Research

 

Guided by theories of family, intergroup, and interpersonal communication, I explore:

1. The interplay between family and personal identity focusing on how people create family identity and solidarity
2. How family identity and worldviews are communicated across generations
3. How identification with the family identity contributes to long-term involvement in the family, and
4. How families manage various, or incongruent, identities and values.

Through my program of research, I am contributing to existing knowledge regarding family identity through the exploration of the family system in order to provide valuable insight for families and professionals who are seeking to improve family relationships through communication and promote long-term family support and functioning, as well as individual and relational well-being.