Dr. Tara Stoppa is Chair and Professor in the Department of Psychology at Eastern University. Dr. Stoppa teaches courses that focus on human development, personality, professional development, and family issues. Dr. Stoppa’s research interests relate to the study of identity formation during adolescence and emerging adulthood, focusing upon the processes underscoring identity development and the emergence of an adult sense of self and self-in-relation to society. In addition, her work also entails a consideration of both individual and social-level factors (including the contexts of family, peers, community, and institutions) that may either serve to promote or constrain adaptive development in this area. Dr. Stoppa eagerly invites students who are interested in learning more about the research process to consider becoming involved with her on-going program of research in these areas. Dr. Stoppa is also the grateful recipient of multiple teaching awards, including the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching (2020), Eastern University Faculty Member of the Year selected by the graduating class (2015), and the Pennsylvania State University Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award (2008).
Education
Ph.D., Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
M.S., Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
M.S., Clinical Psychology, Millersville University
B.A., Psychology/English, Moravian College
Selected Publications
Szkody, E., Spence, A. , Özdoğru, A., Tushir, B., Chang, F…Stoppa, T. M...& Cascalheira, C. J. (in press). Social support and help-seeking in a changing world. Current Psychology.
Rogers, M. M., Cuccolo, K., McKinney, C., Edlund, J., Grahe, J.E…Stoppa, T. M….& Kalibatseva, Z. (2024).Understanding family dynamics in a cross-cultural sample: A seven-nation study. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 29(2), 140-149. doi:10.24839/2325-7342.JN29.2.140
Cook, C., Demanarig, D., Metviner, S., Stoppa, T. M., Milius, H., Moussa Rogers, M.,… & Zlokovich, M. (2023). Personal need for structure as a protective factor on beliefs and coping with COVID-19: A crowd-sourced multicultural exploration. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 17 (10), 1-15 doi: 10.1111/spc3.12797
Stoppa, T. M. (2022). Social justice development among emerging adult students in college: The influence of families, peers, and religious congregations. The Journal of Moral Education, 52(4), 395-416. doi: 10.1080/03057240.2022.2076659
Sparks, C., & Stoppa, T. M. (2022). Experiences of parents of adult disclosers of child sexual abuse. The Family Journal, 30 (4), 542-549. doi: 10.1177/10664807221104131
Stoppa, T. M. (2016). “Becoming more a part of who I am:” Experiences of spiritual identity formation among emerging adults at secular universities. Religion & Education, 43, 1-26. doi:10.1080/15507394.2016.1235409
Stoppa, T.M. (2015). A Christian integrative perspective on nurturing civic development among emerging adult students. Christian Higher Education: An International Journal of Research, Theory and Practice, 14, 142-157. doi: 10.1080/15363759.2015.1030958
Stoppa, T. M., Espinosa-Hernandez, G., & Gillen, M. (2014). The roles of religiousness and spirituality in the sexual lives of heterosexual emerging adults. In C. Barry and M. Abo-Zena (Eds.) Emerging adults’ religiousness and spirituality: Meaning-making in an age of transition (pp. 186-203). New York: Oxford University Press
Stoppa, T.M., Wray-Lake, L., Syvertsen, A. K., & Flanagan. C. A. (2011). Defining a moment in history: Parental communication with adolescents about September 11th, 2001. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40, 1691-1704. doi:10.1007/s10964-011-9676-0
Flanagan, C. A., Stoppa, T. M., Syvertsen. A. K., & Stout, M. (2010). Schools and social trust. In L. Sherrod, J. Torney-Purta, & C. A. Flanagan (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Civic Engagement in Youth. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley
Stoppa, T. M., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2010). Longitudinal changes in religiosity among emerging adult college students. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 20, 23-38. doi:10.1111/j.1532-7795.2009.00630.x
Lefkowitz, E. S. & Stoppa, T. M. (2006). Positive sexual communication and socialization in the parent-adolescent context. In L. Diamond (Ed.), New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 112, Rethinking positive adolescent female development (pp. 39-56). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Specialties
Adolescent and emerging adult development, psychology of religion/spirituality, family issues