Evelyn Mercado

Evelyn Mercado serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research examines how close relationships influence mental health outcomes in ethnic minority populations, with specialized focus on Latin American families and the impact of stressors like discrimination on parent-adolescent dynamics.

Education

• PhD in Psychology, University of California (2016)

Research Focus

Dr. Mercado employs biopsychosocial frameworks to investigate interpersonal emotion dynamics—including shared physiology and affect—as protective or risk factors for psychological adjustment. Her methodology integrates naturalistic approaches (daily diary studies) with experimental designs, utilizing self-report, observational, and psychophysiological measures such as cortisol assessment. Current work emphasizes how exposure to discrimination impacts youth adjustment through relational pathways.

Publication Trends

Her 15 most recent publications (2019-2025) demonstrate consistent thematic focus on discrimination physiology, family mental health during crises (notably the COVID-19 pandemic), and parent-adolescent stress transmission. Key methodologies include dyadic physiological monitoring and longitudinal assessments, with emerging international collaborations on nutrition-related health disparities in Uganda—though these appear peripheral to her core biopsychosocial research program.

Professional Activities

No information regarding student advising, grant funding, laboratory facilities, or research teams was identified in the source materials. Contact details include email (evemercado@umass.edu), phone (413-545-0781), and office location in Tobin Hall 410 at UMass Amherst.