Research Interests and Publications:

Why do some children grow up to be well-adjusted adolescents and others do not? This question lies at the crux of Dr. Mendle's research, which investigates the mechanisms by which normal developmental processes go awry.  Her work particularly concentrates on pubertal development, and why it may hold more resonance and present more of a stumbling block for some children compared to others. By looking at puberty in the context of a larger development continuum, Dr. Mendle investigates how early childhood risks relate to pubertal development, as well as how individual differences at puberty predict adolescent adjustment.  

Dr. Mendle is not accepting new students.

Selected Publications:

Mendle, J., Level, L.D., van Ryzin, M., Natsuaki, M.N., & Ge, X.  Associations between early life stress, child maltreatment, and pubertal development in foster care girls.  In press, Journal of Research on Adolescence.

Mendle, J., Harden, K.P., Brooks-Gunn, J., & Graber, J.A. (2010).  Development’s tortoise and hare: pubertal timing, pubertal tempo, and depressive symptoms in boys and girls.  Developmental Psychology, 46, 1341-1353.

Mendle, J., Harden, K.P., Turkheimer, E., van Hulle, C., D'Onofrio, B.M., Brooks-Gunn, J., Rodgers, J.L., Emery, R.E., & Lahey, B.B. (2009). Associations between father absence and age of first sexual intercourse. Child Development, 80, 1463-1480.

Mendle, J., Turkheimer, E., & Emery, R.E. (2007). Detrimental psychological outcomes associated with early pubertal timing in adolescent girls. Developmental Review, 27, 151-171.

Mendle, J., Turkheimer, E., D'Onofrio, B.M., Lynch, S.K., Emery, R.E., Slutske, W., & Martin, N.G. (2006). Family structure and age at menarche: a children of twins approach. Developmental Psychology, 42, 533-542.