s mental and physical well-being. For instance, individuals who have a supportive relationship partner report higher self-esteem, greater self-efficacy, and lower levels of psychological distress and depression. Likewise, the quality of one’s romantic relationship is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular health, immune functioning, and even mortality risk....
