How childhood, teen years and COVID shape early 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 now in their early twenties to see how their childhood, teenage years, and pandemic experiences influence their health, choices, and well‑being across different 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-11380388 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be followed from age 8 through your early twenties, with yearly interviews you and your parents complete about family relationships, behaviors, and beliefs. The team interviews young adults and their parents in nine countries and compares responses across cultures to link early-life and COVID-related experiences to outcomes like mental health, substance use, relationships, education, and work. Because the same people have been followed since childhood with about 90% retention, the project can trace long-term patterns for individuals. Data come from interviews and questionnaires rather than medical procedures.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people about 22–26 years old who were part of the Parenting Across Cultures cohort or similar individuals from the nine participating countries and their parents.
Not a fit: People who are much older or younger than the 22–26 age range, who live outside the included countries, or who need immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to gain direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Results could point to family, cultural, and policy changes that help prevent mental health problems and risky behaviors and improve supports for young adults.
How similar studies have performed: Long-term birth-to-adulthood cohort studies have linked early experiences to adult outcomes, but this large cross-cultural, COVID-inclusive approach is relatively unique.
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.