Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Research Briefs

2012

How Do Soldiers’ Deployments Affect Children’s Academic Performance and Behavioral Health? — 2012

With regard to Army families, the study examines the effects of long and frequent parental deployments on children’s academic performance as well as their emotional and behavioral well-being in the school setting.

2011

Helping Children Cope with Violence and Trauma: A School-Based Program That Works — 2010

School-based program helps children cope with violence

Reducing the Impact of Children's Exposure to Violence: Results of the National Evaluation of Safe Start Promising Approaches — 2011

RAND's evaluation of Safe Start Promising Approaches identified program successes and challenges in implementing programs for children exposed to violence. The evaluation results, though largely inconclusive, can inform similar efforts going forward.

A Worksite Parenting Program That Works — 2011

Summarizes research on Talking Parents, Healthy Teens, a worksite-based parenting program designed by RAND and University of California at Los Angeles researchers that improves communication between parents and their adolescents on sexual health.

2010

Are Adolescents Talking with Their Parents About Sex Before Becoming Sexually Active? — 2010

Examines parent-child discussions of sexual behavior. Finds consistency in the timing and content of such discussions; however, many parents and children do not discuss key topics, such as birth control, before adolescents become sexually active.

The Influence of Personal, Family, and School Factors on Early Adolescent Substance Use — 2010

This study of middle school students in Southern California found that racial and ethnic variations in substance use among young adolescents are influenced by individual, family and school factors.

Perceived Effects of Paid Family Leave Among Parents of Children with Special Health Care Needs: California's Experience — 2010

California's Paid Family Leave Insurance program, the first of its kind, has not increased the percentage of parents who took leave to care for a sick child. Fewer than 15 percent of parents who were qualified for the program knew about it.

Private Sector Participation and Health System Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa — 2010

Researchers analyzed data on child and maternal health care use from 34 sub-Saharan African countries to examine the association between the degree of private sector participation in the health care system and outcomes related to access and equity.

The Teen Depression Awareness Project: Building an Evidence Base for Improving Teen Depression Care — 2010

Presents findings from the Teen Depression Awareness Project, which explored how depression affects teens, the factors that influence teens' readiness to seek treatment for depression, and the barriers that teens and parents face when seeking care.

What Are the Long-Term Economic Costs of Psychological Problems During Childhood? — 2010

Examines the lifetime economic damages caused by childhood psychological problems.

2009

Children's Health in Washington, D.C.: Access and Health Challenges Despite High Insurance Coverage Rates — 2009

Assesses children's health issues in Washington, D.C., including the health care delivery system and neighborhood health environments.

How Parental HIV Affects Children — 2009

Examines the unique challenges faced by children of HIV-infected parents and indicates how some of the negative effects of parental HIV on children could be ameliorated.

Making It Easier for School Staff to Help Traumatized Students — 2009

Describes Support for Students Exposed to Trauma (SSET), a cognitive-behavioral program intended to be delivered in schools by teachers or school counselors rather than clinical personnel.

Rural Hospitals Struggle to Attract Patients and Remain Viable — 2009

Describes the characteristics of rural hospitals and those who use them and discusses the challenges these hospitals face.

2008

Exposure to Sex on TV May Increase the Chance of Teen Pregnancy — 2008

Offers some practical implications based on the first study to demonstrate a link between exposure to sexual content on TV and subsequently becoming pregnant or being responsible for a pregnancy before the age of 20.

Out of the Ivory Tower, Into the Real World: Examples of Street-Smart Community Health Research — 2008

Discusses the potential of community-based participatory research (CBPR) to reduce the burden of chronic health problems on poor and minority neighborhoods and describes three successful CBPR programs.

Teens Who Work Are More Likely to Smoke — 2008

This research brief describes a study that found that working for pay in and around the 10th grade is associated with increased smoking among teens.

2007

Health System Reconstruction and Nation-Building — 2007

This research brief examines past attempts to rebuild public health and health care delivery systems during nation-building efforts after U.S. military deployments intended to underpin the transition to peace, democracy, and economic stability.

How Schools Responded to Student Mental Health Needs Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita — 2007

This fact sheet summarizes a study that examined how schools in the U.S. Gulf Coast region perceived the mental health needs of students after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and how schools responded.

New Perspectives on Marijuana and Youth: Abstainers Are Not Maladjusted, but Lone Users Face Difficulties — 2007

This research brief describes evidence RAND researchers use to challenge findings from 1990 report on marijuana use and emotional and social adjustment in teens.