My primary research interests include implementing and evaluating evidence-based child and family interventions that promote social, affective, and child-coping competence in young children; strengthen parent-child and couple relationships; build self-efficacy, and improve communication skills.

I have several years of experience working with Latino families. Before joining the Brain Development Lab, I worked as family educator at New Mexico State University. I served as a program facilitator for the Family Wellness Program through NMSU’s Strengthening Families Initiative (SFI). Prior to my position at NMSU, I served as the project coordinator for a research-based Spanish language parenting program at Purdue University called “Criando a Nuestros Ninos hacia el Exito” (Parenting our Children to Excellence – PACE).

As part of ongoing research on the effects of experience on brain development, the BDL has been working with Head Start families for over seven years to study the development of cognition and brain function in preschoolers. In the course of this research they developed a highly successful training program for families which includes both child and parent-training components. My primary duties include culturally adapting and translating this highly successful program for the local Latino community served by Head Start.

Arriaga, X.B., & Longoria, Z.N. (2011). Implementation Intentions Increase Parent-Teacher Communication Among Latinos. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 33, 365-373.

Dumas, J. E., Arriaga, X.B., Begle, A.D, & Longoria, Z.N. (2011). Child and parental outcomes of a group parenting intervention for Latino families: A pilot study of the CANNE program. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 17(1), 107-115.

Dumas, J. E., Arriaga, X.B., Moreland, A.D, & Longoria, Z.N. (2010). “When Will Your Program Be Available in Spanish?” Adapting an Early Parenting Intervention for Latino Families. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 17(2), 176-187.

Goodwin S.A., Longoria, Z.N. (2010) Diversity. In J.M. Levine & M.A. Hogg (Eds.),Encyclopedia of group processes and intergroup relations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.