Risk Behavior
Development Lab
The Girls, Relationships, and Overall Well-being
(G.R.O.W.) Study
The G.R.O.W. study is a longitudinal study examining risk and resiliency factors that contribute to the development of relationships among girls. We are particularly interested in understanding how early experiences influence peer and romantic relationships. Potential areas of risk for the development of relationship problems include mental health, physical health, emotion regulation skills, personality, neighborhood characteristics, and the parent-child relationship. Resiliency factors that might promote healthy relationship development include social support, optimism, and self-esteem. We will be examining how these factors contribute to the development of relationship problems, with an emphasis on understanding violence and victimization in relationships from early to mid adolescence.
Data collection for the first wave of the study is slated to begin in the Spring/Summer of 2009 and will continue through Spring of 2010.