Impact of the Environment on Adolescent Development – Findings from BIPOC Scholars in the ABCD Study START Program-View Presentation

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In the discussed session, Gaia Dowling, director of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD) at NIH, introduces a presentation focusing on the environmental impact on adolescent development. The ABCD study is longitudinal, involving about 12,000 youths to examine various factors influencing brain development. A significant aim of the study is to understand substance abuse and mental health through diverse research by BIPOC scholars. Dr. Micah Johnson and Dr. Hugh Garavan, within the ABCD consortium, initiated the START program to train historically underrepresented early-stage researchers in studying addiction.<br /><br />The session features presentations from three young scholars from the START program. Neo Gabrou discusses the mediation of family conflict in the relation between parental mental health and youth impulsivity. Skye Bristol explores how family conflict influences alcohol expectancy among youths, considering factors like neighborhood quality as potential mediators. Lastly, Stacey Ryan-Pettis examines parental monitoring and inconsistency in discipline as predictors of youth externalizing behavior, factoring in neighborhood crime as a moderator.<br /><br />The presentations highlight the role of familial and environmental contexts on adolescent behavior, stressing the need for family-level interventions and policy changes. The discussion also emphasizes the significance of understanding and mitigating systemic influences on youth through community-driven and action-oriented research.<br /><br />Throughout the session, the START program is lauded for enhancing diversity in research, enabling unique perspectives that enrich understanding and potentially drive policy changes for better community support systems.

Keywords

Adolescent Development

ABCD Study

Environmental Impact

Substance Abuse

Mental Health

BIPOC Scholars

START Program

Family Conflict

Youth Impulsivity

Parental Monitoring

Neighborhood Quality

Community Research