Fathers’ early interactions with babies may affect child health years later
How a new father behaves toward his baby can change family dynamics in a way that affects the child’s heart and metabolic health years later, according to a new study by researchers in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development. In the study, recently published in Health Psychology, the…
Why Social Science? - Because Research-Informed Policy Strengthens Children and Families
This month's Why Social Science? post comes from the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) about what they're doing to continue to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and the connections between policymakers and researchers. By Suzanne Le Menestrel, Juan Romero-Casillas, and…
Newly named Child Health Research Center to advance health of children, families
Since 2004, the Center for Childhood Obesity Research in Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development has developed evidence-based strategies to promote healthy growth and eating behaviors in children and families. In recognition of the interconnectedness of children’s physical, mental and…
Early brain and child development study data now available
The first wave of data Penn State's HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) study is now available to researchers interested in addressing a wide-range of questions, including how environments and substances impact infant and child development. In 2021, the National Institute on Drug Abuse…
New Research Snapshots shed light on the economic and social impacts of caregivers in the North Central and Northeast U.S.
A multi-state team of researchers has released preliminary findings from a groundbreaking survey that examined the caregiving experiences of households in the North Central and Northeast regions of the U.S. The findings were released as two regionally focused “Research Snapshots,” which provide…
Immigrant families focus of recent national symposium
The 31st Annual National Symposium on Family Issues recently was held at Penn State’s University Park campus and focused on how immigration policies impact the rapidly growing migrant family demographic. “Twenty-six percent of all children living in the United States live with an immigrant…