Stephen Chen

My research interests lie at the intersection of clinical, cultural, and developmental areas of psychology. The overarching aim of my research is to examine how cultural and family processes influence mental health and development across the lifespan. I explore this question primarily in under-represented, underserved, and at-risk populations.

One line of investigation examines how experiences in the family context shape our self-regulatory processes. In ongoing research with Chinese American immigrant families, my collaborators and I are examining how acculturation-related stressors (e.g., family acculturation, socioeconomic status) shape children’s self-regulation across home, laboratory, and classroom settings.

A related line of investigation examines culture and emotion socialization in the family context, and their implications for child development. In this area of research, I am particularly interested in how multilingual families use language to express or discuss emotions.

My interests in both research and teaching were shaped significantly by my previous experience as a K-12 school counselor and administrator in Shanghai, China. At Wellesley College, my courses include Asian American Psychology, Cultural Psychology, and a seminar on Culture and Emotion. My goal in teaching and mentorship is to guide students in connecting fundamentals of cultural and developmental psychology to implications for Asian American mental health.

I am a member of the Association for Psychological Science (APS) and the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA). In collaboration with AAPA, I have recently received a pilot grant to develop the AAPA Consortium for Undergraduate Training, a nationwide network of faculty, students, and community organizations dedicated to undergraduate training in Asian American Psychology

I am also an active member of the Society for Research in Child Development, where I am involved in the Asian Caucus, the Teaching Committee, and the Millennium Scholars Program.