DUPRI scholar Christina Gibson-Davis, in partnership with colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh, has been awarded a grant of approximately $2.7 million from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The collaboration aims to advance research on the relationship between economic well-being, wealth, adolescent functioning and mental health. By collecting data on specific assets and debts relevant to lower-resourced families—such as payday loans and criminal justice debt, often overlooked in wealth surveys—the study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of wealth disparities and racial and ethnic inequalities among adolescents, a critical developmental period as they approach adulthood. This joint grant between Duke University and the University of Pittsburgh will facilitate data collection at both institutions.
By investigating how the lack of wealth, beyond just income, may contribute to risks in healthy adolescent development, the research aims to shed light on critical societal issues. Furthermore, it will contribute to a deeper understanding of how racial and ethnic disparities in wealth impact the life chances of teenagers and their families as they transition into adulthood.