Prenatal to Preschool: how stress affects families and young children
Official title: Prenatal to Preschool: elucidating the impact of stressors in two cohorts of mothers, fathers/secondary caregivers and their developing young children
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11423658 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant follows families from birth through early childhood to understand how stressors affect parenting and child development, with a focus on mothers’ mental health and its impact on infants and young children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 6, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $520,787 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH128593-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423658 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families with very young children (under age 5), especially Black and White mothers experiencing mental health challenges, who can participate in longitudinal assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Families without access to needed clinical resources or those who do not consent to longitudinal follow-up may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
The project looks at how stress and mental health during and after pregnancy influence parenting and early neurodevelopment in children under 5. It uses multiple methods to track families over time, especially Black and White mothers experiencing mental health challenges. By identifying factors early, the study aims to tailor timely, precise interventions to support families and promote healthier child development. The research is conducted at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with a focused plan to follow participants through critical early years.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to targeted support strategies that improve maternal well-being and child development during the peripartum period and early childhood.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows maternal mental health influences child development, and this study builds on that by focusing on peripartum periods and diverse populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Njoroge, Wanjiku Felicia Mbugua — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Njoroge, Wanjiku Felicia Mbugua
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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.