Mona Bekkhus
Mona Bekkhus, førsteamanuensis, UiO
Main content
- Developmental Psychopathology
- Resilience
- Family risks
- Emotional –and behavioral development
My research is focused on developmental psychopathology and how psychosocial risk is associated with emotional and behavioral development in early childhood. I have been interested in how pre- and postnatal family risks influence emotional and behavioral difficulties. Of particular interest in this context are the transactional mechanisms between children’s genetic liabilities and environmental influences that explain the links between behavior problems or emotional difficulties, on the one hand, and child adjustment, on the other hand.
My research also involves how various support systems such as sibling relationship, friendships and group day-care may bring about resilience in children. My research projects involve large-scale longitudinal studies, and focus on trajectories and latent growth curve modeling. I have also collaborated with researchers in Brisbane and Canada examining how sibling relationship influence behavior and peer relationships in Twin children.
Future research aims at understanding the mediating role of the HPA-axis and epigenetic variation in explaining the link between early stressors and emotional/behavioral difficulties. Of particular interest in this context is to understand the role of exposure to stress or adversity during sensitive periods in development.
Contact information: mona.bekkhus@psykologi.uio.no; http://www.sv.uio.no/psi/english/people/aca/monabek/index.html
