Several important studies have contributed to our understanding of the factors and mechanisms by which experiences, behaviors, and traits in adolescence and emerging adulthood forecast the capacity to be a competent parent and raise a healthy, prosocial child. We propose to build on this work by leveraging a large, longitudinal intervention study (PROSPER) to:
(AIM 1) Assess a developmental model that links key adolescent risk and protective factors to three critical factors in emerging adulthood (relationship competence, mental health, and risky behavior including substance use). These emerging adult factors, measured at ages 19?22, are in turn hypothesized to predict the quality of the early childrearing environment, measured at ages 24?28. Finally, we trace these pathways forward to estimate the unique, relative, and combined influences of these adolescent-to-young-adulthood pathways on key domains of child adjustment.
(AIM 2) Evaluate, with the model developed in AIM 1, whether previously demonstrated intervention effects on adolescents? family relationships, peer network dynamics, and risky behaviors (substance use and conduct problems) in this sample lead to impact during the family formation period on the childrearing environment and early childhood adjustment. To pursue these aims, we will conduct home visits across three years with 350 young adult parents (and their families) whom we have followed since 6th grade in a randomized trial of PROSPER. The results of this project will yield insights into the adolescent and emerging adulthood factors that can be targeted to improve childrearing environments, as well as yield new information on the contribution of adolescent-focused substance use prevention to the adjustment and health of the next generation.
/Public Health Statement We propose to leverage a large, longitudinal intervention study (PROSPER) to assess the relative influence of key adolescent/emerging adulthood developmental pathways that predict the quality of childrearing environments provided by PROSPER participants in young adulthood. By testing multiple pathways, this project will yield new insights into the key adolescent and emerging adulthood factors that can be targeted to improve childrearing environments for the next generation; contribute new knowledge about the scope of effects of prevention with novel implications for cost-benefit analyses; and expand the domain of costs/benefits included in analyses of prevention from a focus solely on program participants? own life trajectories to include costs/benefits associated with future childrearing factors and the adjustment of children in the next generation.
| Xia, Mengya; Fosco, Gregory M; Lippold, Melissa A et al. (2018) A Developmental Perspective on Young Adult Romantic Relationships: Examining Family and Individual Factors in Adolescence. J Youth Adolesc 47:1499-1516 |
