The Australian temperament project: the first 30 years

The Australian Temperament Project (ATP) is a longitudinal study of the psychosocial development of a large and representative sample of Australian children born in the state of Victoria, Australia between September 1982 and January 1983.The study aims to trace the pathways to psychosocial adjustment and maladjustment across the lifespan, and to investigate the contribution of personal, family and environmental factors to development and wellbeing.<br /

Children’s mental health – an asset for learning

A recent study expands our understanding of what early skills help children to thrive at school, showing positive mental health is an asset for learning

Binge Drinking Among College Students in Relation to Depression, Experienced Homelessness, and Parental/Guardian Relationships

Binge or heavy drinking among students is prevalent at many American universities. Researchers have placed the most common reasons why college students engage in binge drinking into three categories: drinking to induce positive mood, to be more outgoing, and to avoid negative emotions. Many studies have found that college students engage in binge drinking typically to enhance their mood, but there have been mixed results about which factors are most strongly correlated to heavy drinking behavior. This study explores the effects of binge drinking in college students as it relates to experienced homelessness, depression, and parental/guardian relationships. We administered our survey to Valparaiso University undergraduate students both online and in-person using questions from the Student Alcohol Questionnaire (SAQ), the Parent Adult Child Relationship Questionnaire (PACQ), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). We analyzed our data using SPSS and used a Correlation to compare each independent variable to binge drinking. We hypothesized that students who have a history of depression, have experienced homelessness, and/or have a negative relationship with one or both of their parents/guardians, will report engaging in binge drinking at higher rates than their peers. There has been a gap in the research that explores the effects of experienced homeless and negative parental/guardian relationships on heavy drinking in college students, and our study will help to identify the relationship between these variables and binge drinking

Binge Drinking Among College Students in Relation to Depression, Experienced Homelessness, and Parental/Guardian Relationships

Binge or heavy drinking among students is prevalent at many American universities. Researchers have placed the most common reasons why college students engage in binge drinking into three categories: drinking to induce positive mood, to be more outgoing, and to avoid negative emotions. Many studies have found that college students engage in binge drinking typically to enhance their mood, but there have been mixed results about which factors are most strongly correlated to heavy drinking behavior. This study explores the effects of binge drinking in college students as it relates to experienced homelessness, depression, and parental/guardian relationships. We administered our survey to Valparaiso University undergraduate students both online and in-person using questions from the Student Alcohol Questionnaire (SAQ), the Parent Adult Child Relationship Questionnaire (PACQ), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). We analyzed our data using SPSS and used a Correlation to compare each independent variable to binge drinking. We hypothesized that students who have a history of depression, have experienced homelessness, and/or have a negative relationship with one or both of their parents/guardians, will report engaging in binge drinking at higher rates than their peers. There has been a gap in the research that explores the effects of experienced homeless and negative parental/guardian relationships on heavy drinking in college students, and our study will help to identify the relationship between these variables and binge drinking

Culture of Health: Deaths of Despair

October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated our mental health and well-being. Additional deaths of despair could occur from drugs, alcohol and suicide. But there is hope. Join our virtual town hall for a discussion on how we can #work2bewell in today’s changing culture

Differentiating three conceptualisations of the relationship between positive development and psychopathology during the transition to adulthood

The transition to adulthood is characterised by both great potential for positive change and a relatively high incidence of problem outcomes. A multidimensional model of positive development during the transition to adulthood (at 19-20 years) has recently been proposed. However, an unresolved question regarding the nature of positive development during this time is how best to conceptualise its relationship to psychopathology. We drew on data from 1158 participants in the Australian Temperament Project, a large longitudinal community-based study that has followed young people\u27s psychosocial adjustment from infancy to early adulthood. Using structural equation modelling, we compared three models reflecting different conceptualisations of the relationship between positive development and psychopathology. The results suggest that positive development and psychopathology are best modelled as separate but correlated constructs. Hence, development in one domain is likely to influence the other, although separate and specific developmental pathways are also likely to be operating.<br /

Socioeconomic disadvantage in infancy and academic and self-regulation outcomes

OBJECTIVES: A comprehensive understanding of how timing of exposure to disadvantage affects long-term developmental risk is needed for greater precision in child health policy. We investigated whether socioeconomic disadvantage in infancy (age 0–1 years) directly affects academic and self-regulation problems in late childhood (age 10–12 years), independent of disadvantage at school entry (age 4–6 years). METHODS: Analyses were replicated in 2 population-based cohorts: the Australian Temperament Project (ATP; N = 2443) and the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC; N = 5107). Generalized linear models were used to estimate the crude and adjusted effects. Marginal structural models were used to estimate the controlled direct effect of socioeconomic disadvantage in infancy on academic and self-regulation outcomes in late childhood, independent of disadvantage at school entry. RESULTS: In both cohorts, socioeconomic disadvantage in infancy and at school entry was associated with poorer academic and self-regulation outcomes. Socioeconomic disadvantage in infancy had a direct effect on academic outcomes not mediated by disadvantage at school entry (ATP: risk ratio [RR] = 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–1.86; LSAC: RR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.52–2.31). Little evidence was found for a direct effect of disadvantage in infancy on self-regulation (ATP: RR = 1.22; 95% CI: 0.89–1.65; LSAC: RR = 1.19; 95% CI: 0.95–1.49). CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic disadvantage in infancy had a direct effect on academic but not self-regulation outcomes in late childhood. More precise public policy responses are needed that consider both the timing of children’s exposure to disadvantage and the specific developmental domain impacted.Funded by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute theme funding and the Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program. Prof Goldfeld is supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Practitioner Fellowship (APP1155290). Prof Olsson is supported by an Australian Research Council Principal Research Fellowship (DP130101459). Dr Hutchinson is supported by an Australian Unity Industry Partner Senior Research Fellowship

The relationship between social capital and depression during the transition to adulthood

Relatively high levels of depression are observed during the transition to adulthood. Hence, it is important to identify the factors that can reduce the incidence of depression at this time. Social capital is theorised to protect against depression by providing greater access to support and psychological resources. Social capital incorporates both interpersonal relationships and broader community-level factors. However, most research has focused on the influence of relationships with parents and peers in the development of depression in young people, with little attention given to the role of broader social capital factors relating to perceptions of and engagement with the wider community. Drawing on longitudinal data from the Australian Temperament Project (ATP), this article examines the effects of close interpersonal relationships (with parents and peers) and broader, community-level aspects of social capital (trust and civic engagement) on depression during the transition to adulthood. Using hierarchical multiple regression, alienation from peers was found to predict higher depression, whereas good communication with peers was associated with a reduction of depressive symptoms. After controlling for the effects of close interpersonal relationships, trust in authorities and organisations made a significant contribution to the prediction of lower depression. Implications for intervention are discussed.<br /