Pathways To Mental Health And Obesity In Young Adults: A Longitudinal Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$698,510.00
Summary
While the health of the population has been gradually improving, there are some health problems which are increasing. The mental health of young people is one such area. Based on data relating to youth suicide, substance abuse, cigarette smoking by females and behavioural or mental health problems in the young, there has been evidence of a marked increase in some important health problems faced by the young. Little is known about the causes of these problems and even less is known about the reas ....While the health of the population has been gradually improving, there are some health problems which are increasing. The mental health of young people is one such area. Based on data relating to youth suicide, substance abuse, cigarette smoking by females and behavioural or mental health problems in the young, there has been evidence of a marked increase in some important health problems faced by the young. Little is known about the causes of these problems and even less is known about the reasons for the increase. Based on the available evidence, 20-25% of young persons manifest a mental health problem. A second area of marked health deterioration concerns youth (and adult) obesity. Existing research points to the accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors associated with obesity from a very early age. Over 10% of youth are obese and a substantially higher proportion are overweight. There is evidence that the rate of obesity has been substantially increasing. Again little is known about the factors that contribute to obesity or the causes of the increase in the rates of obesity in the population. This proposal is for a 21-year follow-up of a sample of youth first enrolled when their mothers attended for their first obstetrical visit. Using a substantial body of existing data, we propose to examine the changes in levels of mental health and obesity and to identify the factors which contribute to these changes. This study involves the largest Australian cohort ever assembled for such research. The main questions asked in this study concern the impact of the mother's social and economic circumstances, her physical health and well-being, her use of addictive substances (including alcohol, cigarettes, illicit drugs) on the youth's health. We will also examine the association between early indicators of mental health and well-being and subsequent youth health and development.Read moreRead less
Cultural responsiveness: measuring and evaluating social work practice. This project aims to develop tools for use by social workers that measure and evaluate culturally responsive practices with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The tools have potential application across numerous sectors in social work practices with clients and families. The project will benefit social workers who can measure, evaluate and improve their culturally responsive practice, and in turn, the health and ....Cultural responsiveness: measuring and evaluating social work practice. This project aims to develop tools for use by social workers that measure and evaluate culturally responsive practices with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The tools have potential application across numerous sectors in social work practices with clients and families. The project will benefit social workers who can measure, evaluate and improve their culturally responsive practice, and in turn, the health and well-being outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH210100040
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC RESEARCH HUB FOR CONNECTED SENSORS FOR HEALTH. This Hub aims to develop, manufacture and deploy high-tech, cyber-secure, medically-certified IoT sensors to global health markets by integrating disparate Australian capabilities into a productive end-to-end value chain. This Hub expects to position Australia at the forefront of connected health by integrating sensor science with cyber-secure data analytics, regulatory approval and certified manufacturing capabilities. Expected outcomes of this ....ARC RESEARCH HUB FOR CONNECTED SENSORS FOR HEALTH. This Hub aims to develop, manufacture and deploy high-tech, cyber-secure, medically-certified IoT sensors to global health markets by integrating disparate Australian capabilities into a productive end-to-end value chain. This Hub expects to position Australia at the forefront of connected health by integrating sensor science with cyber-secure data analytics, regulatory approval and certified manufacturing capabilities. Expected outcomes of this Hub include advanced manufacturing capacity for connected sensors, strategic partnerships and commercialisation skills to translate sensors research to create economic benefits such as jobs and locally-made products for domestic and export markets, as well as improving the health of Australians.Read moreRead less
Early Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IE230100135
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,222.00
Summary
Developing strong, robust and high performing women football players. Women drop out of Australian football at a higher rate than men, often due to concerns about their physical capabilities and performance. Yet, coaches do not prioritise developing physical capacity (eg strength), due to perceived lack of relevance to football. In community Australian football players, this study will identify physical capacity elements relevant for football performance, assess the change across a typical seaso ....Developing strong, robust and high performing women football players. Women drop out of Australian football at a higher rate than men, often due to concerns about their physical capabilities and performance. Yet, coaches do not prioritise developing physical capacity (eg strength), due to perceived lack of relevance to football. In community Australian football players, this study will identify physical capacity elements relevant for football performance, assess the change across a typical season and the influence of gender and age. Combining sport science and engineering, smartphone videos and open-access software will be utilised to develop cost-effective methods to assess tackling skill. Findings will inform better training strategies for women, reducing injury, enhancing retention and physical activity. Read moreRead less
Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Grant ID: DI110100034
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,401.00
Summary
Measurement matters: analysis of potential methodological and discrimination biases in assessments of medication treatments for ADHD, and stakeholder views. This research aims to identify multiple stakeholders' views of the nature of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and test if discrimination and survey wording result in bias when assessing the impact of medical treatments. This will result in understandings of discrimination and measurement bias; multiple stakeholders' perceptions; and ....Measurement matters: analysis of potential methodological and discrimination biases in assessments of medication treatments for ADHD, and stakeholder views. This research aims to identify multiple stakeholders' views of the nature of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and test if discrimination and survey wording result in bias when assessing the impact of medical treatments. This will result in understandings of discrimination and measurement bias; multiple stakeholders' perceptions; and better methodology in research.
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Development Of Quality Indicators For The Frail Elderly In Acute Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,311.00
Summary
Frail older people are particularly vulnerable to a range of mishaps while in hospital. Good care can reduce the frequency and extent of these problems. Quality indicators (QIs) assist hospitals, and clinical service units within them, to appraise their performance, and to compare it to other hospitals. QIs for the measurement of outcomes for the frail aged in the acute care setting do not exist in Australia or overseas. We aim to develop these indicators during this study.
Promoting the positive mental health and well being of young Australians. This project will test an innovative multidimensional model of positive mental health and mental illness in young Australians. It will also determine if the application of this model to the development of six online positive mental health tools, improves the mental health and well-being of young people.
Bereavement of suicide and sudden death. Losing someone to suicide can have devastating affects on the survivors left behind. The aims of the present study include the identification of the processes and impacts of bereavement on survivors in various age groups. It also aims to identify critical points during the bereavement and factors which exacerbate and moderate negative impacts. This has been previously neglected in suicide research in Australia and its findings will add a multi-dimensional ....Bereavement of suicide and sudden death. Losing someone to suicide can have devastating affects on the survivors left behind. The aims of the present study include the identification of the processes and impacts of bereavement on survivors in various age groups. It also aims to identify critical points during the bereavement and factors which exacerbate and moderate negative impacts. This has been previously neglected in suicide research in Australia and its findings will add a multi-dimensional aspect to postvention not currently understood. It is expected that findings will help develop guidelines to ensure more effective detection and intervention for survivors, as well as enhancing social support and personal resilience.Read moreRead less
The role of short tandem repeat DNA variation in the evolution of human psychological diversity. The proposed work addresses fundamental questions about human nature. It ties together the evolutionary processes that have shaped us as a species with the way our genes influence: our personalities, the way we think and how we behave. It introduces a novel approach to addressing questions about the role of genetics in human variation that will contribute substantially to the way we understand, perce ....The role of short tandem repeat DNA variation in the evolution of human psychological diversity. The proposed work addresses fundamental questions about human nature. It ties together the evolutionary processes that have shaped us as a species with the way our genes influence: our personalities, the way we think and how we behave. It introduces a novel approach to addressing questions about the role of genetics in human variation that will contribute substantially to the way we understand, perceive and manage important aspects of human diversity.Read moreRead less
MOLECULAR APPROACHES TO OVERCOME SCABIES AND ASSOCIATED DISEASE. Scabies causes childhood pyoderma predisposing to severe disease in later life. It is a major increasing health burden in Indigenous people of Northern Australia. Drug resistance is developing in mites and bacteria. The lack of clinical material has hampered molecular research and this work will use comparative genomics of parasitic and free living mites and microbiome analysis to understand fundamental aspects of mite biology and ....MOLECULAR APPROACHES TO OVERCOME SCABIES AND ASSOCIATED DISEASE. Scabies causes childhood pyoderma predisposing to severe disease in later life. It is a major increasing health burden in Indigenous people of Northern Australia. Drug resistance is developing in mites and bacteria. The lack of clinical material has hampered molecular research and this work will use comparative genomics of parasitic and free living mites and microbiome analysis to understand fundamental aspects of mite biology and pathogenesis. The understanding of proteins that are essential for mite survival and interfere with host defences will allow the informed design of peptide inhibitors as a new strategy to develop alternative treatment options.Read moreRead less