Jenna Beffel Tolman started as a visiting professor at Hope College in 2024 and teaches introduction to psychology. Her work focuses on parenting, disabilities, sibling relationships, and prosocial behavior.

Areas of Expertise

Jenna is trained in the field of developmental psychology and her area of expertise centers around family dynamics for families with children with disabilities. Specifically, she studies sibling relationships and caregiving among families with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Additionally, Jenna is interested in prosocial behavior and career selection.

Education

• Ph.D., Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, expected 2024
• B.S., psychology, Grand Valley State University, 2018

Selected Publications

• Contexts influencing prosocial behavior among typically developing siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, Beffel, J. H., & Nuttall, A. K. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 104., 2020
• Siblings and interventions: How siblings influence development and why practitioners should consider including them in interventions, Beffel, J. H., Gerde, H. K., & Nuttall, A. K. Early Childhood Education Journal., 2021
• Self-disclosure moderates associations between parentification and adjustment and relationship quality among typically developing siblings of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Murrin, M., Beffel, J. H., & Nuttall, A. K. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30, 364-374., 2021
• Associations between the broad autism phenotype, adult attachment, and relationship satisfaction among emerging adults, Beffel, J. H., Cary, K. M., Nuttall, A. K., Chopik, W. J., & Maas, M., Personality and Individual Differences, 168, 2021
• Understanding prosocial behavior, classroom contexts, and children’s social relationships: A social network analysis, Beffel, J. H., & Neal, J. W. Infant and Child Development, 32(6)., 2023

• Influences of sibling disability and childhood caregiving experiences on the selection of disability-specific helping profession, Beffel, J. H., Nuttall, A. K., Vallotton, C. D., Peterson, C. A., & Decker, K. B. Children and Youth Services Review, 146., 2023