How financial stress and opportunities shape oral health in young adults
Economic Stressors and Opportunities as Influences of Emerging Adult Oral Health
Researchers will track people moving from adolescence into adulthood to see how money, schooling, work, and behavior affect their dental and overall health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11314586 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a group of young people who are followed over time as they move into adulthood. The team will collect detailed information about economic circumstances, social supports, and daily behaviors while doing dental and general health checks. They will compare experiences across race, ethnicity, and gender identity to find the specific pathways that link socioeconomic factors to oral disease. The study aims to identify points when supports like education or economic opportunity could help prevent cavities and gum or oral disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are emerging adults (roughly ages 18–25) from diverse socioeconomic and racial/ethnic backgrounds who are transitioning in education, work, or living situations.
Not a fit: People well past the emerging adult stage or those seeking immediate dental treatment rather than contributing to long-term research may not directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could reveal specific social or behavioral supports during emerging adulthood that help prevent long-term oral diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior studies have linked socioeconomic factors to oral health, but few have prospectively followed emerging adults with detailed economic and behavioral measures, so this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chaffee, Benjamin W — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Chaffee, Benjamin W
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.