The goal of the NIH Science of Behavior Change (SOBC) Common Fund Program is to provide the basis for an experimental medicine approach to behavior change that focuses on identifying and measuring the mechanisms that underlie behavioral patterns we are trying to change. This paper frames the development of the program within a discussion of the substantial disease burden in the U.S. attributable to behavioral factors, and details our strategies for breaking down the disease- and condition-focused silos in the behavior change field to accelerate discovery and translation. These principles serve as the foundation for our vision for a unified science of behavior change at the NIH and in the broader research community.

Latent growth curve analysis was used to examine the structure and interrelations among aggression, drug use, and delinquent behavior during early adolescence. Five waves of data were collected from 667 students at three urban middle schools serving a predominantly African American population, and from a more ethnically diverse sample of 950 students at four rural middle schools. One set of models focused on changes in individual behaviors; the other on changes in a global problem behavior factor. Models with separate growth trajectories for aggression, drug use, and delinquent behavior provided the best fit for both samples and revealed relations between initial levels of aggression and subsequent changes in the other behaviors. Boys and girls differed in their initial levels of these behaviors, but not their patterns of change. Differences in growth curve trajectories were found across samples. These findings have important implications for assessment and prevention of problem behaviors in adolescents. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE, 15(2),

Research on human-animal interaction (HAI) is a relatively new field of inquiry for developmental scientists seeking to understand the potential role pets play in children's health and well-being. It has been documented that pets offer a source of emotional support to children. However, most studies focusing on how animals affect children's health are limited and stop short of providing answers to key developmental questions. Addressing this need, beginning in 2008, scientists at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, in collaboration with the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, a subsidiary of the Mars Corporation, convened two international conferences of researchers to review the current science on HAI. These groups crafted a research agenda aimed at looking at how animal interaction affects children and promotes optimal development. This article reviews the key themes emerging from the conferences, addresses the application of HAI to child health and development, and discusses the potential of HAI as an important field of inquiry for developmental scientists.

Objectives. To evaluate a multicomponent obesity prevention intervention among diverse, low-income preschoolers. Methods. Parent–child dyads (n = 534) were randomized to the Now Everybody Together for Amazing and Healthful Kids (NET-Works) intervention or usual care in Minneapolis, MN (2012–2017). The intervention consisted of home visits, parenting classes, and telephone check-ins. The primary outcomes were adjusted 24- and 36-month body mass index (BMI). Results. Compared with usual care, the NET-Works intervention showed no significant difference in BMI change at 24 (–0.12 kg/m2; 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.44, 0.19) or 36 months (–0.19 kg/m2; 95% CI = −0.64, 0.26). Energy intake was significantly lower in the NET-Works group at 24 (–90 kcal/day; 95% CI = −164, −16) and 36 months (–101 kcal/day; 95% CI = −164, −37). Television viewing was significantly lower in the NET-Works group at 24 (rate ratio = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.75, 0.93) and 36 months (rate ratio = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.78, 0.99). Children with baseline overweight or obesity had lower BMI in the NET-Works group than those in usual care at 36 months (–0.71 kg/m2; 95% CI = −1.30, −0.12). Hispanic children had lower BMI in the NET-Works group than those in usual care at 36 months (–0.59 kg/m2; 95% CI = −1.14, −0.04). Conclusions. In secondary analyses, NET-Works significantly reduced BMI over 3 years among Hispanic children and children with baseline overweight or obesity. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01606891.

While the link between food insecurity and obesity are well documented in the research literature, more research is needed to better understand underlying mechanisms, associated risks, effective strategies and interventions, and implementation science approaches to mitigate these public health concerns.

Qualitative methods were used to identify problem situations encountered by adolescents in urban middle schools serving a predominantly African American student population. Interviews focusing on identifying problem situations and the context in which they occur were conducted with 60 adolescents including students and peer mediators at middle schools and adolescents at community centers. Interviews were also conducted with 50 adults, including parents of middle school students, community center staff, and middle school staff including bus drivers, cafeteria workers, teachers, security guards, and school administrators. Qualitative analysis and coding of interview transcripts identified 39 themes representing a diverse array of problem situations, many of which occurred across multiple contexts including peers, school, family, and neighborhood domains.Children and adolescents growing up in poor urban areas frequently encounter a variety of stressors that place them at increased risk for the development of adjustment problems (Allison et al.

Obesity is a major public health problem affecting more than 12 million (~17%)U.S. children. The scientific community agrees that tackling this problem must begin in childhood to reduce risk of subsequent development of cardiovascular diseases and other chronic diseases. The Childhood Obesity Prevention and Treatment Research (COPTR) Consortium, initiated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is conducting intervention studies to prevent obesity in pre-schoolers and treat overweight or obese 7–13 year olds. Four randomized controlled trials plan to enroll a total of 1,700 children and adolescents (~ 50% female, 70% minorities), and are testing innovative multi-level and multi-component interventions in multiple settings involving primary care physicians, parks and recreational centers, family advocates, and schools. For all the studies, the primary outcome measure is body mass index; secondary outcomes, moderators and mediators of intervention include diet, physical activity, home and neighborhood influences, and psychosocial factors. COPTR is being conducted collaboratively among four participating field centers, a coordinating center, and NIH project offices.

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