About

Annabelle Atkin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Purdue University. Her primary research interests focus on the development of Multiracial and Asian American adolescents and young adults. She is interested in understanding processes and experiences that serve as risk and resilience factors, such as socialization, identity, exclusion, and family relationships, and how these factors interact to affect health and well-being. Dr. Atkin runs the ARISE lab, which involves undergraduate and graduate research assistants to study these topics, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods, and developing measures to assess important constructs specific to these populations. In addition to her research, Dr. Atkin serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Research on Adolescence. She has received several honors, including the Early Career Award from the Society for Research on Child Development Asian Caucus in 2025, the Early Career Contributions to Research Award from the Asian American Psychological Association in 2023, and the Kinley Trust Award in 2023. Her educational background includes a PhD from Arizona State University in 2020 and a BA from the University of Connecticut in 2012.

Research topics

• Sociology
• Psychology
• Social psychology
• Political Science
• Gender studies
• Developmental psychology
• Anthropology
• Linguistics
• History
• Law
• Geography
• Demography

Selected publications

• Validation of the Multiracial Youth Socialization Brief ( <scp>MY</scp> ‐Soc‐B) Scale with adolescents

  Journal of Research on Adolescence · 2026-01-09

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract The present study validates a brief version of the Multiracial Youth Socialization Scale, the MY‐Soc‐B, which assesses Multiracial youths' experiences of receiving messages from their caregivers about race and culture. Using a sample of 318 diverse Multiracial American adolescents ( M age = 16.01; SD = 1.30), the original 62 items were reduced to 24 items via an examination of confirmatory factor analyses and conceptual clarity and fit of item content. The model fit strongly supported retaining the eight‐factor structure from the original full version. Validity and reliability of the eight subscales (i.e., navigating multiple heritages, Multiracial identity socialization, preparation for monoracism, negative socialization, race‐conscious socialization, diversity appreciation socialization, colorblind socialization, and silent socialization) were largely supported, with 20/24 correlations between the MY‐Soc‐B subscales and racial‐ethnic identity resolution, affirmation, and exploration replicating associations found with the original 62‐item MY‐Soc Scale.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Gendered Racial Socialization Scale for Asian American women: Initial development and validation.

  Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology · 2026-02-26

  article

  OBJECTIVE: Asian American women receive unique socialization messages about their race and gender, also known as gendered racial socialization (Ahn et al., 2022). Using an intersectional approach, we developed and validated the Gendered Racial Socialization Scale for Asian American Women. METHOD: Our sample included 737 Asian American women who completed an online survey. RESULTS: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses suggested a seven-factor scale: filial piety socialization, preparation for bias and empowerment, beauty ideals, racialized dating socialization, traditional gender role socialization, disengagement with discrimination, and purity socialization. Convergent validity was demonstrated through associations with gender and racial socialization. Discriminant validity was established through weak or nonsignificant correlations with impression management. Most subscales were associated with self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and body shame, demonstrating criterion validity. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that this scale can be used for researchers, clinicians, and families to better understand the gendered racial messages that Asian American women receive while growing up and their impact on psychological well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

  PublisherDOI

• Women’s Microaggressions Scale

  PsycTESTS Dataset · 2025-01-01

  datasetSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Family Matters: Examining Family Racial Identity Invalidation Among Biracial People

  Race and Social Problems · 2025-09-18 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract A common racial stressor for Multiracial people is racial identity invalidation: the experience of having one’s racial identity denied by others. This preregistered, exploratory study investigated Biracial people’s experiences of identity invalidation within a family setting. We used a sample of 383 Biracial adults ( M age = 21.3, SD = 5.8; 72.3% female; 25.8% male; 1.9% transgender/gender non-conforming) to examine the frequency of family racial identity invalidation, its associations with family relations and psychosocial well-being, and characteristics of family members who perpetrated invalidation. Nearly half of participants reported racial identity invalidation from at least one family member, and this rate did not differ between Biracial subgroups (Asian-White, Latine-White, Black-White, Black-Minority, Other minority-White). Within the Latine-White subgroup, family invalidation was negatively associated with family relations and psychosocial well-being. Participants across all subgroups reported experiencing invalidation more frequently from extended family members (e.g., grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc.), compared to immediate family members. However, participants reported invalidation from White and racial minority relatives at similar frequencies. These findings emphasize the salience of extended family members in understanding Multiracial people’s experiences of racial identity invalidation. This study also highlights the need for further research on specific Multiracial subgroups, particularly among Latine-White people.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Individual and Familial Risk and Promotive Factors for Substance Use Among Multiracial American Young Adults

  Substance Use & Misuse · 2025-01-12 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: Multiracial American adults have the highest rates of binge drinking and illicit drug use of all racial groups, yet little is known about the risk and promotive factors that contribute to their substance use. OBJECTIVES: = 19.87). RESULTS: Findings suggested that Multiracial young adults who reported higher scores on perceived racial ambiguity, self-esteem, and depression had a higher likelihood of drinking to feel drunk and binge drinking, while more family cohesion with their first primary caregiver was associated with a lower likelihood of drinking to feel drunk. Perceived racial ambiguity was also associated with a higher likelihood of illicit drug use, while family cohesion with their second primary caregiver was associated with a lower likelihood of illicit drug use. Multiracial young adults with White ancestry were more likely to drink to feel drunk than Multiple Minority Multiracials, but there were no differences between groups in binge drinking or illicit drug use. CONCLUSIONS: In sum, the unique racialized experiences, mental health, and family relationships of Multiracial Americans may play a role in substance use.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Discrimination and racial socialization profiles: Associations with Asian American adolescent attachment, activism, and self-esteem.

  Journal of Family Psychology · 2025-01-13

  articleSenior author

  Theory and research suggest that racial discrimination is associated with attachment insecurity (Stern et al., 2022), whereas racial socialization is an integral aspect to fostering secure attachment with parents (Coard, 2022; Dunbar, Lozada, et al., 2022). In addition, with greater attachment security, people of color are more likely to deal with threats more effectively (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2022). The present study tested these theories by examining (a) latent profiles of racial discrimination experiences and racial socialization messages and (b) whether the latent profiles were related to secure attachment with parents and in turn, activism and self-esteem among Asian American adolescents. The sample included 301 Asian American adolescents who completed an online survey. There were three profiles: (a) high discrimination, high interpersonal racial socialization, moderate systemic racial socialization; (b) moderate discrimination, moderate interpersonal, and systemic racial socialization; and (c) low discrimination, low interpersonal, and systemic racial socialization. Adolescents in the high discrimination, high interpersonal racial socialization, moderate systemic racial socialization profile were more likely to engage in activism. Adolescents in the moderate discrimination, moderate interpersonal, and systemic racial socialization profile were also more likely to engage in greater activism through secure attachment to fathers. Although there were no differences among the profiles and self-esteem, secure attachment with both mothers and fathers was related to greater self-esteem. Findings highlight the importance of racial socialization and secure attachment with fathers in bolstering Asian American adolescents' fight for racial justice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

  PublisherDOI

• A Mixed Methods Study of Attitudes Toward Affirmative Action, Colorblindness, and White Privilege Among White Women College Students in the US

  Race and Social Problems · 2025-12-11

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract This study seeks to address the research question: What are U.S. White women college students' attitudes toward race-conscious affirmative action policy in college admissions since the 2023 Supreme Court ruling, and how do they relate to their racial attitudes? We qualitatively examined participants’ reasoning behind their opinions on the consideration of race as a factor in college admissions. In addition, we quantitatively examined the differences in participants’ attitudes toward race-conscious admissions based on their colorblind racial attitudes and White privilege attitudes. 159 White women undergraduates from a rural Midwestern university between the ages of 18 and 23 ( M age = 19.70; SD = 1.11) were recruited from a required diversity course at the start of the semester. They responded to survey items and short answer questions. Seven qualitative themes were identified, with the most highly endorsed being “only merit should be considered,” “considering race for equity,” and “considering race is unfair.” Short answer responses were also coded into categories to represent their support of/opposition to affirmative action for use in t-tests with racial attitude measures. Almost half of participants (48.4%) opposed the consideration of race in college admissions, while a little more than a third (37.1%) were in support. Quantitative results suggested that those in support reported lower scores on colorblind racial attitudes, and higher scores on awareness of White privilege and willingness to confront White privilege than those who reported opposing using race/ethnicity in admissions. This study has implications for how students are educated about race and racism.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Women’s Microaggressions Scale (WoMenS): A Comprehensive Sexism Scale

  The Counseling Psychologist · 2025-01-10

  articleSenior author

  Sexism is pervasive but often manifests as microaggressions against women, which are subtle, covert forms of gender discrimination. Thus, we developed the Women’s Microaggressions Scale (WoMenS) based on an existing theoretical taxonomy and content analysis of social media data. Two separate studies were conducted for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). EFA supported an eight-factor, correlated structure and CFA supported a bifactor model, with eight specific factors and one general WoMenS factor. Overall, reliability and validity of the WoMenS were mostly supported in two samples. Specifically, the WoMenS subscales and body surveillance were positively correlated; the general WoMenS was positively correlated with anxiety, depression, body surveillance, and another measure of sexism but not life satisfaction. Furthermore, general WoMenS explained variance in anxiety and body surveillance above and beyond that explained by an existing sexism measure.

  PublisherDOI

• Diversity in Education Study (DivES): Investigating a neurodiversity module in higher education

  PLoS ONE · 2025-07-21 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Roughly 20% of adults identify as neurodivergent - an umbrella term used to describe cognitively atypical individuals. Neurodivergent identities manifest in several forms including autism, attention dysregulation hyperactivity disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, and other cognitively atypical trajectories. Despite a societal increase in acknowledgment and awareness of neurodiversity, there remains little to no discussion or critical understanding of neurodivergent individuals, especially within the realm of higher education (HE). The aim of this study, as part of the Diversity in Education Study (DivES), is to explore the impact of a neurodiversity-focused module within the college classroom. This study included 153 students (predominantly female, heterosexual, third-year students, with white/European racial heritage); wherein, a neurodiversity-focused module was taught within the context of an undergraduate course on diversity. Pre (start of the term) and post (end of the term) surveys were compared to evaluate the impact of the module on student understanding of the term neurodiversity, self-endorsements of a neurodivergent identity, and critical consciousness of ableism. In sum, the neurodiversity-focused module increased neurodiversity awareness and self-endorsements but did not positively shift critical consciousness of ableism scores. Replication in larger and more diverse samples is needed before pedagogy recommendations may be solidified but this study provides preliminary support for the incorporation of a neurodiversity module within diversity-focused HE courses.

  PublisherDOI

• Racism, Attachment Styles, and Mental Health among Asian American Adolescents

  The Counseling Psychologist · 2024-10-21

  articleSenior author

  Theory suggests that a secure base can moderate the effects of racism on mental health outcomes among people of Color (Mikulincer &amp; Shaver, 2022). Thus, the current study tested this hypothesis with a sample of 301 Asian American adolescents who completed a 25-minute online survey. Two hierarchical multiple regression models examined whether secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment with mothers and fathers moderated the link between racism and mental health. We found that when Asian American adolescents reported frequent experiences of racism, secure attachment with fathers was not enough to mitigate the effects of racism. Specifically, simple slopes indicated that at high and moderate levels of secure attachment with fathers, adolescents reported slightly better mental health with few racism experiences but indicated a slight decrease in mental health with frequent racism experiences. Findings highlight the importance of dismantling racial discrimination to support Asian American adolescents’ mental health.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Hyung Chol Yoo

  17 shared

• Abigail K. Gabriel

  11 shared

• N. Keita Christophe

  McGill University

  8 shared

• Christine S. Wu

  Oberlin College

  8 shared

• Richard M. Lee

  University of Minnesota

  6 shared

• Gabriela L. Stein

  The University of Texas at Austin

  5 shared

• Kelly Jackson

  4 shared

• Alisia G. T. T. Tran

  Arizona State University

  4 shared

Awards & honors

• Early Career Award, Society for Research on Child Developmen…
• Asian American Psychological Association Early Career Contri…
• Kinley Trust Award - March, 2023
• Center for Families Burkhart Fellowship - March, 2022