Molly Selover
Ph.D. Candidate
Developmental Psychology
Florida Atlantic University
Department of Psychology
Ph.D. Candidate
Developmental Psychology
Florida Atlantic University
Department of Psychology
Molly is a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in Developmental Psychology. She is working in Dr. Brett Laursen's lab
Her research interests include adolescent experiences, peer relationships, and friendships.
Florida Atlantic University
Ph.D., Developmental Psychology
Anticipated May 2028
Florida Atlantic University
M.A., Developmental Psychology (2026)
State University of New York at Cortland
B.S., Psychology (2023)
Spring 2026
Research Methods in Psychology Recitation, Florida Atlantic University (PSY3213)
Fall 2025
Intermediate Statistics Lab, Florida Atlantic University (STA3163L)
Spring 2025
Intermediate Statistics Lab, Florida Atlantic University (STA3163L)
Summer 2025
Intermediate Statistics Lab, Florida Atlantic University (STA3163L)
Summer 2026
Cognition Lab, Florida Atlantic University (EXP4934C)
Fall 2024
Psychology of Human Development, Florida Atlantic University (DEP3053)
Summer 2024
Social Psychology, Florida Atlantic University (SOP3004)
Spring 2024
Social Psychology, Florida Atlantic University (SOP3004)
Fall 2023
Psychology of Women, Florida Atlantic University (SOP3742)
Selover, M., & Laursen, B. (2026, April) Longitudinal trajectories of body image and emotional problems over three years of adolescence: A parallel process latent growth model analysis [Poster Presentation]. Society of Research on Adolescence, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Selover, M. Faur, S., Guillont, M., & Laursen, B. (2026, April). The importance of Spanish language similarity in friend selection [Poster Presentation]. Society of Research on Adolescence, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sherrod, L., Selover, M., Kaniusonyte. G., & Laursen. B. (2026, April) The friends they have and the friends they want: Desired friends and why they don’t become real friends. . [Poster Presentation]. Society of Research on Adolescence, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sherrod, L., Selover, M., Montejo, S., Leggett-James, M.P., & Laursen, B. (2026, April) The antecedents of young adolescent unpopularity. [Poster Presentation]. Society of Research on Adolescence, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Selover. M., Leggett-James, M.P., Laursen. B. (2025, May) School structure explains age group differences in friend selection similarity. [Symposium Presentation]. Society of Research on Child Development, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Selover, M., Hojen, A., Trecca, F., Bleses. D.,& Laursen., B. (2025, May). Solitary screen time exacerbates longitudinal associations from low language skills to heightened adjustment problems. [Poster Presentation]. Society of Research on Child Development, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Leggett-James. M.P., Yoho. M., Selover. M., Leclerc-Bedard. L., & Laursen. B. (2025, May) The wrong stuff: Characteristics of youth involved in enemy relationships. [Poster Presentation]. Society of Research on Child Development, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Leggett-James. M.P., Selover. M., Leclerc-Bedard. L., Altman. R., Sherrod. L., & Laursen. B. (2025, May) Loneliness as a precursor to adolescent withdrawal and peer difficulties. Society of Research on Child Development, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Guillont. M., Selover. M., Bakaityte. A., Kaniusonyte. G., Zukauskiene. R., & Laursen. B. (2025, May) Friend loss exacerbates adjustment difficulties among shy children. [Poster Presentation]. Society of Research on Child Development, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Sherrod. L., Madeira Borri. M., Selover. M., & Laursen. B. (2025, May) Who do you want to be friends with? The characteristics of those who make and receive desired friend nominations. [Poster Presentation]. Society of Research on Child Development, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Guillont. M., Selover. M., Madeira Borri. M., & Laursen. B. (2025, May) Higher-ranked friend nominations are mranked friend noore likely to beminations.[Poste reciprocated than lower-r Presentation]. Society of Research on Child Development, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Selover, M., Leggett-James, M. P., & Laursen, B. (2024, April 18-20). The rise of friend selection similarity across the transition into adolescence. [Poster Presentation]. Society for Research on Adolescence Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL. https://www.s-r-a.org/2024- annual-meeting-portal
Leggett-James, M. P., Selover, M., Leclerc-Bedard, L.-A., & Laursen, B. (2024, April 18-20). More about being fun: Making friends to maximize social status. [Poster Presentation]. Society for Research on Adolescence Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL. https://www.s-r- a.org/2024-annual-meeting-portal
Fall 2024
Susan T. Dewar Memorial Award, Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University
Society of Research on Adolescents, Student Membership
American Psychological Association Division 7, Student Membership
Member of the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Club at Florida Atlantic University
Department of Psychology
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton, Florida 33431