Contact Information
Name: Casey A. Knifsend, Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor
Office Location: Amador Hall 555A
Email: casey.knifsend@csus.edu
Office Phone: (916) 278-6191
Mailing Address: Sacramento State, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819-6007
Office Hours: On leave during Fall 2023
Website
Education
- Ph.D. in Psychology (Developmental), University of California, Los Angeles, 2014
- M.A. in Psychology (Developmental), University of California, Los Angeles, 2010
- B.S. in Psychology, University of California, Davis, 2007
Courses
- Psyc 8: Methods of Psychology
- Psyc 143: Practicum in Community Psychology
- Psyc 148: Child Psychology
- Psyc 149: Psychology of Adolescence
- Psyc 195F: Fieldwork in Community Psychology
- Psyc 251: Developmental Processes
Recent Publications
Knifsend, C. A., & Juvonen, J. (2022). Type and breadth of high school extracurricular activity involvement and postsecondary psychosocial well-being among diverse youth. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. doi: 10.1007/s10964-022-01695-1
Knifsend, C. A., & Choe-Smith, C. U. (2022). Developing equitable and mutually beneficial virtual community-engaged learning opportunities. Metropolitan Universities Journal.
Knifsend, C. A., Espinoza, G., & Juvonen, J. (2022). The role of peer relationships on academic and extracurricular engagement (2nd edition). In S. L. Christenson & A. L. Reschly (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Student Engagement. New York: Springer. (1st edition published in 2012)
Knifsend, C. A., Powell, L. A., & Clifford, K. L. (2020). Extracurricular participation, collective self-esteem, and academic outcomes among college students. Psi Chi Journal, 25.4, 318-326. doi: 10.24839/2325-7342.JN25.4.318
Haghighat, M. D., & Knifsend, C. A. (2019). The longitudinal influence of 10th grade extracurricular activity involvement: Implications for 12th grade academic practices and future educational attainment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48, 609-619. doi: 10.1007/s10964-018-0947-x
A full list of publications can be found at www.knifsendlab.com
Recent Conference Presentations (2022 - 2023)
Knifsend, C. A. (June, 2023). College extracurricular activity involvement and positive peer relations during the COVID-19 pandemic. In M. Demir (Chair), The role of close relationships in the social and emotional well-being of emerging adults. Symposium conducted at meeting of the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood, San Diego, CA.
Harvey, I., McClennen, R., Saepharn-Gip, K., Villalobos, S., Koll, A., & Knifsend, C. A. (April, 2023). Social emotional learning within after-school environments. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Riverside, CA.
Knifsend, C. A., & Juvonen, J. (April, 2023). High school extracurricular activity involvement and postsecondary psychosocial well-being among diverse youth. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, San Diego, CA.
Knifsend, C. A., & Choe-Smith, C. U. (October, 2022). Developing equitable and mutually beneficial virtual community-engaged learning opportunities. Deep dive presentation presented at the annual meeting of the Coalition for Urban and Metropolitan Universities, San Diego, CA.
Knifsend, C. A., & Gonzalez-Bacilio, M. A. (March, 2022). Extracurricular activity participation and academic outcomes among college students during COVID-19. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Virtual Conference.
Research Projects/Interests
School-based extracurricular activities (e.g., soccer or drama) and after-school activities become especially relevant during adolescence, as youth strive to fit in with their peers and to define themselves within their peer networks. Our research investigates how teens’ peer relationships, attitudes about others, and psychosocial adjustment are shaped by their experiences in activities. Specifically, we strive to understand how and why these activities become a positive context for development for some, but not for others. More recently, our projects have expanded into college-aged samples to understand how campus activities affect academic and psychosocial well-being on college campuses. At all ages, we apply empirical findings to the structure, design, and implementation of resources and workshops.
To learn more about our current projects, please visit www.knifsendlab.com
Professional Associations
- American Psychological Association
- Psi Chi
- Society for Research on Adolescence
- Society for Research in Child Development
- Western Psychological Association
Keywords
- Adolescence and emerging adulthood
- Extracurricular activities
- Peer relations
- Psychosocial well-being
- Diversity
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