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
Continuity and change in the development of young children with autism. Autism is a severe condition affecting social interaction, communication, behaviour and interests. Parents of children with autism experience high levels of stress associated with the burden of caring. There is a high societal cost associated with the care of people with autism. Research shows outcome in autism is poor, but that early intervention may improve outcome. This project will identify specific early precursors of a ....Continuity and change in the development of young children with autism. Autism is a severe condition affecting social interaction, communication, behaviour and interests. Parents of children with autism experience high levels of stress associated with the burden of caring. There is a high societal cost associated with the care of people with autism. Research shows outcome in autism is poor, but that early intervention may improve outcome. This project will identify specific early precursors of autism which predict outcome. This will allow the development of targeted intervention to give children the best possible start in life and improve longterm outcome. Improvement to the outcome of people with autism will considerably reduce parental and family burden and cost to the community.Read moreRead less
Brain development during adolescence and the emergence of depression: A longitudinal MRI study. Traditionally mental health services have focused on established disorders. Whilst significant gains in outcomes have been obtained in other areas of health by focusing on early intervention and prevention, in the mental health field this approach has been limited by the inability to predict who is likely to go on to develop serious mental disorder. This study will provide critical information for und ....Brain development during adolescence and the emergence of depression: A longitudinal MRI study. Traditionally mental health services have focused on established disorders. Whilst significant gains in outcomes have been obtained in other areas of health by focusing on early intervention and prevention, in the mental health field this approach has been limited by the inability to predict who is likely to go on to develop serious mental disorder. This study will provide critical information for understanding the risk processes that are operating during the critical phase of early adolescence, and will therefore make a fundamental contribution to our understanding of who, and what, to target in early intervention and prevention strategies.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
The etiology of social anxiety and its impact on development across the lifespan. Social anxiety is a distressing early-onset disorder often associated with other psychiatric conditions in later life. This study will extend our previous work that has identified factors associated with its onset. We propose that these factors and the social anxiety itself may disrupt psychosocial development, at the time of onset, and throughout the lifespan. We aim to investigate these innovative hypotheses thro ....The etiology of social anxiety and its impact on development across the lifespan. Social anxiety is a distressing early-onset disorder often associated with other psychiatric conditions in later life. This study will extend our previous work that has identified factors associated with its onset. We propose that these factors and the social anxiety itself may disrupt psychosocial development, at the time of onset, and throughout the lifespan. We aim to investigate these innovative hypotheses through a sequence of three studies, with adults, children and adolescents. The results will inform prevention and early intervention regimes, thereby reducing both the incidence of social anxiety and the burden of the disorder.Read moreRead less
Social outcomes, behaviour and emotional well-being of adults with autism. It is recognised that autism results in substantial life-long disability. Severe emotional and behavioural problems are likely to be a key factor in precluding adults with autism from work, independent living, social contact, and undermine their quality of life, thus increasing support needs. This project aims to address a major gap in our current knowledge - the association between severe emotional and behavioural proble ....Social outcomes, behaviour and emotional well-being of adults with autism. It is recognised that autism results in substantial life-long disability. Severe emotional and behavioural problems are likely to be a key factor in precluding adults with autism from work, independent living, social contact, and undermine their quality of life, thus increasing support needs. This project aims to address a major gap in our current knowledge - the association between severe emotional and behavioural problems in adults with autism and social outcomes. Identification of markers of adult outcomes aims to lead to an improved understanding of the pathways to better social outcomes, facilitating the development of specific interventions to provide much needed improvements in outcomes for adults with autism.Read moreRead less
The impact of female sex hormones on neurodevelopment. This project aims to characterise the contribution of sex hormones to the development of emotional brain circuits in female adolescents. Puberty is associated with profound changes in emotional behaviours in females, but we know little about the underlying brain mechanisms. In particular, research has neglected to consider the role of the sex hormones for which changes are a defining feature of female puberty (eg, oestradiol). This work will ....The impact of female sex hormones on neurodevelopment. This project aims to characterise the contribution of sex hormones to the development of emotional brain circuits in female adolescents. Puberty is associated with profound changes in emotional behaviours in females, but we know little about the underlying brain mechanisms. In particular, research has neglected to consider the role of the sex hormones for which changes are a defining feature of female puberty (eg, oestradiol). This work will be the first to comprehensively advance our understanding of the unique role of sex hormones in shaping the adolescent female brain. It will provide critical understanding of how individual differences in hormonal factors increase risk for emotional problems in females, and inform treatment strategies.Read moreRead less
Deakin Family Options: engaging youth with high prevalence mental health problems using family based interventions. Youth depression, anxiety and substance abuse are prevalent, distressing and costly problems impacting one in five young Australians. This collaborative project - called ‘Deakin Family Options’ - will evaluate a family based intervention in order to broaden the therapeutic approaches used for young people and their families.
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
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