Expansion of Childhood Relationship Study to Young Adult Romantic Relationships

NCT01866852 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 99991311313-CH-N113
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 259
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: \- An earlier study on child development focused on the relationship between children and their caregivers (usually mothers). It looked at how this relationship influenced children's social and mental development. It also studied how these children related with family members and friends. Researchers are now interested in expanding the study with the same group of children. They want to look at these children, who are now young adults, and focus on their current romantic relationships. This new study will look at how child development affects the formation of stable, mature romantic relationships in young adulthood. Original child study participants and their significant others will be included in the new study. Only participants who are living together with a partner will be studied. Objectives: \- To look at romantic partnerships in a childhood study s original participants and their significant others. Eligibility:

• Participants of the 88-CH-32 study who are at least 18 years of age.
• Significant others of the study participants who are at least 18 years of age.
• Original participants and significant others must be cohabiting (living together). Design:
• No screening tests will be required for this study. No study visits will be needed. Samples will not be collected.
• Original study participants will fill out four online questionnaires. They will be on a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHHD) website. They will ask personal questions about relationships with the current romantic partner and other important people. The questions will take about 25 minutes to answer.
• Significant others will fill out 13 online questionnaires. They will be on a NICHHD website. They will ask personal questions about the romantic partner and other important people. The questions will take about 1.5 hours to answer.
• All participants will receive a small amount of money for completing the study.

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

Longitudinal Study; Natural History

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Romantic Relationship Quality

  Romantic Relationship Quality

  Ongoing

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Original child (now adult) study participants from protocol 88-CH-0032 and their significant others will be included in the new study. Only participants who are living together with a partner will be studied.

You may not qualify if:

• Among the young adult target children from study 88-CH-32 (N = 250), those with significant others are eligible to participate in this study, as are their significant others. However if a target child s significant other is a minor (i.e., under the age of 18), that significant other will not be eligible to participate.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 9000 Rockville

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Amato PR, Booth A. The legacy of parents' marital discord: consequences for children's marital quality. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2001 Oct;81(4):627-38.

  PMID: 11642350 BACKGROUND

• Arnett JJ. Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. Am Psychol. 2000 May;55(5):469-80.

  PMID: 10842426 BACKGROUND

• Beach SR, O'Leary KD. Dysphoria and marital discord: are dysphoric individuals at risk for marital maladjustment? J Marital Fam Ther. 1993 Oct;19(4):355-68. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.1993.tb00998.x.

  PMID: 21118474 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Diane L Putnick, Ph.D.

  Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: NIH
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 29, 2013
• First Posted: June 3, 2013
• Study Start: May 29, 2013
• Primary Completion: August 15, 2019
• Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12-19

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)