Xiaohui Sophie Li, Ph.D. CFLE, AFC^®

Title:	Professor
Unit:	Human Development and Family Sciences
Office Location:	Wirtz Hall 122F
Office Phone:	815-753-6345
Office Fax:	815-753-1321
Email:	xli@niu.edu

Courses Taught

• HDFS 284: Introduction to Family Relationships
• HDFS 343: Family Financial Planning
• HDFS 344: Financial Counseling
• HDFS 384: Asian American Families
• HDFS 437/537: Parent-Child Interaction 
• HDFS 445/545: Management of Human and Family Resources

Educational Background

• Ph.D., University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Family Social Science
• M.Ed., Beijing Normal University, Health and Clinical Psychology
• BEc, China Agricultural University, International Economics and Trade 

Certification

• Certified Family Life Educator
• Accredited Financial Counselor

Academic Research Interests

My research examines how family relationships, financial socialization, and broader social and ecological contexts shape individual and family well-being across the life course and across generations. My specific areas of interest include:

• Family financial well-being, financial socialization, financial capability, and financial counseling, coaching, and education.
• Diversity in couple and family relationships, processes, dynamics, and functioning.
• Systemic and ecological influences on child development and intergenerational health and well-being.
• The roles of learned resourcefulness, resilience, and social support in mental health and individual and family functioning.

Professional Service

• Board Director, Northern Illinois Federal Credit Union
• Editorial Board Member, Journal of Family and Economic Issues
• National Treasurer and Board Director, Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society

Selected Publications

Li, X., Kong, D., Khan, M. A., Kelley, H. H., Li, X., Homes, E., & Yorgason, J. (2026). For richer, for poorer: Associations among financial distress, power distribution, and depressive symptoms amid heightened inequality across the COVID-19 pandemic. Personal Relationships.

Li, X., Li, X., Curran, M., Wheeler, B., Holmes, E., James, S., Herrera, C., & Howlett, E. (2025). Navigating the past and present: Links among family-of-origin adversity, secure attachment behaviors, and marital satisfaction. Family Relations, 74(5), 2526-2545.

Li, X., Wikle, J., Schraedel, J., Yorgason, J., & James, S. (2023). Relational communication as a moderator for links between family of origin adversity and marital satisfaction. Family Relations, 72(4), 1955-1973.

Li, X. & Guan, X. (2021). Mother-daughter work-family-roles transmissions: Effects on daughter’s work and family satisfaction. The Family Journal, 29(2), 227-236.

Li, X. (2021). What impacts young generations’ school/college education through the lens of family economics? A review on JFEI publications in the past ten years. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 42(1), 118-123.