Center on the Family

Selva Lewin-Bizan
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and
Consumer Sciences
Faculty Fellow, Center on the Family

Kuykendall Annex 3
c/o 2515 Campus Road, Miller 110

selva@hawaii.edu
(808) 956-2256

Profile

Dr. Lewin-Bizan has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work and a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology. Her research interests lie at the interface of both disciplines, focusing on children, youth, and families, and social issues that affect them. Her primary research goals are to understand how parents and particularly fathers affect and are affected by their children, and what is the role of social stratification in determining the meaningfulness or effect of father-child relationships. Her work also focuses on sibling relationships.

Degree

Ph. D., Boston College, Developmental Psychology
M. A., University of Chicago, Social Work
B.A., Tel Aviv University, Social Work

Areas of Expertise

Parenting and Father-Child Relationships
Sibling Relationships
Child and Youth Development within the Contexts of Family, School, and Economic Resources

Research and Outreach Projects

A Fatherhood Program in Hawaii: An Evaluation of its Effectiveness in Improving Parenting and Family Relationships. Principal Investigator. Funded by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. 2013-2015.

Courses

Current Courses at UH Manoa:
FamR 332 – Childhood
FamR 444 – Contemporary Family Issues

Courses taught at other institutions:
PY 152 – Human Development Practicum Seminar (Boston College)

Recent Publications

Lerner, J., Bowers, E., Minor, K., Boyd, M., Mueller, M., Schmid, K., Napolitano, C., Lewin-Bizan, S., & Lerner, R. (2013). Positive youth development: Processes, philosophies, and programs. In R. Lerner, A. Easterbrooks, J. Mistry, & I. Weiner (Eds.), Handbook of Psychology, vol. 6 (2nd edition). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons.
Lerner, R. M., Lerner, J., Bowers, E., & Lewin-Bizan, S. (2012). Promoting the positive development of immigrant youth: Towards an applied developmental science research agenda. In A. Masten, K. Liebkind, & D. Hernandez (Eds.), Realizing the Potential of Immigrant Youth. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Coley, R. L., Lewin-Bizan, S., & Carrano, J. (2011). Does early paternal parenting promote low-income children's long-term cognitive skills? Journal of Family Issues, 32(11) 1522–1542
Coley, R. L., Carrano, J., & Lewin-Bizan, S. (2011). Unpacking links between fathers’ antisocial behaviors and children’s behavior problems: Direct, indirect, and interactive effects with harsh parenting. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 39, 791-804.
Mueller, M., Lewin-Bizan, S., & Urban, J. (2011). Youth activity involvement and positive youth development. Advances in Child Development and Behavior, 41, 231-249.
Lerner, R. M., Lerner, J., Lewin-Bizan, S., Bowers, E., Boyd, M., Mueller, M., Schmid, K., & Napolitano, C. (2011). Positive youth development: Processes, programs, and problematic. Journal of Youth Development, 6(3), 40-63.
Lerner, R. M., Lerner J., Bowers, E., Lewin-Bizan, S., Gestsdóttir, S., & Urban, J. (2011). Self regulation processes and thriving in childhood and adolescence: A view of the issues. New Directions in Child and Adolescence Development, 133, 1-9.
Lewin-Bizan, S., Doyle, A., Fay, K., Schmid, K., Lerner, J., & Lerner, R. M. (2010). Trajectories of positive and negative behaviors from early- to middle-adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39(7), 751-753.
Lewin-Bizan, S., Bowers, E., & Lerner, R. M. (2010). One good thing leads to another: Cascades of positive youth development among American adolescents. Development and Psychopathology, 22, 761-772.
Lerner, R. M., Lewin-Bizan, S., & Alberts, A. (2010). Concepts and theories of human development: Historical and contemporary dimensions. In M. H. Bornstein & M. E. Lamb (Eds.), Developmental science: An advanced textbook (6th ed, pp. 3-49). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Urban, J., Lewin -Bizan, S., & Lerner, R. M. (2010). The role of neighborhood ecological assets and activity involvement in youth developmental outcomes: The impact of living in low asset neighborhoods. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39(7), 783-800.
Lerner, R. M., von Eye, A., Lerner, J., Lewin-Bizan, S., & Bowers, E. (2010). The meaning and measurement of thriving: A view of the issues. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39(7), 707-719.
Gestsdóttir, S., Lewin-Bizan, S., von Eye, A., Lerner, J., & Lerner, R.M. (2009). The structure and function of Selection, Optimization, and Compensation in middle adolescence: Theoretical and applied implications. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 30(5), 585-600.
Urban, J., Lewin-Bizan, S., & Lerner, R. M. (2009). The role of neighborhood ecological assets and activity involvement in youth developmental outcomes: Differential impacts of asset poor and asset rich neighborhoods. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 30(5), 601-614.
Lerner, R. M., von Eye, A., Lerner, J., & Lewin-Bizan, S. (2009). Exploring the foundations and functions of adolescent thriving within the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development: A view of the issues. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 30(5), 567-570.