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Rationale, design and methods for the RIGHT Track Health Study: pathways from childhood self-regulation to cardiovascular risk in adolescence.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wideman, L; Calkins, SD; Janssen, JA; Lovelady, CA; Dollar, JM; Keane, SP; Perrin, EM; Shanahan, L
Published in: BMC Public Health
June 1, 2016

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular risk factors during adolescence-including obesity, elevated lipids, altered glucose metabolism, hypertension, and elevated low-grade inflammation-is cause for serious concern and potentially impacts subsequent morbidity and mortality. Despite the importance of these cardiovascular risk factors, very little is known about their developmental origins in childhood. In addition, since adolescence is a time when individuals are navigating major life changes and gaining increasing autonomy from their parents or parental figures, it is a period when control over their own health behaviors (e.g. drug use, sleep, nutrition) also increases. The primary aim of this paper is to describe the rationale, design and methods for the RIGHT Track Health Study. This study examines self-regulation as a key factor in the development of cardiovascular risk, and further explores health behaviors as an explanatory mechanism of this association. We also examine potential moderators (e.g. psychosocial adversities such as harsh parenting) of this association. METHOD/DESIGN: RIGHT Track is a longitudinal study that investigates social and emotional development. The RIGHT Track Health Study prospectively follows participants from age 2 through young adulthood in an effort to understand how self-regulatory behavior throughout childhood alters the trajectories of various cardiovascular risk factors during late adolescence via health behaviors. Individuals from RIGHT Track were re-contacted and invited to participate in adolescent data collection (~16.5, 17.5 and 18(+) years old). Individuals completed assessments of body composition, anthropometric indicators, fitness testing (via peak oxygen consumption), heart rate variability during orthostatic challenge, 7-day accelerometry for physical activity and sleep, 24-h dietary recalls, and blood analysis for biomarkers related to metabolic syndrome, inflammatory status and various hormones and cytokines. Individuals also completed extensive self-report measures on diet and eating regulation, physical activity and sedentary behaviors, sleep, substance use, medical history, medication use and a laboratory-day checklist, which chronicled previous day activities and menstrual information for female participants. DISCUSSION: Insights emerging from this analysis can help researchers and public health policy administrators target intervention efforts in early childhood, when preventing chronic disease is most cost-effective and behavior is more malleable.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

BMC Public Health

DOI

EISSN

1471-2458

Publication Date

June 1, 2016

Volume

16

Start / End Page

459

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Self-Control
  • Risk Factors
  • Public Health
  • Prospective Studies
  • Parenting
  • Obesity
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
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Wideman, L., Calkins, S. D., Janssen, J. A., Lovelady, C. A., Dollar, J. M., Keane, S. P., … Shanahan, L. (2016). Rationale, design and methods for the RIGHT Track Health Study: pathways from childhood self-regulation to cardiovascular risk in adolescence. BMC Public Health, 16, 459. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3133-7
Wideman, Laurie, Susan D. Calkins, James A. Janssen, Cheryl A. Lovelady, Jessica M. Dollar, Susan P. Keane, Eliana M. Perrin, and Lilly Shanahan. “Rationale, design and methods for the RIGHT Track Health Study: pathways from childhood self-regulation to cardiovascular risk in adolescence.BMC Public Health 16 (June 1, 2016): 459. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3133-7.
Wideman L, Calkins SD, Janssen JA, Lovelady CA, Dollar JM, Keane SP, et al. Rationale, design and methods for the RIGHT Track Health Study: pathways from childhood self-regulation to cardiovascular risk in adolescence. BMC Public Health. 2016 Jun 1;16:459.
Wideman, Laurie, et al. “Rationale, design and methods for the RIGHT Track Health Study: pathways from childhood self-regulation to cardiovascular risk in adolescence.BMC Public Health, vol. 16, June 2016, p. 459. Pubmed, doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3133-7.
Wideman L, Calkins SD, Janssen JA, Lovelady CA, Dollar JM, Keane SP, Perrin EM, Shanahan L. Rationale, design and methods for the RIGHT Track Health Study: pathways from childhood self-regulation to cardiovascular risk in adolescence. BMC Public Health. 2016 Jun 1;16:459.
Journal cover image

Published In

BMC Public Health

DOI

EISSN

1471-2458

Publication Date

June 1, 2016

Volume

16

Start / End Page

459

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Self-Control
  • Risk Factors
  • Public Health
  • Prospective Studies
  • Parenting
  • Obesity
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Humans