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Our researchers address critical issues facing families and communities while promoting healthy human development and productive relationships. This work touches all of our lives. These discoveries are made possible through public and private investments, legislator support, multi-institutional partnerships, and the dedication of faculty and student scholars.
Below, we showcase recent examples of our most impactful research in the area of family and communities. You can also view and download a pdf version and subscribe to one of our ACES e-newsletters to stay abreast of new developments in ACES research.
Discover Our Family & Communities Research
Savoring Pleasurable Moments Strengthens Couples’ Bonds
In a recent study, ACES researchers found that when couples savor pleasurable moments, they are happier together, argue less, and are more confident in their relationships. “Savoring” moments entails slowing down and becoming aware of the experiences, whether looking to the past, present, or future. While prior research found that savoring offered many benefits for individuals, the researchers decided to explore it as a joint interpersonal activity that occurred between romantic partners. By analyzing survey responses of 589 individuals in committed relationships, the researchers determined that those who engaged in more joint savoring with their partners reported less conflict with them, more satisfaction with their relationship, and more confidence in their future together.
Funding: All research in the College of ACES is supported by Hatch funding from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
ACES investigators:
Allen Barton, Human Development and Family Studies
Brian Ogolsky, Human Development and Family Studies
Related news story:
Do Infants Expect Caregivers to Comfort Crying Babies?
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When a baby begins to cry, do you expect its caregiver to soothe it? ACES researchers found that babies do expect a caregiver to offer comfort — and that expectation is associated with the mother’s mental health. They showed 75 infants videos: one where a mother ignores a crying baby to continue to do chores and one where the mother comforts it. By measuring how long they looked at the videos, the researchers determined that the “ignore event” video surprised the infants. They also had the mothers complete a depressive symptoms questionnaire. The team found that infants whose mothers reported higher depressive symptoms were less surprised when the caregiver did not comfort the crying baby. It’s still unclear what the exact cause behind the lower expectations is, but the team said this research opens avenues for future research.
Funding: All research in the College of ACES is supported by Hatch funding from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Additional funding for this project came from USDA NIFA (award no. ILLU-793-339), the John Templeton Foundation, and the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health, (award no. R21MH112578).
ACES investigator:
Nancy McElwain, Human Development and Family Studies
Related news stories:
Do infants expect caregivers to comfort crying babies?
Infant brain activity predicts social flexibility, stress recovery in 1st year
Maternal depression can lead to children’s emotional overeating, study shows
Appropriated Racial Oppression Shapes Black Parents’ Socialization of Children
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In a recent study, ACES researchers found that Black parents who experienced higher levels of appropriated racial oppression — defined as shaping one’s behavior and self-concept around dominant cultural norms of whiteness — were less likely to transmit positive, culturally protective messages that affirmed racial pride and self-worth to their adolescent children. The effects of appropriated racial oppression were more pronounced among lighter-skinned parents and teens. To determine this, the team surveyed 201 pairs of Black parents and their children to understand the adults’ levels of racial oppression and the adolescents’ perception of their parents’ messages. The team hypothesized that these individuals may be more likely to reject ideas about racial equality to better fit into a racially stratified society that rewards those who conform to white ideologies, behaviors, and standards of beauty.
Funding: All research in the College of ACES is supported by Hatch funding from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This project was also funded by the National Science Foundation (award no. SMA 1854100).
ACES investigator:
Shardé McNeil Smith, Human Development and Family Studies
Related news stories:
Appropriated racial oppression shapes Black parents’ socialization of children
Study explores effects of racial discrimination on Black parents and children
Parents’ advice benefits African American youth – when they seek support
Reformed Illinois Divorce Laws Boosted Shared Decision-Making
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Illinois divorce laws changed in 2016 with the hopes of speeding up cases, discouraging adversarial litigation, and distributing parents’ time with their children more evenly. However, ACES researchers found the reformed laws had little effect on those intended categories. What the changed laws did impact, though, was joint decision-making. The team reviewed 240 divorce cases in one Illinois county — half before the amended laws, and half after. They found that more divorcing couples — around 63% after 2016 — shared major decision-making responsibilities for their children. To see a significant difference in the other categories, the researchers hypothesize that legal culture and parents’ mindsets need to change, too.
Funding: All research in the College of ACES is supported by Hatch funding from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This research was also funded by a USDA NIFA grant (award no. ILLU-793-338) and the National Science Foundation/National Institute of Justice (1555701).
ACES investigators:
Jennifer Hardesty, Human Development and Family Studies
Brian Ogolsky, Human Development and Family Studies
Related news stories:
Reformed Illinois divorce laws boosted joint decision-making, but had little impact otherwise
How intimate partner violence affects custody decisions