Dr. Nathalie Fontaine

Biography

Nathalie Fontaine is a Full Professor at the Université de Montréal, specifically in the School of Criminology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences. She leads the Center for the Study of Youth Development and Adaptation (CEDAJ). Her research focuses on the development of behavioral problems in youth, risk and protective factors associated with these issues, and their linkage to mental health challenges such as depression and substance use. Fontaine is particularly interested in emotional insensitivity traits—like lack of empathy and low guilt—among youth, which are risk factors linked to persistent antisocial behaviors. Utilizing a range of research methods, including longitudinal data analysis and laboratory studies, her work emphasizes differences between genders in the manifestation of behavioral problems. She aims to translate her findings into practical applications, promoting mental health in young individuals through tailored intervention strategies and evaluation programs. Currently, she leads multiple research projects, including studies on the role of emotional competence in sexual violence exposure and initiatives for mentoring youth receiving socio-judicial services. Fontaine recruits Master's and Doctoral students for funded research projects in these areas, emphasizing the importance of understanding emotional experiences and facilitating healthy development among at-risk youth.

Research Interests