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Studying Family Transitions from a Systems Perspective: The Role of Biomarkers

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Emerging Methods in Family Research

Part of the book series: National Symposium on Family Issues ((NSFI,volume 4))

Abstract

This chapter discusses biological measures as contributors to the family system and biomarker collection in large scale studies, framed primarily through our experiences in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). We illustrate field, laboratory, and data dissemination challenges for a selection of common biomarkers, leading to best practice recommendations. We also present illustrative findings of multilevel systems research integrating biomarker, social, and behavioral data that provide novel insights into social and behavioral phenomena. We close with a rationale for incorporating biomarkers into social science research, despite the challenges, and highlight future possibilities for expanded multilevel systems research capitalizing on intergenerational study designs.

“…. sociological problems are better understood when a biosocial theory is brought to bear.”J. Richard Udry, 1988, page 717

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Notes

  1. 1.

    However, a separate inter-conversion process for HbA1c (necessitated by a post-pretest lab closing) was successful (see Table 8.1).

  2. 2.

    Space limitations preclude elaboration here but we also want to alert readers to the complex issues surrounding the obligation to report (especially urgent and emergent) laboratory values with established clinical utility to respondents or their designees, and the simultaneous obligation not to harm while doing so.

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Authors’ Note

We dedicate this work to J. Richard Udry, a pioneer in biosocial research, the original Director of Add Health, and a mentor to Halpern, Harris, and many others who had the good fortune to work with him.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Maternal & Child Health, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Carolyn Tucker Halpern PhD

  2. Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Kathleen Mullan Harris PhD

  3. Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine in the Gillings School of Global Public Health and School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Eric A. Whitsel MD, MPH

Authors
  1. Carolyn Tucker Halpern PhD
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  2. Kathleen Mullan Harris PhD
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  3. Eric A. Whitsel MD, MPH
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carolyn Tucker Halpern PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Human Develop. & Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Susan M. McHale

  2. Department of Sociology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Paul Amato

  3. Department of Sociology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Alan Booth

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Halpern, C., Harris, K., Whitsel, E. (2014). Studying Family Transitions from a Systems Perspective: The Role of Biomarkers. In: McHale, S., Amato, P., Booth, A. (eds) Emerging Methods in Family Research. National Symposium on Family Issues, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01562-0_8

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