For his dissertation, Hekmat Alrouh researched the influences of genetics and family environment on child development and mental health. “I focused on obesity, educational attainment, and overall wellbeing”, Alrouh explains. “With long-term studies tracking families over time, I investigated how body mass index (BMI) pass from parents to children, and whether educational levels of the parents alter these transmission patterns.” Family background plays a significant role: children whose parents are obese or have lower levels of education are more likely to have higher body weight themselves. “This does not always happen just because families have fewer resources; children also inherit genes that affect their health and school performance.”
With this research, Alrouh also wanted to understand why some children maintain good mental health across childhood while others experience difficulties. Alrouh concludes that most children face emotional or behavioural challenges at some point. Alrouh: “Staying completely ‘problem-free’ through childhood is surprisingly rare.”
COVID-19
Another focus of Alrouh’s research was the influence of COVID-19. “The pandemic disrupted children’s wellbeing, with parental stress and job changes having an even greater impact during this period”, Alrouh says. “Overall, my research highlights how genes, family life, and larger events like a pandemic all interact to shape a child’s mental and physical health.”
To conduct his research, Alrouh analysed data from large, long-term studies of children and their families, including both twins and non-twins. Parents and, in some cases, children themselves filled in regular questionnaires tracking aspects like mental wellbeing, weight, and educational outcomes. Alrouh: “Because these studies followed families for many years—before, during, and after events like the COVID-19 pandemic—I could see how changes in the environment impacted development over time.”
Policy
With these findings, Alrouh aims to help healthcare professionals, teachers, and policymakers understand how family environments, economic circumstances, and global events like COVID-19 impact children’s wellbeing. “Schools could use this knowledge to create programs that boost resilience in children facing stress at home or during major disruptions,” Alrouh explains. Recognizing the role of genes allows for more personalized, supportive interventions rather than placing blame on families. Policymakers can apply these insights to health campaigns and education policies, ensuring resources address both physical needs (like healthy meals) and emotional support (like counselling). “A child’s health is shaped by many factors, and support must reflect this complexity.”