Tanya Whitworth

Tanya Whitworth

Assistant Director, SAARA
Phone: (603) 862-0936
Office: UNH COLA Family Research Lab, 125C McConnell Hall, Durham, NH 03824
Pronouns: She/her/hers

Tanya Rouleau Whitworth, Ph.D., is Assistant Director of the SAARA Initiative. Her research includes the importance of familial and parenting experiences for children’s and adolescents’ well-being. Dr. Whitworth’s work focuses on sibling sexual abuse and barriers to help-seeking for sibling aggression and abuse.

Education

  • Ph.D., Sociology, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Research Interests

  • Sociology
  • Psychology
  • Adolescent Health
  • Adolescent Sexual Behavior
  • Child Abuse/Neglect
  • Child Health
  • Emotional/Mental Health--Child/Adolescent
  • Child/Maternal Health
  • Child Welfare
  • Children/Youth
  • Families
  • Family Violence
  • Sociology of mental health
  • Parent Education

Selected Publications

  • Tucker, C. J., Whitworth, T. R., & Finkelhor, D. (2025). Clarifying labels, constructs, and definitions: Sibling aggression and abuse are family violence. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. doi:

  • Paik, A., Ballakrishnen, S., Silver, C., Boutcher, S., & Whitworth, T. R. (2025). Diverse Disconnectedness: Homophily, Social Capital Inequality, and Student Experiences in Law School. Law & Social Inquiry, 50(1), 90-128. doi:

  • Whitworth, T. R., & Paik, A. (2019). Sex and Education: Does Sexual Debut During Adolescence Lead to Poor Grades?. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 51(2), 81-89. doi:

  • Ide, M. E., Harrington, B., Wiggins, Y., Whitworth, T. R., & Gerstel, N. (2018). Emerging Adult Sons and Their Fathers: Race and the Construction of Masculinity. Gender & Society, 32(1), 5-33. doi:

  • Whitworth, T. R. (2017). Teen Childbearing and Depression: Do Pregnancy Attitudes Matter?. Journal of Marriage and Family, 79(2), 390-404. doi: