Elian Fink

Dr. Elian Fink is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex, focusing on developmental psychology and child social development. His research explores socio-cognitive antecedents of peer relationships, bullying behavior across neurotypical and neurodivergent groups, and parental influences on children’s social competencies. He holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Sydney and has held academic roles including Senior Research Associate at the University of Cambridge and Visiting Scholar at the Centre for Family Research.

Dr. Fink’s work is funded by grants such as the ESRC’s 'School Readiness: Connecting Viewpoints on Child and Family Well-being' and the LEGO Foundation’s study on children’s relationships through play. His research emphasizes longitudinal studies, cross-cultural comparisons, and collaborations with institutions like the Centre for Family Research and PEDAL at the University of Cambridge.

Teaching interests include the Psychology of Childhood, Developmental Psychology, and Children’s Peer Relationships. He advises undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students, with drop-in hours for academic support.

Key research themes include:

• Socio-cognitive foundations of peer relationships
• Bullying behaviors and neurodiversity
• Parenting and language environments in early childhood
• School readiness and well-being across cultures

Recent studies investigate links between spatial language and numeracy, mental health trends during the pandemic, and cross-cultural validation of child well-being measures.