Peggy Keller

Dr. Peggy Keller is Associate Professor in Developmental, Social, and Health Psychology at the University of Kentucky. Her research examines developmental psychopathology pathways, focusing on how family stress (particularly parental problem drinking) impacts child emotional and behavioral adjustment. Her work integrates physiological measures of stress reactivity with observational and longitudinal methods to identify risk and resilience mechanisms.

Current projects investigate neurobehavioral consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure, intergenerational transmission of drinking behaviors, and family processes affecting emotion regulation development. Her lab employs diverse methodologies including autonomic nervous system monitoring, behavioral observation, and longitudinal cohort studies.

Recent publications explore pandemic impacts on family relationships, parenting practices in context of grandparent caregiving, and neurodevelopmental outcomes of substance exposure, demonstrating consistent focus on family stress pathways to child psychopathology.