Adolescent Peer Relationships and Identity Development Lab

The lab's current research focuses on friends’ and class characteristics as measures of context to see how different forms of aggression are tolerated over the school year among adolescents from Colombia. Also studied is how an important aspect of identity development and self-continuity serves as a buffer against the depressive effects of peer victimization among Brazilian youth. The research examines change over time in students’ social responsibility as a function of teacher’s socio-emotional learning in over 2000 Brazilian children. To further develop this area of cultural research, an international collaborative effort to merge data collected from Montreal, Canada, Barranquilla, Colombia, Bogota, Colombia, Curitiba, Brazil and Shanghai, China has been undertaken, leading to a number of publications.
The process of further developing a study to explore contextual influences on academic achievement among children and early adolescents using data collected in over 125 schools in Curitiba, Brazil is currently underway. This is a large three-year funded project to better understand how children develop social responsibility and prosocial leadership.
Participate in lab research
The lab accepts both graduate and undergraduate students. If you are interested in conducting research, please contact Jonathan B. Santo, Ph.D. at jsanto@unomaha.edu or (402) 905-7663.
For further information on Developmental Psychology, view Dr. Jonathan Santo's selected works.
Publications
Cunha, J., Thomas, K., Santo, J.B., Sukhawathanakul, P. & Leadbeater, B. (in press). Socially responsible children: A link between school climate and aggression and victimization. International Journal of Behavioral Development.
Martin-Storey, Santo, J. B., Recchia, H., Chilliak, C. S., Caetano Nardi, D. H. & Da Cunha, J. M. (in press). Gender minority status and academic engagement among Brazilian adolescents: Risk and protective factors. Journal of School Psychology.
*Roza T. R., *Roza, S. A., *Yano, V., Cunha, J. & Santo, J.B. (in press). Bullying and Friendship as Influences on Sleep Quality among Brazilian Adolescents. Journal of Genetic Psychology.
Subramanian, R. & Santo J.B. (in press). Can comics reduce mental illness stigma? An experiment comparing the effects of cartoon and photographic narratives. Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine.
Tocaimaza-Hatch, C. C. & Santo, J. B. (in press). Social interaction in the Spanish classroom: How proficiency and linguistic background impact vocabulary learning. Language Teaching Research.
*Amaral, H. T., da Cunha, J., *Boueri, I.Z. & Santo, J.B. (2021). Authoritative School Climate and Peer Victimization Among Brazilian Students. Revista Educação Especial, 34, 1-22.
*Bass, E.C., Saldarriaga, L., Velasquez, A., Santo, J. B., & Bukowski, W. (2021). Unpacking the misfit effect: Exploring the influence of gender and social norms on the association between aggression and peer victimization. International Journal of Behavioral Development.
Anderson, A. & Santo, J. B. (2020). Trust, Ethnicity, and Political Approval in 21st Century South Africa. ID: International Dialogue: A Multidisciplinary Journal of World Affairs, 10, 6-31.
Cortese, M. J., *Toppi, S., Khanna, M. & Santo, J. B. (2020). AoA Effects in Reading Aloud and Lexical Decision: Locating the (Semantic) Locus in Terms of the Number of Backward Semantic Associations. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 73(11) 2036–2044.
Martin-Storey, A., Recchia, H. & Santo J.B. (2020). Self-Continuity Moderates the Association Between Sexual-Minority Status Based Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms. Journal of Homosexuality, 1-20.
*Amaral, H. T., Cunha, J. & Santo, J.B., (2019). Authoritative School Climate and Peer Victimization Among Brazilian Students. Psico, 50(1), 29-37.
Bowker, J., Adams, R. & Santo, J.B., (2019). A Dynamic Examination of the Associations between Shyness, Psychological Difficulties, and Stressful Life Events during Early Adolescence. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 1.-13.
Bowker, J.C, Bowker, M.H., Santo J.B., Ojo, A.A., *Etkin, R.G. & *Raja, R. (2019). Severe Social Withdrawal: Cultural Variation in Past Hikikomori Experiences of University Students in Nigeria, Singapore, and the US. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 180:4-5, 217-230.
*Gill, S., Blair, M., Santo, J. B. & Morrow, S. A. (2019). Depressive symptoms are associated with more negative functional outcomes than anxiety symptoms in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences.
Jawed-Wessel, S., Santo, J.B. & Irwin, J. (2019). Sexual activity and attitudes as predictors of sexual satisfaction during pregnancy. A multi-level model describing the sexuality of couples in the first 12 weeks. Archives of sexual behavior, 48(3), 843-854.
*Mertens, A. T., Santo, J. B., Markopoulou, K., & Chase, B. A. (2019). Cognitive Processes That Indirectly Affect Olfactory Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease. Clinical Parkinsonism & Related Disorders.
Nasir, A, Zimmer, A., Taylor, D. & Santo, J.B., (2019). Family Psychosocial Assessment in the Clinical Setting. BMC Psychology, 7(1), 3-11.
Thomas, K., Cunha, J. & Santo, J.B., (2019). Fairness, Trust, and School Climate as Foundational To Growth Mindset: A Study Among Brazilian Children and Adolescents. Educational Psychology, 39(4), 510-529.
Thomas, K., Cunha, J. & Santo, J.B., (2019). The predictive value of school climate and teacher techniques on students’ just world beliefs: A comprehensive Brazilian sample. Social Psychology of Education, 22(5), 1239-1257.
*Yuen, C.N., *Koziol, T. & Santo J.B. (2019). Examination of age, ethnicity and sex differences on attraction among late-adolescents. Social Moments, 1, 15-30.
*Baker, M. R., Goodman, A. C., Santo, J.B., & Wong, R. Y. (2018). Repeatability and reliability of exploratory behavior in proactive and reactive zebrafish, Danio rerio. Scientific reports, 8(1), 12114.
*Marian, M., da Cunha, J.M. & Santo, J.B., (2018). I like you, do you like me? How aggression, gender, social norms predict adolescent peer liking from a dyadic, individual and group perspective. Revista Psicologia Argumento, 36(93), 383-407.
Santo, J.B., *Bass, E.C., Lopez, L.S & Bukowski W.M. (2017). Contextual influences on the relations between physical and relational aggression and peer victimization. School Psychology International, 38(1) 42–59. DOI: 10.1177/0143034316678655
*Hanna, J., Santo, J. B., Blair, M., Smolewska, K., Warriner, E., & Morrow, S. A. (2017). Comparing depression screening tools in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Rehabilitation Psychology, 62(1), 20-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/rep0000115
*Huffman, M., Santo J.B. & French, J. (2017). Prenatal Androgen Exposure and Parental Care Interact to Influence Timing of Reproductive Maturation in Marmosets. American Journal of Primatology, 79: 1-12. DOI 0.1002/ajp.22588
Bukowski, W. M., *Panarello, B. & Santo J.B. (2017). Androgyny in Liking and in Being Liked Are Antecedent to Well-Being in Pre-adolescent Boys and Girls. Sex Roles, 76: 719–730. DOI 10.1007/s11199-016-0638-6
Ammons, S. K., Dahlin, E. C., Edgell, P. & Santo J.B. (2017). Work-family conflict among Blacks, Whites and Hispanics. Community, Work and Family, 20:4, 379-404.
DOI: 10.1080/13668803.2016.1146231
*Bass, E.C., Santo, J.B., Saldarriaga L.M., da Cunha, J.M. & & Bukowski W.M. (2016). Classroom Context and the Relations between Social Withdrawal and Peer Victimization. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 1–11. DOI: 10.1177/0165025416677846
Bass, E.C., Santo, J.B., *Neufeld, C.M., da Cunha, J.M. (2016). Classroom Context and the Relations between Social Withdrawal and Peer Victimization. Journal of Cognitive Education and Psychology, 15:2, 248-267. http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/1945-8959.15.2.248
*Wood, M., Bukowski, W. M. & Santo J.B. (2016). Friendship Security, But Not Friendship Intimacy, Moderates the Stability of Anxiety During Early Adolescence. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 46(6), 798-809. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2015.1094742
Chen, B.-B., & Santo J.B. (2016). The Relationships Between Anxious and Unsociable Withdrawal and Peer Difficulties: The Moderating Role of Insecure Attachment. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 40(4), 346–358. DOI: 10.1177/0165025415587726
Santo J.B., Saldarriaga L.M., Velásquez A.M., Meyer, F. & Bukowski W.M. (2016). Correlates of Early Adolescent Friend Choice Order in a Colombian Sample: Interactions Between Friend, Individual and Contextual Prosocial Behavior and Aggression. Journal of Latino/Latin American Studies, Vol. 8(2), 79-91.
Velásquez A.M., Drury, K.M., Saldarriaga L.M., Santo J.B., Lopez L.S. & Bukowski W.M. (2016). Peer Rejection as a Social Regulation Mechanism of Group Norms: The Case of Aggression Across Sex. Journal of Latino/Latin American Studies, Vol. 8(2), 47-58.
Chen, B.-B., & Santo, J. B. (2016). Mother–child attachment and social withdrawal in urban Chinese children. Social Behavior and Personality, 44, 233–246. doi: 10.2224/sbp.2016.44.2.233
Hawkins, D.N., Lindner, A.M, Larson, R. & Santo J.B. (2015). Overrating Bruins, Underrating Badgers Media, Bias, and College Basketball. Journal of Sports Management and Commercialization, (6)3, 11–26.
*Buttner, A., *Thompson, B., Strasser, R. & Santo J.B. (2015). Evidence for a synchronization of hormonal states between humans and dogs during competition. Physiology & Behavior, 147, 54–62.
Cortese, M. J., Hacker, S., *Schock, J., & Santo, J. B. (2015). Is reading-aloud performance in megastudies systematically influenced by the list context? The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 68:8, 1711-1722. DOI: 10.1080/17470218.2014.974624
Schneider, B.H., Manetti, M., Frattini, L., Rania, Santo J.B., Coplan, R.J. & *Cwinn, E. (2014). Successful Transition to Elementary School and the Implementation of Facilitative Practices Specified in the Reggio-Emilia Philosophy. School Psychology International, Vol. 35(5) 447–462. 35(5) 447–462. DOI: 10.1177/0143034313511003
Santo J.B., da Cunha, J., Saldarriaga L.M., Recchia H., Martin-Storey A., Bukowski W.M., Lopez L.S. & Carmago, G. (2013). Measurement Invariance of Self-Continuity Strategies: Comparisons of Early Adolescents from Brazil, Canada, and Colombia. European Journal of Developmental Psychology (special section on instruments and procedures for developmental research), Vol. 10(4), 518-525. DOI: 10.1080/17405629.2012.707313
Burr A., Santo J.B., & Pushkar D. (2013). Investigating the Portrait Values Questionnaire at Two Transitions in Adulthood: Retirement and University. Quality & Quantity 48(2), 1027-1044.
Ellenbogen M.A., Linnen A.M., Santo J.B., aan het Rot, M., Hodgins S. & Young, S. (2013). Salivary cortisol and interpersonal functioning: An event-contingent recording study in the offspring of parents with bipolar disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 38(7), 997-1006.
Santo J.B., Bukowski W.M., Lopez L.S., Carmago, G., Mayman S.B. & Adams, R. E. (2013). Factors underlying contextual variations in the structure of the self: Differences related to SES, gender, culture and “majority/“non-majority” status during early adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence (special issue on adolescents in the majority world), 23(1), 69-80.
*Mustoe, A., *Birnie, A. K., *Korgan, A.C., Santo J.B., French, J. A. (2012). Natural variation in gestational cortisol is associated with patterns of growth in marmoset monkeys (Callithrix geoffroyi). General and Comparative Endocrinology, 175(3), 519-226.
Pullen, C. A., Yates, B. C., Santo J.B., *Dizona, P.J., Boeckner, L., Hageman, P.A., Walker, S., N. (2012). Effects of a Wellness for Women Intervention on Healthy Eating Behavior in Midlife Rural Women. Social Science and Medicine, 75, 659-667.
Reiter-Palmon, R., Robinson, E., Kaufman, L & Santo J.B. (2012). Is Self Evaluation of Creativity a Useful Criterion? Creativity Research Journal, 24, 107-114.
*Stone, T., Santo, J. B., & Wittich, W. (2012). Mediating and moderating effects on the association between vision loss and depression among older adults, Insight: Research and Practice in Visual Impairment and Blindness, 5(1), 30-37.
Adams, R.E., Santo J.B. & Bukowski W.M. (2011). The Presence of a Best Friend Buffers the Effects of Negative Experiences. Developmental Psychology, 47(6), 1786-1791.
*Alexander, M., Santo J.B., *Cunha, J., Weber, L. & Russell, S.T. (2011). Effects of Homophobic Victimization vs. Non-homophobic Victimization on School Commitment and the Moderating effect of Teacher Attitudes. Journal of LGBT Youth, 8: 289-308.
*Velásquez A.M., Santo J.B., *Saldarriaga L.M., Lopez L.S., & Bukowski W.M. (2010) Context-Dependent Peer Victimization: Are physical and relational aggression tolerated differently in mixed-sex versus all-girl schools? Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 56(3): 283-302.
Ellenbogen M.A., Santo J.B., *Linnen A.M., Walker C.D., & Hodgins S. (2010). High cortisol levels in the offspring of parents with bipolar disorder during two weeks of daily sampling. Bipolar Disorders, 12(1): 77-86.
Bukowski, W.M., Schwartzman, A., Santo, J.B., Bagwell, C. & Adams, R. (2009). Reactivity and distortions in the self: Narcissism, types of aggression, and the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during early adolescence. Development and Psychopathology, 21(4): 1249-1262.
*Burr A., Santo J.B., & Pushkar D. (2009). Affective Well-Being in the Retirement Transition: Money, Health, and the Role of Values Over Three Years. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12(1): 17-40.
Bukowski W.M., *Adams R.E., & Santo J.B. (2006). Recent advances for Developmental Psychopathology in the study of social and personal experiences. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 30(1): 26-30.
Boivin D.B., *James F.O., Caliyurt O., Santo J.B., & Chalk C. (2003). Non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome following a car accident. Neurology, 60(11), 1841-1843