Federal Grants
Liu, A. (PI), Cecotti H. (CoPI), Panagopoulos, A. A. (CoPI), & Bakhtiari, F. (CoPI). Undergraduate scholar education and research (USHER): A program to usher students into success in computer science. National Science Foundation Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) (#2220938). Funded for $1.5M from 1/1/23 to 12/31/27.
Bakhtiari, F. (PI). Alcohol use among Latina/o adolescents: The role of family and peer stressors. Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (F31AA027158). Funded for $125,706 from 6/3/19 to 4/30/22 (Early completion - 7/31/21).
Supporting interdisciplinary student leadership and teaching in the context of emerging technologies. FY 26/27 Provost's Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity WTU/$5,000 Salary Stipend Award (P-RSCA). California State University, Fresno. Funded for 3 WTU in Spring 2027.
STEAM Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) award. FY 25/26 College of Science and Mathematics. California State University, Fresno. Funded for $5,000 in Spring 2026.
CSU psychometric study. FY 24/25 College of Science and Mathematics - Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity. California State University, Fresno. Funded for $5,000 in Summer 2024.
Support for students to travel to two national conferences (i.e., Society for Research on Adolescence | Society for Research in Child Development) and one regional conference (i.e., Western Psychology Association). Instructionally Related Activity (IRA) Funds, Project #94L | #041 | #058. California State University, Fresno. Funded for $2,400 in Spring 2024 | $2,400 in Spring 2025 | $12,000 in Spring 2025 ($16,400 combined from all three awards given directly to students).
Alcohol use among Latina/o adolescents: The role of immigration, family, and peer stressors. Dissertation Research Award. Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin. Funded for $600 in Fall 2018.
Young adults' well-being in stepfamilies and Latino adolescents' delinquency and alcohol use. Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program. California State University. Funded for $1,652 in Fall 2018.
Interparental conflict in stepfamilies and its impact on emerging adults’ well-being. Thesis Research Award. Office of Research and Graduate Studies, California State University Northridge. Funded for $1,000 in Spring 2015.
Mistry, R. S., Benner, A. D., Lopez, B. & Bakhtiari, F. (2026). From status and rank to report card: Examining the influence of social class on adolescent academic achievement. Journal of Research on Adolescence,36(1), e70141. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.70141
Bakhtiari, F. & Plunkett, S. W. (2023). Interparental Conflict in Stepfather Families and Emerging Adults’ Mental Health and Aggression. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 64 (7-8), 235-253. https://doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2023.2288371**2024 Fresno State Outstanding Faculty Publications Recipient**
Plunkett, S. W., Bakhtiari, F., Sigal, M., & Temourian, A. A. (2023). Adolescents’ alcohol use. In B. Halpern-Fisher (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Health (pp. 428–447). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818872-9.00180-1
Mula, S., Di Santo, D., Resta E., Bakhtiari, F., … Leander, P. (2022). Concern with COVID-19 pandemic threat and attitudes towards immigrants: The mediating effect of the desire for tightness. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology. 3. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cresp.2021.100028
Benner, A. D., Bakhtiari, F., Wang, D., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2021). Party, academic, or prepped-for-college? School norm profiles and adolescent well-being using national data. Journal for Research on Adolescence. , 32(4), 1388–1403. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12702
Bakhtiari, F., Boyle, A. E. & Benner, A. D. (2020). Pathways linking school-based ethnic discrimination to Latina/o adolescents’ marijuana approval and use. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 22, 1273-1280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-020-01022-5
Bakhtiari, F., Benner, A. D., & Plunkett, S. W. (2018). Life quality of university students from immigrant families in the United States. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 46, 333-346. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcsr.12260 **Winner of 2018 Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal Best Paper Award in Family Studies/Human Development**
Benner, A. D., Boyle, A. E., & Bakhtiari, F. (2017). Understanding students’ transition to high school: Demographic variation and the role of supportive relationships. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 46, 2129-2142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-017-0716-2
Bakhtiari, F., Plunkett, S. W., & Alpizar, D. (2017). Family qualities, self-deprecation, and depressive symptoms of Zoroastrian young adults in immigrant families. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 19, 645-654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0476-1
Bakhtiari, F., **Afnani, M., *Fierro, N. L., *Pilavian, N., *Kaur, J., *Xiong, S., & *Singh, T. (2023, December | 2024, August | 2024, December | 2025, December). The Undergraduate Scholar Education and Research (USHER): A Program to Usher Students into Success in Computer Science (Evolution Reports No. 1, 1.5, 2, and 3). Psychometrics, Research, and Evaluation Promoting Adaptation, Resiliency, and Education Lab (PREPARE), California State University, Fresno (4 reports to date).
Benner, A. D., & Bakhtiari, F. (2017). Project PISCES school report. Preventing Inequalities in School Climate and Educational Success (PISCES) Research Project, The University of Texas at Austin. (17 reports total for 11 schools and 6 districts)
Bakhtiari, F., & Plunkett, S. W. (2015, October). Family qualities and mental health of Zoroastrian young adults (A Lab Report No. 1). Adolescent & Adult Adjustment, California State University Northridge.
Bakhtiari, F., & Plunkett, S. W. (2016). Zoroastrian young adults’ well-being. FEZANA Journal, 30, 85-87. (non-peer-reviewed). Retrieved from https://fezana.org/fjissue/FEZANA_2016_01_Spring.pdf
Plunkett, S. W., Whaling, K., & Bakhtiari, F. (2014, June). Building connections for success: CSUN Title V evaluation report #3. California State University Northridge.
**Afnani, M., Halgunseth, L. C., Bakhtiari, F., Wolf, J. N., Reid, A., & Plunkett, S. W. (2026, April 15-18). Investigating the moderating effects of gratitude and self-compassion in the association between perceived stress and depressive symptoms in Latinx college students [Poster presentation]. Society for Research on Adolescence, Toronto, ON, Canada.
**Afnani, M., Bakhtiari, F., & Plunkett, S. W. (2025, May 1-3). Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Gratitude Questionnaire-6 (GQ-6) among Mexican American university students. [Poster presentation]. Society for Research in Child Development, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
**Afnani, M., Bakhtiari, F., & Plunkett, S. W. (2024, November 20-23). Family ethnic socialization, ethnic identity, and self-esteem among Latina/o adolescents in immigrant families. [Poster presentation]. National Council on Family Relations, Bellevue, WA, United States.
*Hill, K. L., Bakhtiari, F., **Afnani, M., & Plunkett, S. W. (2024, April 18-20). Relative importance of
family dynamics on emotion dysregulation in Mexican American emerging adults [Paper presentation]. Society for Research on Adolescence, Chicago, IL, United States.
**Afnani, M., Bakhtiari, F., & Plunkett, S. W. (2024, April 18-20). Parent-child conflict, psychological control, parental expectations, self-deprecation, and depressive symptoms of Middle Eastern emerging adults [Poster presentation]. Society for Research on Adolescence, Chicago, IL, United States.
Bakhtiari, F., **Padilla, A. G. & Benner, A. D. (2024, April 18-20). Discrimination at the intersection of multiple identities among diverse adolescents [Poster presentation]. Society for Research on Adolescence, Chicago, IL, United States.
Bakhtiari, F., & Benner, A. D. (2022, March 3-5). Alcohol use among Latina/o adolescents and young adults: The role of immigration, family, and peer stressors [Paper presentation]. Society for Research on Adolescence, New Orleans, LA, United States.
*Chavez, S., *Jacobo, C., Bakhtiari, F., & Plunkett, S. W. (2022, March 3-5). Perceived psychological stressors related to Latino and Latina adolescents’ delinquency and depressive symptoms [Poster presentation]. Society for Research on Adolescence, New Orleans, LA, United States.
Bakhtiari, F., *Limón, K. L., *Salas, S., & Benner, A. D. (2021, April 7-9). Assessing immigration-related family conflict: Initial scale development and testing [Paper presentation]. Society for Research in Child Development, Virtual.
Mistry, R. S., Benner, A. D., & Bakhtiari, F. (2021, April 7-9). Understandings of subjective social status and predictors of educational achievement among youth [Paper presentation]. Society for Research in Child Development, Virtual.
*Limón, K. L., Bakhtiari, F., & Benner, A. D. (2019, June 22-26). Sexual orientation discrimination and adolescents’ alcohol use: The role of sexual identity centrality [Poster presentation]. Research Society on Alcoholism. Minneapolis, MN, United States.
*Estrada, M., Bakhtiari, F., & Benner, A. D. (2019, June 22-26). Pathways linking perceived school-based ethnic/racial discrimination to adolescents’ alcohol use: The role of school safety [Poster presentation]. Research Society on Alcoholism. Minneapolis, MN, United States.
Bakhtiari, F., *Marcano, D., & Benner, A. D. (2019, June 22-26). Latina/o adolescents’ alcohol use: The role of immigration and exposure to deportation [Poster presentation]. Research Society on Alcoholism. Minneapolis, MN, United States.
Mistry, R. S., Benner, A. D., & Bakhtiari, F. (2019, June 26-28). Adolescents’ Perceived Social Status, Educational Engagement, and Psychological Well-Being [Paper presentation]. Society for Psychological Study of Social Issues. San Diego, CA, United States.
Jiang, R., Reid, A., Bakhtiari, F., & Plunkett, S. W. (2019, April 4-8). Psychometric properties of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale with Latino university students [Poster presentation]. National Council on Measurement in Education, Toronto, Canada.
Bakhtiari, F., Fernandez F., & Benner, A. D. (2019, March 21-23). School racial climate and Latina/o adolescents’ substance use behaviors in immigrant and non-immigrant families [Poster presentation]. Society for Research in Child Development, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Benner, A. D., & Bakhtiari, F. (2019, March 21-23). The immigrant paradox and American youth: Are certain adolescents able to reap greater benefits? [Paper presentation]. Society for Research in Child Development, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Bakhtiari, F., & Benner, A. D. (2019, March 21-23). Ethnic discrimination and Latina/o adolescents’ academic adjustment: The moderating role of parental academic support [Paper presentation]. Society for Research in Child Development, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Bakhtiari, F., & Benner, A. D. (2018, June 16-20). Alcohol approval and use among Latina/o adolescents: The roles of discrimination, socioemotional, and well-being [Poster presentation]. Research Society on Alcoholism. San Diego, CA. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acer.13747
Bakhtiari, F., Boyle, A. E., & Benner, A. D. (2018, April). Pathways linking ethnic discrimination to alcohol and marijuana approval and use among Latina/o adolescents [Poster presentation]. Society for Research on Adolescence. Minneapolis, MN, United States.
Benner, A. D., Mistry, R. S., & Bakhtiari, F. (2018, April). Educational disparities and adolescents’ perceptions of social position: Adding subjective social status to the mix [Paper presentation]. Society for Research on Adolescence. Minneapolis, MN, United States.
Bakhtiari, F., & Plunkett, S. W. (2017, November). Interparental conflict and young adults’ well-being in stepfather families [Poster presentation]. National Council on Family Relations, Orlando, FL.
Bakhtiari, F., Benner, A. D., & Plunkett, S.W. (2017, April). Happiness and quality of life of young adults from newcomer families in the United States: A developmental-contextual approach [Poster presentation]. Research in Child Development, Austin, TX, United States.
Reid, A., Bakhtiari, F., & Plunkett, S. W. (2016, June). Using newsletters to enhance critical thinking and professional development in an FCS class [Round table]. American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Bellevue, WA, United States.
Cai, Y., Mimura, Y., Plunkett, S. W., Short, S. M., & Koonce, J., Bakhtiari, F., & Gonsalves, K. (2016, June). Financial socialization among Chinese American young adults: Focus on the role of ‘filial piety [Poster presentation]. Asian Studies on the Pacific Coast Conference, Northridge, CA, United States.
Jiang, R., Bakhtiari, F., & Plunkett, S. W. (2016, May). Individual, family, and peer qualities related to depressive symptoms of university students [Poster presentation]. Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, IL.
Bakhtiari, F., Yomtov, D., & Plunkett, S. W. (2016, April). Individual and contextual qualities related to depressive symptoms and quality of life of first-year university students [Paper presentation]. Society for Research on Adolescence, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Bakhtiari, F., & Plunkett, S. W. (2016, April). Neighborhood, family, school, and peers in relation to Latino adolescents’ academic motivation and depressive symptoms [Paper presentation]. California Affiliate-American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Burbank, CA, United States.
Cai, Y., Bakhtiari, F., Gonsalves, K., Mimura, Y., Plunkett, S. W., Short, S. M., & Koonce, J. (2016, April). Financial information young adults learn from their parents: Focus on Chinese Americans and Confucian values [Poster presentation]. California Affiliate-American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Burbank, CA, United States.
Herrera, M., Hinger, C., Bakhtiari, F., & Plunkett, S. W. (2016, April). Dominance analysis to assess family qualities and Mexican Americans’ depression [Poster presentation]. Western Psychological Association, Long Beach, CA, United States.
Bakhtiari, F., Nolasco, H., Winograd, D., & Plunkett, S. W. (2016, November). Interparental conflict in stepfather families in two parental dyads [Poster presentation]. National Council on Family Relations, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
Moschetti, R., Bakhtiari, F., Plunkett, S. W., & Yomtov, D. (2015, March). An exploration of mentoring relationships among first-generation college Latino students [Poster presentation]. Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Bakhtiari, F., Reid, A., & Plunkett, S. W. (2014, March). Parental acceptance and rejection in Middle Eastern American families [Poster presentation]. Society for Research on Adolescence, Austin, TX, United States.
Student Presentations
*Castaneda, V., **Afnani, M., & Bakhtiari, F. (under-review). General efficacy, social disconnectedness, and gender bias among a sample of computer science students [Poster presentation]. Central California Research Symposium, Fresno, CA, United States.
Mentored five undergraduate students in poster development and presentation (2018-21) – Undergraduate Research Forum, College of Natural Sciences, UT