Brenda L Volling

Brenda L Volling serves as the Lois Wladis Hoffman Collegiate Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan, with dual appointments in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts and as a Faculty Associate at the Research Center for Group Dynamics (Institute for Social Research).

Her research program centers on family dynamics and child development, with specialized focus on:

• Social-emotional development in infants/toddlers
• Parent-child interaction patterns
• Father-child relationship impacts
• Sibling adjustment after birth transitions
• Parental mental health influences

Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal strong emphasis on father involvement, sibling conflict resolution, and cross-cultural family dynamics, often employing longitudinal and meta-analytic methodologies across developmental psychology and family studies disciplines.

Dr. Volling actively mentors students and post-doctoral fellows while leading the Family Transitions Study—a NICHD and Fetzer Foundation-funded longitudinal project examining postpartum family adaptation. Her collaborative work spans international institutions with practical applications for parenting interventions and clinical practice.