Welcome!
The Center for Multicultural Research is devoted to topics relating to cross-cultural issues in development during adolescence and young adulthood, with a particular emphasis on social relationships, identity, and the acculturation process. Dr. Dennis' "Acculturation in Families Project" is focused on in investigating the ways in which young people maintain healthy relationships with their family while seeking to create their own identity, friendships, and romantic relationships as they enter adulthood. Through focus group interviews and surveys, we have found that young people from immigrant families may experience differences in expectations with their parents and that these differences can pose challenges to personal and family well-being. Recent projects in the lab have focused on topics such as the role of family vs. peers in the promotion of bicultural competence and the importance of family support for college achievement.
Lab Director
Dr. Jessica Dennis received her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of California, Riverside. She has been a member of the Psychology Department at California State University, Los Angeles since 2005. She is currently a professor who teaches classes in developmental psychology, multicultural psychology, and research methods. She is currently serving as the Chair of the Child and Family Studies program at Cal State LA.
Contact Us
Dr. Jessica Dennis
Department of Psychology
King Hall D3073A
jdennis@calstatela.edu
(323) 343-2276
