Kids and Teens
What is the Early Growth and Development Study?
What have we learned from the EGDS?
The EGDS is a nationwide study that seeks to understand the relationship between heredity and family environment — that is, nature and nurture—and how the two work together and separately in child development. The research that the EGDS has done is being used to answer some of the most pressing health questions facing children and teens in the United States. Check out our key findings page to see exactly how your participation in EGDS is aiding this goal!
Resources for Kids and Teens in the EGDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the EGDS ask for biological samples?
These samples will help tell us more about your genetics (aka the things that you’re born with), and the way that your body responds to your environment.
What does the EGDS do with the survey answers/information?
The information you give us will be de-identified, which means that your name will be separated from your information. Your data will be combined with lots of other children’s data, and then will be studied to help us learn about what keeps kids happy and healthy!
Will my parents see my survey answers?
We will keep all of your answers private, which means even your parent(s) won’t know what you say unless project staff members think you might be in danger or someone else might be in danger.
How do you protect the information I give you?
One significant way we protect your data is through de-identification. Your survey answers, medical record information, biological samples, etc are connected to an ID number rather than your name or other identifying information (your address, phone numbers, etc). Very few people have access to the list that links your name to your ID number and those that do have that access are trained to be extremely careful to keep names separate from data. Basically, if the information is not absolutely needed for a staff member to do their work they will not be able to see that information. We also protect information by keeping it on secure servers, keeping paper files locked in cabinets when not being used, and limiting study spaces to people who work for the study and therefore have completed the ethical research practice training.