UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1023

Overall Research Project Description Are you curious about how our childhood experiences shape who we are today? Have you ever heard of terms like intergenerational influence, attachment, or family of origin (FOO)? Family-of-origin experiences have been studied in clinical settings for decades, but those spaces can be emotionally and financially challenging to access. Our study aims to explore more accessible and meaningful ways for people to reflect on and grow from their early life experiences.

This is a qualitative project that analyzes several in-depth narratives shared by adults from China. These interviews were conducted by trained professionals and are filled with personal reflections, emotional insights, and the journey of their growth.
Topics explored in this project include:
- How relationships with primary caregivers shaped one’s adulthood
- Core childhood memories and their long-term impact
- How childhood thoughts and emotions transformed into adulthood
- The role of early attachment in adult romantic and parent-child relationships
- How reflecting on the past can lead to healing and moving forward

In the later phase of this project, we also aim to promote the awareness of exploring FOO experiences among young adults. So you could help with designing interviews and focus groups to support yourself and your peers in processing your FOO stories. Or you can help with preparing quantitative projects on the relationship between early experiences and young adults' well-being.