The Seattle Social Development Project (SSDP) is a long term study that originally began in 1981 with the goal of studying the developmental pathways to both positive and problem behavior. The study was expanded in 1985 to include 808 fifth grade students from 18 Seattle area schools. Participants and parents have been interviewed annually since 1985. We have just finished the interviews of participants at age 33! The information gathered in the interviews is used to examine many aspects of youth development such as substance use, delinquency, violence, school dropout, risky sexual behavior, and changes in health status. The Seattle Social Development Project is based at the University of Washington in the School of Social Work. It is one of approximately ten ongoing projects at the Social Development Research Group.

The Intergenerational Project (TIP) is a five year project devoted to studying the children of the members in the Seattle Social Development Project (SSDP). SSDP is a long term study that originally began in 1981 with the goal of studying the developmental pathways to both positive and problem behavior. Members of SSDP are now having children of their own. We have been provided a unique opportunity to study the effects of current and past parental and grand parental behavior on the child’s development. The study will examine the cognitive, emotional, academic, and social development of these children from birth to early adolescence. The purpose of this study is to learn more about the links between generations and the influence of different parenting practices and family relationships on child development.