The proposed research project investigates the ways in which adolescent social relationships promote or inhibit the development of healthy adult family relationships. Three ideas rooted in the family literature of several disciplines motivate this project: 1) relationships early in life are socializing agents for later life social relationships; 2) adolescent relationships from various domains are important for later social relationships; and 3) content and quality of relationships, rather than mere existence, are important dimensions that condition the effects of early relationships on later relationships. The project will assess how adolescent social relationships affect the development and maintenance of young adults' family relationships with cohabiting partners, spouses, and young children. The analyses rely on data from four complementary sources: The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health); the Youth Development Study (YDS); the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH); and the Minnesota Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (MLSPC). The proposed development plan is designed to accomplish four objectives: 1) to develop a cross-disciplinary understanding of early life course relationships using ideas from demography, sociology and developmental psychology; 2) to expand the range and depth of my substantive and technical knowledge on the developmental significance of early social relationships; 3) to present new work at scholarly conferences and publish in leading journals; and 4) to prepare a grant proposal to support an independent research program. Training components include mentorship by leading family demography, life course and social relationship scholars, participation in workshops and seminars, and coursework in child psychology and methodology. This research and training proposal brings together insights from multiple disciplines to understand the contribution of a constellation of adolescent relationships on social relationship development into adulthood.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01HD049571-03
Application #
7228810
Study Section
Pediatrics Subcommittee (CHHD)
Program Officer
King, Rosalind B
Project Start
2005-05-01
Project End
2010-04-30
Budget Start
2007-05-01
Budget End
2008-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$116,878
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Type
Organized Research Units
DUNS #
555917996
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
Meier, Ann; Erickson, Gina A; McLaughlin, Heather (2016) Older Sexual Partners and Adolescent Females' Mental Health. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 48:25-33
Musick, Kelly; Meier, Ann (2012) ASSESSING CAUSALITY AND PERSISTENCE IN ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN FAMILY DINNERS AND ADOLESCENT WELL-BEING. J Marriage Fam 74:476-493
Meier, Ann; Lam, David (2011) Creating Statistically Literate Global Citizens: The Use of IPUMS-International Integrated Census Microdata in Teaching. Stat J IAOS 27:145-156
Hull, Kathleen E; Meier, Ann; Ortyl, Timothy (2010) The Changing Landscape of Love and Marriage. Contexts (Berkeley Calif) 9:32-37
Musick, Kelly; Meier, Ann (2010) Are both parents always better than one? Parental conflict and young adult well-being. Soc Sci Res 39:814-30
Meier, Ann; Hull, Kathleen E; Ortyl, Timothy A (2009) Young Adult Relationship Values at the Intersection of Gender and Sexuality. J Marriage Fam 71:510-525
Meier, Ann; Allen, Gina (2009) Romantic Relationships from Adolescence to Young Adulthood: Evidence from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Sociol Q 50:308-335