Normative study of a checklist of emotional and behavioural disturbance in adults with intellectual disability. People with intellectual disability (ID) are three times more likely to suffer mental illness than the general community, making this a bigger problem than schizophrenia. They are a great burden to their carers and cost to the community but their mental health problems remain largely untreated. This study aims to conduct the largest and most comprehensive survey of the mental health ....Normative study of a checklist of emotional and behavioural disturbance in adults with intellectual disability. People with intellectual disability (ID) are three times more likely to suffer mental illness than the general community, making this a bigger problem than schizophrenia. They are a great burden to their carers and cost to the community but their mental health problems remain largely untreated. This study aims to conduct the largest and most comprehensive survey of the mental health of adults with ID that has been undertaken internationally to date. The population will cover the age span of late adolescence (16 years) through the transition to adult life then through to the elderly. The research will establish the prevalence and nature of mental illness and potential risk factors in a large representative population of adults with ID.Read moreRead less
An Investigation of Intersubjectivity: Music Therapy and Hospitalised Infants. A contingent relationship is vital for normal infant development. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which supplies life-saving modern medical technology to very sick infants, is also an environment where contingency is rarely available to the infant . In this environment, a Music Therapist ?improvising? with the infant, can re-introduce contingency to the infant, and encourage infant self-regulation. This project inv ....An Investigation of Intersubjectivity: Music Therapy and Hospitalised Infants. A contingent relationship is vital for normal infant development. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which supplies life-saving modern medical technology to very sick infants, is also an environment where contingency is rarely available to the infant . In this environment, a Music Therapist ?improvising? with the infant, can re-introduce contingency to the infant, and encourage infant self-regulation. This project investigates the efficacy of a Music Therapy intervention in improving infant health, and micro-analyses the interaction between infant and therapist in order to further understand the nature of the Communicative Musicality of the interaction.Read moreRead less
The development of emotion regulation strategies and their relationships with psychological wellbeing: A long-term follow-up study. A largely neglected area, emotion regulation in young people will be comprehensively examined. The first of its kind worldwide, this research will provide a rich understanding of the development of emotion regulation over the course of development from late childhood to early adulthood. An understanding of the role played by emotion regulation in wellbeing will prov ....The development of emotion regulation strategies and their relationships with psychological wellbeing: A long-term follow-up study. A largely neglected area, emotion regulation in young people will be comprehensively examined. The first of its kind worldwide, this research will provide a rich understanding of the development of emotion regulation over the course of development from late childhood to early adulthood. An understanding of the role played by emotion regulation in wellbeing will provide important foundations for the development of intervention and prevention strategies that incorporate emotional functioning processes. This is predicted to result in a marked increase in the efficacy of existing prevention and intervention efforts which will lead to significant health care cost savings and social benefits, particularly for our youth.Read moreRead less
A prospective study of the transition to grandparenthood: psychosocial adjustment, well-being and productive ageing. Given the increasingly common childcare role that grandparents are required to play in Australian society, and the increasing demands of grandparenting, potential benefits arising from this study adhere to the requirements of the National Research Priority Area "Promoting and Maintaining Good Health." They include: identifying the characteristics of the group of grandparents for w ....A prospective study of the transition to grandparenthood: psychosocial adjustment, well-being and productive ageing. Given the increasingly common childcare role that grandparents are required to play in Australian society, and the increasing demands of grandparenting, potential benefits arising from this study adhere to the requirements of the National Research Priority Area "Promoting and Maintaining Good Health." They include: identifying the characteristics of the group of grandparents for whom the change of role and lifestyle produces negative effects; providing increased awareness in health professionals and the lay community about this subgroup, enabling appropriate early identification and intervention; supplying evidence-based data to inform strategies to reduce stress in the grandparents and improve the quality of childcare they provide.Read moreRead less
Investigating positive developmental transitions in emerging adulthood within the Australian Temperament Project cohort: Models, temporal patterns and predictors. Follow-up of the Australian Temperament Project (ATP) cohort provides a rare opportunity for robust investigation of positive development in emerging adulthood. High rates of risk taking and health disruption characterise this period. Identification of successful personal and social adjustment characteristics will reveal the potential ....Investigating positive developmental transitions in emerging adulthood within the Australian Temperament Project cohort: Models, temporal patterns and predictors. Follow-up of the Australian Temperament Project (ATP) cohort provides a rare opportunity for robust investigation of positive development in emerging adulthood. High rates of risk taking and health disruption characterise this period. Identification of successful personal and social adjustment characteristics will reveal the potential for positive development to prevent or ameliorate adjustment difficulties. Analysis of the extensive ATP dataset will identify child and adolescent predictors of positive development. The resulting knowledge of the role of earlier life characteristics and circumstances for positive development can help frame new health promotion initiatives. The study will also advance theory by developing an integrated model of positive development.Read moreRead less
Redefining body image for young women: Development of an Australian bibliotherapy program for adolescent girls. Body image dissatisfaction poses a serious health risk for adolescent girls and young women. Whilst this construct is highly prevalent amongst female populations, there are some who remain immune to the pervasiveness and subsequent development of these self-negating attitudes. However, little is known about the resilience processes utilised by those who are immune. This study aims to ....Redefining body image for young women: Development of an Australian bibliotherapy program for adolescent girls. Body image dissatisfaction poses a serious health risk for adolescent girls and young women. Whilst this construct is highly prevalent amongst female populations, there are some who remain immune to the pervasiveness and subsequent development of these self-negating attitudes. However, little is known about the resilience processes utilised by those who are immune. This study aims to develop an understanding of these resilience processes and utilise them in the construction and delivery of an innovative preventative program for adolescent girls. The outcomes of this research will provide young girls with an alternative voice, de-emphasising the objectification of self as a component of female identity formation and stem ongoing development of associated psychosocial risks.Read moreRead less
The effects of maternal attachment, marital satisfaction and sensitivity to infants on infants attachment and adjustment: A longitudinal-structural equation study. This study will examine how family and attachment factors effect the adjustment of infant at 24 months of age. A longitudinal study, using structural equation method, will examine how maternal attachment and marital satisfaction when infants are 4 months of age will effect maternal parenting behaviors two months later, and how all thr ....The effects of maternal attachment, marital satisfaction and sensitivity to infants on infants attachment and adjustment: A longitudinal-structural equation study. This study will examine how family and attachment factors effect the adjustment of infant at 24 months of age. A longitudinal study, using structural equation method, will examine how maternal attachment and marital satisfaction when infants are 4 months of age will effect maternal parenting behaviors two months later, and how all three of these measures will effect infant attachment 6 months later. It will then examine how all four of these measures will effect the adjustment of infants 12 months later. The study will have important implications for early intervention and prevention of psychological problems in infants and children.Read moreRead less
Behaviour and emotional problems in young children with developmental delay. This research will provide health professionals, researchers and service providers with a reliable and valid measure to assess behaviour in young children with developmental delay. This will be the first instrument of its kind worldwide. The study will provide the largest and most comprehensive survey of behaviour and emotional problems in young children with developmental delay internationally to date. It will provide ....Behaviour and emotional problems in young children with developmental delay. This research will provide health professionals, researchers and service providers with a reliable and valid measure to assess behaviour in young children with developmental delay. This will be the first instrument of its kind worldwide. The study will provide the largest and most comprehensive survey of behaviour and emotional problems in young children with developmental delay internationally to date. It will provide information on the types of treatment that are needed for these children and what support is needed for their families. The outcomes of this study have the potential to promote the best possible start in life and long term mental health of this group of at risk and disadvantaged young Australians.Read moreRead less
Emotion development and adolescent depression: An analysis of gender differences. This project will investigate the differing role of empathy and guilt in the development of depression over time. Consistent with Izard's emotion perspective, it is predicted that these emotions will become more strongly correlated with depression in the post-adolescence compared to the pre-adolescent years. This strengthening of association will be most marked for specific sub-groups (e.g. females compared to mal ....Emotion development and adolescent depression: An analysis of gender differences. This project will investigate the differing role of empathy and guilt in the development of depression over time. Consistent with Izard's emotion perspective, it is predicted that these emotions will become more strongly correlated with depression in the post-adolescence compared to the pre-adolescent years. This strengthening of association will be most marked for specific sub-groups (e.g. females compared to males; individuals scoring high on empathy and low on emotion regulation). The expected outcomes will lead to a more sophisticated understanding of the development of depression. They will have significant implications for the development/refinement of preventative/intervention strategies for depression during pre-adolescence.Read moreRead less
Pathways to positive personal and social adjustment in early adulthood: a follow-up of the Australian Temperament Project longitudinal cohort. Young adulthood today is characterised by delayed independence and family formation, extended attachment to peer culture, and relatively high levels of alcohol and drug use and mental health problems. Concerns are voiced about the capacity of this generation to become healthy and productive members of society. Examining the development of healthy young ad ....Pathways to positive personal and social adjustment in early adulthood: a follow-up of the Australian Temperament Project longitudinal cohort. Young adulthood today is characterised by delayed independence and family formation, extended attachment to peer culture, and relatively high levels of alcohol and drug use and mental health problems. Concerns are voiced about the capacity of this generation to become healthy and productive members of society. Examining the development of healthy young adulthood within this large longitudinal cohort will enable pathways and predictors of positive development from infancy through adolescence to be identified. It will hence allow identification of potential targets for policies and interventions to enhance the development of productive personal capacity, responsible social participation, compassion and trust.Read moreRead less