Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Summary
US children
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Child Development
- Public Health
Background:
- Changing family structures in the US, including smaller family sizes and increased maternal employment.
- Rise in center-based childcare and prekindergarten enrollment, particularly for affluent families.
- Growing income inequality impacting children's well-being and opportunities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the multifaceted prospects of children in the United States.
- To examine trends in family life, education, and health affecting American youth.
- To identify factors contributing to both improved well-being and persistent challenges for children.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of demographic and socioeconomic trends affecting children.
- Review of data on family composition, childcare, education, and health outcomes.
- Longitudinal assessment of child development indicators over recent decades.
Main Results:
- While material well-being has improved for many children due to prosperity and declining family size, an underclass faces persistent poverty.
- Educational achievement scores have stabilized and slightly improved, with higher high school completion rates, especially among Black students.
- Physical health has significantly improved since 1960, yet challenges remain regarding the impact of transformed family life and socioeconomic disparities.
Conclusions:
- Most American children experience healthy and happy lives, with positive trends in education and physical health.
- Significant disparities persist, particularly for children in poverty and those from single-mother households.
- The long-term psychological impact of evolving family structures and socioeconomic inequalities on children's future prospects requires further investigation.
Keywords:
Age FactorsAmericasBehaviorChildChild CareChild HealthChild RearingDemographic FactorsDeveloped CountriesEconomic FactorsEducational StatusEmployment Status--womenFamily And HouseholdFamily CharacteristicsFamily RelationshipsFamily Size--changesHealthNorth AmericaNorthern AmericaOne Parent FamilyPopulationPopulation CharacteristicsPopulation DynamicsPovertySiblingsSocioeconomic FactorsSocioeconomic StatusTime FactorsUnited StatesYouthMore Related Videos
07:56Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
09:55Bridging the Technology Divide in the COVID-19 Era: Using Virtual Outreach to Expose Middle and High School Students to Imaging Technology
Published on: September 28, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:10Nature and Nurture
Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
02:16Surveys
Often, psychologists develop surveys as a means of gathering data. Surveys are lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally. Generally, the survey itself can be completed in a short time, and the ease of administering a survey makes it easy to collect data from a large number of people.
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:28Adler's Individual Psychology
Alfred Adler, a prominent figure in psychology, founded the school of individual psychology. In contrast to Freud's emphasis on sexual or aggressive motives, Adler suggested that individuals are primarily motivated by their purposes and goals. He believed that people strive for perfection rather than pleasure. Adler argued that individuals could creatively act upon their genetic inheritance and environmental experiences to shape their own lives, emphasizing conscious motivation over unconscious...
01:27Emerging Adulthood
Jeffrey Arnett's concept of emerging adulthood offers a framework to understand the unique developmental stage between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, generally from ages 18 to 25. This period is marked by extensive exploration and shifts in identity, relationships, and career choices, a process known in psychology as role experimentation. Emerging adulthood reflects the evolving cultural expectations surrounding adulthood and the dynamic process of personal transformation during this...
01:29Close Relationships and Culture
Culture shapes how people approach attraction, choose partners, and build long-term relationships. While some preferences in mate selection appear consistent across cultures, such as men valuing physical attractiveness and women emphasizing financial resources, cultural contexts influence how these preferences are expressed and prioritized. Marriage extends beyond romantic ideals in many societies and is deeply embedded in social, economic, and religious frameworks.The Role of Culture in Mate...