Online Pornography And Sexual Risk Behaviour, Health And Wellbeing: An Evidence-informed And Needs-based Approach To Health Promotion And Sex Education For Young People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$81,361.00
Summary
Young people have unprecedented access to online pornography. To date, little is known about it's actual impact on sexual risk behaviours, negative or violent attitudes towards women, mental health and body image. There is a need for better evidence about young people’s online pornography usage and its impact on their health and wellbeing, to inform the development of evidenced based health promotion strategies.
The Kids Aren’t Alright: Preventing Depression In Adolescents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,715.00
Summary
Depression frequently emerges for the first-time during adolescence. This project examines ways to prevent depression in young people by: (i) partnering with schools to deliver broad universal programs to students through the education system, and (ii) treating sleep disturbance, a powerful but non-stigmatised risk factor for onset of depression. Findings from this research will inform innovative ways to address the depression crisis through the optimisation of prevention approaches.
Adolescent Depression: Evaluation Of A Preventive Intervention And Identification Of Risk Factors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,313.00
Summary
This project will evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a school-based program to prevent depression among adolescents. It also aims to identify factors that predict the onset of depression in those who do not receive the intervention. The intervention focuses on the training of interpersonal problem solving skills and enhancement of optimistic thinking styles within a classroom-based curriculum. This project extends the current research program of the applicant. The intervention has already b ....This project will evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a school-based program to prevent depression among adolescents. It also aims to identify factors that predict the onset of depression in those who do not receive the intervention. The intervention focuses on the training of interpersonal problem solving skills and enhancement of optimistic thinking styles within a classroom-based curriculum. This project extends the current research program of the applicant. The intervention has already been developed and implemented with 1600 young people, with the support of local education authorities. The evaluation uses well-researched measures and includes a control group of adolescents who do not receive the intervention. Around 5% of adolescents experience clinical levels of depression and an even larger percentage show subclinical levels. Depression results in many debilitating consequences such as impaired school, work and social functioning and is also a risk factor in adolescent suicide. The prevention of mental health problems is a priority for Commonwealth and State governments and yet there is minimal research to demonstrate the effectiveness of preventive interventions, particularly in the area of depression. If the present study demonstrates a positive outcome, it will provide important guidelines as to preventive materials that should be included in the school curriculum. It is predicted that: a) the intervention will be associated with lower levels of depression over the 4 year follow-up, particularly for adolescents who are assessed as showing mild symptoms of depression, poor problem solving skills or pessimistic cognitive style prior to intervention b) risk factors for the development of depression in adolescents who do not receive the intervention will include initial mild symptoms of depression, poor problem solving skills and pessimistic attributional style.Read moreRead less
A Developmental Approach To Suicide Prevention And Related Harm Among Australian Youth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
Suicide among Australian youth is a significant and increasing problem in Australia, and is currently the leading cause of death among those aged 15 - 44 years. Early prevention is critical to reducing morbidity and mortality associated with suicide, yet typically occurs too late to have long-term impact. In order to prevent suicidal risk, this Fellowship will focus on improving evidence-based childhood prevention, as well as risk identification, to increase the timeliness of intervention.
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 Stepped Care Approach For The Management Of Childhood Anxiety Disorders: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$936,628.00
Summary
Anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental disorder in childhood. Research has led to some good treatments but these don't necessarily suit all families. Stepped care is a format that allows the least complicated treatment to be given to a child first, followed by more intense treatments only when needed. The current study aims to compare this approach against a standard, established treatment. We expect the stepped care approach to result in better outcomes at a lower overall cost.
Innovative School-based Interventions To Improve Mental Health And The Social And Emotional Development Of Australian Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,845.00
Summary
I am a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Western Australia and the Telethon Kids Institute. My research develops and delivers interventions that improve the quality of life, health, education, safety and social justice outcomes for Australian children. My work is particularly focused on ways to reduce harms from bullying and cyberbullying among children and adolescents.
Adolescent Rural Cohort Study Hormones, Health, Education, Environments And Relationships
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,016,983.00
Summary
Adolescence is a time of major physical, emotional and social change, often characterised by risk taking and experimentation. Behaviours and decisions taken at this time of life will shape future health. This rural cohort study will for the first time will study the influence of pubertal hormones on behaviours, mental and physical health and general well being in adolescents.