How historic neighborhood racism affects children's mental health
Illuminating the role of historical structural racism in the neighborhood exposome and modern-day child mental health
This project looks at whether past policies like redlining and highway building changed neighborhood environments in ways that influence children's anxiety, depression, ADHD, and behavior problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11134659 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a parent's point of view, researchers will combine two large child health datasets with historical maps, modern environmental data (like air quality and built features), and local social measurements to create a detailed picture of each neighborhood over time. They will link those neighborhood histories to children's mental health and behavior scores to see which past events still matter today. The team uses geospatial mapping, sensors and remote imagery, and survey-based child mental health measures to build the neighborhood exposome. The goal is to show how long-ago policies continue to affect kids now and point to neighborhood factors that could be changed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children (especially ages 0–11) and families living in historically redlined, displaced, or disinvested neighborhoods—including many Black families—and children with symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, depression, or conduct problems would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without children, or families living in neighborhoods without a history of structural disinvestment, are less likely to see direct, immediate benefits from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal neighborhood drivers rooted in historical racism that raise children's risk for anxiety, depression, ADHD, or behavior problems, guiding policies and local interventions to reduce harm.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked neighborhood disadvantage to child mental health, but combining historical redlining and infrastructure changes with modern environmental measures and child outcomes is a relatively new and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
East Lansing, United States
- Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences — East Lansing, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pearson, Amber L. — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Pearson, Amber L.
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.