Find me
The Developmental Aspects of Sexual Health Laboratory
  • Home
  • People
  • Research Projects
  • Blog
  • Publications
  • Presentations

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Clark, A. N., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Zimmerman, C. (2023). Sexual and affectionate behaviors in asexual and allosexual adults. The Journal of Sex Research, 60(2), 242-252. 

​Hanna-Walker, V., Lawrence, S. E., Clark, A. N., Walters, T. L., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2023). “It’s like an elephant in the room with my family”: LGBTQ+ college students’ identity expression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Adolescent Research. Advance online publication. 
 
Walters, T. L., Hanna-Walker, V., Clark, A. N., Farina, R. E., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2023). LGBTQ+ college students’ relationship satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging Adulthood. Advance online publication. 

Walters, T. L., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2022). Does sex improve with experience?: A latent transition analysis of college students’ penile-vaginal sex-related consequences. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 52(3), 461-474.  

Lawrence, S. E., Walters, T. L., Farina, R. E., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2022). College students' sexual motives, experiences, and drinking-related protective behavioral strategies. Sexuality & Culture. Advance online publication. 

Lefkowitz, E. S., & Walters, T. L. (2022) Selection and socialization effects of living on versus off campus. Emerging Adulthood, 10(5), 1108-1117.

Vasilenko, S. A., Walters, T. L., Clark, A. N., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2022). Positive, negative or mixed feelings? A person-centered approach to consequences of first penile-vaginal intercourse in college students. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 51(8), 3993-4006. 

Zhang, Y., Farina, R. E., Lawrence, S. E., Walters, T. L., Clark, A. N., Hanna-Walker, V., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2022). How social support and parent-child relationship quality relate to LGTQ+ college students’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Family Psychology, 36(5), 653–660. 

Lawrence, S. E., Walters, T. L., Clark, A. N., Zhang, Y., Hanna-Walker, V., Farina, R. E., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2021). LGBTQ+ college students’ engagement in COVID-protective and COVID-risk behaviors. Emerging Adulthood, 9(5), 645-652. 

Vasilenko, S. A., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Maggs, J. L. (2021). Changes in psychological distress after first vaginal intercourse in late adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 89, 213-216.

​Wesche, R., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Maggs, J. L. (2021). Short-term consequences of sex: Contextual predictors and change across college. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 50, 1613-1626. 

Wesche, R., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2020). Normative sexual development and milestones. S. Hupp & J. Jewell (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development. Wiley-Blackwell.

​
Leavitt, C. E., Lefkowitz, E. S., Aykil, Y., & Serduk, K. (2020). A cross-cultural study of midlife relational and sexual health: Comparing Ukraine to the U.S and Turkey. Sexuality and Culture, 24, 649-670.

Waterman, E. A. & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2020). Does alcohol use in large group contexts mediate the association between sex-related alcohol expectancies and rape? Violence and Victims, 35, 195-209.

Wesche, R., Kreager, D. A., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2019). Sources of social influence on adolescents’ alcohol use. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 29, ​984-1000.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Vasilenko, S. A., Wesche, R., & Maggs, J. L. (2019). Changes in diverse sexual and contraceptive behaviors across college. Journal of Sex Research, 56, 956-976.

Leavitt, C. E., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Waterman, E. A. (2019). The role of sexual mindfulness in sexual wellbeing, relational wellbeing, and self-esteem. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 45, 497-509.

Waterman, E. A., Wesche, R., Leavitt, C. E., & Lefkowitz, E S. (2019). Fraternity membership, traditional masculinity ideologies, and impersonal sex: Selection and socialization effects. Psychology of Men and Masculinities, 21, 58-68.

Wesche, R., Kreager, D. A., Feinberg, M. E., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2019). Peer acceptance and sexual behaviors from adolescence to young adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48, 996-1008.

Leavitt, C. E., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2018). Erectile dysfunction. In Bornstein, M. (Ed.), The Sage Encyclopedia of Lifespan Human Development (pp. 766-768). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Inc.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Wesche, R., & Leavitt, C. E. (2018).
 Never been kissed: Correlates of lifetime kissing status in U.S. university students. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 47, 1283-1293.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Wesche, R., Picci, G., & Hochgraf, A. K. (2018). Daily associations between kissing and affect during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 28, 779-785.

Vasilenko, S. A., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2018). Sexual behavior and daily affect in emerging adulthood. Emerging Adulthood, 6, 191-199.

Waterman, E. A., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2018).
Sexuality. In Bornstein, M. (Ed.), The Sage Encyclopedia of Lifespan Human Development (pp. 1984-1988). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Inc.

Waterman, E. A., Wesche, R., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2018). Longitudinal correlates of peer sexual communication quality in young adulthood. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 15, 421–432.

Wesche, R., Claxton, S. E., Lefkowitz, E. S., & van Dulmen, M. H. M. (2018). Evaluations and future plans after casual sexual experiences: Differences across partner type. Journal of Sex Research, 55, 1180-1191.

Waterman, E. A., Wesche, R., Leavitt, C. E., Jones, D. E., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2017). Long-distance dating relationships, relationship dissolution, and college adjustment. Emerging Adulthood, 5, 268 - 279.

Waterman, E. A., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2017).
Are mothers’ and fathers’ parenting characteristics associated with emerging adults’ academic engagement? Journal of Family Issues, 38, 1239-1261.

Wesche, R., Kreager, D. A., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Siennick, S. E. (2017). Early sexual initiation and mental health: A fleeting association or enduring change? Journal of Research on Adolescence, 27, 611-627.

Wesche, R., Vasilenko, S. A., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2017).
Latent classes of sexual behaviors: Prevalence, predictors, and consequences. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 14, 100-111.

Kreager, D. A., Staff, J., Gauthier, R., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Feinberg, M. E. (2016).
The double standard at sexual debut: Gender, sexual behavior and adolescent peer acceptance. Sex Roles, 75, 37-392.  ​

Lam, C. B., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2016).
Male role attitudes and self-esteem: A 3-year longitudinal study of heterosexual college students. Emerging Adulthood, 4, 427-435.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Vasilenko, S. A., & Leavitt, C. E. (2016). 
Oral vs. vaginal sex experiences and consequences among first year college students. Archives of Sexual Behavior. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45, 329-337. ​

Lefkowitz, E. S., Waterman, E. A., Morgan, N., & Maggs, J. L. (2016).
College students’ perceptions of the links between alcohol use and sex. Emerging Adulthood, 4, 272-283.

Wesche, R., Espinosa-Hernández, G., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2016). Gender’s role in misperceptions of peers’ sexual motives. Sexuality & Culture, 20, 1003-1019.

Maas, M. K., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2015).
Sexual esteem in emerging adulthood: Associations with sexual behavior, contraception use and romantic relationships. Journal of Sex Research, 52, 795-806. 

Maas, M. K., Shearer, C. L., Lefkowitz, E. S., & *Gillen, M. M. (2015).
Sex rules: Emerging adults’ perceptions of gender’s impact on sexuality. Sexuality and Culture, 19, 617-636.

Patrick, M. E., Maggs, J. L., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2015).
Daily associations between drinking and sex among college students: A longitudinal measurement burst design. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 25, 377-386.

Vasilenko, S. A., Kreager, D. A., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2015).
Gender, contraceptive attitudes, and condom use in adolescent romantic relationships: A dyadic approach. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 25, 51-65.

Vasilenko, S. A., Maas, M. K., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2015).
“It felt good but weird at the same time”: Emerging adults’ first experiences of six different sexual behaviors. Journal of Adolescent Research 30, 586-606.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Kelly, K. M., Vasilenko, S. A., & Maggs, J. L. (2014). Correlates of human papillomavirus vaccination among female university students. Women and Health, 54, 487-501.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Shearer, C. L., Gillen, M. M., & Espinosa-Hernandez, G. (2014).
How gendered attitudes relate to women’s and men’s sexual behaviors and beliefs. Sexuality & Culture, 18, 833-846. .

Lefkowitz, E. S., & Vasilenko, S. A. (2014).
Healthy sex and sexual health: New directions for studying outcomes of sexual health. In E. S. Lefkowitz & S. A. Vasilenko (Eds), New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development: Positive and negative outcomes of sexual behavior, 144 (pp. 87-98). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Vasilenko, S. A., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2014).
Changes in religiosity after first intercourse in the transition to adulthood. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 6, 310-315.

Vasilenko, S. A., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Welsh, D. P. (2014).
Is sexual behavior healthy for adolescents?  A conceptual framework for research on adolescent sexual behavior and physical, mental, and social health. In E. S. Lefkowitz & S. A. Vasilenko (Eds), New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development: Positive and negative outcomes of sexual behavior, 144 (pp. 3-19). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Cichy, K. E., Lefkowitz, E. S., Davis, E., & Fingerman, K. (2013).
“You are such a disappointment!”: Negative emotions and parents’ perceptions of adult children’s lack of success. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 68, 893-901.

Cichy, K., E., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Fingerman, K. L. (2013).
Conflict engagement and conflict disengagement during interactions between adults and their parents.
Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 68, 31-40. 

Lam, C. B., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2013).
Risky sexual behaviors in emerging adults: Longitudinal changes and within-person variations. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 43, 523-532. 

Vasilenko, S. A. Duntzee, C., Zheng, Y., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2013).
Testing two process models of religiosity and sexual behavior. Journal of Adolescence, 36, 667-673.   

Gillen, M. M., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2012).
Gender and racial/ethnic differences in body image development among college students. Body Image, 9, 126-130. 
 

Lefkowitz, E. S., Patrick, M. Morgan, N., Bezemer, D. H., & Vasilenko, S. A., (2012).
State Patty’s Day: College student drinking and local crime increased on a student-constructed holiday. Journal of Adolescent Research, 27, 323-350.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Vukman, S. N., & Loken, E. (2012).
Young adults in a wireless world. In A. Booth, S. L. Brown, N. S. Lansdale, W. D. Manning, & S. M. McHale (Eds.), Early adulthood in a family context. New York: Springer.

Vasilenko, S. A., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Maggs, J. L. (2012).
Short-term positive and negative consequences of sex based on daily reports among college students. Journal of Sex Research, 49, 558-569.

Gillen, M. M., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2011a).
The ‘freshman 15’: Trends and predictors in a sample of multiethnic men and women. Eating Behaviors, 12, 261-266. 

Gillen, M. M., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2011b).
Body size perceptions in racially/ethnically diverse men and women: Implications for body image and self-esteem. North American Journal of Psychology, 13, 447-467.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Gillen, M. M., & Vasilenko, S. A. (2011).
Putting the romance back into sex: Sexuality in romantic relationships. In F. D. Fincham & M. Cui (Eds.), Romantic relationships in emerging adulthood (pp. 213-233). New York: Cambridge University Press. 

Patrick, M. E., Morgan, N., Maggs, J. L.,& Lefkowitz, E. S. (2011).
“I got your back”: Friends’ understandings regarding college student Spring Break behavior. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40, 108-120. 
 
Pitzer, L., Fingerman, K. L., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2011).
Development of the Parent Adult Relationship Questionnaire (PARQ). International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 72, 111-135. 

Vasilenko, S. A., Ram, N., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2011).
Body image and first sexual intercourse in late adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 34, 327-325. 

Stoppa, T. M., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2010). Religiosity during the transition to college. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 20, 23-38. 
 
Birditt, K. S., Miller, L. M., Fingerman, K. L., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2009).
Tensions in the parent and adult child relationship: Links to solidarity and ambivalence.
Psychology and Aging, 24, 287-295. 
 
Espinosa-Hernandez, G., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2009).
Sexual behaviors and attitudes and ethnic identity during college. Journal of Sex Research, 46, 471-482. 

Gillen, M. M., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2009).
Emerging adults’ perceptions of messages about physical appearance. Body Image: An International Journal of Research, 6, 178-195. 
 
Birditt, K. S., Fingerman, K. L., Lefkowitz, E. S. & Kamp Dush, C. M. (2008).
Parents perceived as peers: Filial maturity in adulthood. Journal of Adult Development, 15, 1-12.

Fingerman, K. L., Pitzer, L., Lefkowitz, E. S., Birditt, K. S., & Mroczek, D., & (2008).
Ambivalent relationship qualities between adults and their parents: Implications for both parties’ well being. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 63, 362-271.

Hay, E. L., Fingerman, K. L., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2008).
The worries adult children and their parents experience for one another. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 67, 101-127.  

Boone, T. L., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2007).
Mother-adolescent health communication: Are all conversations created equally? Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36,
1038-1047.

Cichy, K., E., Fingerman, K. L., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2007).
Age differences in types of interpersonal tensions. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 64, 171-193.

Cichy, K., E., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Fingerman, K. L. (2007).
Generational differences in gender attitudes between parents and grown offspring. Sex Roles, 57, 825-836.

Hay, E. L., Fingerman, K. L., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2007).
The experience of worry in parent- adult offspring relationships. Personal Relationships, 14, 605-622. 

Lefkowitz, E. S., & Espinosa-Hernandez, G. (2007).
Sex-related communication with mothers and close friends during the transition to university. Journal of Sex Research, 44, 17-27.

Nadeem, E., Romo, L. F., Sigman, M., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Au, T. K. (2007).
The validity of observational measures in detecting optimal maternal communication styles: Evidence from European Americans and Latinos. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 17, 153-168.   

Fingerman, K. F., Chen, P. C., Hay, E., Cichy, K. E., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2006).
Ambivalent reactions in the parent and offspring relationship. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Science, 61B, 152-160.

Gillen, M. M., Lefkowitz, E. S., & *Shearer, C. L. (2006).
Does body image play a role in risky sexual attitudes and behaviors? Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35,
243-255.

Gillen, M. G., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2006).
Gender role development and body image among male and female first year college students. Sex Roles, 55, 25-37. 

Lefkowitz, E. S., & Stoppa, T. M. (2006).
Positive sexual communication and socialization in the parent-adolescent context. In L. M. Diamond (Ed.), New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, Rethinking positive adolescent female sexual development, 112 (pp. 39-55). San Francisco:  Jossey-Bass.

Corona, R.A., Lefkowitz, E. S., Sigman, M., & Romo, L. F. (2005).
Latino adolescents' adjustment, maternal depressive symptoms, and the mother-adolescent relationship. Family Relations, 54, 386-399.

Lefkowitz, E. S. (2005).
“Things have gotten better”: Developmental changes among emerging adults after the transition to university. Journal of Adolescent Research, 20, 40-63.  
 
Lefkowitz, E. S., & Gillen, M. M. (2005).
“Sex is just a normal part of life”: Sexuality in emerging adulthood. Arnett, J.J., & Tanner, J.L. (Eds.). Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st century (pp. 235-255). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Shearer, C. L., Hosterman, S. J., Gillen, M. M, & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2005).
Are traditional gender roles associated with risky sexual behavior and attitudes about condom use? Sex Roles, 52, 311-324. 
 
Boone, T. L., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2004).
Safer sex and the Health Belief Model: Considering the contributions of peer norms and socialization factors. Journal
of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 16
, 51 - 68.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Boone, T. L., & Shearer, C. L. (2004).
Communication with best friends about sex-related topics during emerging adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 33, 339-351.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Gillen, M. M., Shearer, C. L., & Boone, T. L. (2004).
Religiosity, sexual behaviors, and sexual attitudes during emerging adulthood. Journal of Sex Research, 41, 150 – 159.

Boone, T. L., Lefkowitz, E. S., Romo, L. F., Corona, R., Sigman, M., & Au, T. K. (2003).
Mothers’ and adolescents perceptions of AIDS vulnerability. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 27, 347 – 354.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Boone, T. L., Au, T. K., & Sigman, M. (2003). 
No sex or safe sex? Mothers' and adolescents' discussions about abstinence and safer sex. Health
Education Research, 18
, 341 – 351.  
 
Lefkowitz, E. S., & Fingerman, K. L. (2003).
Positive and negative emotional feelings and behaviors in mother-daughter ties in late life. Journal of Family Psychology, 17, 607 - 617.  
 
Lefkowitz, E. S. (2002).
Beyond the yes-no question: Measuring parent-child communication about sexual topics. In S. S. Feldman, & D. A. Rosenthal (Eds). New
Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 97, Talking sexuality: Parent-adolescent communication
(pp. 43 – 56). San Francisco:  Jossey-Bass.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Boone, T. L., Sigman, M. D., & Au, T. K. (2002).
He said, she said:  Gender differences in self-reported and observed conversations about sexuality. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 12, 217 – 242.

Romo, L. F., Lefkowitz, E. S., Sigman, M., Au, T. K. (2002).
A longitudinal study of maternal messages about dating and sexuality and their influence on Latino adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 31, 59 – 69.

Romo, L.F., Lefkowitz, E. S., Sigman, M.,& Au, T. K. (2001).
Determinants of mother-adolescent communication about sex in Latino families. Journal
of Adolescent and Family Health, 2
, 72 - 82.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Romo. L. F., Corona, R., Au, T. K., & Sigman, M. (2000).
How Latino American and European American adolescents discuss conflicts, sexuality, and AIDS with their mothers. Developmental Psychology, 36, 315-325.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Sigman, M. D. & Au, T. K. (2000).
Helping mothers discuss sexuality and AIDS with adolescents. Child Development, 71, 1383-1394.

Frost, A. K., Reinherz, H. Z., Pakiz-Camras, B., Giaconia, R. M, & Lefkowitz, E. S. (1999).
Risk factors for depressive symptoms in late adolescence: A longitudinal community study. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 69, 370-381.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Kahlbaugh, P., Au, T. K., & Sigman, M. (1998).
A longitudinal study of AIDS conversations between mothers and adolescents. AIDS Education and Prevention, 10, 351-365.

Kahlbaugh, P., Lefkowitz, E. S., Sigman, M., & Valdez, P. (1997).
The affective nature of mother-adolescent communication concerning sexuality and conflict. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 7, 221-239.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Kahlbaugh, P., & Sigman, M. D. (1996).
Turn-taking in mother-adolescent conversations about sexuality and conflict. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 25, 307-321.

Reinherz, H. Z., Giaconia, R. M., Lefkowitz, E. S., Pakiz, B. & Frost, A. K. (1993).
Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in a community population of older adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 32, 369-377.

Reinherz, H. Z., Giaconia, R. M., Pakiz, B., Silverman, A. B., Frost, A. K., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (1993).
Psychosocial risks for major depression in late adolescence: A longitudinal community study. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 32, 1155-1162.









Proudly powered by Weebly