ORCID Profile
0000-0003-3196-7137
Current Organisation
University of Adelaide
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Publisher: BMJ
Date: 27-05-2014
DOI: 10.1136/BMJ.G3256
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 23-09-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2010
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 21-09-2023
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-05-2011
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-08-2013
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 26-09-2014
DOI: 10.1007/S10995-013-1369-8
Abstract: To examine whether items comprising a preschool well-child check for use by family doctors in Australia with 4-5-year old children predicts health and academic outcomes at 6-7 years. The well-child check includes mandatory (anthropometry, eye/vision, ear/hearing, dental, toileting, allergy problems) and non-mandatory (processed food consumption, low physical activity, motor, behaviour/mood problems) items. The predictive validity of mandatory and non-mandatory items measured at 4-5 years was examined using data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Outcomes at 6-7 years included overweight/obesity, asthma, health care/medication needs, general health, mental health problems, quality of life, teacher-reported mathematics and literacy ability (n = 2,280-2,787). Weight or height >90th centile at 4-5 years predicted overweight/obesity at 6-7 years with 60% sensitivity, 79% specificity and 40% positive predictive value (PPV). Mood/behaviour problems at 4-5 predicted mental health problems at 6-7 years with 86% sensitivity, 40% specificity and 8% PPV. Non-mandatory items improved the discrimination between children with and without mental health problems at 6-7 years (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.75 compared with 0.69 for mandatory items only), but was weak for most outcomes. Items used in a well-child health check were moderate predictors of overweight/obesity and mental health problems at 6-7 years, but poor predictors of other health and academic outcomes.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 21-03-2023
DOI: 10.3390/ANI13061113
Abstract: The social determinants of health (SDH) focus on the social, physical and economic factors that impact human health. Studies have revealed that animal guardians face a range of challenges in attaining positive welfare outcomes for their companion animals, which can be influenced by socioeconomic and environmental factors. Despite this, there is a lack of research specifically exploring the relationship between SDH and animal welfare outcomes. Given that the SDH impact on humans, which in turn directly impacts on their companion animal, it is important to adapt an SDH framework for companion animal welfare by characterising the impact of the SDH on companion animal guardians in their attempts to care for their animals and, by extension, the associated welfare outcomes. This paper explores how these human health determinants may impact animal welfare and the possible challenges that may arise for the guardian when attempting to meet their companion animal’s welfare needs. By integrating the SDH with other key frameworks, including the five domains model of animal welfare, through multidisciplinary collaboration, this framework can be used to inform future programs aiming to improve animal welfare.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 30-03-2016
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-10-2014
DOI: 10.1111/CDEV.12309
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-11-2015
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-2015
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-06-2012
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-06-2013
DOI: 10.1007/S00127-013-0722-Y
Abstract: Socio-economic position (SEP) during childhood and parental social mobility have been associated with subsequent health outcomes in adolescence and adulthood. This study investigates whether parental SEP during childhood is associated with subsequent self-harm in adolescence. This study uses data from a prospective birth-cohort study (the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children) which followed 14,610 births in 1991-1992 to age 16-18 years (n = 4,810). The association of parental SEP recorded pre-birth and throughout childhood with self-harm was investigated using logistic regression models, with analyses conducted separately for those reporting self-harm (a) with and (b) without suicidal intent. The impact of missing data was investigated using multiple imputation methods. Lower parental SEP was associated with increased risk of offspring self-harm with suicidal intent, with less consistent associations evident for self-harm without suicidal intent. Associations were somewhat stronger in relation to measures of SEP in later childhood. Depressive symptoms appeared to partially mediate the associations. Adolescents of parents reporting consistently low income levels during childhood were approximately 1.5 times more likely to engage in SH than those never to report low income. Lower SEP during childhood is associated with the subsequent risk of self-harm with suicidal intent in adolescence. This association is stronger in those experiencing consistently lower SEP.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.INFBEH.2015.04.001
Abstract: The original norms for the Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire (RITQ) were published in 1978 and were based on a small s le from the US. The aim of this study is to compare temperament scores from the original RITQ against scores from a large population-based cohort of infants from the UK. This study consists of 10,937 infants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) born between April 1991 and December 1992 in the southwest of England. Infant temperament at 6 months of age was reported by parents using the adapted RITQ. Responses were scored according to the RITQ manual and then categorized into temperament groups (easy, intermediate low, intermediate high, and difficult) using either the RITQ norms or norms derived from the data. The scores for each temperament subscale and the proportion of children in each temperament group were compared across the two methods. Subscale scores for the ALSPAC s le were higher (more "difficult") than the RITQ norms for rhythmicity, approach, adaptability, intensity, and distractibility. When RITQ norms were applied, 24% infants were categorized as difficult and 25% as easy, compared with 15% difficult and 38% easy when ALSPAC norms were used. There are discrepancies between RITQ norms and the ALSPAC norms which resulted in differences in the distribution of temperament groups. There is a need to re-examine RITQ norms and categorization for use in primary care practice and contemporary population-based studies.
Publisher: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Date: 06-2011
Abstract: We aimed to examine the ability of mother's age, and other factors measured during pregnancy (education, financial difficulties, partner status, smoking, and depression), to predict child development outcomes up to age 5 years. Data were obtained from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Poor child development was defined as scoring in the worst 10% of a parent-reported ALSPAC developmental scale (ADS) at 18 months (n = 7546), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at 47 months (n = 8328), or teacher-reported School Entry Assessment (SEA) scores at 4 to 5 years (n = 7345). Only a small proportion of children with poor development had mothers aged younger than 20 years at their birth (3.3%, 6.4%, and 9.2%, for the ADS, SDQ, and SEA, respectively). A greater proportion with each measure of poor development would be identified (48.9%, 63.6%, and 74.4%, respectively) if all 6 predictors were used and a woman had at least 1 of these. Model discrimination was poor using maternal age only (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve ∼0.5 for all 3 outcomes). This improved when all 6 predictors were included in the model (ADS: 0.56 SDQ: 0.66 SEA: 0.67). Calibration also improved with the model including all 6 predictors. Even if programs targeted at teen-aged mothers are successful in improving child development, they will have little impact on population levels of poor child development if young maternal age is the sole or main means of identifying eligibility for the program.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 11-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2017.02.018
Abstract: Associations of parental feeding techniques with adiposity are mixed and largely rely on cross-sectional studies. We examined associations between parental food-choice control and using food to soothe at 3.5 years on adiposity at 7 and 15 years. Participants were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (n = 7312). Food-choice control was assessed using the item 'how much choice do you allow him/her in deciding what foods he eats at meals?'. Use of food to soothe was reported by mothers on the item 'how often do you use sweets or other foods to stop his/her crying or fussing?'. BMI at 7 and 15 years was converted to sex- and age-adjusted z-scores. Fat mass was assessed at 15 years using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. In fully-adjusted models, children given the least choice had 0.08 lower BMI z-score at age 7 years and 0.12 lower BMI z-score,1.46 kg lower fat mass at 15 years than children with the most choices. There was no evidence of an association between using food to soothe and adiposity. Contrary to some studies, higher parental control over food choice was associated with lower adiposity, but use of food to soothe was not associated with adiposity at ages 7 and 15.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-10-2014
DOI: 10.1111/CCH.12208
Abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate the association between two key aspects of self-regulation, 'task attentiveness' and 'emotional regulation' assessed from ages 2-3 to 6-7 years, and academic achievement when children were aged 6-7 years. Participants (n = 3410) were children in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Parents rated children's task attentiveness and emotional regulation abilities when children were aged 2-3, 4-5 and 6-7. Academic achievement was assessed using the Academic Rating Scale completed by teachers. Linear regression models were used to estimate the association between developmental trajectories (i.e. rate of change per year) of task attentiveness and emotional regulation, and academic achievement at 6-7 years. Improvements in task attentiveness between 2-3 and 6-7 years, adjusted for baseline levels of task attentiveness, child and family confounders, and children's receptive vocabulary and non-verbal reasoning skills at age 6-7 were associated with greater teacher-rated literacy [B = 0.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.04-0.06] and maths achievement (B = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.03-0.06) at 6-7 years. Improvements in emotional regulation, adjusting for baseline levels and covariates, were also associated with better teacher-rated literacy (B = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.01-0.04) but not with maths achievement (B = 0.01, 95% CI = -0.01-0.02) at 6-7 years. For literacy, improvements in task attentiveness had a stronger association with achievement at 6-7 years than improvements in emotional regulation. Our study shows that improved trajectories of task attentiveness from ages 2-3 to 6-7 years are associated with improved literacy and maths achievement during the early school years. Trajectories of improving emotional regulation showed smaller effects on academic outcomes. Results suggest that interventions that improve task attentiveness when children are aged 2-3 to 6-7 years have the potential to improve literacy and maths achievement during the early school years.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-07-2011
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-02-2020
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 02-03-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2000
Abstract: Previous studies have shown that it is possible to improve the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of chronic lung disease (CLD) patients without a concurrent change in morbidity. A valid CLD index that discriminates between different levels of CLD severity and is associated with HRQoL status is an important tool for primary care settings. In this study a symptom-based CLD index was assessed for its validity and relationship with HRQoL in a representative Australian population s le. The study also measured the prevalence of self-reported CLD. Representative population survey of adults aged 18 years and over using a multistage, systematic, clustered area s le. Metropolitan Adelaide and country centres in South Australia with a population of over 1000 persons. Three hundred twenty-nine adults with CLD identified through a representative population survey of 3010 South Australians. The CLD index and the SF-36 were administered to participants to assess the association between each subscale of the CLD index with each HRQoL scale. The CLD index was also used to assess the prevalence of CLD and the distribution of severity in self-reported CLD in the South Australian population. Each symptom sub-scale of the CLD index was significantly correlated with all scales of the SF-36. The prevalence of CLD as measured by the CLD index was 7.7% (mild), 2.2% (moderate) and 1.0% (severe). In the Australian context the CLD index is a reliable patient interview instrument that can be used to assess the effects of CLD on general HRQoL, improve assessment, and lead to interventions for physicians and their patients.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2016
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 22-05-2012
DOI: 10.1093/HER/CYS061
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2021
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: 2017
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-10-2018
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-03-2015
Abstract: To examine the risk of poor child development according to week of gestation at birth, among children born ≥ 37 weeks' gestation. Population-based study using linked data (n = 12,601). South Australia. All births ≥ 37 weeks' gestation. Relative risks of developmental vulnerability for each week of gestation were calculated with adjustment for confounders and addressing missing information. Child development was documented by teachers during a national census of children attending their first year of school in 2009, using the Australian Early Development Index (AEDI). Children scoring in the lowest 10% of the AEDI were categorised as developmentally vulnerable. The percentage of children vulnerable on one or more AEDI domains for the following gestational ages 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42-45 weeks was 24.8, 22.3, 20.6, 20.0, 20.4 and 24.2, respectively. Compared with children born at 40 weeks, the adjusted relative risks [(95% confidence interval (CI)] for vulnerability on ≥ 1 AEDI domain were 37 weeks 1.13 (0.99-1.28), 38 weeks 1.05 (0.96-1.15), 39 weeks 1.02 (0.94-1.12), 41 weeks 1.00 (0.90-1.11) and 42-45 weeks 1.20 (0.84-1.72). Children born at 40-41 weeks' gestation may have the lowest risk of developmental vulnerability at school entry, reinforcing the importance of term birth in perinatal care. Early term or post-term gestational age at birth can help clinicians, teachers and parents recognise children with potential developmental vulnerabilities at school entry.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-2004
DOI: 10.1007/S00038-004-3075-1
Abstract: Heavy smokers are a segment of the smoking population who are at increased risk of smoking-related morbidity and least likely to achieve cessation. This study identifies the impact of heavy smoking on quality of life by gender and describes the subpopulation for improved targeting. South Australian representative population data (n = 3010) was used to compare the health-related quality of life status of male and female heavy smokers as assessed by the SF-36. Of the smoking population 18% were classified as heavy smokers. There was a clear dose response relationship between amount smoked and deteriorating quality of life for all female smokers. Female heavy smokers were found to be significantly more impaired on all health-related quality of life dimensions, when compared to male heavy smokers. The association of smoking with impaired quality of life is more marked in females than in males. There is a need to identify female smokers as a distinct target group in smoking cessation initiatives and programs.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-11-2018
DOI: 10.1038/S41562-018-0461-X
Abstract: Success in school and the labour market relies on more than high intelligence. Associations between "non-cognitive" skills in childhood, such as attention, self-regulation, and perseverance, and later outcomes have been widely investigated. In a systematic review of this literature, we screened 9553 publications, reviewed 554 eligible publications, and interpreted results from 222 better quality publications. Better quality publications comprised randomised experimental and quasi-experimental studies (EQIs), and observational studies that made reasonable attempts to control confounding. For academic achievement outcomes there were 26 EQI publications but only 14 were available for meta-analysis with effects ranging from 0.16 to 0.37SD. However, within sub-domains effects were heterogeneous. The 95% prediction interval for literacy was consistent with negative, null and positive effects (-0.13 to 0.79). Similarly heterogeneous findings were observed for psychosocial, cognitive and language, and health outcomes. Funnel plots of EQIs and observational studies showed asymmetric distributions and potential for small study bias. There is some evidence that non-cognitive skills associate with improved outcomes. However, there is potential for small study and publication bias that may over-estimate true effects, and heterogeneity of effect estimates spanned negative, null and positive effects. The quality of evidence from EQIs under-pinning this field is lower than optimal and more than a third of observational studies made little or no attempt to control confounding. Interventions designed to develop children's non-cognitive skills could potentially improve outcomes. The inter-disciplinary researchers interested in these skills should take a more strategic and rigorous approach to determine which interventions are most effective.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 16-11-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.11.15.21266370
Abstract: Intergenerational welfare contact (IWC) is a policy issue because of the personal and social costs of intergenerational disadvantage. We estimated the hospital burden of IWC for children aged 11-20 years. This linked data study of children born in South Australia, 1991-1995 (n=94,358), and their parent/s (n=143,814) used de-identified data from the Better Evidence Better Outcomes Linked Data platform. Using Australian Government Centrelink data, welfare contact (WC) was defined as parent/s receiving a means-tested welfare payment (low-income, unemployment, disability or caring) when children were aged 11-15, or children receiving payment at ages 16-20. IWC was WC occurring in both parent and child generations. Children were classified as: No WC, parent only WC, child only WC, or IWC. Hospitalisation rates and cumulative incidence were estimated by age and WC group. IWC affected 34.9% of children, who had the highest hospitalisation rate (133.5 per 1,000 person-years) compared to no WC (46.1 per 1,000 person-years), parent only WC (75.0 per 1,000 person-years), and child only WC (87.6 per 1,000 person-years). Of all IWC children, 43.0% experienced at least one hospitalisation between 11-20, frequently related to injury, mental health, and pregnancy. Children experiencing IWC represent a third of the population aged 11-20. Compared to children with parent-only WC, IWC children had 78% higher hospitalisation rates from age 11 to 20, accounting for over half of all hospitalisations in this age group. Frequent IWC hospitalisation causes were injuries, mental health, and pregnancy. Medical Research Future Fund, National Health and Medical Research Council, Westpac Scholars Trust.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 03-12-2013
Abstract: To assess the screening accuracy of information obtained from parents of 4–5-year-old children for the purpose of identifying the children who have teacher-reported mental health problems when they are aged 6–7 years. The study used data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) obtained when children were aged 4–5 years and 6–7 years. The level of children’s mental health problems was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) completed by parents when children were aged 4–5 years and by teachers when children were aged 6–7 years ( n=2163). When children were aged 4–5 years, parenting skills were assessed using three questionnaires developed for the parent-completed LSAC questionnaire and maternal mental health was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). When the level of parent-reported childhood mental health problems at 4–5 years old was used to identify children with teacher-reported mental health problems (i.e. a score in the “abnormal” range of the teacher-reported SDQ Total Difficulties Scale) when the children were aged 6–7 years, sensitivity was 26.8%, positive predictive value was 22.8%, and specificity was 92.9%. The addition of further information about the characteristics of children and their parents made only a small improvement to screening accuracy. Targeted interventions for preschool children may have the potential to play an important role in reducing the prevalence of mental health problems during the early school years. However, current capacity to accurately identify preschoolers who will experience teacher-reported mental health problems during the early school years is limited.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 11-06-2018
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291718001368
Abstract: Psychological distress is common among women of childbearing age, and limited longitudinal research suggests prolonged exposure to maternal distress is linked to child mental health problems. Estimating effects of maternal distress over time is difficult due to potential influences of child mental health problems on maternal distress and time-varying confounding by family circumstances. We analysed the UK Millennium Cohort Study, a nationally representative s le with data collected throughout childhood. Adopting a marginal structural modelling framework, we investigated effects of exposure to medium/high levels of maternal psychological distress (Kessler-6 score 8+) on child mental health problems (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire borderline/abnormal behaviour cut-off) using maternal and child mental health data at 3, 5, 7 and 11 years, accounting for the influence of child mental health on subsequent maternal distress, and baseline and time-varying confounding. Prior and concurrent exposures to maternal distress were associated with higher levels of child mental health problems at ages 3, 5, 7 and 11 years. For ex le, elevated risks of child mental health problems at 11 years were associated with exposure to maternal distress from 3 years [risk ratio (RR) 1.27 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–1.49)] to 11 years [RR 2.15 (95% CI 1.89–2.45)]. Prolonged exposure to maternal distress at ages 3, 5, 7 and 11 resulted in an almost fivefold increased risk of child mental health problems. Prior, concurrent and, particularly, prolonged exposure to maternal distress raises risks for child mental health problems. Greater support for mothers experiencing distress is likely to benefit the mental health of their children.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 02-02-2017
DOI: 10.1136/ARCHDISCHILD-2016-310950
Abstract: Academic achievement varies according to gestational age but it is unclear whether achievement varies within 'term' (37-41 weeks gestation) or for 'post-term' births (≥42 weeks). We examined gestational age from preterm to post-term against a national minimum standard for academic achievement in population data. Literacy and numeracy data of 8-year-old South Australian grade 3 children in 2008-2010 were linked to routinely collected perinatal data (N=28 155). Longer gestation from 23 to 45 weeks was associated with lower risk of poor literacy and numeracy. Adjusted relative risks for being at or below national minimum standard ranged from 1.12 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.22) for 'late preterm' (32-36 weeks) for numeracy, to 1.84 (95% CI 1.48 to 2.30) for 'early preterm' (23-31 weeks) for writing. Within term, every additional week of gestational age was associated with small decreased risks of poor literacy and numeracy (eg, relative risks for poor numeracy 1.10, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.20 for 37 weeks). Population-attributable fractions for poor achievement were highest among children born 'early term' (37-39 weeks) due to their higher population prevalence. Shorter gestational age was associated with increased risk of poor literacy/numeracy. While children born 'early term' experience only between 1% and 10% increased risk, they constitute a larger proportion of children with poor educational achievement than preterm children, and thus are important to consider for supportive interventions to improve population-level achievement gains. The seemingly lower risk for post-term children showed large error estimates and warrants further consideration within even larger populations.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2015
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Start Date: 2013
End Date: 2016
Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2017
End Date: 2018
Funder: Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2011
End Date: 2015
Funder: National Institute for Health Research Public Health Research Programme
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