I am a behavioural epidemiologist in adolescent health. The focus of my research is to assess the effect of the school environment on adolescent health and wellbeing, design and evaluate school-based interventions that promote these and study how schools
The Development Of Overweight And Bone Density Among Adolescent Girls: A 3-year Prospective Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$280,351.00
Summary
Being overweight as an adolescent is associated with many health problems, both during adolescence and throughout the rest of the life span. The proportion of Australian adults who are overweight is increasing rapidly and it appears that overweight is also increasing among Australian adolescents. Unfortunately, little is known about the relative influences of physical activity, sedentary activity and dietary fat intake on the development of overweight among adolescents. Understanding this issue ....Being overweight as an adolescent is associated with many health problems, both during adolescence and throughout the rest of the life span. The proportion of Australian adults who are overweight is increasing rapidly and it appears that overweight is also increasing among Australian adolescents. Unfortunately, little is known about the relative influences of physical activity, sedentary activity and dietary fat intake on the development of overweight among adolescents. Understanding this issue will inform our efforts to prevent the development of overweight and to maintain healthy weight among Australian adolescents. Bone fractures among older adults have a major impact on their overall health, quality of life and capacity for independent and satisfying living. Peak bone strength is reached during adolescence and, although bone strength can be largely maintained though adult life with appropriate diet and physical activity, little can be done to further strengthen bones during adulthood. The goal of public health is to foster the development of maximum bone strength among adolescents in order to reduce the severity of osteoporosis among the older adults of the future. Our understanding of the factors which influence the development of maximum bone strength is inadequate to the task of designing programs and interventions intended maximise bone strength among the current generation of adolescents. This proposed study is intended to make a significant contribution to our understanding of the development of overweight and bone strength among adolescents. As our understanding of these health issues improves we will be able to make more effective contributions to the health of the Australian population, both during adolescence and across the lifespan.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Trial Assessing A Shade Development Intervention In Secondary Schools For Adolescent Skin Cancer Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$709,615.00
Summary
Skin cancer is a significant burden to health costs, and morbidity and mortality in Australia. Reduction of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight, particularly during childhood and adolescence is an important strategy for preventing skin cancer in later life. Adolescents have been particularly resistant to skin cancer prevention messages. Despite a high knowledge of skin cancer, the majority of Australian adolescents report a reliance on sunscreen, a resistance to hat wearing, and ....Skin cancer is a significant burden to health costs, and morbidity and mortality in Australia. Reduction of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight, particularly during childhood and adolescence is an important strategy for preventing skin cancer in later life. Adolescents have been particularly resistant to skin cancer prevention messages. Despite a high knowledge of skin cancer, the majority of Australian adolescents report a reliance on sunscreen, a resistance to hat wearing, and commonly experience sunburn, an important indicator of increased risk of skin cancer. Psycho-social interventions have shown limited influence on adolescents' sun protective behaviours to date. The current research proposal explores an alternative approach to psycho-social interventions for adolescents. The study will assess the effect of increasing available shade at secondary schools. In a randomised control trial study design, the change in the number of students using certain outdoor areas at intervention schools will be observed 'before' and 'after' the installation of built shade sail structures. Our main hypothesis states that the number of students using these newly shaded areas in intervention schools will increase compared with use of equivalent unshaded areas in control schools. Shade development is increasingly becoming an issue for secondary schools and given both the high cost of providing shade structures and adolescents' resistance to other forms of sun protection it is important to establish that adolescents will use this form of sun protection. This study will determine whether adolescents actively avoid or seek shade and so provide evidence for informing decisions about further investment in shade provision in schools.Read moreRead less
Why Do Australian Teenagers Fall Pregnant? Exploring The Antecedents Of Teenage Pregnancy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$542,100.00
Summary
Teenage pregnancy is a major health, social and economic issue for Australia. The teenage birth rate in Australia is higher than many other developed countries and of additional concern is the very high pregnancy and termination rate. Teenage pregnancy places the mother and child at greater risk of lifelong adverse outcomes. Despite research over more than 3 decades, we have only a simplistic understanding of what are likely complex mechanisms leading to early pregnancy. This is thought to be th ....Teenage pregnancy is a major health, social and economic issue for Australia. The teenage birth rate in Australia is higher than many other developed countries and of additional concern is the very high pregnancy and termination rate. Teenage pregnancy places the mother and child at greater risk of lifelong adverse outcomes. Despite research over more than 3 decades, we have only a simplistic understanding of what are likely complex mechanisms leading to early pregnancy. This is thought to be the reason for the failure of nearly all teenage pregnancy prevention efforts worldwide. In addition, there has been little study of this issue in Australian teenagers, and none in Aboriginal teenagers for whom pregnancy is more common and carries worse outcomes. This 2-stage project seeks to elucidate complex biological, psychological, and social pathways to unplanned pregnancy in the teenage years. In Phase 1, perceptions, values and beliefs will be explored in a qualitative study. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal teenagers attending antenatal, termination and family planning clinics will be interviewed. Data from these interviews will generate new hypotheses regarding pregnancy risk in this age group. In Phase 2, 600 teenagers from schools, antenatal and termination clinics will be surveyed using computerised questionnaires. They will be asked about beliefs (identified in phase 1) and a range of other individual, family, and environmental factors identified in other studies to be risk factors for early pregnancy. Statistical analysis will be used to determine how multiple risk factors interact or combine to shape sexual and childbearing behaviour. This study will lead to new understandings of teenage pregnancy in Australia, and more effective teenage pregnancy intervention programs. Because few researchers in Australia, or elsewhere, have taken such a comprehensive approach to data collection and analysis, the results will be of international significance.Read moreRead less
Effectiveness Of A Resilience Intervention In Reducing Smoking And Alcohol Consumption Among Secondary School Students
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,491,446.00
Summary
A key factor in adult smoking and excessive alcohol consumption is commencement of these behaviours during childhood. Smoking and alcohol use by adolescents also has a direct harmful effect on their health at that time. The project aims to decrease adolescent use of tobacco and alcohol by improving adolescent's resilience and mental wellbeing. The project will involve the evaluation of a school-based resilience intervention delivered to grade 7 to 10 students in disadvantaged secondary schools.