Mark Feinberg, PhD
Penn State University
About
Mark Feinberg conducts basic and applied prevention research on youth, families, and communities, with a particular focus on family-focused prevention. He has made contributions to theory and research in areas such as:
- co-parenting;
- sibling relationships;
- the epidemiology of adolescent behavior problems;
- the efficacy of evidence-based community prevention initiatives; and
- transactions between family and social relationships and biological systems including genetics, cortisol/HPA axis, and cardiovascular disease markers.
His long-standing interest in community health has led him to lead or participate in evaluations of community-level systems designed to promote evidence-based prevention programs and policies including Communities That Care, Evidence2Success, and PROSPER. In the long-term PROSPER randomized trial, he has catalyzed and/or co-led projects on adolescent peer networks, genetics, and second-generation transmission.
Mark edited Designing evidence-based public health and prevention programs: Expert program developers explain the science and art, a unique volume that provides researchers and students with guidance around developing prevention and public health programs. He is currently co-editing a volume showcasing 10 years of work by the PROSPER peer network research group titled Teen Friendship Networks, Development, and Risky Behaviors.
Mark developed the Family Foundations program and co-developed prevention programs focused on reducing adverse birth outcomes, childhood obesity, and sibling conflict—all of which have demonstrated positive impacts in randomized trials.
Mark also serves as co-leader of the Life Course Translational Research Network (LCT-RN)'s Family Node.