Paul Robbins

Areas of Expertise

• Health and educational disparities; Black individuals and families; adolescent development; youth development in sports; fatherhood

HHS Signature Research Area(s)

• Developmental Health and Wellness

Department of Human Development and Family Science Research Area(s)

• Culture and Diversity
• Health and Well-Being

Biography

I joined the Purdue HDFS faculty in 2022 after completing graduate training at The University of Texas at Austin and postdoctoral research appointments at Duke University. I am a developmental scientist who investigates the psychosocial processes by which context, culture, and identity mitigate or exacerbate inequitable health and educational outcomes at various life stages. Specifically, my work examines the developmental contexts and consequences of participation in families, sports, and religious institutions to identify mechanisms that ensure optimal wellbeing within these spaces. I have expertise in elucidating domains of developmental diversity in adolescence and understanding strategies for fostering resilience, particularly in Black youth, families, and communities.

Accepting graduate student applications for the December 1, 2023 deadline.

Education

• PhD, 2015, The University of Texas at Austin

Current Courses

• HDFS 313 - Adolescent Development

Selected Publications

• Robbins, P. A., Scott, M. J., Conde, E., Daniel, Y., Darity, W. A., & Bentley-Edwards, K. L. (2021). Gender and denominational differences in hypertension among African American Christian young adults. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 8(5), 1332-1343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-020-00895-4
• Bentley-Edwards, K. L., Robbins, P. A., Blackman Carr, L. T., Smith, I. Z., Conde, E., & Darity, W. A. (2021). Denominational differences in obesity among Black Christian adults: Why gender and life stage matter. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 60(3), 498-515. https://doi.org/10.1111/jssr.12722
• Robbins, P. A., Bentley-Edwards, K. L., Blackman Carr, L. T., Conde, E., Van Vliet, R.*, & Darity, W. A. (2020). Shades of Black: Gendered denominational variation in depression symptoms among Black Christians. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000398
• Robbins, P. A., Bentley-Edwards, K. L., Blackman Carr, L. T., Conde, E., Van Vliet, R., & Darity, W. A. (2020). Shades of Black: Gendered denominational variation in depression symptoms among Black Christians. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000398
• Robbins, P. A., & Bentley-Edwards, K. L. (2020). Message received? The effect of academic socialization on NCAA athletes’ grades. Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics. http://csri-jiia.org/wpcontent/ uploads/2020/12/RA_2020_19.pdf