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Early Growth and Development Study

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Early Childhood Behavior Markers

EGDS has detected certain signals in early childhood behaviors that can predict later child behavior. This can help inform early intervention strategies and promote healthy growth and development.

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Study finds that environment plays a role in kids’ obesity

Jan 10, 2022

Work by Dr. Hannah Tavalire using data from the Early Growth and Development Study was featured in the University of Oregon's Around the O. Here's a brief summary of the study by Dr. Tavalire; you can also click the link below to access the full Around the O article...

Study looks at how the human microbiome varies with location

Jan 10, 2022

Work by Dr. Hannah Tavalire using data from the Early Growth and Development Study was featured in the University of Oregon's Around the O. Here's a brief summary of the study by Dr. Tavalire; you can also click the link below to access the full Around the O article...

The impacts of children’s emotions and behavior on parenting

Jun 15, 2021

Work by Dr. Elizabeth Shewark using data from the Early Growth and Development Study is featured on the Penn State News! Dr. Shewark's dissertation work focuses on gene-environment correlations, and how children's emotions may influence the way they are parented. news...

Importance of Maternal Behavior during Pregnancy

Importance of Maternal Behavior during Pregnancy

Dec 10, 2020

The actions of a mother during pregnancy are important and can affect a child's development during early childhood. EGDS is investigating the factors that can change harmful pregnancy behavior.

Parents Matter

Parents Matter

Dec 10, 2020

The actions a parent takes as their child grows up has an effect on their developmental outcomes. You can read more about this by viewing our most recent publications!

New Projects Focused on COVID-19 Impact

Dec 10, 2020

We are excited to announce that we have two new projects that are focused on examining the effects of COVID-19 on the families in our study. The first is a project studying the effect of COVID-19 on adolescents and the second is studying the effect of COVID-19 on...

Study Update!

Dec 1, 2020

The Early Growth and Development Study has been selected to be part of a national initiative that will focus on environmental influences on child health outcomes. Below is a link where you will find more information about the national initiative: ECHO Study Initiative...

Relationship between the Mother’s BMI and this Child’s BMI

Relationship between the Mother’s BMI and this Child’s BMI

Nov 19, 2020

A higher BMI in a biological mother seemed to be associated with greater stability in child BMI. This may indicate that children who are genetically predisposed to have higher BMI's may be less sensitive to environmental factors that had an impact on other children.

Mood Regulation and BMI

Mood Regulation and BMI

Nov 19, 2020

Children who were more able to regulate their behaviors had a more stable BMI. This could mean that these children have more control over their food intake. Conversely, children who displayed outward fear, sadness, anger, and frustration had less stable BMI's. These...

Quiet Homes and BMI

Quiet Homes and BMI

Nov 19, 2020

Children who lived in quieter, more orderly homes had a more stable BMI. This could mean that these environments encouraged more consistent eating habits.