Christina Cross, PhD

Christina Cross is an assistant professor of sociology at Harvard University. Cross’s research examines how family structure, change, and dynamics influence individual well-being across the life course, particularly among minority and/or low-income populations. Her current work focuses on 1) documenting the prevalence and predictors of previously underexplored family structures that are common among disadvantaged populations (e.g., the extended family); 2) investigating the relationship between family dynamics and child outcomes and the extent to which it differs by structural position; and 3) examining within-group heterogeneity in family processes among major racial/ethnic groups. Cross was a postdoctoral fellow at HCPDS (2020–2022), and holds a PhD in public policy and sociology from the University of Michigan.