Many studies address the influences of parenting and contextual factors on child development (Belsky, 1984). Although long-term contextual factors such as poverty and abuse have been shown to be associated with both parent and child behaviors (La Placa & Corlyon, 2016;Salzinger et al, 2002), little research exists on the degree to which short-term situational contexts may affect child behavior. The goal of this study is to identify the influence of parenting behavior on child response after a competitive motocross race. Survey data was collected from 33 parents at several child/adolescent competitions held at a motocross track. First, results indicated that hostility exhibited by the trackside parent, or the parent that spends the most time with their child trackside, at a motocross race was positively related to their child crying after a competition. Additionally, achievement orientation and family cohesion were both positively related to having a child celebrate after the race. Results also show that some situational factors have an influence on child behavior over and above the influence of the family environment factors. Specifically, trackside parent hostility significantly predicts crying after a race. This work informs the literature on the degree to which short-term situational contexts may affect child behavior, as well as provides insight into parent-child relationships within the context of motocross.

Recent demographic shifts in the United States have substantially altered family structure. These shifts include an increase in the average life span, smaller family sizes, and changes in marriage patterns including individuals who never marry, divorce, remarry, and cohabitate (Silverstein & Giarruso, 2010; Wu, 2014). Taken together, these factors have resulted in increasingly complex family forms. These shifts in family structure have implications for family process including the quality of relationships across and within generations (Uhlenberg, 1996). Previous work has focused on examining relationship quality in the family of origin (e.g., parents and siblings). A potential consequence of focusing on families of origin is that researchers may overlook the role of other family systems including the extended family. Utilizing a population of 491 emerging adults (ages 18-25), I examined the association between characteristics of emerging adults (e.g., gender, closeness with family of origin, and romantic relationship status) and relationship quality (i.e., closeness and conflict) with extended family. I then evaluated how relationship quality (e.g., closeness and conflict) with extended family members is associated with emerging adults' well-being (i.e., selfacceptance and loneliness). In both papers, two measures for each relationship quality variable were created (average closeness, highest closeness, average conflict, highest conflict). Highest closeness and highest conflict were included to capture the extremes found within family relationships, and average closeness and average conflict were created to capture an overall assessment of relationship quality across all extended family members. Uhlenberg, P. (1996). Mortality decline in the twentieth century and supply of kin over the life course. The Gerontologist, 36(5), 681-685. van Velsor, P. R., & Cox, D. L. (2000). Use of the collaborative drawing technique in school counseling practicum: An illusion of family systems. Counselor Education and Supervision, 40(2), 141. Wilcox, W. B. (2010). When marriage disappears: The retreat from marriage in middle America. The state of our unions: Marriage in America, (pp. 13-60). Washington, DC: The Heritage Foundation. Wilson, M. N. (1986). The Black extended family: An analytical consideration. Developmental Psychology, 22(2), 246.

The goal of this study was to explore the influences of proximal and distal life events on mental status in later life. Additionally, life events were categorized into positive and negative experiences. Data from 208 older adults over 80 years of age from the Georgia Centenarian Study were included in this study. Results from a series of blockwise regression analyses indicated that the number of distal negative life events that older adults had experienced was a predictor of older adults' better mental status. Oldest-old adults' age, education, social supports, and social provision were also associated with their cognition. Cumulative negative life events may protect people in cognitive function as implicated by our results.

Belding, for the immeasurable amount of guidance and support you have imparted on me throughout the course of this research. I would like to dedicate this work to my extended family. Your chaos and insanity, along with your love and support gave rise to this wonderful project and you all are and will continue to be my inspiration. A very special thanks to my loving parents, Terry and Diane Holst, whose love and words of encouragement carried me through this journey. Moreover, I owe a special thanks to my boyfriend, John Anderson, who supported, encouraged, and advised me as well as accepted the many highs and lows of the last two years. In addition, I would like to thank my friends, colleagues, the department faculty and staff for making my experience at Iowa State University a wonderful one. "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."-Helen Keller iv ABSTRACT Family composition in the United States has continued to become increasingly diverse as illustrated by an increase in the occurrence of single parent families, blended families, and same-sex parent families (Walsh, 2012). However, comparatively few studies of extended families include rural European-Americans. The objective of this study was to identify factors that contribute to family engagement between young adolescents and their extended families, as well as identifying developmental outcomes

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