Growing Hearts and Minds

Child Development

What Does Physiology Have to Do With Emotional Development?

Kristin A. Buss Ph.D. on July 31, 2024

Understanding physiology helps us identify the children at the highest risk for anxiety and depression and identify targets for intervention.

Understanding physiology helps us identify the children at the highest risk for anxiety and depression and identify targets for intervention.

Emotions

The Role Parents Play in Shaping Children's Emotion Regulation

Kristin A. Buss Ph.D. on June 17, 2024

Supportive parenting leads to positive youth outcomes, but parents rarely use just one strategy. Understanding how various strategies impact child development is crucial.

Supportive parenting leads to positive youth outcomes, but parents rarely use just one strategy. Understanding how various strategies impact child development is crucial.

Mindfulness

How Drawing and Mindfulness Support Mental Health

Kristin A. Buss Ph.D. on February 13, 2024

Recent collaborative work has combined the power of mindfulness (e.g., breathing and focus) and drawing as a tool for stress and anxiety reduction.

Recent collaborative work has combined the power of mindfulness (e.g., breathing and focus) and drawing as a tool for stress and anxiety reduction.

Social Media

Is Adolescent Digital Media Use Linked to Anxiety?

Kristin A. Buss Ph.D. on January 14, 2024

Digital media use is ingrained in adolescents’ daily lives. Our ongoing research examines the complex interplay between online social behaviors, emotions, and anxiety in teens.

Digital media use is ingrained in adolescents’ daily lives. Our ongoing research examines the complex interplay between online social behaviors, emotions, and anxiety in teens.

Anxiety

Temperament, Peer Relationships, and Social Anxiety in Teens

Kristin A. Buss Ph.D. on October 13, 2023

Fearful teens are at high risk for social anxiety, but not all of them develop symptoms. Relationships with close peers may be an important factor.

Fearful teens are at high risk for social anxiety, but not all of them develop symptoms. Relationships with close peers may be an important factor.

Education

First Generation College Students Experience More Anxiety

Kristin A. Buss Ph.D. on August 10, 2023

Although we know that FGCS are at higher risk for difficulties in college, there is a lot we don't know about who is at highest risk.

Although we know that FGCS are at higher risk for difficulties in college, there is a lot we don't know about who is at highest risk.

Anxiety

Which Fearful Children Should We Worry About?

Kristin A. Buss Ph.D. on June 28, 2023

Decades of research in developmental science has linked early fearfulness with heightened risk for anxiety later in childhood and adolescence.

Decades of research in developmental science has linked early fearfulness with heightened risk for anxiety later in childhood and adolescence.