Susan D. Stewart · Associate Professor
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Contact Information Department of Sociology 515-294-5912 MA, PhD Bowling Green State University |
Dr Stewart’s area of expertise is family demography, the statistical study of families and households in terms of their formation, dissolution, and change over time. Her research uses large national datasets to examine structural diversity, parent-child relationships, fertility, parental involvement, and child and adult well-being in nontraditional family forms. With funding from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Joint Center for Poverty Research, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Dr. Stewart is investigating race and gender differences in nonresident parental involvement (child support and visitation) and its relationship to children’s well-being, the relationship between food insecurity, family stress, and childhood obesity, eating patterns and obesity among children in nontraditional families, and new stepfamily forms and patterns such as stepchild adoption. Dr. Stewart recently completed her first book, Brave New Stepfamilies: Diverse Paths toward Stepfamily Living (Sage, 2007).
Articles and Links to Dr. Stewart's Research
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"The New Stepfamily", ISU article |
Other Projects
"Fast Food Dads" stereotype a myth according to Iowa State sociologist's research
ISU study finds women expect to care for parents, but few prepare for it
ISU sociologist, stepfamily researcher reports realities of more unmarried women
Study looks at why poor kids are heavy
Stressed mothers may raise fat children: study
