About Righttrack
RIGHT Track is a collaborative effort of the Kinesiology, Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, and Nutrition departments, allowing the study to look at outcomes from a cross-disciplinary perspective.
The team is currently looking at how self-regulation, our ability to manage our emotions and behaviors appropriately, in childhood impacts cardiometabolic risk development in adolescents and young adults.
Ultimately, the goal is to develop prevention and intervention strategies that help people become better self-regulators and minimize poor health outcomes. This work could not be done without the help and cooperation of all the families involved with the project. Their participation is greatly appreciated.
History
Dr. Susan Calkins collaborated with Dr. Susan Keane to develop the RIGHT Track Project in 1998 with a grant from the National Institutes of Health. The overall goal was to look at emotion regulation and development over time.
About 450 families with 2-year-old children were enrolled in the study. These participants now range from late teens to early twenties. Their development has been evaluated in the home, school, and laboratory context, giving the study a well-rounded picture of their overall functioning.
In 2014, Dr. Laurie Wideman joined Dr. Calkins, Dr. Keane, and former UNCG Professor Dr. Lilly Shanahan to focus on health outcomes as a new goal for RIGHT Track. UNCG researchers Dr. Lenka Shriver and Dr. Jessica Dollar have also joined the project.
Calkins with Student
Laurie Wideman Gold in Lab
Calkins with Study Participant
The RightTrack program has been running strong for more than 35 years!
We have to help our kids be better self-regulators. It will look different for every child, but parents should be aware of this. It’s important that we start to pattern healthy habits for our kids.
Dr. Laurie Wideman Gold
Being able to manage emotions is critical for academic achievement,
Dr. Susan Calkins
school readiness, and mental health