Dr. Melanie Zimmer-Gembeck and the Zlab
Publications
Popularity, Acceptance, Friendship
see the list below
​​Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Scott, R. A. (2026). The role of peers in academic performance and relationship success. To appear in Laursen, B., Bukowski, W. M., Veenstra, R., & Rubin, K. H. (Eds.). Handbook of Peer Interactions, Relationships, and Groups (3rd Ed.). Guilford.
Dellers, L. Y. E., Duffy, A. L., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2026). Sexual minority men’s mental health: Associations with gay community intragroup marginalisation beyond heterosexist discrimination. Journal of Homosexuality, 73(4), 792-822. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2025.2485157
Click here to download the paper.
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Hawes, T., Scott, R. A., Skinner, E. A., & Kindermann, T. A. (2026). Seeking support or concealing? A longitudinal study of adolescents’ friendships, peer victimization, depression, and coping with peer relationship stressors.Developmental Psychology, 62(2), 350–364. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0002096
Click here to download the paper.
​
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Hawes, T., Scott, R. A., Campbell, T., & Webb, H. J. (2023). Adolescents’ online appearance preoccupation: A 5-year longitudinal study of the influence of peers, parents, beliefs, and disordered eating. Computers in Human Behavior, 140, 187569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107569
​
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Kindermann, T. A., & Gardner, A. A. (2023). Peer stressors and peer relationship dynamics in the development of coping. In E. A. Skinner & M. J. Zimmer-Gembeck (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of the development of coping (Chapter 22, pp. 538-559). Cambridge University Press.
Gardner, A. A., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Campbell, S. M. (2020). Attachment and emotion regulation: A person-centered examination and relations with coping with rejection, friendship closeness, and emotional adjustment. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 38, 125-143. doi:10.1111/bjdp.12310
Ferguson, S., Duffy A., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Laursen, B. (2019). The Adolescent Friendship Structure Inventory (AFSI): A review and empirical consolidation of existing measures. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 16, 654-665. doi:10.1080/17405629.2018.1488684
Mastro Campbell, S., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Duffy, A. (2019). Friends and education: Identity patterns across domains and associations with emotion dysregulation and identity disturbance. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48, 703-716. doi:10.1007/s10964-018-0924-4.
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Webb, H. J. (2017). Body image and peer relationships: Unique associations of adolescents' social status and competence with peer- and self-reported appearance victimization. Journal of Adolescence, 61, 131-140. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2017.10.002
​
Webb, H. J., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Farrell, L., Waters, A., Nesdale, D., & Downey, G. (2017) "Pretty pressure" from peers, parents, and the media: A longitudinal study of appearance-based rejection sensitivity. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 27, 718-735. doi:10.1111/jora.12310.
​
Webb, H. J., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. & Mastro, S. (2016). Stress exposure and generation: A conjoint longitudinal model of body dysmorphic symptoms, peer acceptance, popularity, and relational victimization. Body Image, 18, 14-18. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.04.010.
Ferguson, S., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Duffy, A. (2016). A longitudinal study of aggression and victimization in early adolescence: Gender differences in the moderating effects of social status. Journal of Relationships Research, 7, 1-11. doi:10.1017/jrr.2016.9
​
Webb, H., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2015). Body image attitudes and body change strategies within best friend dyads and friendship groups: Implications for adolescent appearance-rejection sensitivity, Social Development, 24, 1-19. doi:10.1111/sode.1208
Webb, H. J., Ferguson#, S., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2015). Loneliness, inhibition, and friendlessness: Associations with adolescents' appearance-related concerns, attractiveness, and teasing about appearance. In K. T. Rowe (Ed.), Social isolation, participation and impact on mental health (pp. 51-78). New York: NOVA Science Publishers.
​
Nesdale, D. & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2015). Peer rejection in childhood: Social groups, rejection sensitivity, and solitude. In R. J. Coplan & J. Bowker (Eds.), The handbook of solitude: Psychological perspectives on social isolation, social withdrawal, and being alone (pp. 129-149). New York: Wiley-Blackwell.
​
Webb, H., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2014). The role of friends and peers in adolescent body dissatisfaction: A review and critique of 15 years of research, Journal of Research on Adolescence, 24, 564-590. doi:10.1111/jora.1208.
Croft, C., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2014). Friendship conflict, conflict responses, and instability: Unique links to anxious and angry forms of rejection sensitivity, Journal of Early Adolescence, 34, 1094-1119. doi: 10.1177/0272431613518972.
​
Webb, H. J., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Donovan, C. L. (2014). The appearance culture between friends and adolescent appearance-based rejection sensitivity, Journal of Adolescence, 37, 347-358.
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Nesdale, D., McGregor, L., Mastro, S., Goodwin, B., & Downey, G. (2013). Comparing reports of peer rejection: Associations with rejection sensitivity, victimization, aggression, and friendship, Journal of Adolescence, 36(6), 1237-1246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.10.002
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Pronk, R. E., Goodwin, B., Mastro, S, & Crick, N. R. (2013). Connected and isolated victims of relational aggression: Associations with peer group status and differences between girls and boys. Sex Roles, 68, 363-377.
Kelly, M., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Boislard-P., M. (2012). Goals, behavior and satisfaction: The associations of sexual orientation and gender with identity, intimacy, status and sex. Adolescent Behaviour (pp. 71-94). New York: NOVA Science Publishers.
elly, M., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Boislard-P., M. (2012). Identity, intimacy, status and sex dating goals as correlates of goal-consistent behavior and satisfaction in Australian youth. Journal of Adolescence, 35, 1441-1454.
​
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Hughes, N., Kelly, M., & Connolly, J. (2012). Intimacy, identity, and status: Measuring dating goals in late adolescence and young adulthood, Motivation and Emotion, 36, 311-322.
​
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Waters, A. M., & Kindermann, T. (2010). A social relations analysis of liking for and by peers: Associations with gender, depression, peer perception, and worry. Journal of Adolescence, 33, 69-81.
McLachlan, J., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & McGregor, L. (2010). Rejection sensitivity in childhood and early adolescence: Peer rejection and protective effects of parents and friends. Journal of Relationships Research. 1, 31-40. doi: 10.1375/jrr.1.1.31
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J, & Kindermann, T. A. (2010). Introduction: Capturing the peer context: Developmental issues, statistical methods, and new directions. Journal of Adolescence, 33, 783-786.
Kindermann, T. A., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Duffy, A. (2010). Capturing the peer context: Common themes and necessary synergies. Journal of Adolescence, 33, 891-895.
Anthonysamy, A., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2007). Peer status and the behaviors of maltreated children and their classmates in the early years of school, Child Abuse & Neglect, 31, 971-991.
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Geiger, T. A., & Crick, N. R. (2007). Relational and physical aggression, prosocial behavior, and peer relations: Gender moderation and bidirectional associations. In M. Drysdale, & B. J. Rye (Eds.), Taking sides: Clashing views in adolescence. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Hunter, T. A., & Pronk, R. (2007). A model of behaviors, peer relations and depression: Perceived social acceptance as a mediator and the divergence of perceptions, Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26, 273-283.
Petherick, J., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2006). Attachment patterns during year 12: Rejection sensitivity, loneliness, social competence, and support as correlates of stability and change, Australian Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, 23, 65-86.
​
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Geiger, T. C., & Crick, N. R. (2005). Relational and physical aggression, prosocial behavior, and peer relations: Gender moderation and bidirectional associations. Journal of Early Adolescence, 25, 421-452. doi:10.1177/0272431605279841
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Siebenbruner, J., Collins, W. A. (2004). A prospective study of intraindividual and peer influences on adolescents’ heterosexual romantic and sexual behavior. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 33, 381-394.
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2002). The development of romantic relationships and adaptations in the system of peer relationships. Journal of Adolescent Health, 31, 216-225.
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Siebenbruner, J., & Collins, W. A. (2001). Diverse aspects of dating: Associations with psychosocial functioning from early to middle adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 24, 313-336.
​
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (1999). Stability, change, and individual differences in involvement with friends and romantic partners among adolescent females. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 28, 419-438
​
​
​
​