Our People

Elizabeth Riina, Ph.D.

Dr. Elizabeth Riina is a post-doctoral Research Scientist at NCCF. She earned her doctoral degree in Human Development & Family Studies from Penn State University, and her B.A. in Brain & Cognitive Sciences from the University of Rochester.  Her research interests focus on family systems and adolescent development, and on the roles of family and socio-cultural contexts for adolescent development and well-being.  Additional interests include studying the risk and protective factors that contribute to family and adolescent development, the interactions between neighborhood and family dynamics, and the development of coparenting relationships. Dr. Riina is involved in the Parenting and Adolescent Risk Behavior in Context and the Neighborhood Context and Adolescent Psychological and Behavioral Health projects.

Selected Publications

Riina, E.M., & McHale, S.M (In press). Adolescents’ experiences of discrimination and parent-adolescent relationship quality:  The moderating roles of sociocultural processes. Journal of Family Issues.

Riina, E. M., & McHale, S. M. (2010). Parents' experiences of discrimination and family relationship qualities: The role of gender. Family Relations, 59, 283-296.


Selected Presentations

Riina, E.M., & McHale, S.M. (2011). Inter-parental incongruence in gender role attitudes, and  longitudinal associations between marital qualities and coparenting in African American families. Paper presented at the annual meeting for the National Center for Family Relations, Orlando, FL.

Riina, E.M., & McHale, S.M. (2011). Longitudinal change in mothers’ and fathers’ coparenting: The role of sociocultural factors. Poster presented at the biennial meeting for the Society for Research on Child Development, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Riina, E. M., & McHale, S. M. (2010, March). Longitudinal change in coparenting during adolescence: Links with family relationships. Poster presented at the biennial meeting for the Society for Research on Adolescence, Philadelphia, PA.

Riina, E.M., & McHale, S.M. (2009, April). Youth discrimination and family relationships: The moderating role of cultural processes. Poster presented at the biennial conference for the Society for Research in Child Development, Denver, CO.

Riina, E.M., & Feinberg, M.E. (April, 2009). Involvement in childrearing and parents ’adjustment: Does involved parenting predict well-being? Poster presented at the Biennial Conference of the Society for Research in Child Development, Denver, CO.

Riina, E.M., & Hernandez, D.C. (April, 2009). Father incarceration and mother and father consensus on coparenting support. Poster presented at the Biennial Conference of the Society for Research in Child Development, Denver, CO.

Riina, E.M., & McHale, S.M. (March, 2008). Links between parents’ experiences of discrimination and family relationship quality. Poster presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Adolescence, Chicago IL.