Recent Peer-reviewed journal articles: (* denotes student):

1)    Zhang, L., Wang, Y., & Berger, L. M. (in press). State-Based Eviction Moratoria and Child Maltreatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Pediatrics, e2024068174. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-068174

2)    Jonson-Reid, M., Ballard, E., Wang, S., Zhang, L., Ahn, E., Allen, K., … & Dvalishvilli, D. (in press). Creating a public facing dynamic literature map to advance the science in child maltreatment. Children and Youth Services Review, 108271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108271

3)    Zhang, L., Liu, Y., & Jonson-Reid, M. (2025). Early childhood income instability and mental health in adolescence: Parenting stress and child maltreatment as mediators. Child Maltreatment, 30(1), 55-67. https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595241236389

4)    Wang, Y., Ehrenthal, D. B., & Zhang, L. (2025). Distinct trajectories of prescription opioid exposure in pregnancy and risk of adverse birth outcomes. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 19(1), 53-61. https://doi.org/10.1097/adm.0000000000001374

5)    Graaf, G., Zhang, L. & Simmel, C. (2024). States’ use of Medicaid Waivers for children with behavioral health needs is associated with lower rates of voluntary child welfare placements. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-024-00998-5

6)    *Diaz, B. A., Pugel, J., *Phutane, A., Zhang, L., Green, L., *Hoffman, J., Long, E. C., Crowley, M., & Taylor Scott, J. (2024). Use of research evidence in U.S. federal policymaking: A reflexive report on intra-stage mixed methods. Evaluation and Program Planning, 106, 102469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2024.102469

7)    Zhang, L., Shimizu, R., Zhang, Y., & Simmel, C. (2023). Early childhood income instability, food insecurity, and adolescents’ behavioral health. Family Relations, 72(3), 1186–1200. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12727

8)    *Golden, K. E., Zhang, L., & Simmel C. (2023). Examining the roles of rurality and Latine ethnic density on child maltreatment report and substantiation rates among Latine families: A county-level analysis. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 18(2), 309–337.https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2023.2193555

9)    Helton, J. J., *Ju, S., *Iwinski, S. J., & Zhang, L. (2023). The effect of adverse childhood experiences on family mealtime frequency: Examining racial and ethnic differences. Journal of Family Psychology, 37(6), 796–805.https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0001107

10) Wang, Y., Zhang, L.,& Zhai, F. (2023). Spanking and parental verbal aggression during early childhood: Association with later cognitive development and the mediating role of executive functions. Infant and Child Development, 32(5), e2446.https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.2446

11) Zhang, L., Simmel, C., & Nepomnyaschy, L. (2022). Income inequality and child maltreatment rates in US counties, 2009–2018. Child Abuse & Neglect, 130, 105328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105328

12) Zhang, L., Nepomnyaschy, L., & Simmel, C. (2022). So close yet so different: Neighborhood inequality and child maltreatment. Child Abuse & Neglect, 130, 104988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.104988

13) Zhang, L., & Han, W.-J. (2022). Multidimensional poverty and children’s behavioral trajectories in immigrant families: Beating the odds? Children and Youth Services Review, 139, 106534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106534

14) Han, W.-J., & Zhang, L. (2022). Precarious parental employment conditions and family poverty experiences in the first six years of a child’s life. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 31, 1106–1120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-02154-4

15) Zhang, L., Zhang, L., & Testa, A. (2022). Childhood adversity and risky behaviors among Chinese rural young adults: the mediation effect of perceived stress and moderation effect of social support. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(20), 13194. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013194

16) *Greenfield, B., Zhang, L., & Simmel, C. (2022). Exploring State Level Factors Associated with Short-Stays in Child Welfare: The Role of Systemic Risk and Surveillance. Child Maltreatment. https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595221104826

17) *Getz, Z., Simmel, C., Zhang, L., & *Greenfield, B. (2022). “Short-stayers” in child welfare: Characteristics and system experiences. Children and Youth Services Review, 138, 106531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106531

18) Zhang, L., & Han, W.-J. (2021). Childhood deprivation experience, family pathways, and socioemotional functioning. Journal of Family Psychology, 35(2), 213–224. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000811

19) Zhang, L., Bo, A., & Lu, W. (2021). To unfold the immigrant paradox: Maltreatment risk and mental health of racial-ethnic minority children. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, 103. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.619164

20) Bo, A., Zhang, L., Lu, W., & Chen, D. (2021). Moderating effects of positive parenting on the perceived peer alcohol use and adolescent alcohol use relationship: Racial, ethnic, and gender differences. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 1-16.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-021-00780-x

21) Tsai, W., Zhang, L., Park, J. S., Tan, Y. L., & Kwon, S. C. (2021). The importance of community and culture for the recruitment, engagement, and retention of Chinese American immigrants in health interventions. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 11(9), 1682-1690.https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibab053

22) Mao, X., Zhang, L., & Liu, Y. (2021). Stressors and subjective well-being among Chinese older adults: Uncovering the buffering roles of social support patterns. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 52(10), 78-98. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022120977042 

23) Zhang, L., & Han, W. J. (2020). Uncovering multidimensional poverty experiences in shaping children’s socioemotional trajectories during the first 6 years of schooling. Family Process, 59(4), 1837-1855. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12530

24) Zhang, L. (2020). A latent class analysis of multifaceted economic experience and socioemotional well-being of children of immigrants. Developmental Psychology, 56(9), 1736-1749. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001075

25) Zhang, L., & Han, W. J. (2017). Poverty dynamics and academic trajectories of children of immigrants. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(9), 1076. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14091076

26) Han, W. J., Siegel, J., & Zhang, L. (2017). The response to rural-to-urban migration and other life stressors in Shanghai: Effects on physical and psychological well-being among parents of young children. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 8(3), 248-258. https://doi.org/10.1037/aap0000083 

Policy Briefs and Reports:

1)    Zhang, L. (2023). The intersection of income inequality and child maltreatment. Public Health Post. https://publichealthpost.org/health-equity/the-intersection-of-income-inequality-and-child-maltreatment/