How childhood, teen years, and COVID shape adjustment in young adulthood across cultures
Childhood, Adolescence, and Covid-Related Risk and Protective Factors in the Development of Adjustment in Early Adulthood Across Cultures
This project follows people from childhood into their mid-20s across nine countries to find which childhood, teen, and COVID-related experiences help young adults cope and thrive.
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-11123994 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be one of more than 1,400 people first recruited at age 8 in 2008 from nine countries and followed with annual interviews of children and parents. The team has kept about 90% of the original sample and will now interview participants and their parents annually when they are about 22–26 years old. Interviews and questionnaires ask about family relationships, mental health, risk behaviors, opportunities, and COVID-era experiences to see which factors help or harm adjustment in early adulthood. The project compares results across countries to learn how cultural and family differences shape young adults' outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are young adults aged roughly 22–26 from the participating countries who can report on their childhood, family life, and experiences during the COVID period.
Not a fit: People who are not in the early-20s age range, are not from the participating countries, or are unwilling to complete interviews and questionnaires are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could identify childhood, family, and COVID-related experiences that protect young adults from mental health problems, substance use, and other preventable harms.
How similar studies have performed: Previous long-term studies have linked childhood family factors to adult mental health, and this large international cohort with high retention builds on that established evidence.
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.