Publications

Stern, J. A. & Cassidy, J. (2025). Mattering in childhood: A developmental attachment perspective. In A. W. Kruglanski, I. Prilleltensky, & A. Raviv (Eds.), Routledge International Handbook of Human Significance and Mattering (pp. 15-28). Routledge. doi.org/10.4324/9781003424437-4 

Yucel, N. M., Stern, J. A., Eisen, S., Vaish, A., & Lillard, A. (2025). Heroes, villains, and everything in between: Children’s assessment of morally ambiguous characters. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 256, 106251. doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2025.106251

Cassidy, J., Stern, J. A., Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2025). Mary Main’s concept of conditional strategies: Influences on studies of child-parent and adult romantic attachments. Attachment & Human Development [Special Issue], 27(1), 67–98. doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2024.2426304

Stern, J. A., Bailey, N. A., Costello, M. A., Hellwig, A. F., Mitchell, J., & Allen, J. P. (2024). Empathy across three generations: From maternal and peer support in adolescence to adult parenting and child outcomes. Child Development, 95, 1628-1640. doi.org/10.1111/cdev.14109

Stern, J. A., Bailey, N. B., Costello, M. A., Hazelwood, O. A., & Allen, J. P. (2024). Fathers’ contributions to attachment in adolescence and adulthood: The moderating role of race, gender, income, and residential status. Attachment & Human Development, 26, 325–349.
doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2024.2366391

Stern, J. A., Kelsey, C. M., Yancey, H., & Grossmann, T. (2024). Love on the developing brain: Maternal sensitivity and infants’ neural responses to emotion in the dlPFC. Developmental Science, e13497. doi.org/10.1111/desc.13497

Stern, J. A., Coard, S. I., Barbarin, O. A., & Cassidy, J. (2024). What attachment researchers can learn from research on Black family resilience. Child Development Perspectives, 18, 10–18. doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12492

Stern, J. A., & Grossmann, T. (2024). The neuroscience of social relationships in early development. In M. A. Bell (Ed.), Child development at the intersection of emotion and cognition (2nd ed., pp. 11–30). American Psychological Association. doi.org/10.1037/0000406-00

Pfister, T. A. & Stern, J. A. (2024). Rehumanizing education through relationships: Continuous improvement practices for school staff and leadership. APA Division 15 Practice Brief, 5(3). apadiv15.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Practice-Brief-Rehumanizing-Education.pdf 

Lin, J., Stern, J. A., Allen, J. P., Boker, S. & Coan, J. (2024). Emotional engagement with close friends in adolescence predicts neural correlates of empathy in adulthood. Social Neuroscience, 19.  doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2024.240686

Lin, J., Stern, J. A., Coan, J. A., & Allen, J. P. (2024). Does attachment in adolescence predict neural responses to handholding in adulthood? An fMRI study. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 41, 2276–2296. doi.org/10.1177/02654075241239604

Allen, J. P., Costello, M. A., Hellwig, A. F., & Stern, J. A. (2024). Pathways from adolescent close friendship struggles to adult negative affectivity. Development and Psychopathology. doi.org/10.1017/S0954579423001542

Allen, J. P. Costello, M. A., Pettit, C., Bailey, N. A., & Stern, J. A. (2024). Unique roles of adolescents’ friends and fathers in predicting verbal aggression in future adult romantic relationships. Development and Psychopathology. doi.org/10.1017/S0954579423001670

Allen, J. P., Costello, M. A., Stern, J. A., & Bailey, N. A. (2024). Beyond delinquency and drug use: Links of peer pressure to long-term adolescent psychosocial development. Development and Psychopathology. doi.org/10.1017/S0954579424001482 

Allen, J. P., Pettit, C., Costello, M. A., Hunt, G. L., & Stern, J. A. (2024) A social-development model of the evolution of depressive symptoms from age 13 to 30. Development & Psychopathology, 36, 280–290. doi.org/10.1017/S0954579422001183

Bailey, N. A., Costello, M. A., Stern, J. A., Davis, A. & Allen, J. (2024). Adolescent responses to paternal verbal aggression: Assessing spillover and compensatory processes using random intercept cross-lagged panel models. Journal of Adolescence. doi.org/10.1002/jad.12332

Costello, M.A., Bailey, N.A., Stern, J.A., & Allen, J.P. (2024). Vulnerable self-disclosure co-develops in adolescent friendships: Developmental foundations of emotional intimacy. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 41(9), 2432–2454. doi.org/10.1177/02654075241244821

Dugan, K. A., Fraley, R. C., Jones, J. D., Stern, J. A., Shaver, P. R., Lejuez, C. W., & Cassidy, J. (2024). Coordination of parent and adolescent attachment across time. Developmental Psychology. psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/dev0001835 

Jones, J. D., Fraley, R. C., Stern, J. A., Lejuez, C. W., & Cassidy, J. (2024). Developmental trajectories of adolescent internalizing symptoms and parental responses to distress. Development and Psychopathology. doi.org/10.1017/S0954579424000361

Vlasceanu, M., Doell, K. C., Bak Coleman, J. B., Todorova, B., Berkebile-Weinberg, M. M., Grayson, S. J., Patel, Y., Goldwert, D., Pei, Y., Chakroff, A., … & Van Bavel, J. J. (2024). Addressing climate change with behavioral science: A global intervention tournament in 63 countries. Science Advances, 10, eadj5778. doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adj5778

Stern, J. A., Dunbar, A. S., & Cassidy, J. (2023). Pathways to emotion regulation in young Black children: An attachment perspective. In C. S. Tamis-LeMonda & J. J. Lockman (volume eds.), Advances in Child Development and Behavior, 64: Developmental Cascades, 163–188. doi.org/10.1016/bs.acdb.2022.10.001

Stern, J. A., Kelsey, C. M., Krol, K. M., & Grossmann, T. (2023). Maternal recognition of positive emotion predicts sensitive parenting in infancy. Emotion, 23, 1506–1512. doi.org/10.1037/emo0001125

Whittenburg,* P., Stern,* J. A., Brett, B. E., Straske, M. D., & Cassidy, J. (2023). Maternal depressive symptoms and child behavior problems: Attachment security as a protective factor. Development and Psychopathology, 35, 678–688. doi.org/10.1017/S0954579421001802
*Joint first author with student mentee

Allen, J. P., Costello, M. A., Hellwig, A. F., Pettit, C., Stern, J. A., & Uchino, B. (2023). Adolescent caregiving success as a predictor of social functioning from age 13 to 33. Child Development, 94, 1610–1624. doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13936

Costello, M. A., Allen, J. P., Womack, S., Loeb, E. L., Stern, J. A., & Pettit, C. (2023). Characterizing emotional support development: From adolescent best friendships to young adult romantic relationships. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 33, 389–403. doi.org/10.1111/jora.12809

Gross, J. T., Stern, J. A., Brett, B. E., & Cassidy, J. (2023). Mothers’ attachment style predicts responding to child distress: The role of maternal emotions and attributions. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 32, 876–891. doi.org/10.1007/s10826-022-02517-5

Savell, S., Lee, J., Stern, J. A., & Wilson, M. N. (2023). Exploring the benefits of psychoeducation on college students’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of American College Health. dx.doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2023.2180996

Stern, J. A., Barbarin, O., & Cassidy, J. (Guest Eds.) (2022). Attachment perspectives on race, prejudice, and antiracism: Introduction to the Special Issue. Attachment & Human Development, 24(3), 253–259. doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2021.1976920

Stern, J. A., Barbarin, O. A., & Cassidy, J. (2022). Working toward anti-racist perspectives in attachment theory, research, and practice [Special issue]. Attachment & Human Development, 24(3), 392–422. doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2021.1976933

Stern, J. A., Jones, J. D., Nortey, B., Lejuez, C. W., & Cassidy, J. (2022). Pathways linking attachment and depressive symptoms for Black and White adolescents: Do race and neighborhood racism matter? [Special issue]. Attachment & Human Development, 24(3), 304–321. doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2021.1976924

Brett, B. E., Stern, J. A., Gross, J. T., & Cassidy, J. (2022). Maternal depressive symptoms and preschoolers’ helping, sharing, and comforting: The moderating role of child attachment. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 51, 623-636. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2020.1738235

Chajes, J. R., Stern, J. A., Kelsey, C. M., & Grossmann, T. (2022). Examining the role of socioeconomic status and maternal sensitivity in functional brain network connectivity in 5-month-old infants. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16, 892482. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.892482

Fitter, M. H., Stern, J. A., Straske, M. D., Allard, T., Cassidy, J., & Riggins, T. R. (2022). Mothers’ attachment representations and children’s brain structure. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 16, 740195. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2022.740195

Jones, J. D., Stern, J. A., Fitter, M. H., Mikulincer, M., Shaver, P. R., & Cassidy, J. (2022). Attachment and attitudes toward children: Effects of security priming in parents and non-parents. Attachment & Human Development, 24, 147–168. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2021.1881983

Szwedo, D. E., Stern, J. A., Kansky, J., Lis, E., & Allen, J. P. (2022). Parent and romantic partner behaviors during adolescence as predictors of young adult positive personality, relational competence, and functional independence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 51, 1926–1943. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-022-01641-1

Coffey, J. K., Bond, D. K., Stern, J. A., & Van Why, N. (2022). Sexual experiences and attachment styles in online and offline dating contexts. International Journal of Sexual Health, 34(4), 665-678. https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2022.2110349

Stern, J. A., Costello, M. A., Kansky, J., Fowler, C., Loeb, E., & Allen, J. P. (2021). Here for you: Attachment and the growth of empathic support for friends in adolescence. Child Development, 92, e1326–e1341. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13630

Borelli, J. L., Stern, J. A., Smiley, P. A., Marvin, M. J., Pettit, C., & Samudio, M. (2021). Mentalization and empathy among parents of school-aged children: Charting the space between. Emotion, 21, 783–800. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/emo0000747

Loeb, E., Stern, J. A., Costello, M. A., & Allen, J. P. (2021). With(out) a little help from my friends: Insecure attachment in adolescence, support-seeking, and adult negativity and hostility. Attachment & Human Development, 23, 624–642. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2020.1821722

Stern, J. A., Beijers, R., Ehrlich, K. B., Cassidy, J., & de Weerth, C. (2020). Beyond early adversity: Parenting predicts infants’ physical health in a community sample. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 41, 452–460. http://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000000804

Stern, J. A., Botdorf, M., Cassidy, J., & Riggins, T. (2019). Empathy and hippocampal volume in young children [Special issue]. Developmental Psychology, 55, 1908-1920. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/dev0000684

Ehrlich, K B., Stern, J. A., Eccles, J. S., Dinh, J. V., Hopper, E. A., Kemeny, M. E., Adam, E. K., & Cassidy, J. (2019). A preliminary investigation of attachment style and inflammation in African American young adults [Special issue]. Attachment & Human Development, 21, 57–69. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2018.1541516

Beier, J. S., Gross, J. T., Brett, B. E., Stern, J. A., Martin, D. R., & Cassidy, J. (2019). Helping, sharing, and comforting in young children: Links to individual differences in attachment. Child Development, 90, e273-e289. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13100

Stern, J. A., Fraley, R. C., Jones, J. D., Gross, J. T., Shaver, P. R., & Cassidy, J. (2018). Developmental processes across the first two years of parenthood: Stability and change in adult attachment style. Developmental Psychology, 54, 975–988. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/dev0000481

Stern, J. A., & Cassidy, J. (2018). Empathy from infancy to adolescence: An attachment perspective on the development of individual differences. Developmental Review, 47, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2017.09.002

Cassidy, J., Stern, J. A., Mikulincer, M., Martin, D. R., & Shaver, P. R. (2018). Influences on care for others: Attachment security, personal suffering, and care recipient characteristics. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 44, 574–588. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0146167217746150

Jones, J. D., Fraley, R. C., Ehrlich, K. B., Stern, J. A., Lejuez, C. W., Shaver, P. R., & Cassidy, J. (2018). Stability of attachment style in adolescence: An empirical test of alternative developmental processes. Child Development, 89, 871–880. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12775

Gross, J., Stern, J. A., Brett, B., & Cassidy, J. (2017). The multifaceted nature of prosocial behavior in children: Links with attachment theory and research. Social Development, 26, 661-678. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12242

Cassidy, J., Brett, B. E., Gross, J. T., Stern, J. A., Martin, D. R., Mohr, J., & Woodhouse, S. S. (2017). Circle of Security—Parenting: A randomized controlled trial in Head Start. Development & Psychopathology, 29, 651–673. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579417000244

Stern, J. A., Borelli, J. L., & Smiley, P. A. (2015). Assessing parental empathy: A role for empathy in child attachment. Attachment & Human Development, 17, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2014.969749

Shaver, P. R., Mikulincer, M., Gross, J. T., Stern, J. A., & Cassidy, J. (2016). A lifespan perspective on attachment and care for others: Empathy, altruism, and prosocial behavior. In J. Cassidy & P. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment: Theory, research and clinical applications (3rd ed., pp. 878–916). Guilford Press.

Reaven, J., Washington, L., Moody, E. J., Stern, J. A., Hepburn, S. L., & Blakeley-Smith, A. (2015). Examining the relationship between parental anxiety and treatment response in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and anxiety. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45, 2464–2473. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2410-0

Reaven, J., Blakeley-Smith, A., Beattie, T. L., Sullivan, A. Moody, E. J., Stern, J. A., Hepburn, S. L., & Smith, I. M. (2015). Improving transportability of a CBT intervention for anxiety in youth with ASD: Results from a US–Canada collaboration. Autism, 19, 211–222. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1362361313518124

Stern, J. A., Gadgil, M. J., Blakeley-Smith, A., Reaven, J., & Hepburn, S. L. (2014). Psychometric properties of the SCARED in youth with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 8, 1225–1234. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1362361313518124

Hepburn, S. L., Stern, J. A., Blakeley-Smith, A., Kimel, L. K., & Reaven, J. (2014). Complex psychiatric comorbidity of treatment-seeking youth with autism spectrum disorder and anxiety symptoms. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 7, 359–378. https://doi.org/10.1080/19315864.2014.932476

Isham, E. A., Banks, W. P., Ekstrom, A. D., & Stern, J. A. (2011). Deceived and distorted: Game outcome retrospectively determines the reported time of action. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance, 37, 1458–1469. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/a0023111