Family Resilience and Child Development Lab (FRCD)
Under the direction of Dr. Shaobing Su, the FRCD's mission is to use rigorous research and evidence-based interventions to understand and promote mental health and well-being for children living in adversity, especially those affected by parent-child separation.
Guided by strength-based theories, the FRCD lab uses multiple methods, community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches to identify and address developmental needs of vulnerable children and adolescents in our research. We strive to establish and strengthen research-community partnerships through engaging community efforts and perspectives in research and practice for children and families from communities with greater vulnerability and limited access to mental health resources. We have established trusted partnerships with community organizations and public officials on community-based, family-focused research and interventions. Our long-term goal is to apply our research approaches and evidence-based services to children and families with a history of trauma or adversity, such as children affected by war exposure and children affected by early and prolonged parent-child separation.
The FRCD lab is currently conducting two research projects, detailed below. Their research also includes developing and testing family strengthening interventions (FSI) for children affected by different forms of parent-child separation, including but not limited to immigration-related, trauma-related, or military-related separation. Other projects aim to support separated children and families through improving their family functioning and mental health conditions through community-based, home-visiting programs.
Meet the Team:
Shaobing Su, PhD, MEd
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & FRCD Director
Hehua (Lily) Xu
Research Coordinator I
Xihan Yang, PhD
Postdoc Fellow
Lab Highlights:
Selected Publications (* indicates trainees):
Yang, X.,* Xu, H.,* Bai, R. & Su, S. (2026). “I am a stranger in my family:” A qualitative study of family experiences among separated-reunited Chinese immigrant families during separation and reunification. Race and Social Problems. 18 (16).
Li, R.,* Wu, Y.,* Yang, X.,* & Su, S. (In press). “We had no better choice:” Reasons and Impact of Early and Prolonged Parent-Child Separation in Chinese Immigrant Families. Asian American Journal of Psychology.
Su, S. & Yang, X. (2025). Exploring Culturally Adaptive Definitions and Measurement of Positive Youth Development among Second-generation Chinese American Youth: A Qualitative Study. Youth & Society, 0044118X251344963.
*Yang, X., Graham Holmes, L., Su, S., & Crehan, E. T. (2025). Looking through a cultural perspective: Autistic young adults’ experiences and expectations of sexuality and relationship education in the U.S. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-06831-x
Wang, Y.,* Su, S., Xiao, J., & Lin, D. (2024). Positive character and psychological well-being: A nuanced examination among adolescents from diverse rural–urban and migration contexts. Journal of Research on Adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12409
Xiao, J.,* Su, S., & Lin, D. (2024). Trajectories of peer victimization among left-behind children in rural China: The role of positive school climate. Journal of Research on Adolescence. PMID: 38708834.
Su, S., Wang, E., & Su, S.(2024). Perceived discrimination and multiple indicators of positive development among second-generation Chinese-American youth: The moderating role of ethnic identity. Child: Care Health Development. 50(2):e13251. PMID: 38529762.
Freeman, J. A., Farrar, J. C., Placencio-Castro, M., Desrosiers, A., Brennan, R. T., Hansen, N. B., Akinsulure-Smith, A. M., Su, S., Bangura, J., & Betancourt, T. S. Integrating Youth Readiness Intervention and Entrepreneurship in Sierra Leone: A Hybrid Type II Cluster Randomized Trial. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2024 Jul; 63(7):708-719. PMID: 38143022.
Shen, Z.,* Xiao, J.,* Su, S., Tam, C. C., & Lin, D. Reciprocal associations between peer victimization and depressive symptoms among Chinese children and adolescents: Between- and within-person effects. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2023 08; 15(3):938-956. PMID: 36415123.
Su, S., & Johnson, S. K. (2023). Measuring Positive Development among College Students in the United States: Investigating Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Measurement Invariance across Different Racial Groups. J Pers Assess. 2023 Jul-Aug; 105(4):531-543. PMID: 36129401.
Su, S., Frounfelker, R. L., Desrosiers, A., Brennan R.T., Farrar, J., & Betancourt, T. S. (2021). Classifying childhood war trauma exposure: Latent profile analyses of Sierra Leone’s former child soldiers. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 62 (6), 751-761. PMID: 32860231.
Li, X.,* Su, S., Xiao, J., Zhang, Y., & Lin, D. (2021). Latent profiles and transition of perceived parental control and their relationship with the psychosocial well-being among rural-to-urban migrant adolescents. Applied Psychology, Health and Well Being. 13(3):518-536. PMID: 33844888.
Conferences & Presentations:
Yang, X., Su, S., Li, Y., Kwong, K., Yip, T., Suarez-Orozco, C., & Betancourt, T. (August, 2025). Multilevel Risk and Protective Factors for the Mental Health of Chinese American Youth Affected by Early and Prolonged Parent-child Separation. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
Li, R., Wu, Y., Yang, X., & Su, S. (August, 2025). “We had no better Choice”: Reasons and Impact of Early and Prolonged Parent-Child Separation in Chinese Immigrant Families. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
Mao, W., Song, H., Su, S., Yang, X., & Liu, C. (August 2025). Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) with Parent-child Dyad Research in the Chinese Immigrant Community. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
Su, S., Su, S., Lin D. (2024, June). The Association Between Alcohol Use and High-risk Sexual Behavior Among Vocational High School Students in China, presented in a poster at the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) 2024 Biennial Meeting, Lisbon, Portugal.
Yokoyama, R., Fu, W., Yang, X., Su, S. (2024, June). Mental Health of Separated-reunited Youth “Satellite Babies” in Chinese Immigrant Families: A Qualitative Study with Parent-Child Dyads, presented in a poster at the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) 2024 Biennial Meeting, Lisbon, Portugal.
Su, S.(October 2023). Understanding the Potential Impact of Parent-Child Separation on the Psychosocial Functioning of Children and Families, a Keynote presented at the 6th Interdisciplinary Symposium about Health and Development of Disadvantaged Children. Xinxiang, Henan, China.
Su, S., Desrosiers, A., Antonaccio, C., Brennan, R., & Betancourt, T.S. (June 2022) Effects of Parental Risks and Positive Parenting Practices on Early Child Development among Offspring of Adult War-affected Youth in Sierra Leone. Paper in an invited symposium entitled "Positive Development in Settings of Political Violence and Armed Conflict," presented at the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) Biennial Meeting, Rhodes, Greece.
Xu, H., & Su, S. (April 2024). “I am a stranger in my family:” A qualitative study of family experiences among separated-reunited Chinese immigrant families at the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA) Biennial Meeting, Chicago, IL. Poster
Yokoyama, R., Fu, W., Yang, X., & Su, S. (June 2024). Mental Health of Separated-Reunited Youth “Satellite Babies” in Chinese Immigrant Families: A Qualitative Study with Parent-Child Dyads. Poster presented at the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) Biennial Meeting, Lisbon, Portugal.
Liu, X., Yang, X., & Su, S. (August 2024). Schooling Adaptation among Separated-Reunited Chinese American Youth. Poster presented at the Biennial Meeting of the American Psychological Association (APA), Seattle, WA.
Yu, B., Yang, X., Li, J., & Su, S. Parental Mental Health Following Lengthy Parent-Child Separation: A Mixed-methods Study with Affected Chinese Immigrant Parents. Poster presented at the 2024 Boston College Diversity Challenge Conference; September 2024; Chestnut Hill, MA
Lab News:
Certificate of Merit from the office of New York Assemblyman Lester Chang
- Awarded on April 19, 2025, by New York Assemblyman Lester Chang, this award recognizes the Family Resilience and Child Development Lab’s research contribution to children and families in the Chinese immigrant community in Brooklyn, New York.
Quarterly Newsletter published by FRCD
Research:
Effects of Early and Prolonged Parent-Child Separation: Understanding Mental Health among Separated-Reunited Chinese American Children
Title: Effects of Early and Prolonged Parent-Child Separation: Understanding Mental Health among Separated-Reunited Chinese American Children
Dates: 2024-2025
Funder: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
Grant Number: R00 Award (R00MD017269)
Funding: $10,000
PIs: Shaobing Su, Xihan Yang & Radley Sheldrick
Description:
The project aims to understand the mental health and psychosocial functioning of younger separated-reunited children (ages 8-11) and their experiences across multiple ecological levels (i.e., family, school, and community) during separation and reunification based on quantitative survey data from affected parent-child dyads (N~80) and non-separated dyads (N=~80) in the Chinese immigrant community. We will integrate data of this pilot research and Dr. Su’s R00 data with older separated-reunited children ages 12-17 (~n=150) and their non-separated counterparts (~n=150) and their parents, to address: Aim 1: Examine mental health disparities and risks and resources between separated-reunited children and non-separated children in the younger age group (ages 8-11) and compare their outcomes with older age groups (ages 12-14 and 15-17). Aim 2: Explore the relationships among separation/reunification, risk and protective factors at multiple levels, and separated-reunited children (n~230)’s mental health outcomes. This research allows us to identify service needs and factors that can be integrated into community-based, family-focused interventions for promoting mental health and well-being among different age cohorts of vulnerable and underserved children affected by early and prolonged parent-child separation.
Effects of Early and Prolonged Parent-Child Separation: Understanding Mental Health among Separated-Reunited Chinese American Children
Title: Effects of Early and Prolonged Parent-Child Separation: Understanding Mental Health among Separated-Reunited Chinese American Children
Dates: 2022-2026
Funder: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
Grant Number: K99/R00 Award (K99MD017269 & R00MD017269)
Funding: $896,736
PIs: Shaobing Su
Description:
Early and prolonged parent-child separation due to parental migration or immigration may result in attachment disruption that can threaten the long-term mental health and functioning of affected children, and these risks can persist following reunification and through adulthood. This exploratory sequential mixed-methods research project comprises 3 studies: (1) qualitative interviews with affected children and parents, (2) a quantitative survey, and (3) mixed-methods analysis to understand the mental health impacts, risk/protective factors, and service needs among separated-reunited Chinese American children. This research may deepen understanding of the impact of parent-child separation on child development and the effects of multilevel risk and protective factors. Findings may inform intervention, policy, and practices for separated-reunited Chinese American children as well as other children affected by other forms of separation (e.g., children in institutional settings, children of deployed military members).
Mentoring:
Dr. Su is deeply committed to mentorship. The FRCD lab aims to foster mutually beneficial mentor-mentee relationships in support of the professional development of mentees and achieving productivity in research. Since 2022, many undergraduate and graduate students have sought research opportunities with Dr. Su. In response, Dr. Su has offered a variety of training and mentoring activities, such as research skills workshops and weekly hands-on manuscript and grant writing sessions. These efforts are aimed at developing the research abilities of postdocs, research staff, and student interns, significantly contributing to FRCD's research productivity. Since early 2024, Dr. Su and Xihan have supported the FRCD writing team in the preparation of 7 manuscripts related to an NIH K99 research project. Most of these manuscripts have been led or co-led by undergraduate and graduate trainees.
Graduate and Undergraduate Research Assistants: Jingzhou (Mona) Li, Graduate Research Assistant; HaSeung (Eric) Song, Graduate Research Assistant from Boston College; Wenlan (Ella) Mao, Graduate Research Assistant from Boston College; Ruoying (Amy) Li, Graduate Research Assistant from University of Pennsylvania; Yinan (Lemon) Ding, Undergraduate Research Assistant from Boston College; Yiran (Iris) Li, Undergraduate Research Assistant from Cornell University; and Yaxi (Rena) Fan, Undergraduate Research Assistant from Boston College.
High School and Youth Community Advisors: Jamie Chen, Angelina Weng, Vincent Dong, and Nathan Mai
Lab Alumni: Ruoxi (Rosie) Wang, Risa Yokoyama, Weiyi (Sunny) Fu, Yingying(Quincy) Cai, Saige Xu and Rebecca Liu
Community Collaborations & Services:
The FRCD lab conducts community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) in the Chinese immigrant community. Our current collaborators are primarily non-profit community organizations that provide services to Chinese immigrant/American families in New York City and the surrounding areas, and the greater Boston area.
Community Collaborators
American Chinese Christian Education & Social Services Inc., (ACCESS) Boston, MA
Coalition of Asian-American IPA (CAIPA), NYC, NY
Huaxia Chinese Language Schools, Westchester Community College, NYC, NY
Kwong Kow Chinese School (KKCS), Boston, MA
Parent-Child Relationships (PCR) Association, Brooklyn, NY
Community Advisory Board (CAB)
The lab has established a community advisory board (CAB) to support our research with Chinese immigrant families since 2022. The CAB members include community organization leaders, practitioners, Chinese immigrant parents, and Chinese American youth. We meet quarterly to discuss research materials, sampling plans, research findings, and evidence-based community practices, etc.
- First Community Advisory Board Meeting: Introduction and Plans
- Second Community Advisory Board Meeting: Updates and Recruitment
- Third Community Advisory Board Meeting: Updates and Reflections
- Fourth Community Advisory Board Meeting: Updates and Reflections
- Fifth Community Advisory Board Meeting: Research Progress, Results, and Implications
- Sixth Community Advisory Board Meeting: Recruitment and Data Collection for the Quantitative Survey
Youth Advisory Board (YAB)
The FRCD lab has engaged a group of middle school and high school students from NY and MA in biweekly meetings on research advertisement and recruitment for the NIH-funded projects with Chinese immigrant families with adolescents ages 12-17. The goals of the YAB are to supervise youth in research and involve their assistance with community-based research activities.
Community Services
The lab reaches out to more than 20 community organizations and continues to actively work with multiple community organizations in New York City (NYC) and the Boston area (e.g., Parent-Child Relationship (PCR) Association). The team also participated in a few events organized by these organizations and successfully recruited participants for the study. New collaborations were also built with a few Chinese American community organizations to expand the pool of participants (e.g., Glow Community Center in the Flushing Community in NYC). While the FRCD lab receives support from community organizations and individuals for the recruitment and data collection activities for our research projects with Chinese immigrant families, our team also provides services (e.g., bout parenting and child development, college application guidelines for adolescents) that may interest parents and children in the community. The following events were provided to the community to share helpful resources (e.g., information related to mental health and college applications).
Learn more about the FRCD Lab or Contact Us
Email: frcd@umassmed.edu
Call: 774-514-1978
WeChat: @umass_frcd
