PEERS Lab

Our research examines the social and emotional development of vulnerable children and adolescents and factors that enhance or undermine their resiliency.

The PEERS lab studies the development of social and emotional competencies and problems during childhood and adolescence. Our research primarily focuses on children growing up in the context of low-income. We are particularly interested in how relationships with peers, parents, and teachers relate to the developmental competencies and problems of vulnerable children and adolescents.

05/05/2024

✨️ Congratulations to Ishrath Khan, a BSc Honours student in the PEERS Lab ✨️ In March, Ishrath received an Outstanding Interdisciplinary Research award at the UAlberta Festival of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (FURCA) for her oral presentation: Promoting Self-Determination in First Generation University Students! Ishrath completed the systematic review for an independent study course with Dr. Jennifer Passey in the Department of Psychology.

On May 7, Ishrath will present her research AND moderate the "Equitable Pathways to Experiential Learning: What Gets in the Way of Students Learning by Doing?" panel at the UAlberta Festival of Teaching and Learning (FoTL). Congratulations Ishrath on your well deserved recognitions!

"First-generation university students are one of the first in their families to attend higher education, unlike continuing-generation students whose parents have completed a university or college degree. They possess risk factors for dropout and low academic performance, like minority status and limited support systems. To close this equity gap, instructors can promote self-determination. Self-determination includes three basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. This systematic review aimed to identify evidence-based interventions that improve self-determination. Five categories of strategies were identified: attributional retraining, difference education, values affirmation, support programs, and gameful courses."

Photos from PEERS Lab's post 04/13/2024

The PEERS Lab was well represented at our Annual Harder Honors Day Celebration of the fantastic research conducted by honors students in the Department of Psychology! Congratulations to our graduating lab members on your accomplishments! Congratulations to our 1st year honors students on sucessfully presenting your proposed research! Have a wonderful summer!

Photos from PEERS Lab's post 06/15/2023

Congratulations Dr. Brenna Zatto 👩‍🎓🎉! So very proud of you 👏👏! Incredibly honoured that you chose our PEERS Lab to complete your graduate studies with!! Excited for your next adventures! University of Alberta University of Alberta Faculty of Science

03/17/2023

Congratulations to Pearl and Rahul on being awarded the Reasearch Impact Canada Award for Knowledge Mobilization at the Festival of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities (FURCA)! Well done 👏👏! Pearl and Rahul are completing an independent study course with our lab. Thank you Cheryl for supporting Pearl & Rahul! Thank you Heather for presenting the award!

Photos from PEERS Lab's post 11/22/2022

Congratulations to Dr. Brenna Zatto who successfully defended their dissertation on heterogeneity in depressive & anxious symptoms in early childhood & influence by self-regulation & class climate 👏👏! So proud of Brenna! Thanks to committee members Dr. Zheng & Dr. Galambos! Brenna's research was supported by the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation through the Women and Children's Health Research Institute @ UAlberta.

Anxiety among kids is on the rise. Wider access to CBT may provide needed solutions 10/11/2022

Anxiety among kids is on the rise. Wider access to CBT may provide needed solutions Tailored in-person and app-based interventions for anxiety are allowing psychologists to expand their reach.

Why young brains are especially vulnerable to social media 10/11/2022

Why young brains are especially vulnerable to social media The science behind why apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat impact your child’s brain in a different way than your adult brain.

New research dispels ‘happy wife, happy life’ stereotype 08/23/2022

New research dispels ‘happy wife, happy life’ stereotype Keeping a romantic relationship healthy takes work — and the burden doesn’t just rest on women, according to a new U of A study of mixed-gender couples that shows men’s satisfaction levels are as significant as those of their female partners in predicting their future happiness together.

U of A has best-ever showing in prominent ranking of world’s top institutions 08/15/2022

U of A has best-ever showing in prominent ranking of world’s top institutions The University of Alberta rose to 92nd in the world in the 2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities, placing among the world’s top 100 for the first time in the history of the prominent ranking.

People wrongly believe their friends will protect them from COVID-19 04/07/2022

People wrongly believe their friends will protect them from COVID-19 People may feel less vulnerable and take fewer safety precautions about COVID-19 when they are with, or even just think about, their friends instead of acquaintances or strangers.

Photos from PEERS Lab's post 03/08/2022

Today we honour all the trailblazers who fought for women's equality & rights & empowered generations of strong women. I am honoured to work with this next generation of scientists who continue to inspire me & break barriers.

09/16/2021

New Government of Alberta public health measures announced Further to the notification sent earlier, late on Wednesday the University of Alberta received additional direction from the Government of Alberta. Until post-secondary institutions implement a Restrictions Exemption Program on Monday, September 20, 2021 in accordance with the government announcemen...

What Is the Pandemic Doing to My Young Child? 08/24/2021

What Is the Pandemic Doing to My Young Child? If you’re the parent or caregiver of a toddler or preschooler, you might be wondering how the past 16 months of relative isolation has affected them. For many kids, the pandemic shut down their opportunities to interact with peers and increased their screen time. It has also disrupted family routi...

05/31/2021

At 2:15 p.m. MST today, the community is pausing for 215 seconds and collectively remembering the children who did not make it home from the Residential School system.

Opinion: National child care would boost Alberta's economy and support families 05/02/2021

Excellent op-ed from Dr. Jeff Bisanz & Dr. Rob Bushman on the benefits of the proposed Canadian national system of early learning and care for families in Alberta.

Opinion: National child care would boost Alberta's economy and support families On April 19, the federal government announced that it will start to build a national system of early learning and care. The government envisions a…

Alberta’s largest university plans for 80% in-person learning in fall 2021 04/27/2021

Alberta’s largest university plans for 80% in-person learning in fall 2021 In a statement, the university announced it would have approximately 80 per cent of course in-person and 20 per cent online. The university said the Fall 2021 semester course offerings are now available so students can begin to plan their schedules.

03/09/2021

PREVNet works to create a safe climate for all youth and is committed to addressing the systemic oppression that puts marginalized groups at higher risk of violence. On , PREVNet honours the history and current reality of women in Canada – including Black women and girls, Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit folks, girls and women of color, and trans women and gender-diverse individuals – and we the intersectional bias they experience. As the march for equality continues, we will continue to encourage healthy relationships that promote gender equity and challenge damaging gender norms, so that all women have the opportunity to thrive.

02/24/2021

It’s , a reminder to be kind and to take action against – today, and every day.

When we encourage healthy relationships, well-being for all, and a positive climate every day, bullying behaviour is reduced and everyone has an opportunity to flourish.

02/24/2021

Hockey is for everyone. On , and every day, choose kindness, and stand up against bullying, on and off the ice.

02/02/2021

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

PREVNet will be sharing resources and information to raise awareness and build knowledge about youth dating violence and building healthy relationships. Learn more about in our new blog post: https://youthdatingviolence.prevnet.ca/february-is-teen-dating-violence-awareness-month/

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