How COVID-19 affected teens and their families' mental, social, and behavioral health over time
Prospective intergenerational mixed-methods investigation of the short- and long-term impact of COVID-19 on adolescent mental, social, and behavioral health
Researchers will follow middle-school students from disadvantaged Texas communities and their parents through high school into young adulthood to see how the pandemic changed mental health, behavior, and school outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285424 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers will contact you for annual surveys starting in 12th grade and continuing until participants are about 21 years old. Parents of enrolled students will also be invited to provide information about family context and pandemic-related experiences. The project builds on an existing randomized school program so investigators already have pre-pandemic baseline measures to compare against. Surveys and interviews will cover mood (depression, anxiety), social environments (school climate, living situation), and behaviors (substance use, dating violence, bullying, coping).
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people who were students in the original 2018 Texas middle-school cohort (and their parents), especially those from the disadvantaged communities included in the trial.
Not a fit: People who were not part of the original cohort or who live outside the targeted geographic and age range are unlikely to be directly involved or to receive study-related benefits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could reveal which pandemic-related changes led to lasting problems or resilience and guide supports for teens and families.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has documented increases in youth anxiety and depression after the pandemic, but having pre-pandemic baseline data like this cohort makes the findings more informative and somewhat uncommon.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Temple, Jeff R — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Temple, Jeff R
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.