HealthyNCT01866852
Expansion of Childhood Relationship Study to Young Adult Romantic Relationships
An observational study of Healthy, run by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Background: An earlier study on child development focused on the relationship between children and their caregivers (usually mothers). It looked at how this relationship influenced children's social and mental development. It also studied how these children related with family members and friends. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy
- How many people
- 259 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 29 May 2013to 15 Aug 2019
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Study population: Original child (now adult) study participants from protocol 88-CH-0032 and their significant others will be included in the new study. Only participants who are living together with a partner will be studied.
Who may be able to join
- Among the young adult target children from study 88-CH-32 (N = 250), those with significant others are eligible to participate in this study, as are their significant others. However if a target child s significant other is a minor (i.e., under the age of 18), that significant other will not be eligible to participate.
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 9000 Rockville
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
About this study
Official title: The Formation of Healthy, Stable Romantic Relationships During Young Adulthood: A Developmental and Dyadic Perspective
Background:
- An earlier study on child development focused on the relationship between children and their caregivers (usually mothers). It looked at how this relationship influenced children's social and mental development. It also studied how these children related with family members and friends. Researchers are now interested in expanding the study with the same group of children. They want to look at these children, who are now young adults, and focus on their current romantic relationships. This new study will look at how child development affects the formation of stable, mature romantic relationships in young adulthood. Original child study participants and their significant others will be included in the new study. Only participants who are living together with a partner will be studied.
Read more
Objectives:
- To look at romantic partnerships in a childhood study s original participants and their significant others.
Eligibility:
- Participants of the 88-CH-32 study who are at least 18 years of age.
- Significant others of the study participants who are at least 18 years of age.
- Original participants and significant others must be cohabiting (living together).
Design:
- No screening tests will be required for this study. No study visits will be needed. Samples will not be collected.
- Original study participants will fill out four online questionnaires. They will be on a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHHD) website. They will ask personal questions about relationships with the current romantic partner and other important people. The questions will take about 25 minutes to answer.
- Significant others will fill out 13 online questionnaires. They will be on a NICHHD website. They will ask personal questions about the romantic partner and other important people. The questions will take about 1.5 hours to answer.
- All participants will receive a small amount of money for completing the study.
Read the detailed description
The purpose of this study is to expand our ongoing longitudinal study (study 88-CH-32) by gathering information about romantic partnerships from both the longitudinal study s now young adult target children, who were 5 months old when the study began and are now as old as 23 years of age, and their significant others. Because the target children are approaching the age when they form lasting romantic relationships, we wish to track these partnerships as they form. With these data, we will be uniquely suited to identify how key individual and inter-personal factors at distinct points of development (i.e., childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood) influence the formation of stable, emotionally intimate, mutually dependent romantic relationships during young adulthood. In particular, we aim to disentangle the influence of childhood and adolescent interpersonal experiences in other relational spheres (i.e., relationships with parents and friends) from the influence of contemporary characteristics of both members of the romantic dyad. As part of our examination, in addition to relationship quality, we focus on the strength of each dyad member s attachment to his or her parents as well as each other, thereby allowing for the examination of attachment transfer, an important yet understudied characteristic of successful romantic relationship formation.
Only cohabiting (whether married or otherwise) young-adult romantic dyads that include a target child from our existing longitudinal study (dyad N equals 250; 500 young adults overall, all volunteers) will be eligible to participate in this new data collection. By limiting eligibility in this way, we will have data extending back to infancy for one member of each young-adult romantic dyad. All data collected will be collected via a secure, password-protected website.
As part of our on-going longitudinal study, we already collected (or will collect) individual information from the young adult target children (mental health, attachment style, attachment strength, personality, substance use). We propose here to collect complementary individual information from the significant others of young adult target children as well as dyad-level information (relationship satisfaction and household functioning) from both members of the cohabiting romantic dyad. Combined with existing data from our longitudinal study, these new data will enable us to move beyond most current research focused on the developmental antecedents of successful young adult romantic relationships and examine how an individual s past interpersonal experiences interplay with the contemporary characteristics of both young-adult romantic dyad members to influence the state of the romantic dyad.
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Keywords
- Longitudinal Study, Natural History
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Romantic Relationship Quality
Romantic Relationship Quality
Measured: Ongoing
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Jun 2013 (estimated)
- Study start29 May 2013
- Primary completion15 Aug 2019
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for HealthyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 259 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Diane L Putnick, Ph.D., Principal investigator, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01866852
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 999913113
- Other IDs
- 13-CH-N113
- Status last verified
- 22 Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 29 May 2013
- Last updated
- 8 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: All data will be stored permanently in an archival database by the National Institutes of Health. No one other than members of the research team will have access to the data without the explicit consent of the volunteer adult.
Publications
Amato PR, Booth A. The legacy of parents' marital discord: consequences for children's marital quality. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2001 Oct;81(4):627-38.
PubMed 11642350Arnett JJ. Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. Am Psychol. 2000 May;55(5):469-80.
PubMed 10842426Beach SR, O'Leary KD. Dysphoria and marital discord: are dysphoric individuals at risk for marital maladjustment? J Marital Fam Ther. 1993 Oct;19(4):355-68. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.1993.tb00998.x.
PubMed 21118474
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Formation of Healthy, Stable Romantic Relationships During Young Adulthood: A Developmental and Dyadic Perspective
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01866852
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 999913113
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Keywords
- Longitudinal Study, Natural History
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 259 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)US National Institutes of Health
- Study start
- 29 May 2013
- Primary completion
- 15 Aug 2019 (actual)
- First posted
- 3 Jun 2013 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Background:
- An earlier study on child development focused on the relationship between children and their caregivers (usually mothers). It looked at how this relationship influenced children's social and mental development. It also studied how these children related with family members and friends. Researchers are now interested in expanding the study with the same group of children. They want to look at these children, who are now young adults, and focus on their current romantic relationships. This new study will look at how child development affects the formation of stable, mature romantic relationships in young adulthood. Original child study participants and their significant others will be included in the new study. Only participants who are living together with a partner will be studied.
Objectives:
- To look at romantic partnerships in a childhood study s original participants and their significant others.
Eligibility:
- Participants of the 88-CH-32 study who are at least 18 years of age.
- Significant others of the study participants who are at least 18 years of age.
- Original participants and significant others must be cohabiting (living together).
Design:
- No screening tests will be required for this study. No study visits will be needed. Samples will not be collected.
- Original study participants will fill out four online questionnaires. They will be on a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHHD) website. They will ask personal questions about relationships with the current romantic partner and other important people. The questions will take about 25 minutes to answer.
- Significant others will fill out 13 online questionnaires. They will be on a NICHHD website. They will ask personal questions about the romantic partner and other important people. The questions will take about 1.5 hours to answer.
- All participants will receive a small amount of money for completing the study.
Detailed description
The purpose of this study is to expand our ongoing longitudinal study (study 88-CH-32) by gathering information about romantic partnerships from both the longitudinal study s now young adult target children, who were 5 months old when the study began and are now as old as 23 years of age, and their significant others. Because the target children are approaching the age when they form lasting romantic relationships, we wish to track these partnerships as they form. With these data, we will be uniquely suited to identify how key individual and inter-personal factors at distinct points of development (i.e., childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood) influence the formation of stable, emotionally intimate, mutually dependent romantic relationships during young adulthood. In particular, we aim to disentangle the influence of childhood and adolescent interpersonal experiences in other relational spheres (i.e., relationships with parents and friends) from the influence of contemporary characteristics of both members of the romantic dyad. As part of our examination, in addition to relationship quality, we focus on the strength of each dyad member s attachment to his or her parents as well as each other, thereby allowing for the examination of attachment transfer, an important yet understudied characteristic of successful romantic relationship formation.
Only cohabiting (whether married or otherwise) young-adult romantic dyads that include a target child from our existing longitudinal study (dyad N equals 250; 500 young adults overall, all volunteers) will be eligible to participate in this new data collection. By limiting eligibility in this way, we will have data extending back to infancy for one member of each young-adult romantic dyad. All data collected will be collected via a secure, password-protected website.
As part of our on-going longitudinal study, we already collected (or will collect) individual information from the young adult target children (mental health, attachment style, attachment strength, personality, substance use). We propose here to collect complementary individual information from the significant others of young adult target children as well as dyad-level information (relationship satisfaction and household functioning) from both members of the cohabiting romantic dyad. Combined with existing data from our longitudinal study, these new data will enable us to move beyond most current research focused on the developmental antecedents of successful young adult romantic relationships and examine how an individual s past interpersonal experiences interplay with the contemporary characteristics of both young-adult romantic dyad members to influence the state of the romantic dyad.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- Original child (now adult) study participants from protocol 88-CH-0032 and their significant others will be included in the new study. Only participants who are living together with a partner will be studied.
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Among the young adult target children from study 88-CH-32 (N = 250), those with significant others are eligible to participate in this study, as are their significant others. However if a target child s significant other is a minor (i.e., under the age of 18), that significant other will not be eligible to participate.
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Romantic Relationship Quality
Time frame: Ongoing
Romantic Relationship Quality
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Oct 2026.
- Background: PubMed 11642350Amato PR, Booth A. The legacy of parents' marital discord: consequences for children's marital quality. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2001 Oct;81(4):627-38.
- Background: PubMed 10842426Arnett JJ. Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. Am Psychol. 2000 May;55(5):469-80.
- Background: PubMed 21118474Beach SR, O'Leary KD. Dysphoria and marital discord: are dysphoric individuals at risk for marital maladjustment? J Marital Fam Ther. 1993 Oct;19(4):355-68. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.1993.tb00998.x.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. All data will be stored permanently in an archival database by the National Institutes of Health. No one other than members of the research team will have access to the data without the explicit consent of the volunteer adult.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Diane L Putnick, Ph.D. principal investigator
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Healthy, run by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Romantic Relationship Quality (time frame: Ongoing). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01866852, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Oct 2026.