Dawn DeLay
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Phone: 480-965-2740
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Mail code: 7203Campus: Tempe
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Dawn DeLay is a developmental psychologist whose research examines how social relationships and social environments shape development, adjustment, and well-being. Her work focuses particularly on peer relationships, social networks, identity, group processes, and social influence, with an interest in understanding how relationships form and change and how individuals and their social environments influence one another over time.
A central theme of her research is understanding how the structure and quality of social environments contribute to healthy development. Her work has examined peer relationship formation and influence, identity and intergroup processes, school and developmental transitions, classroom social ecologies, and interventions designed to promote healthier peer relationships and social environments.
Methodologically, DeLay uses a range of quantitative approaches and has particular expertise in longitudinal social network methods. Her methodological interests include advanced longitudinal, multilevel, and network approaches for understanding individuals embedded within changing social environments.
Her current and emerging research extends this work toward broader questions about social connection, belonging, and well-being across developmental and life transitions, including how changing and technology-mediated social environments shape human relationships and connection. Her longer-term research seeks to identify ways of structuring social environments to foster healthy relationships, connection, and well-being.
- Postdoc Training, School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, 2014
- Ph.D. Developmental Psychology, Florida Atlantic University 2013
- M.A. Developmental Psychology, Florida Atlantic University 2011
- B.A. Psychology, Pittsburg State University, 2006
Note. 1Postdoctoral research associate, 2Graduate student, 3Undergraduate student; † Denotes equal contribution made
Published or In Press Empirical Studies
Peng, A.1, Xiao, S. X., Martin, C. L., Hanish, L. D., & DeLay, D. (2026). Exploring the role of gender similarity in school connection among pre-adolescents: Feeling similar to at least one gender collective matters. Social Psychology of Education, 29(1), 70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-026-10243-9
Xiao, S.X., Peng, A.1, Martin, C. L., DeLay, D. (2026). The Power of Peers: Children’s Gender-Based Peer Interactions and Cognitions Contribute to Changes in Their Felt Gender Similarity Over a Year. Sex Roles, 92(8), 7-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-025-01639-6
Carter, C. R., Kaufmann, L., DeLay, D., & Korde, R. 2. (2025). Trust in buyer-supplier new product development teams increases advice-seeking—But do birds of a feather flock together? Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 31(5), Article 101035. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pursup.2025.101035
*Recognized as a 2025 Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management Best Paper Finalist.
Martin, C. L., Xiao, S. X., DeLay, D. Fabes, R., Hanish, L. D., & Oswalt, K. (2025). Differing gender diverse children have differing experiences with same‐and other‐gender peers. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 43(2), 376-395. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12500
Scrofani, S.2, Martin, C. L., Lindstrom Johnson, S., Low, S., & DeLay, D. (2025). A review of research on the school climate of transgender middle and high schoolers: An ecological-transactional approach. Journal of School Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2025.101459
Xiao, S. X., Ren, H.2, Halim, L. M., Martin, C. L., DeLay, D., Fabes, R. A., Hanish, L. D., & Oswalt, K. (2025). A longitudinal examination of children’s friendships across racial status and gender and their intergroup prosocial behavior. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672251321014
Bukowski, W. M., Lopez, L., M., Commisso, M.2, DeLay, D., & Lopez, L.S. (2024). Historical and Contextual Variations in the Association Between Gender Role Adherence and Well-Being: Revisiting an Early Essay from the Merrill-Palmer Quarterly. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly 70(2), 169-188. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/mpq.2024.a954128.
Kiuru, N.†, DeLay, D. †, Tervahartiala, K., Polet, J., & Hirvonen, R. (2024). Friend influence and susceptibility to influence on emotions toward math: The role of adolescent temperament. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 94, 1161-1176. doi: 10.1111/bjep.12710
Nielson, M. G.1, Martin, C. L., England, D. E., Hanish, L. D., Santos, C. E., DeLay, D., Updegraff, K. A., & Rogers, A. A. (2024). Patterns of Gender Development Across Intersections of Age, Gender, and Ethnicity-Race. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 53, 1793-1812. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-024-02824-6
Martin, C. L., Xiao, S. X.1, Fabes, R. A., Hanish, L. D., DeLay, D., & Oswalt, K. (2024). Are Coeducational Classes Truly Coeducational? Elementary School Journal, 124, 000-000. https://doi.org/10.1086/728674.
DeLay, D., Kaniušonytė, G. & Žukauskienė, R. (2023). The Social Dynamics of Fun: Can Fun Youth Bring Peers Together and Positively Influence Their Friends? Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 53, 386-396. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01876-6
Jenkins, D. L.2, Hoffer, A. L.2 & DeLay, D. (2023) The Association Between Masculinity Ideology and Sexism: The Role of Sexual Orientation Among Heterosexual and Bisexual Women. Journal of Bisexuality, doi: 10.1080/15299716.2023.2285059
Xiao, S. X.†, Martin, C. L.†, Fabes, R. A., Oswalt, K., Hanish, L. D., & DeLay, D. (2023). Reducing the Math and Language Arts gender gaps in elementary school students through gender integration. Learning and Individual Differences, 108, 102380. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2023.102380
DeLay, D., Shen, M.2, Cook, R. E.2, Zhao, S.1, Logis, H. & French, D. (2023). Peers influence the tobacco and alcohol use of Chinese adolescents. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 33, 591-602. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12828
Granger, K. L.2, Hanish, L. D., Abry, T., DeLay, D., & Bradley, R. H. (2023). Teachers’ Depressive Symptoms and Teacher-Child Conversation Quality in Early Childhood Classrooms. Early Education and Development, 34, 1850-1871. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2023.2229714
Shen, M.2, DeLay, D., Purwono, U., & French, D. C. (2023), Peer Relationships and Indonesian Muslim Adolescents' Religiosity and Religious Coping: Selection and Influence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 33, 127-140. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12787
Andrews, N. C. Z.1, Hanish, L. D., Martin, C. L., DeLay, D., & Updegraff, K. A. (2022). Power in aggressor-victim relationships: Exploring social, physical, gender- and ethnicity-based power. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 51, 208-224. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-021-01555-4
DeLay, D. Burk, W. J., & Laursen, B. (2022). Assessing peer influence and susceptibility to peer influence using individual and dyadic moderators in a social network context: The case of adolescent alcohol misuse. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 46, 208-221. doi:10.1177/01650254221084102
DeLay, D., Field, R. D.2, Sechler, C. M.2, & Martin, C. L., (2022). The association between young adolescent emotional adjustment and peer affiliations: Making a case for gender diversity within peer relationships. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 68, 25-38. doi: 10.1353/mpq.2022.0002
Hanish, L. D., Xiao, S. X.1, Malouf, L. M.2, Martin, C. L., Goble, P., Fabes, R. A., DeLay, D., & Bryce, C. (2022). The benefits of buddies: Strategically pairing preschoolers with other-gender classmates promotes positive peer interactions. Early Education and Development, published online. doi: 10.1080/10409289.2022.2090773
Martin, C. L., Xiao, S. X.1, DeLay, D., Hanish, L. D., Fabes, R. A., Morris, S., & Oswalt, K. (2022). Gender integration and elementary-age students’ classroom belongingness: The importance of other gender peers. Psychology in the Schools, 59, 1492-1510. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22687
Xiao, S. X., Hanish, L. D., Malouf, L.2, Martin, C. L., Lecheile, B., Goble, P., Fabes, R. A., DeLay, D., & Bryce, C. I. (2022). Preschoolers’ interactions with other-gender peers promote prosocial behavior and reduce aggression: An examination of Buddy-Up intervention. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 60, 403-413. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2022.04.004
Xiao, S. X.1, Martin, C. L., Spinrad, T. L., Eisenberg, N., DeLay, D., Hanish, L. D., Fabes, R. A., & Oswalt, K. (2022). Being helpful to other-gender peers: School-age children's gender-based intergroup prosocial behaviour. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 40, 520 – 538. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12426
Bukowski, W. M., Dirks, M., Persram, R.1, Santo, J., DeLay, D., & Lopez, L. S. (2021). Contextual variations in associations between measures of aggression and withdrawal and functioning with peers: A replication study. Developmental Psychology, 57, 2022-2031. doi: https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000958
Bukowski, W. M., Dirks, M., Infantino, E.2, & DeLay, D. (2021). Principles for studying contextual variation in peer experiences: Rules for peer radicals. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 76, 101295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2021.101295
DeLay, D. & Bukowski, W. M., (2021). Multilevel models and multidisciplinary perspectives: Bringing peer relations research into the future. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 67, 509-524. doi: 10.1353/mpq.2021.0016
DeLay, D., Laursen, B., Kiuru, N., Rogers, A.2, & Kindermann, T. (2021). A comparison of dyadic and social network assessments of peer influence. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 45, 275-288. doi: 10.1177/0165025421992866
Hanish, L. D., Martin, C. L., Cook, R. E.2, DeLay, D., Lecheile, B. Fabes, R.A., Goble, P., Bryce, C. (2021). Building integrated peer relationships in preschool classrooms: The potential of buddies. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 73, 101257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2021.101257
Ioverno, S.1, DeLay, D., Hanish, L. D. & Martin, C. L. (2021). Who engages in gender bullying? The role of homophobic name-calling, gender pressure, and gender conformity. Educational Researcher, 5, 215-224. doi: 10.3102/0013189X20968067.
Xiao, S. X.1, Martin, C. L., DeLay, D., & Cook, R. E.1 (2021). A double-edged sword: Children’s intergroup gender attitudes have social consequences for the beholder. Developmental Psychology, 57, 1510-1524. doi: https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001065
Bukowski, W. M. & DeLay, D. (2020). Studying the same-gender preference as a defining feature of cultural contexts. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1-6. doi: 10:3389/fpsyg.2020.01863.
Cugmas, M.2, DeLay, D., Žiberna A., & Ferligoj, A. (2020). Symmetric core-cohesive blockmodel in preschool children’s interaction networks. PLOS ONE, 15, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226801
Nielson, M. G.2, DeLay, D., Flannery, K. M.2, Martin, C. L. & Hanish, L. D. (2020). Does gender-bending help or hinder friending? The roles of gender and gender similarity in friendship dissolution. Developmental Psychology, 56, 1157-1169. doi: 10.1037/dev0000930.
Valiente, C., Swanson, J., DeLay, D., Fraser, A. M.2, & Parker, J. H. (2020). Emotion-related socialization in the classroom: Considering the roles of teachers and peers. Developmental Psychology, 56, 578-594. doi: 10.1037/dev0000863.
Cook, R. E.2, Nielson, M. G.2, Martin, C. L., & DeLay, D. (2019) Early adolescent gender development: The differential effects of felt pressure from parents, peers, and the self. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48, 1912-1923. doi: 10.1007/s10964-019-01122-y
Andrews, N. C. Z.1, Hanish, L. D., Updegraff, K. A., DeLay, D., Martin, & C. L. (2019). Dyadic peer interactions: The impact of aggression on impression formation with new peers. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology,47, 839-850. doi: 10.1007/s10802-018-0490-y
Fabes, R. A., Martin, C. L., Hanish, L. D., & DeLay, D. (2018). Gender integration in coeducational classrooms: Advancing educational research and practice. School Psychology Quarterly, 33(2), 182-190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/spq0000266
Andrews, N. C. Z.1, Hanish, L. D., DeLay, D., Martin, C. L., & Updegraff, K. A. (2018). Relations between close friendships and adolescent aggression: Structural and behavioral friendship features. Social Development, 27(2), 293-307. doi: 10.1111/sode.12277
DeLay, D., Martin, C. L., Cook, R. E.2, & Hanish, L. D. (2018). The influence of peers during adolescence: Does homophobic name calling by peers change gender identity? Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47(3), 636-649. doi: 10.1007/s10964-017-0749-6
Kiuru, N., DeLay, D., Laursen, B., Burk, W. J., Lerkkanen, M.-K., Poikkeus, A.-M., & Nurmi, J.-E. (2017). Peer selection and influence on children’s reading skills in early primary grades: A social network approach. Reading and Writing, 30, 1473-1500. doi: 10.1007/s11145-017-9733-5
DeLay, D., Hanish, L. D., Zhang, L.2, Martin, C. L. (2017). Assessing the impact of homophobic name calling on early adolescent mental health: A longitudinal social network analysis of competing peer influence effects. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 46, 955-969. doi: 10.1007/s10964-016-0598-8
Rogers, A. A.2, DeLay, D., & Martin, C. L. (2017). Traditional masculinity during the middle school transition: Associations with depressive symptoms and academic engagement. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 46,.709-724.doi: 10.1007/s10964-016-0545-8
DeLay, D., Laursen, B., Kiuru, N., Poikkeus, A.-M., Aunola, K., & Nurmi, J.-E. (2016). Friend influence and susceptibility to influence: Changes in mathematical reasoning as a function of relative peer acceptance and interest in mathematics. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 62, 306-333. https://doi.org/10.13110/merrpalmquar1982.62.3.0306
DeLay, D., Zhang, L.2, Hanish, L. D., Miller, C., Fabes, R. A., Martin, C. L., Updegraff, K., & Kochel, K. P. (2016). Peer influence on academic performance: A social network analysis of social-emotional intervention effects. Prevention Science, 17, 903-913.doi: 10.1007/s11121-016-0678-8
DeLay, D., Hanish, L. D., Martin, C. L., & Fabes, R. A. (2016). Peer effects on Head Start children’s preschool competency. Developmental Psychology, 52, 58-70. doi: 10.1037/dev0000066
DeLay, D., Laursen, B., Bukowski, W. M., & Stattin, H. (2016). Adolescent friend similarity on alcohol abuse as a function of participation in romantic relationships: Sometimes a new love comes between old friends. Developmental Psychology, 52, 117-129. doi: 10.1037/a0039882
Van Ryzin, M., DeLay, D., & Dishion, T. (2016). Being well-liked predicts increased use of alcohol but not tobacco in early adolescence. Addictive Behaviors, 53, 168-174. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.10.017
DeLay, D., Ha, T., Van Ryzin, M., Winter, C., & Dishion, T. (2016). Changing friend selection in middle school: A social network analysis of a randomized intervention study designed to prevent adolescent problem behavior. Prevention Science, 17, 285-294. doi: 10.1007/s11121-015-0605-4
Laursen, B., DeLay, D., Richmond, A.2, & Rubin, K. H. (2016). Youth negative affect attenuates associations between compromise and mother-adolescent conflict outcomes. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25, 1110-1118. doi: 10.1007/s10826-015-0288-2
DeLay, D., Laursen, B., Kiuru, N., Poikkeus, A.-M., Aunola, K., & Nurmi, J.-E. (2015). Stable same-sex friendships with higher achieving partners promote mathematical reasoning in lower achieving primary school children. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 33, 519-532.doi: 10.1111/bjdp.12117
Hartl, A. C.2, DeLay, D., Denner, J, & Laursen, B. (2015). Dyadic instruction for middle school students: Liking promotes learning. Learning and Individual Differences, 44, 33-39. doi: 10.1016/j.lindif.2015.11.002
DeLay, D., Hartl, A. C.2, Laursen, B., Denner, J., Werner, L., Campe, S., & Ortiz, E.2 (2014). Learning from friends: Measuring influence in a dyadic computer instructional setting. International Journal of Research and Method in Education, 37, 190-205. doi: 10.1080/1743727X.2013.784961
Dirghangi, S.2, Laursen, B., Puder, J.2, Bjorklund, D., & DeLay, D. (2014). Self-reported rates of interpersonal conflict vary as a function of questionnaire format: Why age-related trends in disagreement may not be what they seem. Journal of Adolescence, 37, 965-972. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2014.07.003
DeLay, D., Laursen, B., Kiuru, N., Salmela-Aro, K., & Nurmi, J.-E. (2013). Selecting and retaining friends on the basis of cigarette smoking similarity. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 23, 464-473. doi: 10.1111/jora.12017.
Werner, L., Denner, J., Campe, S., Ortiz, E., DeLay, D., Hartl, A.C., & Laursen, B. (2013). Pair programming for middle school students: Does friendship influence academic outcomes? Proceedings of the 44th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education of the Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE). doi: 10.1145/2445196.2445322
DeLay, D., Hafen, C. A., Cunha, J. M., Weber, L., & Laursen, B. (2013). Perceptions of parent support buffer against depression for Brazilian youth with interpersonal difficulties. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 37, 29-34. doi: 10.1177/0165025412454031
Laursen, B., DeLay, D., & Adams, R. E. (2010). Trajectories of perceived support in mother-adolescent relationships: The poor (quality) keep getting poorer. Developmental Psychology, 46, 1792-1798. doi: 10.1037/a0020679.
Wood, J. C., Heiskell, K. D., DeLay, D. Jongeling, J. A. S., &, Perry, D. (2009). Teachers' preferences for interventions for ethnically diverse learners with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Adolescence, 44, 273 – 288. doi: 0001-8449.
Book Chapters
Hanish, L. D., Martin, C. L., Miller, C. F., Fabes, R. A., DeLay, D., & Updegraff, K. A. (2016). Social harmony in schools: A framework for understanding peer experiences and their effects. In K. Wentzel and G. Ramani (Eds.), Handbook on social-emotional, motivation, and cognitive outcomes in school contexts (pp. 48-62).
Hafen, C.A., Laursen, B., & DeLay, D. (2012). Transformations in friend relationships across the transition into adolescence. In B. Laursen & W.A. Collins (Eds.), Relationship pathways: From adolescence to young adulthood (pp. 69-90).
Laursen, B., & DeLay, D. (2011). Parent-child relationship. In B. Brown & M. Prinstein (Eds.), Encyclopedia of adolescence (pp. 233-240).
Courses
2027 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SOC 390 | Social Statistics I |
| SOC 390 | Social Statistics I |
| FAS 592 | Research |
| FAS 799 | Dissertation |
| FAS 792 | Research |
| FAS 590 | Reading and Conference |
2026 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SOC 390 | Social Statistics I |
| FAS 590 | Reading and Conference |
| FAS 799 | Dissertation |
| FAS 792 | Research |
| CDE 590 | Reading and Conference |
| FAS 592 | Research |
2026 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| CDE 612 | Children's Peer Relationships |
2025 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SOC 390 | Social Statistics I |
| SOC 390 | Social Statistics I |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| FAS 513 | Intro Regression/Linear Models |
| CDE 598 | Special Topics |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| FAS 503 | Academic Professional Dvlpmnt |
| FAS 592 | Research |
| FAS 799 | Dissertation |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SOC 390 | Social Statistics I |
| FAS 799 | Dissertation |
| FAS 592 | Research |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| FAS 592 | Research |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| FAS 592 | Research |
2022 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| FAS 592 | Research |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SOC 390 | Social Statistics I |
| FAS 592 | Research |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| FAS 592 | Research |
| SOC 390 | Social Statistics I |