Associations between school environment, brain structure and connectivity, and cognition and mental health: A multi-modal investigation

Examining multimodal associations between school environment and brain structure and function

Environmental and neurodevelopmental contributors to youth mental illness

While a myriad of factors likely contribute to the development of mental illness in young people, the social environment (including early adverse experiences) in concert with neurodevelopmental alterations are undeniably important. A number of influential theories make predictions about how and why neurodevelopmental alterations may mediate or moderate the effects of the social environment on the emergence of mental illness. Here, we discuss current evidence supporting each of these theories. Although this area of research is rapidly growing, the body of evidence is still relatively limited. However, there exist some consistent findings, including increased striatal reactivity during positive affective processing and larger hippocampal volumes being associated with increased vulnerability or susceptibility to the effects of social environments on internalizing symptoms. Limited longitudinal work has investigated neurodevelopmental mechanisms linking the social environment with mental health. Drawing from human research and insights from animal studies, we propose an integrated mediation-moderation model and outline future research directions to advance the field

Environmental and neurodevelopmental contributors to youth mental illness

While a myriad of factors likely contribute to the development of mental illness in young people, the social environment (including early adverse experiences) in concert with neurodevelopmental alterations is undeniably important. A number of influential theories make predictions about how and why neurodevelopmental alterations may mediate or moderate the effects of the social environment on the emergence of mental illness. Here, we discuss current evidence supporting each of these theories. Although this area of research is rapidly growing, the body of evidence is still relatively limited. However, there exist some consistent findings, including increased striatal reactivity during positive affective processing and larger hippocampal volumes being associated with increased vulnerability or susceptibility to the effects of social environments on internalizing symptoms. Limited longitudinal work has investigated neurodevelopmental mechanisms linking the social environment with mental health. Drawing from human research and insights from animal studies, we propose an integrated mediation-moderation model and outline future research directions to advance the field.</p

Neurobiological Correlates of Resilience During Childhood and Adolescence: A Systematic Review

Research examining the neurobiological mechanisms of resilience has grown rapidly over the past decade. However, there is vast heterogeneity in research study design, methods, and in how resilience is operationalized, making it difficult to gauge what we currently know about resilience biomarkers. This preregistered systematic review aimed to review and synthesize the extant literature to identify neurobiological mechanisms of resilience to adversity during childhood and adolescence. Literature searches on MEDLINE and PsycINFO yielded 3,834 studies and a total of 49 studies were included in the final review. Findings were synthesized based on how resilience was conceptualized (e.g., absence of psychopathology, trait resilience), and where relevant, the type of outcome examined (e.g., internalizing symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder). Our synthesis showed that findings were generally mixed. Nevertheless, some consistent findings suggest that resilience neural mechanisms may involve prefrontal and subcortical regions structure/activity, as well as connectivity between these regions. Given substantial heterogeneity in the definition and operationalization of resilience, more methodological consistency across studies is required for advancing knowledge in this field

Adolescent resilience in the face of acute stressors: the role of trauma and protective factors

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic introduced acute stressors that posed significant threats to adolescent mental health. However, limited research has examined the impact of trauma exposure on vulnerability to acute stressor-related mental health outcomes in adolescents. Furthermore, little is known about the role of factors that promote resilience in this context. This preregistered study aimed to investigate the impact of trauma on COVID-19 stressor-related mental health difficulties in adolescents, in addition to the role of protective factors. Method: Aims were investigated in a large sample of 9,933 adolescents (mean age 12.85 +/- 0.88 years) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Linear mixed effects models were employed to examine a) the associations of early trauma exposure (exposed vs. non-exposed), COVID-19 stressors, and perceived stress, sadness, and positive affect levels during the pandemic period in the US, and b) the role of protective factors (physical activity, parental support, and positive family and peer relationships) in these associations. Results: There was a positive association between COVID-19 stressors and sadness, which was enhanced in trauma-exposed adolescents. Higher levels of positive family and peer relationships mitigated the positive association between COVID-19 stressors and all mental health outcomes, regardless of prior traumatic experience. Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that prior trauma elevates risk of mental health difficulties in the face of future acute stressors. Results underscore the protective role of social relationships as targets for early prevention and intervention in those experiencing acute stressors, regardless of prior traumatic experience

Adolescent Resilience in the Face of the Global Pandemic: The Interplay Between Trauma, COVID-19 Stressors, and Protective Factors

The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to substantial increases in mental health problems such as depression and anxiety among adolescents (Fegert et al., 2020; WHO, 2022). These increases have been shown to be directly associated with pandemic-related stressors such as social isolation (Francisco et al., 2020; Loades et al., 2020), fear of contracting the virus (Qin et al., 2021), and financial difficulties (Gassman-Pines et al., 2020). Further, the effect of pandemic-related stressors on mental health appears to be cumulative (Ettman et al., 2020; Rosen et al., 2021). It is well-documented that trauma is associated with increased risk for mental health problems in young people (Kessler et al., 2010; McLaughlin et al., 2012, 2013). There is also evidence that early trauma can lead to stress sensitization, such that affected individuals are more likely to show mental health difficulties in the face of new stressors (Hammen et al., 2000; Harkness et al., 2006). However, there is limited research on whether trauma exacerbate the association between covid stressors and mental health difficulties in adolescents. Further, while various positive factors (e.g., physical activity, parental support, and social relationships) have been found to be protective against mental health problems during the pandemic (Bernasco et al., 2021; Cooper et al., 2021; Rosen et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2021), we have limited understanding of whether these factors promote resilience to the negative psychological effect of covid-related stressor in those with trauma experience. To address current gaps in the literature, the current study aims to a) examine the moderating effect of trauma on the association between pandemic stressors and mental health difficulties in adolescents, and b) examine the joint effect of trauma and protective factors on mental health symptoms associated with pandemic stressors. Given that symptoms of depression and anxiety are of high prevalence during adolescence (Kessler et al., 2005; Merikangas et al., 2009), and that these symptoms showed the highest increase during the pandemic (WHO, 2022), the current study will focus on examining related mental health difficulties – sadness, positive affect, and perceived stress

Environmental contributions to cognitive development:The role of cognitive stimulation

Early environmental experiences influence children's cognitive and neural development. In particular, cognitive stimulation, defined as environmental inputs that engage the senses and provide learning opportunities for children, fosters acquisition of knowledge across various cognitive domains. Low levels of cognitive stimulation in early life may restrict learning opportunities, contributing to lasting consequences for neural development and later academic and occupational achievement. This review delves into the role of cognitive stimulation in neural development and related cognitive performance, available tools for measuring cognitive stimulation in various settings, and offers insights into future research directions. In addition, variability in cognitive stimulation, often linked to differences in socioeconomic status, may create disparities in children's access to enriching experiences that provide the foundation for learning. We therefore briefly review the role of socioeconomic status in cognitive stimulation and cognitive development. We also leverage evidence from intervention studies to illustrate the importance of cognitive stimulation for children's outcomes. Investigating the influence of cognitive stimulation on children's brain and behavior development is crucial for developing effective intervention strategies to foster the healthy development of all children and unlocking their full potential.</p