Understanding Mechanisms of Health Risk Behavior Change in Children and Adolescents

The summary for the Understanding Mechanisms of Health Risk Behavior Change in Children and Adolescents grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the National Institutes of Health, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

Understanding Mechanisms of Health Risk Behavior Change in Children and Adolescents: The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Cancer Institute, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, and the Office of Dietary Supplements invite research grant applications that will enhance our understanding of the factors and mechanisms that determine changes in health risk behaviors during childhood and adolescence. The concept of health risk behavior change is used in this program announcement to encompass the evolution of specific health impairing behaviors. Of particular interest are factors and processes that influence the initiation, continuation, and/or cessation of one or more of the following health risk behaviors: (1) substance abuse, (2) inadequate exercise and poor dietary practices as they relate to being overweight or obese, and (3) intentional and unintentional injuries. The terms "health risk behaviors" and "risky behaviors" are used interchangeably in this PA.The goal of this PA is to promote optimal physical and mental health in children and adolescents. This may be accomplished by research to enhance our understanding of the origin, evolution, and termination of health risk behaviors and, ultimately, by the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies designed to maintain healthy behaviors and prevent health risk behaviors. Interdisciplinary research is sought to explore the biological, genetic, physiological, psychological, and social/environmental factors and mechanisms that influence health risk behavior change in children and adolescents. A better understanding of theory-driven, causal pathways and recognition of mediators and moderators will aid in the identification of the etiology of health risk behaviors, precursors of health risk behaviors, and associated risk and resilience factors. The research findings will have the potential to inform the development of more comprehensive and effective prevention and intervention strategies in the fields of substance abuse, obesity, and injuries.