Current Projects
Parent-Adolescent Communication About Cyber Risks and Parental Reactions to Cyberbullying
This manuscript, currently under review, assesses parent-adolescent communication about family decisions regarding adolescent internet/cell-phone use (e.g., checking history, trusting the teen), the potential dangers involved with online communication (e.g., talking to strangers, cyberbullying), and what parents do when they learn their teenager has been the victim of cyberbullying (e.g., contacting the school, talking to the victim). Survey research has identified strategies that parents utilize when monitoring their adolescents internet/cell-phone use, as well as the negative affects of cyberbullying. However, less research has assessed the actual messages that are communicated within parent-adolescent discussions about cyber behaviors. The goal of this project is to gain a better understanding of how parents and their adolescents talk about technology-mediated communication and potential cyber risks.
Parents' Perceived Self-Efficacy Across Adolescent Behaviors
This manuscript, currently under review, examines whether parents' perceived competence in protecting their teens from problematic behaviors differs across different types of adolescent behaviors, including alcohol use, internet/cell-phone use, and eating behaviors. We are also assessing the extent to which variation in parental self-efficacy differs as a function of adolescents' age and gender.
Parent-Child Social Communication Across the Life-Span
I just finished writing a critical review of parent-child social communication across the life span. This review paper was one portion of my doctoral candidacy examination.
Parental Monitoring Strategies Project
Parents get information about their teens’ behaviors in various ways, including asking the teens, setting rules about what teens can do, and teens disclosing information. This project is assessing the different effects of various parental monitoring strategies. It focuses on direct monitoring strategies, such as rule setting and asking teens for information, as well as restrictive strategies, such as looking through teens’ belongings. Initial findings from longitudinal analyses indicate that parents who asked their teens about delinquent behaviors had teens that discussed delinquency more and engaged in less delinquent behavior. Initial findings also indicated that restrictive parental monitoring strategies were associated with increases in delinquency at a later time point.
This manuscript, currently under review, assesses parent-adolescent communication about family decisions regarding adolescent internet/cell-phone use (e.g., checking history, trusting the teen), the potential dangers involved with online communication (e.g., talking to strangers, cyberbullying), and what parents do when they learn their teenager has been the victim of cyberbullying (e.g., contacting the school, talking to the victim). Survey research has identified strategies that parents utilize when monitoring their adolescents internet/cell-phone use, as well as the negative affects of cyberbullying. However, less research has assessed the actual messages that are communicated within parent-adolescent discussions about cyber behaviors. The goal of this project is to gain a better understanding of how parents and their adolescents talk about technology-mediated communication and potential cyber risks.
Parents' Perceived Self-Efficacy Across Adolescent Behaviors
This manuscript, currently under review, examines whether parents' perceived competence in protecting their teens from problematic behaviors differs across different types of adolescent behaviors, including alcohol use, internet/cell-phone use, and eating behaviors. We are also assessing the extent to which variation in parental self-efficacy differs as a function of adolescents' age and gender.
Parent-Child Social Communication Across the Life-Span
I just finished writing a critical review of parent-child social communication across the life span. This review paper was one portion of my doctoral candidacy examination.
Parental Monitoring Strategies Project
Parents get information about their teens’ behaviors in various ways, including asking the teens, setting rules about what teens can do, and teens disclosing information. This project is assessing the different effects of various parental monitoring strategies. It focuses on direct monitoring strategies, such as rule setting and asking teens for information, as well as restrictive strategies, such as looking through teens’ belongings. Initial findings from longitudinal analyses indicate that parents who asked their teens about delinquent behaviors had teens that discussed delinquency more and engaged in less delinquent behavior. Initial findings also indicated that restrictive parental monitoring strategies were associated with increases in delinquency at a later time point.
Completed Projects
Parental Monitoring and
Adolescent Information Management: Associations with Cyber Risks
My master’s thesis assessed the strategies parents use to acquire information about their teens’ internet and cell-phone behaviors and teens’ strategies to manage parents’ knowledge of their internet/phone use. I am especially interested in the extent to which parents’ internet/phone monitoring strategies and teens’ information management are associated with cyber risks, such as cyberbullying and engagement in risky internet/phone behaviors. Findings indicated that higher rates adolescent disclosure about their internet/phone use was associated with less risky internet/phone use. Parents’ solicitation and rules about internet/phone use were not associated with engagement in risky behaviors. However, parents’ covert monitoring (reading text messages) was associated with higher rates of risky internet/phone use for girls within mother-adolescent dyads, and older teens within father-adolescent dyads. For more information see my poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development.
My master’s thesis assessed the strategies parents use to acquire information about their teens’ internet and cell-phone behaviors and teens’ strategies to manage parents’ knowledge of their internet/phone use. I am especially interested in the extent to which parents’ internet/phone monitoring strategies and teens’ information management are associated with cyber risks, such as cyberbullying and engagement in risky internet/phone behaviors. Findings indicated that higher rates adolescent disclosure about their internet/phone use was associated with less risky internet/phone use. Parents’ solicitation and rules about internet/phone use were not associated with engagement in risky behaviors. However, parents’ covert monitoring (reading text messages) was associated with higher rates of risky internet/phone use for girls within mother-adolescent dyads, and older teens within father-adolescent dyads. For more information see my poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development.
Publications
Metzger, A., Syvertsen, A.K., Oosterhoff, B., Wray-Lake, L., Babskie, E. (2015). How children understand civic actions: A mixed-methods approach. Journal of Adolescent Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/0743558415610002
Oosterhoff, B., Metzger., A., & Babskie, E. (2014). What do citizens have to do? Parents’ and adolescents’ messages about civic duty. Journal of Adolescent Research. Advance online publication doi: 10.1177/0743558414563931
Johnson, H. D., Kent, A., & Yale, E. (2012). Examination of identity and romantic relationship intimacy associations with well-being in emerging adulthood. Identity: An International Journal of Theory and Research, 12, 296-319. doi: 10.1080/15283488.2012.716381
Johnson, H. D., Loff, K. A., Bell, G., Grogan, E. A., Yale, E., Brady, E., Foley, R. J., & Pilosi, T. A. (2009). Identity exploration and commitment associations with gender differences in emerging adults’ romantic relationship intimacy. In E. Cuyler & M. Ackhart (Eds.). Psychology of relationships (pp. 131-147). New York: Nova Science Publishers.
Conference Presentations
Oral Presentations
Ferris, K., Babskie, E., & Oosterhoff, B. (2016, March). Sports involvement, beliefs about food-related behaviors, and engagement in problematic eating behaviors during adolescence. In K. Ferris, Health and Well-being across Adolescence and Adulthood: The Impact of Organized Sports Participation. Symposium to be presented at the 2016 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Baltimore, MD.
Ice, C., Metzger, A., Yale, E., Ferris, K., Cottrell, L. (2013, April). Sneaky Parents: Longitudinal associations among parental monitoring strategies and adolescent problem behavior. In C. Daddis, Family Context and Adolescent Management of Information: Snooping, Disclosure, and Deception Don’t Occur in Isolation. Symposium presented at the 2013 Biannual Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA.
Metzger, A., & Babskie, E. (2015, March). Adolescent and parent conceptualizations of distinct types of prudential behavior: Variations by adolescent gender and age. In C. Daddis, Coordinating Concerns from Multiple Domains: Analyses of How Children and Adolescents Make Judgments About Multifaceted Issues. Symposium presented at the 2015 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
Metzger, A., Lilly, C., Cottrell, L., Yale Babskie, E. (2014, March). Longitudinal associations between parental beliefs and parental monitoring strategies. In L. Keijsers, Parents’ Monitoring of Adolescents’ Leisure Time: Unraveling the Complexities of Within Family Processes. Symposium presented at the 2014 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Austin, TX.
Poster Presentations
Babskie, E., Baldrige, R., & Metzger, A. (2015, March). Parent-adolescent discussions about the dangers of adolescents’ cyber communication and parental reactions to cyberbullying. Poster presented at the 2015 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
Babskie, E., Powell, D., & Metzger, A. (2016, March). Parenting self-efficacy: Variability across adolescent behaviors and the influence of adolescents’ behavioral engagement. Poster to be presented at the 2016 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Baltimore, MD.
Babskie, E., & Metzger, A. (2015, March). Associations between adolescents’ cyber-specific beliefs and information management strategies. Poster presented at the 2015 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
*Baldrige, R., Yale, E., & Metzger, A. (2013, April). Review of cyberbullying and cyber victimization in adolescence. Poster presented at the Annual Tri-State Psychology Conference, Charleston, W.V.
*Bealko, B., *Labree, K., *Hussain, M., Yale, E., & Metzger, A. (2013, March). Associations between parenting style, open communication, and adolescent disclosure of risky behaviors. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, N.Y.
Epperly-Cottrell, L., Metzger, A., Lilly, C., Hunter, A., & Babskie, E. (2015, March). Parental monitoring profiling: What monitoring strategies should parents use to protect their adolescents from risk? Poster presented at the 2015 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
Ferris, K., Yale, E., & Metzger, A. (2012, March). Adolescent political attitudes: Associations with individual beliefs, civic involvement, and sources of political knowledge. Poster presented at Biennial Conference of the Society for Research on Adolescence. Vancouver, BC, Canada.
*Hanrahan, A., Yale, E., & Metzger, A. (2013, April). Adolescent work: Associations between type, hours, and delinquency. Paper presented at the Annual Tri-State Psychology Conference, Charleston, W.V.
*Hanrahan, A., Yale, E., & Metzger, A. (2013, March). Associations between adolescents' alcohol-related secrecy and disclosure with alcohol consumption. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, N.Y.
*Newberne, J. A., Yale Babskie, E., & Metzger A. (2015, March). “I just want what’s best for you”: The association between parental behavioral control and youth disclosure patterns. Poster presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, PA.
Oosterhoff, B., Yale Babskie, E., Ferris, K., & Metzger, A. (2014, March). The Influence of parental civic messages on adolescent prioritization of civic activities. Poster presented Society for Research on Adolescence, Austin, TX.
Yale, E., Dixon, A., & Johnson, H. D. (2007, March). Gender differences in associations among emerging adults’ relationship intimacy, sexual involvement, and social adjustment. Poster presented at the Biennial Conference of the Society for Research in Child Development. Boston, M.A.
Yale Babskie, E., & Metzger, A. (2014, March). A social domain approach to parent and adolescent conceptualizations of adolescents’ internet/cell-phone behaviors. Poster presented at the 2014 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Austin, TX.
Yale, E., Metzger, A., & Hanrahan, A. (2013, April). Associations Between Parental Internet Monitoring, Adolescent Disclosure, and Adolescent Risky Internet Behaviors. Poster presented at the 2013 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA.
* Indicates undergraduate student projects that I advised.
Metzger, A., Syvertsen, A.K., Oosterhoff, B., Wray-Lake, L., Babskie, E. (2015). How children understand civic actions: A mixed-methods approach. Journal of Adolescent Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/0743558415610002
Oosterhoff, B., Metzger., A., & Babskie, E. (2014). What do citizens have to do? Parents’ and adolescents’ messages about civic duty. Journal of Adolescent Research. Advance online publication doi: 10.1177/0743558414563931
Johnson, H. D., Kent, A., & Yale, E. (2012). Examination of identity and romantic relationship intimacy associations with well-being in emerging adulthood. Identity: An International Journal of Theory and Research, 12, 296-319. doi: 10.1080/15283488.2012.716381
Johnson, H. D., Loff, K. A., Bell, G., Grogan, E. A., Yale, E., Brady, E., Foley, R. J., & Pilosi, T. A. (2009). Identity exploration and commitment associations with gender differences in emerging adults’ romantic relationship intimacy. In E. Cuyler & M. Ackhart (Eds.). Psychology of relationships (pp. 131-147). New York: Nova Science Publishers.
Conference Presentations
Oral Presentations
Ferris, K., Babskie, E., & Oosterhoff, B. (2016, March). Sports involvement, beliefs about food-related behaviors, and engagement in problematic eating behaviors during adolescence. In K. Ferris, Health and Well-being across Adolescence and Adulthood: The Impact of Organized Sports Participation. Symposium to be presented at the 2016 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Baltimore, MD.
Ice, C., Metzger, A., Yale, E., Ferris, K., Cottrell, L. (2013, April). Sneaky Parents: Longitudinal associations among parental monitoring strategies and adolescent problem behavior. In C. Daddis, Family Context and Adolescent Management of Information: Snooping, Disclosure, and Deception Don’t Occur in Isolation. Symposium presented at the 2013 Biannual Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA.
Metzger, A., & Babskie, E. (2015, March). Adolescent and parent conceptualizations of distinct types of prudential behavior: Variations by adolescent gender and age. In C. Daddis, Coordinating Concerns from Multiple Domains: Analyses of How Children and Adolescents Make Judgments About Multifaceted Issues. Symposium presented at the 2015 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
Metzger, A., Lilly, C., Cottrell, L., Yale Babskie, E. (2014, March). Longitudinal associations between parental beliefs and parental monitoring strategies. In L. Keijsers, Parents’ Monitoring of Adolescents’ Leisure Time: Unraveling the Complexities of Within Family Processes. Symposium presented at the 2014 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Austin, TX.
Poster Presentations
Babskie, E., Baldrige, R., & Metzger, A. (2015, March). Parent-adolescent discussions about the dangers of adolescents’ cyber communication and parental reactions to cyberbullying. Poster presented at the 2015 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
Babskie, E., Powell, D., & Metzger, A. (2016, March). Parenting self-efficacy: Variability across adolescent behaviors and the influence of adolescents’ behavioral engagement. Poster to be presented at the 2016 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Baltimore, MD.
Babskie, E., & Metzger, A. (2015, March). Associations between adolescents’ cyber-specific beliefs and information management strategies. Poster presented at the 2015 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
*Baldrige, R., Yale, E., & Metzger, A. (2013, April). Review of cyberbullying and cyber victimization in adolescence. Poster presented at the Annual Tri-State Psychology Conference, Charleston, W.V.
*Bealko, B., *Labree, K., *Hussain, M., Yale, E., & Metzger, A. (2013, March). Associations between parenting style, open communication, and adolescent disclosure of risky behaviors. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, N.Y.
Epperly-Cottrell, L., Metzger, A., Lilly, C., Hunter, A., & Babskie, E. (2015, March). Parental monitoring profiling: What monitoring strategies should parents use to protect their adolescents from risk? Poster presented at the 2015 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
Ferris, K., Yale, E., & Metzger, A. (2012, March). Adolescent political attitudes: Associations with individual beliefs, civic involvement, and sources of political knowledge. Poster presented at Biennial Conference of the Society for Research on Adolescence. Vancouver, BC, Canada.
*Hanrahan, A., Yale, E., & Metzger, A. (2013, April). Adolescent work: Associations between type, hours, and delinquency. Paper presented at the Annual Tri-State Psychology Conference, Charleston, W.V.
*Hanrahan, A., Yale, E., & Metzger, A. (2013, March). Associations between adolescents' alcohol-related secrecy and disclosure with alcohol consumption. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, N.Y.
*Newberne, J. A., Yale Babskie, E., & Metzger A. (2015, March). “I just want what’s best for you”: The association between parental behavioral control and youth disclosure patterns. Poster presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, PA.
Oosterhoff, B., Yale Babskie, E., Ferris, K., & Metzger, A. (2014, March). The Influence of parental civic messages on adolescent prioritization of civic activities. Poster presented Society for Research on Adolescence, Austin, TX.
Yale, E., Dixon, A., & Johnson, H. D. (2007, March). Gender differences in associations among emerging adults’ relationship intimacy, sexual involvement, and social adjustment. Poster presented at the Biennial Conference of the Society for Research in Child Development. Boston, M.A.
Yale Babskie, E., & Metzger, A. (2014, March). A social domain approach to parent and adolescent conceptualizations of adolescents’ internet/cell-phone behaviors. Poster presented at the 2014 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Austin, TX.
Yale, E., Metzger, A., & Hanrahan, A. (2013, April). Associations Between Parental Internet Monitoring, Adolescent Disclosure, and Adolescent Risky Internet Behaviors. Poster presented at the 2013 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA.
* Indicates undergraduate student projects that I advised.
