This research program focuses on behavioral and developmental aspects of health and health-related behaviors in the pediatric population, which extends from infancy to young adulthood. The program supports research and research training on biobehavioral and developmental aspects of health, such as health risk behaviors, health promotion behaviors, and cross-cutting issues. Research studies of interest include: individual, interpersonal, and social factors; environmental and contextual factors; and interactions of genes and environment as they relate to health and health behaviors. Basic, descriptive, interventional, preventive, and translational research studies are welcome, as are studies utilizing secondary data analysis.

Health risk behaviors. Many health risk behaviors have their origins in childhood and can have negative effects across the lifespan. Some of these risk behaviors include substance use, early sexual activity, eating disorders, bullying and other antisocial behaviors, youth gambling, intentional injuries, youth suicide, and homicide. Examples that might address these behaviors include studies of:

• Risk and resilience factors, their precursors, causal pathways, mediators and moderators, and of motivation, decision making, and behavioral control
• Gene by environment interactions associated with risk behaviors
• Individuals at elevated risk of behavioral, health, and developmental problems due to premature birth or intrauterine exposure to drugs or toxins
• Effects of childhood risk behaviors, illness, and injury on family/parent/child interactions and family functioning

Health promotion research. The promotion of healthier lifestyles and prevention of diseases for the pediatric population are important areas of research. Health promotion topics of interest include health communication, health practices and interventions, positive youth development, and disease prevention. Relevant to health promotion research are studies of:

• Development and/or evaluation of health communication, education, and literacy programs, health practices and services
• Unintentional injury and disease prevention programs including behavioral and developmental aspects of obesity prevention
• Behavioral aspects of disease treatment including adherence to medical and therapeutic regimens
• Prevention of school drop-out and academic underachievement

Cross-cutting issues. Research is needed in several broad areas of health research that are germane to both health risk behaviors and health promotion in youth. Some examples include studies of:

• Sleep, pain, stress, consent, assent, and disease management
• Health disparities
• Influence of religiosity/spirituality, of alternative methods of treatment, and of media use on health promotion, disease prevention, and risk behaviors
• Bidirectional effects of disease and injury on behavior and development