How Early Family Deaths Affect Young Adults' Lives

Early Family Member Deaths and Disrupted Transitions into Adulthood

NIH-funded research University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11176342

This project looks at how losing a family member early in life shapes the path young people take into adulthood, especially for different racial and ethnic groups.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Texas at Austin NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Austin, United States)
Project IDNIH-11176342 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

We want to understand how the loss of a family member during childhood or adolescence can affect a young person's journey into adulthood. This includes looking at how these experiences might influence their education, career, and family life. We are also exploring the emotional, mental, and physical ways that early loss can impact well-being. The project uses information from a large national group of young people, along with detailed local information, to get a full picture. Our goal is to uncover the specific challenges faced by young adults who have experienced early family deaths, particularly within different racial and ethnic communities.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This project focuses on young people who have experienced the death of a family member during their childhood or adolescence.

Not a fit: Patients not directly affected by early family member deaths would not be the primary focus of this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Understanding these connections could help us develop better support systems and resources for young people coping with early family loss.

How similar studies have performed: This project builds on previous work by the researchers, using a new combination of methods to explore these complex issues.

Where this research is happening

Austin, 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.