Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§285g–8 Prospective Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health

Title 42 › CHAPTER 6A — PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER III — NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES › Part C — Specific Provisions Respecting National Research Institutes › subpart 7 — eunice kennedy shriver national institute of child health and human development › § 285g–8

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

By October 1, 1993, the Director of the Institute must begin a study to learn about the health and well‑being of adolescents in the United States. The study must gather information on behaviors that help or harm health and on how community factors affect adolescents. The study must follow a substantial number of adolescents over time to track their health and any changes. It must include girls, boys, different socioeconomic groups, and different racial and ethnic groups, and be able to show if their health differs and why. The Secretary must make sure the part about adolescent females is coordinated with the Women’s Health Initiative, including coordination of the studies’ designs.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §285g–8

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

Not later than October 1, 1993, the Director of the Institute shall commence a study for the purpose of providing information on the general health and well-being of adolescents in the United States, including, with respect to such adolescents, information on—

(1)the behaviors that promote health and the behaviors that are detrimental to health; and

(2)the influence on health of factors particular to the communities in which the adolescents reside.

(b)Design of study

(1)In general

The study required in subsection (a) shall be a longitudinal study in which a substantial number of adolescents participate as subjects. With respect to the purpose described in such subsection, the study shall monitor the subjects throughout the period of the study to determine the health status of the subjects and any change in such status over time.

(2)Population-specific analyses

The study required in subsection (a) shall be conducted with respect to the population of adolescents who are female, the population of adolescents who are male, various socioeconomic populations of adolescents, and various racial and ethnic populations of adolescents. The study shall be designed and conducted in a manner sufficient to provide for a valid analysis of whether there are significant differences among such populations in health status and whether and to what extent any such differences are due to factors particular to the populations involved.

(c)Coordination with Women’s Health Initiative

With respect to the national study of women being conducted by the Secretary and known as the Women’s Health Initiative, the Secretary shall ensure that such study is coordinated with the component of the study required in subsection (a) that concerns adolescent females, including coordination in the design of the 2 studies.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 285g–8

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110