Chardee Galan

Summary Statement of Research Interests

Trained as a clinical and developmental psychologist, Dr. Galán’s work focuses on three related lines of research: (1) identifying proximal and distal risk and protective factors that predict the onset of youth conduct problems and the persistence or desistance of such behaviors among economically disadvantaged and racial-ethnic minority youth; (2) elucidating the social-cognitive mechanisms through which exposure to adverse caregiving and community-based experiences (e.g., exposure to community violence) increase youth risk for conduct problems and violence; and (3) identifying innovative approaches to disseminating empirically-supported prevention and intervention programs for youth behavioral problems among families living in poverty. More recently her work has expanded to include the study of racial discrimination, racial violence, and racial-ethnic socialization in Black and Latinx families. Her goal is to use this work to develop culturally-relevant preventions programs that reduce racial stress and trauma, prevent youth behavioral problems, and improve youth and family well-being and functioning. Collectively, this work seeks to increase understanding of disparities in youth health and well-being and improve access to behavioral health services for youth in the context of their family, culture, and community.