Welcome to the Family Transitions Project Web Site!

WELCOME! The Family Transitions Project (FTP) is a longitudinal study involving more than 550 individuals and their families. The study began in 1989 and will soon begin its 21st year of data collection in Fall 2009. Nearly 95 percent of original Targets continue to participate in the study with their romantic partners and children. FTP has made many significant contributions to society, especially in the areas of romantic relationships, human development, economic hardship, and the impact one generation of parents can have on subsequent generations of individuals and families. The study is conducted by scholars at Iowa State University and affiliated universities.

Rand Conger and his team of researchers continue to pursue opportunities for additional funding in order to continue work on the study. We are excited and hopeful about the opportunities for the Family Transitions Project to continue contributing to scientific knowledge, and it would not be possible without the contributions from so many dedicated participants over the past 20 years. We are truly in awe of the time and effort you have given over the years. THANK YOU!

NEW Interview with Rand Conger - Tools for Tough Times

Watch a video introduction from Dr. Rand Conger, Principal Investigator.
Click here to view the video in Flash.

For Participants: We want to assure you that your confidentiality and security remain our top priority. No information is shared on this web site, or in any publication related to the study, that reveals information that could lead to identification of any participants. All study results are reported on this site in summary form, never on an individual basis. Click here to read about additional safeguards.

A new policy with the National Institute of Health requires any scholarly article that is the result of NIH-funded research to be posted to a publicly-accessibly site called PubMed Central. Click here to see articles posted on the site.

2009-2010: This year we hope that you will be available for a short telephone call. We will begin by updating our records, same as in previous years; this update takes about 10-15 minutes. We will ask to verify and update information on topics such as your address, household members, marital and relationship status, military service, and recent moves.

We will also ask you to answer some questions focusing on your experiences during the current economic downturn. We are interested in understanding how your financial and employment situation may have changed as a result of the recession. Because you and the other participants in the Family Transitions Project represent an important part of the community, this information will provide critical insights about how families and individuals are being affected. We anticipate that this portion of the telephone call will take no more than 10 minutes to complete. We hope you will be willing to help us with this important aspect of the study.