Penn State Human Development and Family Studies

08/20/2026

Results from a new study found that 18 years after a middle school drug-prevention program, participants reported benefits for their families and children.

"This [study] shows the true power of helping children and families build skills before problems emerge. It can literally change lives for generations.”

Read more: https://www.psu.edu/news/health-and-human-development/story/benefits-middle-school-program-trickle-down-next-generation?utm_account=Penn+State+Human+Development+and+Family+Studies&utm_campaign=&utm_content=1787240040&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

08/18/2026

“I always say the two most important things for parenting are consistency and flexibility. It may sound like a contradiction, but these results indicate that balance really matters."

Learn what Penn State research demonstrated about helping children transition to elementary school.

https://bit.ly/4b1snaD

08/10/2026

HDFS graduate student Katherine Haigler was awarded a 2026 Fox scholarship from Penn State’s J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School.

These scholarships can be used to further research or participate in professional development opportunities.

Congratulations, Katherine 🎉!

07/07/2026

Recovery Community Centers have emerged across the state and the country as a way to support people in recovery. They provide a space for social support and community, as well as access to the resources and connections that people need to thrive in recovery.

Hobart "Bo" Cleveland, professor of human development and family studies at Penn State, has studied the benefits of these centers and their effects on maintaining recovery for 20 years. See what Cleveland has to say about how these centers help and his hopes for the future of recovery in Pennsylvania.

https://www.psu.edu/news/health-and-human-development/story/qa-how-do-recovery-community-centers-support-people-recovery?utm_account=Penn+State+Human+Development+and+Family+Studies&utm_campaign=&utm_content=1783438560&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

07/04/2026

Happy 250th birthday to the United States of America 🇺🇸!

06/30/2026

Is screen time always harmful? This Q&A addresses what makes screen time positive or harmful, how people can protect themselves and their children from unhealthy screen behavior, and how lawmakers could legislate healthier screen environments for everyone.

Screen time is blamed for a lot of unhealthy outcomes, especially among children, but screen time can be used for a variety of things, from doom scrolling to learning and more. In this Q&A, Penn State researchers explain how people can consider what constitutes healthy or unhealthy screen use.

06/29/2026

Research from Penn State Human Development and Family Studies is helping deepen our understanding of how early experiences shape child development.

Sy-Miin Chow, professor of human development and family studies, collaborated on a new study examining how harsh parenting behaviors may affect children’s ability to regulate stress over time. The findings highlight the importance of supportive caregiving and interdisciplinary research focused on improving outcomes for children and families.

As toddlers age into the preschool years, their dependency on their parents usually begins to ebb. However, a new study led by Penn State researchers has revealed that physically or psychologically aggressive parenting, such as spanking or shouting, can disrupt this pattern to the detriment of both....

06/19/2026

Meet Jenny 👋, a recent 2026 graduate who earned a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies and a minor in psychology.

Jenny was a member of HDFS Votes, a student-led organization designed to educate students about elections and voting. In addition to interacting directly with students as a peer voting educator, Jenny and a team of students developed a presentation to share in classes and at events about how to register and vote.

“Working with HDFS Votes taught me valuable skills in how to support and educate others. It also helped me prepare for a career in law. It is important to me to understand voting in different elections, and working with HDFS Votes allowed me to develop my knowledge of non-presidential elections and how they impact the community.

Jenny also worked as an undergraduate research assistant and completed her capstone internship at Centre Helps, a local non-profit organization that offers crisis intervention and emotional support resources.

“My internship at Centre Helps was an amazing experience! I learned all the aspects of the organization and how it supports clients and the community.”

06/09/2026

Looking for summer reading recommendations ☀️?

Check out the HDFS Reads library in the student lounge, featuring picks from our past visiting authors.