Mateus Morante Mazzaferro

Mateus Mazzaferro is a doctoral student in the Developmental and Psychological Sciences program at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education. His research interests center around understanding the psychological development of young children in underserved communities. More specifically, Mateus' research program sheds light on the mechanisms through which hardship and adversity impact caregiving and education systems and, in turn, influence key early psychological outcomes such as executive function and emotional distress.

2024 - 2025 Academic Year | Graduate Student Research Funding

Executive Function Evaluation in The Outback (EFEITO)

Children in the majority world face increasing developmental challenges due to climate change. This study examines how extreme heat exposure impacts the development of executive function (EF) in children from the Brazilian sertão. Using a 12-month longitudinal design, we will assess EF trajectories in 1000 households across Alagoas, Pernambuco, and Ceará, in partnership with Brazilian NGO Amigos do Bem. We hypothesize that higher exposure to extreme heat will predict lower EF performance and bluted EF growth trajectories. We also exploratorily evaluate potential buffering factors against extreme heat, such as access to running water, housing, and nutrition. Findings will inform policies aimed at mitigating climate-driven educational disparities and contribute to global EF assessment frameworks.