Individual, Family, and Societal Factors that Influence Adolescent Health

University of Alabama at Birmingham: Center for Health Promotion

University of California at Los Angeles: UCLA–RAND Center for Adolescent Health Promotion

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston: University of Texas Prevention Research Center

Topics:
Healthy Youth | Nutrition & Physical Activity for Youth | Obesity & Overweight

Researchers at three centers are identifying the factors that influence adolescents’ health and health-risk behaviors. The study—in Alabama, California, and Texas—includes 9,000 African American, Hispanic, and white children aged 8 years, who will be assessed every year through age 20. (A subset will be followed into adulthood and evaluated every 10 years to explore the relationship between early child development and adult health outcomes). Several characteristics of the children, their families, neighborhoods, and communities are being measured and analyzed. Characteristics among children include their body mass index, blood pressure, blood lipid levels, English-language skills, temperament, behavioral and emotional problems, and growth patterns. Over time, other characteristics will be examined such as study participants’ start of puberty, dating behavior, and part-time employment. Researchers will also assess factors such as the parenting style, health values, and socioeconomic status of the children’s families and the characteristics of participants’ peers, neighborhoods, and communities. Results will be used to develop programs that can improve the health and well-being of children, adolescents, and adults in different racial or ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

 

Back to Research Projects