Research Topic

Families and Parenting

Family relationships influence child development from infancy to adulthood. CCFP researchers examine how biological, cultural and familial processes, practices, and characteristics impact child and youth development both in the US and around the world. Our teams also develop programs and services and work to affect systems change to ensure that families and parents have the supports they need to provide safe, stable, nurturing relationships for their children.

Latest Research

Book Chapter

Developmental Correlates of Parental Acceptance-Rejection from Childhood to Adulthood in Nine Countries

The chapter next describes findings from the Parenting Across Cultures project regarding trajectories of parental acceptance-rejection over time, predictors and developmental outcomes of parental acceptance-rejection, as well as parental acceptance-rejection as a mediator of links among prior risk and protective factors and child adjustment.

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Journal Articles

A Research Note on Unconditional Cash Transfers and Fertility in the United States: New Causal Evidence

As cash transfer policies have gained traction in recent years, interest in how financial resources could impact fertility has also grown. Findings from the Baby’s First Years study might indicate that modest cash transfers to mothers with low incomes in the United States are unlikely to have substantial impacts on fertility.

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Jennifer Lansford

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Anna Gassman-Pines

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Lisa Gennetian

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Christina Gibson-Davis

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Marcos Rangel

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Ann Skinner

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Drew Rothenberg

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Jennifer Godwin

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Helen Milojevich

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Laura Gorla

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Megatrends and the Family

This project will produce research and policy reports on four megatrends identified by the United Nations related to families and (1) climate change, (2) technology, (3) migration and urbanization, and (4) demographic trends.

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learn more about Megatrends and the Family

Risk and Resilience in Ukraine: Individual, Family, and Community Predictors of Adolescent and Young Adult Adjustment

This research project will collect data from youth enrolled in universities across Ukraine during the winter of 2023. Data will include changes in adjustment, wellbeing, and optimism, along with substance use. Data will provide insights into how best to support the mental health of young people during a global crisis.

learn more about Risk and Resilience in Ukraine: Individual, Family, and Community Predictors of Adolescent and Young Adult Adjustment
learn more about Risk and Resilience in Ukraine: Individual, Family, and Community Predictors of Adolescent and Young Adult Adjustment

Positive Parenting App Study

Project Description This study of the postive parenting app tests the feasibility and effectiveness of a mobile-based app intervention designed to enhance home visiting by providing in-the-moment parenting tips with the goal of increasing healthy parent-child interactions leading to resiliency in high-risk children. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) profoundly influence brain and behavioral development and long-term…

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learn more about Positive Parenting App Study

Durham Navigation Study

The Durham Navigation Study is a randomized control trial to evaluate the impact of Community Navigation on outcomes for young children and their families.

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learn more about Durham Navigation Study
March 3, 2025
Journal Articles

Climate Change, Families, and Human Development: Review of the Evidence

This article reports findings from rapid reviews of the literature on climate change and families. Findings include extensive evidence on links between climate change and adverse physical and mental health outcomes, emerging evidence on associations with child developmental outcomes, as well as nascent evidence that climate change may be associated with outcomes for the family system as a whole.

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February 20, 2025
Policy Briefs

Family Child Care Homes’ Challenges Participating in Subsidized Child Care Assistance Program: Voices from the Field

This brief synthesizes what researchers learned from family child care home providers and other key system stakeholders regarding the challenges associated with child care subsidies and the downstream impacts on child care slots within the state.

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February 13, 2025
Book Chapter

Parenting in Majority World Asian Countries

This chapter examines cognitive and socioemotional caregiving practices of mothers, fathers, and children’s other caregivers in 53,044 families with children 36–59 months of age in 12 Asian countries.

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February 13, 2025
Book Chapter

Parenting and Behavior Problems of Children and Adolescents in Asian Families

The specific strategies parents use to socialize desired behaviors and prevent maladaptive behaviors vary across cultures. This chapter explores Asian cultural values in relation to parenting.

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