Stanford longitudinal study

de Carol Nagy Jacklin, Eleanor E. Maccoby, Henry A. Murray Research Center

The purpose of this study, initiated at Stanford University, was to examine (1) the relations of birth hormones to later behavior and gender differences in boys and girls from birth to 6 years; (2) parent-child relationships; and (3) the interaction between the childs temperament and the adults attidunial and behavioral responses. At birth, 15cc of blood from the umbilical cord was collected by delivery room nurses. Measures of strength, behavior patterns, cognitive ability, and parent-child interaction were administered at varying age intervals to subjects over the course of the study. Among measures were Agpar scores, standardized cognitive tests, parent questionnaires, teacher questionnaires, parent interviews, 24 or 36-hour state and mood diaries, sleep schedules, observations of child and parents in different situations. Participants were 257 infants from normal births with Apgar 3- minute scores of 7 or above. All participants were English-speaking, and middle/upper-middle class. Participants were predominantly white and represented equal numbers of males and females throughout. The study assessed mother-child interaction, father-child interaction, parenting style, strength of child, sleep patterns of child, timidity of child, cognitive ability of child, state and mood of child (for example, if the child's state is asleep or awake; if the child's mood is happy or angry) and child's reaction to different stimuli. Initiated in 1973, this longitudinal study followed 257 children (birth-6 years) in 3 cohorts at varying age-intervals. During the 9-year period of study, 156 of the 257 subjects (60.7%) across three cohorts were not available for further study. No further waves of data collection were planned at the end of the study, but follow-up is permitted by the contributor. The center holds paper and computer data.