My research examines contextual and cultural variations in family processes which shape adolescent health and well being. Populations of interest include primarily African American and Latino youth living in low-income, urban communities. Using longitudinal and multi-level data, I explore intersections between gender, race/ethnicity and neighborhood as these relate to variations in the relationship between parenting processes and adolescent health behaviors. I am also interested in the unique developmental pathways from early adolescence to young adulthood for those being raised in poor and near poor urban neighborhods. In this way, I have focused on the nature of youths' independent roles and out-of-school care settings.

I serve on the Editorial Board of Journal of Marriage and Family and teach "Social Ecology of Adolescent Health," a course focused on interactions between diverse social contexts and individuals as associated with adolescent health and well-being.

adolescent adjustment;racial/ethnic minority and immigrant adolescents; low-income, urban families; neighborhood effects; parenting and parent-adolescent relationships

Delta Omega, The Public Health Honorary Society, Alpha Chapter.

The Donald A. Cornely Scholarship Award -- Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health, 1996-1997.

Development Award Research Grant -- Johns Hopkins University Center for Adolescent Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, 1997-1998.

Doctoral Dissertation Grant -- Johns Hopkins University Center for Injury Research and Policy, 1997-1998.

Doctoral Training Fellowship -– Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health, 1994-1998.

Roche, K. M., Ghazarian, S.R., Little, T. D., & Leventhal, T. (in press). Understanding links between punitive discipline and adolescent adjustment: The relevance of context and reciprocal associations. Journal of Research on Adolescence.

Roche, K. M. & Leventhal, T. (in press). Beyond neighborhood poverty: Family management, neighborhood disorder, and adolescents' early sexual onset. Journal of Family Psychology.

Ries A. V., Voorhees C. C., Roche K. M., Gittelsohn J., Yan A. F., & Astone, N. M. (in press). A quantitative examination of park characteristics related to park use and physical activity among urban youth. Journal of Adolescent Health.

Mmari, K. & Roche, K. M., Sudinharest, M., & Blum, R. W. (2009). When a parent goes off to war: Understanding impacts on adolescents and their families. Youth & Society, 40, 455 - 475.

Ries, A.V., Gittelsohn, J., Voorhees, C.C., Roche, K. M., Clifton, K.J., & Astone, N. M. (2008). The environment and urban adolescents’ use of recreational facilities for physical activity: A qualitative study. American Journal of Health Promotion 23, 43-50.

Roche, K. M., Ahmed, S., & Blum, R. W. (2008). The enduring consequences of parenting for risk behaviors from adolescence into early adulthood. Social Science and Medicine, 66, 2023 - 2034.

Ries, A.V., Voorhees, C. C., Gittelsohn, J., Roche, K. M. & Astone, N. M. (2008). Adolescents' perceptions of environmental influences on physical activity. American Journal of Health Behavior, 32, 26 - 39.

Roche, K. M., Ensminger, M. E., & Cherlin, A. (2007). Variations in parenting and adolescent outcomes among African American and Latino families living in low-income, urban areas. Journal of Family Issues, 28, 882 - 909.

Roche, K. M., Astone, N. M. & Bishai, D. (2007). Out-of-school care and youth problem behaviors in low-income, urban areas. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 28, 471-488.

Trent, M., Clum, G., & Roche, K. M. (2007). Effect of sexual victimization on reproductive health outcomes in urban youth. Ambulatory Pediatrics, 7, 313-316.

Roche, K. M., Ensminger, M. E., Ialongo, N., Poduska, J., & Kellam, S. (2006). Early entries into adult roles: Associations with aggressive behavior from adolescence into young adulthood. Youth & Society, 38, 236 - 261.

Roche, K.M., Mekos, D., Alexander, C.S., Astone, N.M., Bandeen-Roche, K., & Ensminger, M.E. (2005). Parenting influences on early sex initiation among adolescents: How neighborhood matters. Journal of Family Issues 26 (1), 32 - 54.

Roche, K. M., Ellen, J., & Astone, N. M. (2005). Effects of out-of-school care on early sex initiation in low-income, central city neighborhoods. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 159, 68 - 73.

Roche, K.M., Ensminger, M.E., Chilcoat, H. & Storr, C. (2003). Establishing independence in low-income urban areas: The relationship to adolescent aggressive behavior. Journal of Marriage and Family 65(3), 668 - 680.

Roche K.M., Webster, D., Alexander, C.S., & Ensminger, M.E. (2003). Neighborhood variations in the salience of family support to boys' fighting. Adolescent and Family Health 3 (2), 55 - 64.

Gittelsohn, J., Roche, K.M., Alexander, C.S., & Tassler, P. (2001). The social context of smoking among African American and white Baltimore City adolescents. Ethnicity and Health. 6(3-4), p. 211 - 225.