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Longitudinal research: Applications for the design, conduct and dissemination of early childhood researchThe conduct of longitudinal research in early childhood is the focus of this chapter
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Children and young people at risk of disengagement from schoolThe review examines the international literature to determine how disengagement can be defined & understood, & then examines student disengagement in Australia.
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Using online environments to build school staff capacity to address student wellbeingProfessional development of school staff can be enhanced with carefully developed and delivered online learning resources
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A social-ecological framework for understanding and reducing cyberbullying behavioursWhile the CFS findings suggest the combined whole-school response to the mediators was somewhat effective, the study wasn't able to determine the relative...

Focus Area
Brain and BehaviourThe Brain and Behaviour research theme consists of five programs: Child Health Analytics, Development and Disability, Healthy Behaviours and Environments, Mental Health and Youth, Population Health.
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Associations between the human immune system and gut microbiome with neurodevelopment in the first 5 years of life: A systematic scoping reviewThe aim of this review was to map the literature assessing associations between maternal or infant immune or gut microbiome biomarkers and child neurodevelopmental outcomes within the first 5 years of life. We conducted a PRISMA-ScR compliant review of peer-reviewed, English-language journal articles.
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A study protocol for community implementation of a new mental health monitoring system spanning early childhood to young adulthoodFindings from longitudinal research, globally, repeatedly emphasise the importance of a taking an early life course approach to mental health promotion; one that invests in the formative years of development, from early childhood to young adulthood, just prior to the transition to parenthood for most. While population monitoring systems have been developed for this period, they are typically designed for use within discrete stages.
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The effectiveness of community friendship groups on participant social and mental health: a meta-analysisSocial disconnectedness and isolation are risk factors for poor mental health. Community-based friendship group interventions have been designed to increase an individual's social capital and consequently their mental wellbeing. Structured and unstructured friendship groups reflect two distinct approaches to friendship group interventions.
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Investigating the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Facebook Delivered, Parent Mediated, Physical Activity Intervention for Children with Developmental Coordination DisorderChildren with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) experience difficulties performing fundamental movement skills, resulting in reduced physical activity (PA). Given low PA can impact mental and physical health, improving PA in DCD appears imperative. This study investigates the feasibility of a Facebook delivered, parent mediated, PA intervention for children with DCD.
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The effects of birth spacing on early childhood development in high-income nations: A systematic reviewThis study aimed to systematically review the literature on the associations between birth spacing and developmental outcomes in early childhood (3–10 years of age). Studies examining the associations between interpregnancy intervals and child development outcomes during and beyond the perinatal period have not been systematically reviewed.