Baby's First Years

NCT03593356 | Active Not Recruiting Results DMC

• 3 other identifiers: 20163336R01HD0873842R01HD087384
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 1,000
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Recent advances in developmental neuroscience suggest that experiences early in life can have profound and enduring influences on the developing brain. Family economic resources shape the nature of many of these experiences, yet the extent to which they affect children's development is unknown. The project's team of neuroscientists, economists and developmental psychologists is seeking to fill important gaps in scientific knowledge about the role of economic resources in early development by evaluating the first U.S. randomized controlled trial to determine whether unconditional cash gift payments have a causal effect on the cognitive, socio-emotional and brain development of infants and toddlers in low-income U.S. families. Specifically, 1,000 mothers of infants with incomes below the federal poverty line from four diverse U.S. communities were recruited from post-partum wards and are receiving monthly cash gift payments by debit card for the first 76 months of the child's life. Parents in the experimental group and receiving $333 per month ($3,996 per year), whereas parents in the active comparator group are receiving a nominal monthly payment of $20. In order to understand the impacts of the added income on children's cognitive and behavioral development, the investigators are assessing treatment group differences at ages 4 (this lab assessment was postponed from age 3 to age 4 due to Covid-19), 6, and 8 in lab-administered measures of cognitive, language, and self-regulation development and maternal reports of socio-emotional development. A number of other maternal-reported child outcome measures were gathered at ages 1, 2 and 3. Brain circuitry may be sensitive to the effects of early experience even before early behavioral differences can be detected. In order to understand the impacts of added income on children's brain functioning at age 4, 6, and 8, the investigators will assess, during a lab visit, experimental/active comparator group differences in measures of brain activity (electroencephalography \[EEG\]). The targeted age for each data collection wave is around the child's birthday, i.e. at 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, 72 months, and 96 months. To understand how family economic behavior, parenting, and parent stress and well-being change in response to income enhancement, the investigators will assess experimental/active comparator differences in family expenditures, food insecurity, housing and neighborhood quality, family routines and time use, parent stress, mental health and cognition, parenting practices, and child care and preschool arrangements. School readiness and outcomes are being assessed at ages 6 and 8. This study will thus provide the first definitive understanding of the extent to which income plays a causal role in determining early child cognitive, socio-emotional and brain development among low-income families.

Conditions

Child Development; Brain Development; Household and Family Processes

Keywords

Poverty; Income; Child Development; Brain Development

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (32)

• Child Language Development: Vocabulary

  Measured by Receptive One Word Picture Vocabulary Test (ROWPVT). We analyze conceptual vocabulary scores. Minimum raw value: 0; Maximum raw value: 111. Higher score indicates a better outcome. References: Martin, N. A., \& Brownell, R. (2011). ROWPVT-4: Receptive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test.

  Age 48 months

• Child Language Development: Vocabulary

  Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary (EOWPVT) monolingual and bilingual version. Score range monolingual version: 0-185, bilingual version: 0-180; higher scores indicate better performance. Because the two versions of the test are not co-normed, the primary outcome will be a derived "conceptual score" or sum of the raw scores on all individual items that appear on both versions of the test. Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: Martin, N., \& Brownell, R. (2011). Expressive one-word picture vocabulary test (4th ed.). Novato: Academic Therapy Publications.

  Age 6

• Child Language Development: Vocabulary

  Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary (EOWPVT) monolingual and bilingual version. Score range monolingual version: 0-185, bilingual version: 0-180; higher scores indicate better performance. Because the two versions of the test are not co-normed, the primary outcome will be a derived "conceptual score" or sum of the raw scores on all individual items that appear on both versions of the test. Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: Martin, N., \& Brownell, R. (2011). Expressive one-word picture vocabulary test (4th ed.). Novato: Academic Therapy Publications. If reporting a score on a scale, please include the unabbreviated scale title, the minimum and maximum values, and whether higher scores mean a better or worse outcome.

  Age 8

• Child Language Development: Maternal Concern for Language Delay

  Measured by the sum of the two questions listed below included in the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS): 1. Do you have any concerns about how your child talks and makes speech sounds? (0: No; 1: Yes or a little) 2. Do you have any concerns about how your child understands what you say? (0: No; 1: Yes or a little)". Minimum score: 0; Maximum score: 2. Higher score indicates worse outcome. We will estimate the statistical significance of the entire family of related measures in the Child Language Development outcome cluster measured during the same wave using step-down resampling methods for multiple testing (see statistical analysis plan for more details; Westfall and Young, 1993). Reference: Glascoe FP. Parents' Evaluations of Developmental Status: A Method for Detecting and Addressing Developmental and Behavioral Problems in Children. Nashville, TN: Ellsworth \& Vandermeer Press, 1997.

  Age 36 months

• Child Executive Function & Behavioral Regulation: Executive Function

  Executive Function measured by Minnesota Executive Function Scale. We analyze standard scores. Minimum score: 60; Maximum score: 140. Higher score indicates a better outcome. Reference: Carlson, S.M. (2017). Minnesota Executive Function Scale: Technical report. Carlson, S. M., \& Zelazo, P. D. (2014). Minnesota Executive Function Scale: Test Manual. St. Paul, MN: Reflection Sciences, Inc.

  Age 48 months

• Child Executive Function & Behavioral Regulation: Executive Function

  Measured by the Minnesota Executive Function Scale (MEFS); score range: 0-100; higher scores indicate better performance. Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: Carlson, S.M. (2017). Minnesota Executive Function Scale: Technical report. Carlson, S. M., \& Zelazo, P. D. (2014). Minnesota Executive Function Scale: Test Manual. St. Paul, MN: Reflection Sciences, Inc.

  Age 6

• Child Executive Function & Behavioral Regulation: Executive Function

  Measured by the Minnesota Executive Function Scale (MEFS); score range: 0-100; higher scores indicate better performance. Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: Carlson, S.M. (2017). Minnesota Executive Function Scale: Technical report. Carlson, S. M., \& Zelazo, P. D. (2014). Minnesota Executive Function Scale: Test Manual. St. Paul, MN: Reflection Sciences, Inc.

  Age 8

• Child Executive Function & Behavioral Regulation: Inhibitory Control and Attention

  Measured by the NIH Toolbox Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention task. Score range: 0-30; higher scores indicate better performance.Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: National Institutes of Health and Northwestern University (2006-2023). NIH Toolbox® for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function Administrator's Manual. NIHToolbox.org. Gershon, R. C., Wagster, M. V., Hendrie, H. C., Fox, N. A., Cook, K. F., \& Nowinski, C. J. (2013). NIH Toolbox for assessment of neurological and behavioral function. Neurology, 80(11 Suppl 3), S2-S6. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182872e5f Weintraub S, Bauer PJ, Zelazo PD, Wallner-Allen K, Dikmen SS, Heaton RK, Tulsky DS, Slotkin J, Blitz DL, Carlozzi NE, Havlik RJ, Beaumont JL, Mungas D, Manly JJ, Borosh BG, Nowinski CJ, Gershon RC. I. NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (CB): introduction and pediatric data. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev. 2013 Aug;78(4):1-15. doi: 10.1111/mono.12031. PMID: 23952199

  Age 6

• Child Executive Function & Behavioral Regulation: Inhibitory Control and Attention

  Measured by the NIH Toolbox Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention task. Score range: 0-30; higher scores indicate better performance.Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: National Institutes of Health and Northwestern University (2006-2023). NIH Toolbox® for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function Administrator's Manual. NIHToolbox.org. Gershon, R. C., Wagster, M. V., Hendrie, H. C., Fox, N. A., Cook, K. F., \& Nowinski, C. J. (2013). NIH Toolbox for assessment of neurological and behavioral function. Neurology, 80(11 Suppl 3), S2-S6. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182872e5f Weintraub S, Bauer PJ, Zelazo PD, Wallner-Allen K, Dikmen SS, Heaton RK, Tulsky DS, Slotkin J, Blitz DL, Carlozzi NE, Havlik RJ, Beaumont JL, Mungas D, Manly JJ, Borosh BG, Nowinski CJ, Gershon RC. I. NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (CB): introduction and pediatric data. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev. 2013 Aug;78(4):1-15. doi: 10.1111/mono.12031. PMID: 23952199

  Age 8

• Child Executive Function & Behavioral Regulation: Working Memory

  Measured by the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) picture memory subtest. Picture Memory score range: 0-35, higher scores indicate better performance. Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group.We pre-register three scores (MEFS, Flanker, Picture Memory),with a plan to do a confirmatory factor analysis and pre-register the impact on the common factor. Reference: Wechsler, D. (2012). Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

  Age 6

• Child Executive Function & Behavioral Regulation: Working Memory

  Measured by Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children: 5th Edition (WISC-V) subtest Digit Span. Score Range 0-54. Higher scores indicate better performance. We will pre-register three scores (MEFS, Flanker, Digit Span),with a plan to do a confirmatory factor analysis and pre-register the impact on the common factor. Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: Wechsler, D. (2014). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fifth Edition (WISC-V). Bloomington, MN: Pearson.

  Age 8

• Child Socio-Emotional Processing: Behavior/Problems

  Behavior/Problems measured by Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Minimum score: 0; Maximum score: 82. Higher score indicates a better outcome. We will estimate the statistical significance of the entire family of related measures in the Child Socio-Emotional Processing outcome cluster measured during the same wave using step-down resampling methods for multiple testing (see statistical analysis plan for more details; Westfall and Young, 1993). Reference: Achenbach, T. M., \& Ruffle, T. M. (2000). The Child Behavior Checklist and related forms for assessing behavioral/emotional problems and competencies. Pediatrics in review, 21(8), 265-271.

  Age 36 months

• Child Socio-Emotional Processing: Maternal Concern for Behavioral and Social-Emotional Problems

  Measured by the sum of the two questions listed below, which are part of the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS): 1. Do you have any concerns about how your child behaves? (0: No; 1: Yes or a little) 2. Do you have any concerns about how your child gets along with others? (0: No; 1: Yes or a little). Minimum score: 0; Maximum score: 2. Higher score indicates worse outcome. We will estimate the statistical significance of the entire family of related measures in the Child Socio-Emotional Processing outcome cluster measured during the same wave using step-down resampling methods for multiple testing (see statistical analysis plan for more details; Westfall and Young, 1993). Reference: Glascoe FP. Parents' Evaluations of Developmental Status: A Method for Detecting and Addressing Developmental and Behavioral Problems in Children. Nashville, TN: Ellsworth \& Vandermeer Press, 1997.

  Age 36 months

• Child Socio-Emotional Processing: Behavior/Problems

  Behavior/Problems measured by Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). We analyze a preregistered index (sum of raw scores on 4 subscales: Anxiety/Depression, Aggressive Behavior, Attention Problems, and Emotionally Reactive). Minimum score: 0; Maximum score: 82. Higher score indicates a better outcome. Reference: Achenbach, T. M., \& Ruffle, T. M. (2000). The Child Behavior Checklist and related forms for assessing behavioral/emotional problems and competencies. Pediatrics in review, 21(8), 265-271.

  Age 48 months

• Child Socio-Emotional Processing: Behavior/Problems

  Measured by the Brief Problem Monitor (BPM), assesses attentional, behavioral, and internalizing problems in children. 19 questions and answer choices. Score range: 0-38; higher scores indicate more behavioral problems. Expect lower scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: Achenbach, T. M., McConaughy, S. H., Ivanova, M. Y., \& Rescorla, L. A. (2011). Manual for the ASEBA Brief Problem Monitor (BPM). Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth, \& Families.: ASEBA.

  Age 6

• Child Socio-Emotional Processing: Behavior/Problems

  Measured by the Brief Problem Monitor (BPM), assesses attentional, behavioral, and internalizing problems in children. 19 questions and answer choices. Score range: 0-38; higher scores indicate more behavioral problems. Expect lower scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: Achenbach, T. M., McConaughy, S. H., Ivanova, M. Y., \& Rescorla, L. A. (2011). Manual for the ASEBA Brief Problem Monitor (BPM). Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth, \& Families.: ASEBA.

  Age 8

• Child Brain Function: Resting Brain Function

  Measured by high-density in-lab electroencephalography (EEG). Because of limitations in power expected with multiple testing adjustments, we are preregistering a single composite of mid-to-high-frequency whole-brain power summing across alpha, beta, and gamma bands, from 7 to 45 Hz. The composite will reflect the sum of power values (μV2) for each 1-Hz frequency bin between 7 and 45 Hz. Please see statistical analysis plan for more details. References: Tomalski, P., et al. (2013); Otero, G. A., et. al (2003); Marshall, P. J., et.al. (2004) Troller-Renfree, S. V., et. al. (2022). The impact of a poverty reduction intervention on infant brain activity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(5).

  Age 48 months

• Child Brain Function: Resting Brain Function

  Measured by high-density in-lab electroencephalography (EEG). Ages 6 and 8 Primary hypothesis: Because of limitations in power expected with multiple testing adjustments, we are preregistering a single composite index of mid-to-high-frequency whole-brain power summed across alpha, beta, and gamma bands (defined as between 7 and 45 Hz). This frequency composite index sums absolute power (μV2) across all single-Hz intervals in the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma bands (7-45 Hz). We hypothesize that, in the eyes-closed condition, the high-cash gift group will show more power in this composite relative to the low-cash gift group. One-tailed t-tests will be used to test this directional hypothesis. See the Statistical Analysis Plan (Phase 2) for additional details and references.

  Age 6

• Child Brain Function: Resting Brain Function

  Measured by high-density in-lab electroencephalography (EEG). Ages 6 and 8 Primary hypothesis: Because of limitations in power expected with multiple testing adjustments, we are preregistering a single composite index of mid-to-high-frequency whole-brain power summed across alpha, beta, and gamma bands (defined as between 7 and 45 Hz). This frequency composite index sums absolute power (μV2) across all single-Hz intervals in the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma bands (7-45 Hz). We hypothesize that, in the eyes-closed condition, the high-cash gift group will show more power in this composite relative to the low-cash gift group. One-tailed t-tests will be used to test this directional hypothesis. See the Statistical Analysis Plan (Phase 2) for additional details and references.

  Age 8

• Child Health, Sleep

  Measured by an adapted Short Form of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS™). Minimum score: 3; Maximum score: 15. Higher score indicates a better outcome. Reference: Yu, L., Buysse, D. J., Germain, A., Moul, D. E., Stover, A., Dodds, N. E., ... \& Pilkonis, P. A. (2012). Development of short forms from the PROMIS™ sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairment item banks. Behavioral sleep medicine, 10(1), 6-24.

  Age 36 months

• Child Health, Overall Health, Medical Care, Diagnosis of Condition or Disability

  Measured by an index of six items (see Appendix Table 7 in "Analysis Plan and Measures" document for items). Minimum score: 3; Maximum score: 14. Higher score indicates a worse outcome. Reference: Halim, M. L., Yoshikawa, H., \& Amodio, D. M. (2013). Cross-generational effects of discrimination among immigrant mothers: Perceived discrimination predicts child's healthcare visits for illness. Health Psychology, 32(2), 203.

  Age 36 months

• Child Academic Achievement: Reading

  Woodcock Johnson IV Test of Achievement: Letter-Word ID. Score range: 0-78; higher scores indicate better performance. Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: McGrew, K. S., \& Woodcock, R. W. (2018). Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Achievement. Rolling Meadows, IL: Riverside Publishing.

  Age 6

• Child Academic Achievement: Reading

  Woodcock Johnson IV Test of Achievement: Letter-Word ID. Score range: 0-78; higher scores indicate better performance. Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: McGrew, K. S., \& Woodcock, R. W. (2018). Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Achievement. Rolling Meadows, IL: Riverside Publishing.

  Age 8

• Child Academic Achievement: Reading Comprehension

  Woodcock Johnson IV Test of Achievement: Passage Comprehension. Score range: 0-52. Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: McGrew, K. S., \& Woodcock, R. W. (2018). Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Achievement. Rolling Meadows, IL: Riverside Publishing.

  Age 8

• Child Academic Achievement: Math

  Woodcock Johnson IV Test of Achievement: Letter-Word ID. Score range: 0-78; higher scores indicate better performance. Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: McGrew, K. S., \& Woodcock, R. W. (2018). Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Achievement. Rolling Meadows, IL: Riverside Publishing.

  Age 6

• Child Academic Achievement: Math

  Woodcock Johnson IV Test of Achievement: Letter-Word ID. Score range: 0-78; higher scores indicate better performance. Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: McGrew, K. S., \& Woodcock, R. W. (2018). Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Achievement. Rolling Meadows, IL: Riverside Publishing.

  Age 8

• Child Fluid Reasoning

  Measured by the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) fluid reasoning index, assessed through a composite of two tasks: picture concepts (score range: 0-27; higher scores indicate better performance) and matrix reasoning (score range: 0-26; higher scores indicate better performance). Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Note: The Picture Concept subtest had to be dropped on 9/17/2024 due to floor effects. Reference: Wechsler, D. (2012). Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

  Age 6

• Child Perceptual Reasoning

  Measured by the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence-Second Edition (WASI-II) perceptual reasoning index, assessed through a composite of two tasks: block design (score range: up to 8 years old: 0-57; \> 9 yo: 0-71; higher scores indicate better performance) and matrix reasoning (up to 8 years old: 0-24; \> 9 yo: 0-30; higher scores indicate better performance). Expect higher scores in high- than low-cash gift group. Reference: Wechsler, D. (2011). Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence-Second Edition (WASI-II). San Antonio, TX: NCS Pearson.

  Age 8

• Child Physiological Stress: Nail Cortisol

  Child nail samples will be collected to yield a measure of the concentration of cortisol in pg/mg (picograms per milligram). To ensure cortisol levels are within an expected range, values above 500 and equal to or less than 0 will be assigned a missing value. To account for potential outliers, values below 500 will be truncated at the 99th percentile. Cortisol values will be log-transformed. We hypothesize the high-cash gift group will have lower cortisol values when compared to the low-cash gift group. If both fingernail and toenail are collected we will control for whether fingernail or toenail. Reference: Phillips, R., Kraeuter, A. K., McDermott, B., Lupien, S., \& Sarnyai, Z. (2021). Human nail cortisol as a retrospective biomarker of chronic stress: A systematic review. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 123, 104903.

  Age 6

• Child Physiological Stress: Nail Cortisol

  Child nail samples will be collected to yield a measure of the concentration of cortisol in pg/mg (picograms per milligram). To ensure cortisol levels are within an expected range, values above 500 and equal to or less than 0 will be assigned a missing value. To account for potential outliers, values below 500 will be truncated at the 99th percentile. Cortisol values will be log-transformed. We hypothesize the high-cash gift group will have lower cortisol values when compared to the low-cash gift group. If both fingernail and toenail are collected we will control for whether fingernail or toenail. Reference: Phillips, R., Kraeuter, A. K., McDermott, B., Lupien, S., \& Sarnyai, Z. (2021). Human nail cortisol as a retrospective biomarker of chronic stress: A systematic review. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 123, 104903.

  Age 8

• Maternal Attentional Resources

  NIH Toolbox Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test. Age-corrected standardized score. We expect a higher value of the maternal Flanker score for the high-cash gift group than the low-cash gift mothers. Higher scores indicate better performance. Prior to the Flanker administration, respondent/mother will be asked to listen and reflect for a minute on these questions: "Imagine that an unforeseen event requires of you an immediate $1,000 expense. Are there ways in which you may be able to come up with that amount of money on a very short notice? How would you go about it? How stressful would it be to manage this? Gershon et al. (2013). NIH Toolbox for assessment of neurological and behavioral function. Neurology, 80(11 Suppl 3) S2-S6. Slotkin J, et al. (2012) NIH Toolbox Scoring and Interpretation Guide (Northwestern and NIH). Zelazo PD, et al. (2013) II. NIH Toolbox cognition battery (CB): Measuring executive function and attention. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev 78:16-33.

  Age 6

• Maternal Attentional Resources

  NIH Toolbox Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test. Age-corrected standardized score. We expect a higher value of the maternal Flanker score for the high-cash gift group than the low-cash gift mothers. Higher scores indicate better performance. Prior to the Flanker administration, respondent/mother will be asked to listen and reflect for a minute on these questions: "Imagine that an unforeseen event requires of you an immediate $1,000 expense. Are there ways in which you may be able to come up with that amount of money on a very short notice? How would you go about it? How stressful would it be to manage this? Gershon et al. (2013). NIH Toolbox for assessment of neurological and behavioral function. Neurology, 80(11 Suppl 3) S2-S6. Slotkin J, et al. (2012) NIH Toolbox Scoring and Interpretation Guide (Northwestern and NIH). Zelazo PD, et al. (2013) II. NIH Toolbox cognition battery (CB): Measuring executive function and attention. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev 78:16-33.

  Age 8

Secondary Outcomes (210)

• Child Language Development: Language Milestones

  Age 12 months

• Child Language Development: Vocabulary

  Age 24 months

• Child Executive Function: Executive Function

  Age 48 months

• Child Socio-Emotional Processing: Behavior

  Age 12 months

• Child Socio-Emotional Processing: Problems

  Age 12 months

Study Arms (2)

Monthly cash gift payments of $333

EXPERIMENTAL

These subjects receive $333 each month for 76 months via debit card.

Behavioral: Monthly cash gift payments of $333

Monthly cash gift payments of $20

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

These subjects receive $20 each month for 76 months via debit card.

Behavioral: Monthly cash gift payments of $20

Interventions

Monthly cash gift payments of $333 BEHAVIORAL

These subjects receive $333 each month for 76 months via debit card.

Monthly cash gift payments of $333

Monthly cash gift payments of $20 BEHAVIORAL

These subjects receive $20 each month for 76 months via debit card.

Monthly cash gift payments of $20

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Gender Eligibility Details: Eligibility: Mothers who just gave birth
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• mother 18 years or older;
• household income below the federal poverty threshold in the calendar year prior to the interview, counting the newborn;
• infant admitted to the newborn nursery and not requiring admittance to the intensive care unit;
• residence in the state of recruitment;
• mother not "highly likely" to move to a different state or country in the next 12 months;
• infant to be discharged in the custody of the mother;
• English or Spanish speaking (necessary for administration of instruments used to measure some of the child outcomes);
• singleton birth

You may not qualify if:

• Mothers will not be eligible unless all of the above eight criteria are met.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, Irvine: lead
• Columbia University: collaborator
• University of Wisconsin, Madison: collaborator
• New York University: collaborator
• University of Maryland: collaborator
• University of Nebraska: collaborator
• University of Minnesota: collaborator
• University of New Orleans: collaborator
• University of Michigan: collaborator
• Duke University: collaborator
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

12 hospitals in the following four metropolitan areas: New York, Omaha, New Orleans, and Twin Cities

New York, New York, 10027, United States

Location

Related Publications (22)

• Troller-Renfree SV, Morales S, Leach SC, Bowers ME, Debnath R, Fifer WP, Fox NA, Noble KG. Feasibility of assessing brain activity using mobile, in-home collection of electroencephalography: methods and analysis. Dev Psychobiol. 2021 Sep;63(6):e22128. doi: 10.1002/dev.22128. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

  PMID: 34087950 RESULT

• Troller-Renfree SV, Sperber JF, Hart ER, Costanzo MA, Gennetian LA, Meyer JS, Fox NA, Noble KG. Associations between maternal stress and infant resting brain activity among families residing in poverty in the U.S. Biol Psychol. 2023 Nov;184:108683. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108683. Epub 2023 Sep 15.

  PMID: 37716521 RESULT

• Costanzo MA, Magnuson KA, Gennetian LA, Halpern-Meekin S, Noble KG, Yoshikawa H. Contraception use and satisfaction among mothers with low income: Evidence from the Baby's First Years study. Contraception. 2024 Jan;129:110297. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2023.110297. Epub 2023 Oct 6.

  PMID: 37806470 RESULT

• Sperber JF, Gennetian LA, Hart ER, Kunin-Batson A, Magnuson K, Duncan GJ, Yoshikawa H, Fox NA, Halpern-Meekin S, Noble KG. Unconditional Cash Transfers and Maternal Assessments of Children's Health, Nutrition, and Sleep: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Sep 5;6(9):e2335237. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.35237.

  PMID: 37773497 RESULT

• Premo EM, Magnuson KA, Lorenzo NE, Fox NA, Noble KG. Mental health and sleep quality of low-income mothers of one-year-olds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infant Ment Health J. 2023 Jul;44(4):572-586. doi: 10.1002/imhj.22074.

  PMID: 37439103 RESULT

• Troller-Renfree SV, Hart ER, Sperber JF, Fox NA, Noble KG. Associations among stress and language and socioemotional development in a low-income sample. Dev Psychopathol. 2022 May;34(2):597-605. doi: 10.1017/S0954579421001759. Epub 2022 Mar 8.

  PMID: 35256040 RESULT

• Collins JM, Halpern-Meekin S, Harvey M, Hoiting J. "I Don't Like All Those Fees" Pragmatism About Financial Services Among Low-Income Parents. J Fam Econ Issues. 2022 Nov 5:1-14. doi: 10.1007/s10834-022-09873-w. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 36373018 RESULT

• Yoo PY, Duncan GJ, Magnuson K, Fox NA, Yoshikawa H, Halpern-Meekin S, Noble KG. Unconditional cash transfers and maternal substance use: findings from a randomized control trial of low-income mothers with infants in the U.S. BMC Public Health. 2022 May 5;22(1):897. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-12989-1.

  PMID: 35513842 RESULT

• Noble KG, Magnuson K, Gennetian LA, Duncan GJ, Yoshikawa H, Fox NA, Halpern-Meekin S. Baby's First Years: Design of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Poverty Reduction in the United States. Pediatrics. 2021 Oct;148(4):e2020049702. doi: 10.1542/peds.2020-049702. Epub 2021 Sep 2.

  PMID: 34475270 RESULT

• Troller-Renfree SV, Costanzo MA, Duncan GJ, Magnuson K, Gennetian LA, Yoshikawa H, Halpern-Meekin S, Fox NA, Noble KG. The impact of a poverty reduction intervention on infant brain activity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Feb 1;119(5):e2115649119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2115649119.

  PMID: 35074878 RESULT

• Adams EJ, Scott ME, Amarante M, Ramirez CA, Rowley SJ, Noble KG, Troller-Renfree SV. Fostering inclusion in EEG measures of pediatric brain activity. NPJ Sci Learn. 2024 Apr 2;9(1):27. doi: 10.1038/s41539-024-00240-y.

  PMID: 38565857 RESULT

• Collins JM, Halpern-Meekin S, Harvey M, Hoiting J. "If I don't have credit, I don't have anything": Perspectives on the credit scoring system among mothers with low incomes. J Consum Aff. 2023 Winter;57(4):1605-1622. doi: 10.1111/joca.12561. Epub 2023 Sep 30.

  PMID: 38214004 RESULT

• Barnes C, Halpern-Meekin S, Hoiting J. "I Used to Get WIC... But Then I Stopped": How WIC Participants Perceive the Value and Burdens of Maintaining Benefits. RSF. 2023 Sep;9(5):32-55. doi: 10.7758/rsf.2023.9.5.02.

  PMID: 38486832 RESULT

• Gennetian LA, Duncan G, Fox NA, Halpern-Meekin S, Magnuson K, Noble KG, Yoshikawa H. Unconditional Cash and Family Investments in Infants: Evidence from a Large-Scale Cash Transfer Experiment in the U.S. Res Sq [Preprint]. 2023 Feb 7:rs.3.rs-2507540. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2507540/v1.

  PMID: 36798246 RESULT

• Gennetian LA, Duncan GJ, Fox NA, Halpern-Meekin S, Magnuson K, Noble KG, Yoshikawa H. Effects of a monthly unconditional cash transfer starting at birth on family investments among US families with low income. Nat Hum Behav. 2024 Aug;8(8):1514-1529. doi: 10.1038/s41562-024-01915-7. Epub 2024 Jun 21.

  PMID: 38907028 RESULT

• Halpern-Meekin S, Gennetian LA, Hoiting J, Stilwell L, Meyer L. Monthly unconditional income supplements starting at birth: Experiences among mothers of young children with low incomes in the U.S. J Policy Anal Manage. 2024 Summer;43(3):871-898. doi: 10.1002/pam.22571. Epub 2024 Mar 2.

  PMID: 39035030 RESULT

• Egan-Dailey S, Gennetian LA, Magnuson K, Duncan GJ, Yoshikawa H, Fox NA, Noble KG. Child-directed speech in a large sample of U.S. mothers with low income. Child Dev. 2024 Nov-Dec;95(6):2045-2061. doi: 10.1111/cdev.14139. Epub 2024 Jul 29.

  PMID: 39073390 RESULT

• Das A, Osypuk TL, Yoo PY, Magnuson K, Gennetian LA, Noble KG, Bruckner TA. Poverty reduction and childhood opportunity moves: A randomized trial of cash transfers to low-income U.S. families with infants. Health Place. 2024 Sep;89:103320. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103320. Epub 2024 Aug 2.

  PMID: 39096582 RESULT

• Hart ER, Gennetian LA, Sperber JF, Penalva R, Magnuson K, Duncan GJ, Halpern-Meekin S, Yoshikawa H, Fox NA, Noble KG. The effect of unconditional cash transfers on maternal assessments of children's early language and socioemotional development: Experimental evidence from U.S. families residing in poverty. Dev Psychol. 2024 Dec;60(12):2290-2305. doi: 10.1037/dev0001824. Epub 2024 Aug 22.

  PMID: 39172428 RESULT

• Stilwell L, Morales-Gracia M, Magnuson K, Gennetian LA, Sauval M, Fox NA, Halpern-Meekin S, Yoshikawa H, Noble KG. Unconditional Cash and Breastfeeding, Child Care, and Maternal Employment among Families with Young Children Residing in Poverty. Soc Serv Rev. 2024 Jun;98(2):260-292. doi: 10.1086/729364. Epub 2024 May 22.

  PMID: 39148861 RESULT

• Duncan GJ, Magnuson K, Kunin-Batson AS, Yoshikawa H, Fox NA, Halpern-Meekin S, Ainsworth NJ, Black SR, Nelson JM, Nelson TD, Georgieff MK, Karhson D, Gennetian LA, Noble KG. Cash Transfers and Their Effect on Maternal and Young Children's Health: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Aug 1;179(8):867-875. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.1612.

  PMID: 40522644 DERIVED

• Sperber JF, Gennetian LA, Hart ER, Kunin-Batson A, Magnuson K, Duncan GJ, Yoshikawa H, Fox NA, Halpern-Meekin S, Noble KG. The Effect of a U.S. Poverty Reduction Intervention on Maternal Assessments of Young Children's Health, Nutrition, and Sleep: A Randomized Control Trial. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 May 26:2023.05.25.23290530. doi: 10.1101/2023.05.25.23290530.

  PMID: 37292982 DERIVED

Related Links

• This website is for Study Participants for general study information and contact information.
• Study Research Website

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Greg John Duncan
• Organization: University of California, Irvine

gduncan@uci.edu

(949) 824-7831

Study Officials

• Greg Duncan, PhD

  University of California, Irvine

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: Researchers know about amount of cash payment subjects receive at the point of enrollment because they assist subjects with credit card activation and instructions. For follow-up assessments at age 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 interviewers will be blind to the extent possible.
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: Parallel assignment

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 29, 2018
• First Posted: July 20, 2018
• Study Start: May 9, 2018
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2028
• Last Updated: February 14, 2025
• Results First Posted: September 13, 2023

Record last verified: 2025-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)