Melinda Gonzales-Backen

Melinda Gonzales-Backen's research focuses on the psychosocial well-being of Latinx youth and families. Specifically, she is interested in how cultural stressors (e.g., discrimination, acculturative stress, etc.), cultural strengths (e.g., ethnic identity, familial ethnic socialization, etc.), adolescent development, and family processes intersect to predict adolescent adjustment in the areas of self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and substance use.  Dr. Gonzales-Backen earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Arizona and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University.