Welcome to the Youth and Family Research Lab, directed by Dr. Scott Ronis, Professor in Psychology and Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts at the University of New Brunswick and a licensed clinical psychologist in New Brunswick. Our lab is a dynamic and collaborative environment where students engage in meaningful research under the guidance of experienced faculty. Dr. Ronis oversees a team of graduate and undergraduate students, fostering an environment of mentorship and academic growth. Our lab is committed to addressing a wide range of research topics that have significant implications for youth and families.
Our research spans various areas, including:
Improving Access to Mental Health Services and Other Essential Resources: Working towards enhancing mental health services and resources for individuals and families and for typical marginalized populations, such as individuals who are roughly housed.
Family Communication Patterns Regarding Sexual Development: Investigating how families communicate about sexuality and its impact on adolescent sexual health outcomes.
Sexual Development in Youth: Exploring the complexities of sexual development in adolescents, including factors influencing healthy development and risk factors for problematic behaviors.
Atypical Sexual Interests: Examining the psychological factors underlying atypical sexual interests and behaviors, with a focus on prevention and intervention strategies.
Sexual Offending: Understanding the factors contributing to sexual offending behaviors and developing effective treatment and prevention approaches.
Sexual Consent and Communication Patterns: Investigating the dynamics of sexual consent and communication within interpersonal relationships, with the aim of promoting healthy and consensual interactions.
Restorative Justice: Exploring alternative approaches to addressing harm and conflict, with a focus on restorative justice principles and practices.
Our lab operates under a collaborative model, emphasizing teamwork and mutual support among students across various research domains and levels of research experience. We are dedicated to sharing our findings with the broader academic community through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national and international conferences. We also work to share our research with general audiences in easily digestible ways. By disseminating our research, we aim to contribute to advancements in the field of psychology and improve the well-being of individuals and communities.
We invite you to explore our website to learn more about our ongoing projects, meet our team members, and discover opportunities for collaboration and involvement. Thank you for your interest in the Youth and Family Research Lab. We look forward to making meaningful contributions to the field together.
