Postdoctoral Associate

Ashleigh Aviles is a postdoctoral associate for WeCare and Smart Beginnings, as well as research that promotes school readiness and examines the effects of COVID-19 on families with young children living in poverty.  She received her B.A. in Psychology from Columbia University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Sciences from The University of Texas at Austin. Her research focuses on parenting, school readiness, child mental health, social-emotional development, and trauma. She also serves on the Society for Research in Child Development's Teaching Committee and the Student and Early Career Committee.

Featured Works

  • Jacobvitz, D., Aviles, A. I., Reisz, S., & Hazen, N. (2024). Frightening maternal behavior over the first 2 years of life: effects on children’s behavior problems in middle childhood. Attachment & Human Development, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2024.2406289 

  • Aviles, A. I., Betar, S. K., Cline, S. M., Tian, Z., Jacobvitz, D. B., & Nicholson, J. S. (2024). Parenting Young Children During COVID-19: Parenting Stress Trajectories, Parental Mental Health, and Child Problem Behaviors. Journal of Family Psychology, 38(2), 296–308. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0001181 

  • Reisz, S., Aviles, A. I., & Adkins, T. (2023). Foster parents’ history of adverse childhood experiences, adult attachment, and parenting stress. Children and Youth Services Review., 150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107005 

  • Aviles, A. I., Reisz, S., Jacobvitz, D., & Hazen, N. (2022). Maternal experiences of childhood psychological maltreatment: Relations with toddler emotional regulation. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075221074382

  • Aviles, A. I. & Zeifman, D. (2021). Casting a wider net: Parents, pair bonds, and other attachment partners in adulthood. In J. Simpson, R. Thompson, & L. Berlin (Eds.), Attachment: The fundamental questions (pp. 53-59). Guilford Press.