How childhood, parenting, and COVID shape well-being in young adults across cultures
Childhood, Adolescence, and Covid-Related Risk and Protective Factors in the Development of Adjustment in Early Adulthood Across Cultures
This project looks at how childhood experiences, parenting, and COVID-related factors influence young adults’ mental health, behaviors, and life choices across nine countries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11380390 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You're part of a long-term project that began in 2008 tracking 1,417 children and their parents from nine countries as the children grew up. The team conducts yearly interviews with the young adults and their mothers and fathers about family relationships, mental health, substance use, decision-making, and cultural values. With about 90% retention, researchers will follow participants now aged 22–26 to see how earlier experiences and pandemic-related risks or supports relate to adjustment in early adulthood. The project compares patterns across countries to identify shared and culture-specific influences on risk and resilience.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are young adults roughly 22–26 years old and their parents who were enrolled in the Parenting Across Cultures cohort from China, Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Philippines, Sweden, Thailand, or the United States.
Not a fit: People with urgent medical needs or those who did not grow up in the cohort countries are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this observational longitudinal research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to parenting and cultural factors that protect young adults’ mental and physical health and guide better prevention and support programs.
How similar studies have performed: Long-term cohort studies have linked childhood and family environments to adult outcomes before, but this project’s large, multi-country scope and focus on COVID-related factors introduce relatively novel elements.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lansford, Jennifer E — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Lansford, Jennifer E
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.