Socioeconomic Variation In Community Risk Profiles Associated With Health And Behaviour Problems In Adolescents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$459,700.00
Summary
Until recently, emotional and behavioural problems of adolescence have tended to be dismissed as part of the normal turbulence of adolescent development; however, attitudes to adolescent health and health promotion have changed quickly. Downward age-trends in tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use have made adolescents a major target for health promotion. The practical potential for adolescent mental health promotion has gained considerable ground and knowledge of the modifiable determinants of y ....Until recently, emotional and behavioural problems of adolescence have tended to be dismissed as part of the normal turbulence of adolescent development; however, attitudes to adolescent health and health promotion have changed quickly. Downward age-trends in tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use have made adolescents a major target for health promotion. The practical potential for adolescent mental health promotion has gained considerable ground and knowledge of the modifiable determinants of youth mental health problems has been progressed by a growing number of studies examining distal and proximal predictors in community samples. The project plans to comprehensively assess locally elevated risk factors and depressed protective factors predictive of a range of adolescent health and behaviour problems including substance abuse, obesity and depression in 30 communities across three Australian States. These communities will be selected from the entire socioeconomic spectrum to determine how the social context of our neighbourhoods may influence the health and behaviour of adolescents . Surveys of students in grade 6 and year 8 will be conducted. Each participating student will be weighed and measured and asked to complete a questionnaire that assesses a comprehensive range of community risk and protective factors.Read moreRead less
A Life Course Approach To Understanding Oral Health Inequalities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$269,025.00
Summary
Preadolescent children in Australia have lower rates of dental decay than children in almost all other economically developed countries. This is not the case for Australian adults. In fact, Australian adults aged 35-44 years have higher rates of dental decay than adults of similar age in most other economically developed countries. Not only do Australian adults have comparatively poor oral health in the lead-up to midlife, but also socioeconomic inequalities in dental decay are more pronounced a ....Preadolescent children in Australia have lower rates of dental decay than children in almost all other economically developed countries. This is not the case for Australian adults. In fact, Australian adults aged 35-44 years have higher rates of dental decay than adults of similar age in most other economically developed countries. Not only do Australian adults have comparatively poor oral health in the lead-up to midlife, but also socioeconomic inequalities in dental decay are more pronounced at this stage of life than at any other stage before or after. This study proposes to look at how oral health in young adults in shaped by their experiences across childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. This approach is based on recent evidence that points to the importance to adult health of the early years of life. In this life course perspective, the poorer health of disadvantaged individuals is seen to result from ongoing and cumulative exposure to difficult and disadvantaged circumstances across their life course. This study will trace and follow up a cohort of almost 10, 000 South Australians for whom social, familial, economic and dental behavioural information was collected in 1991-92 when these individuals were aged from five to 15 years. Now aged from 19 to 29 years, these individuals will be invited to attend a dental examination and complete a survey that will provide information on health behaviours and life circumstances shown to be important determinants of general and oral health status. One purpose will be to explore reasons for the comparatively poorer oral health status of Australian adults. A second purpose will be to investigate the magnitude of socioeconomic inequalities in oral disease at different life stages. The findings will add to the knowledge of the etiology of oral disease and open up opportunities to develop new methods of oral health promotion based on the understanding of accumulated risk across the life course.Read moreRead less
Building The Evidence Base To Match Health Action To Need For Adolescents Globally
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$348,768.00
Summary
This fellowship involves 3 inter-related bodies of work focussing on adolescent health. Firstly, I will use existing data to better describe the health needs of adolescents living in the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents. Secondly, I will identify priority areas for better data collection and explore novel methods to fill key gaps. Thirdly, I will investigate how the described health profiles can be translated into health action.
Environmental Risk Factors And Genetic Modifiers For Lung Health And Lung Function In A High Risk Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$95,348.00
Summary
Asthma is an important determinant of respiratory health and longevity. While early life exposures are thought to be important, the evidence linking them with asthma and lung function is inconclusive. There is a scarcity of longitudinal studies and few investigate genes and environment. This study will determine whether environmental exposures along with their relevant genetic modifiers are related to increased risk of asthma and impaired lung function in a high allergy risk birth cohort.
Using Lessons From The United Kingdom To Improve The Reproductive Health Of Aboriginal Adolescent Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,768.00
Summary
I will examine if parity and pre and post natal exercise can prevent urinary incontinence among older women in a large cohort study in the United Kingdom and use these skills to examine the contraceptive use of Aboriginal adolescent females and influence pre and post natal programs in four Aboriginal communities. The more knowledge and support Aboriginal adolescent females have the higher chances of them making informed decisions about their reproductive health.
Prevalence Of Challenge-proven Food Allergy And Predictors Of Severe Adverse Reactions To Food In Early Adolescence: SchoolNuts
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,196,852.00
Summary
Food allergy (FA) has risen to epidemic proportions in recent times and Australia has one of the highest rates in the world. FA is most common in children under 5 years, yet adolescents are at the greatest risk of death from food-related anaphylaxis. We don’t know why this is the case. Our research will describe FA prevalence and will assess the factors placing FA adolescents at high risk of severe allergic reactions. Findings will influence policy for management of FA and anaphylaxis.
Parental Supply Of Alcohol To Children: Associations With Early Adult Health – “binge” Drinking, Alcohol-related Harms, Aggression, And Alcohol Use Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,143,477.00
Summary
We will investigate of the impacts of parental supply of alcohol between 13-18 years, on early adult alcohol use (19-23 years). We will follow an existing cohort of ~1,810 parent-child dyads, and assess the development of alcohol use, disorders, harms and aggression. We will investigate the impacts of: parental supply of sips vs drinks; supervised vs unsupervised supply; and modifying effects of contexts of supply and mediators (such as peer, child factors, etc.) controlling for confounders.
Investigating The Relationships Between Cannabis And Other Drug Use, Mental Health, Early-life Factors And Life-course Outcomes: Integrative Analyses Of Data From Four Australasian Cohort Studies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$292,097.00
Summary
The current study will be the first of its kind to use integrative data analyses _ a highly innovative approach _ to pool data from four large and long-running Australasian cohort studies to better understand the link between cannabis use and later-life outcomes. Dramatically improved knowledge of these relationships will create a clearer picture of the interventions required to reduce the harms associated with cannabis use.
The RADAR Project: Identifying Early Warning Signals On The Pathways To Alcohol Use Disorder
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$884,321.00
Summary
The transition from alcohol initiation to an alcohol use disorder is a crucial yet under-studied research area. The current project will characterise the natural history of alcohol use disorder and identify modifiable factors that increase or decrease the likelihood of developing an alcohol use disorder once alcohol use begins. This information will guide prevention of, and early intervention for, this disabling disorder.