How COVID school closures affected children with or at risk for disabilities and their families

Investigating the impacts of COVID-19 school closures on long-term adjustment in youth with or at risk for disability

NIH-funded research University of Oregon · NIH-11468613

This project follows children and their caregivers over time to understand how pandemic-related school closures changed children's behavior and parents' wellbeing.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Oregon NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Eugene, United States)
Project IDNIH-11468613 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You and your child would be followed over three years using questionnaires and records already collected from four earlier studies. The team will combine data from 613 children ages 4–15, their caregivers, and teachers from Oregon and California, including children with and without developmental disabilities. Some families previously received parenting training in earlier trials, and researchers will compare how everyone adjusted after school closures. Six additional check-ins (fall and spring) will track changes in child emotional and behavioral problems and parent adjustment.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are families in Oregon or California with children aged 4–15 who were previously enrolled in the related longitudinal cohorts, including children with or without developmental disabilities.

Not a fit: Families who were not part of the original enrolled cohorts or who live outside the study regions are unlikely to be able to join or directly benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide better supports and services for children and families recovering from pandemic school disruptions.

How similar studies have performed: Earlier randomized trials of behavioral parent-training have shown benefits for child behavior and parent adjustment, but long-term effects after pandemic-related school closures remain unclear.

Where this research is happening

Eugene, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.