Katherine Conger Professor of Human and Community Development
Katherine Conger received her degree in Sociology from Iowa State
University in 1993. Her research focuses on the quality and
course of sibling relationships; interpersonal processes in
families emphasizing the linkages between family stress and
adolescent adjustment; and observational research methods.
After decades of studying dysfunction and maladjustment, social
and behavioral scientists have begun to recognize the importance
of environmental⁄ contextual and dispositional factors that
promote or facilitate healthy development. Researchers consider
the interface between socioeconomic status (SES) and markers of
healthy functioning across multiple generations of family
members, focusing on positive development in order to offer
alternative pathways for interventions and programs focused on
promotion of resilience under stressful conditions.
