Ministry of Children and Youth Services Grant
The main objectives of the research synthesis are to:
1) Systematically identify and review best-practice/evidence-based prevention programs and strategies for mental health issues in school-age children (ages 6-18). Programs that target Aboriginal children and adolescents will be highlighted. Information will be systematically gathered to describe effective models of collaboration across children`s mental health services and education systems that contributed to the success of the programs. Secondary outcomes include identifying the challenges and gaps within these models; where services intersect, complement, and are distinct; as well as the impact of these collaborations on health, social, and labour markets.
2) Keeping in line with the MCYS five core strategic goals, this project will identify and describe the educational outcomes associated with best-practice mental health prevention programs.
3) Identify and describe best-practice strategies for successful mental health prevention programs to support decision-making throughout mental health and education services. Identify research and service gaps in the area as well.
Gender differences in associations between substance use and depression in adolescents: a longitudinal study.
Adolescence is a critical time period for understanding the emergence of substance use and depression. Research suggests that engaging in substance use places adolescents at risk for depression. Peer and parent relationships may moderate the relationship between substance use and depression. We expected that poor peer socialization and parental monitoring would predict depression beyond substance use involvement and would exacerbate the relationship between substance use and depressed mood. The study examined the relationship between substance use at time 1 and the emergence of depressed symptoms at time 2. In the fall and in the spring 326 (188 female) teens were surveyed on substance use, depressive symptoms, peer support, and parental monitoring. Using hierarchical multiple regression, controlling for Time 1 depressive symptoms, alcohol use in males (p< .05) not females independently predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms at Time 2. Peer and parental moderators are discussed.
Affective Behaviours, Emotional Regulation and Aggressive Relationships in Emerging Adulthood: A Longitudinal Study.
The main objective of this study was to longitudinally investigate psychological adjustment in emerging adults who experience aggression. Secondary goals included predicting level of psychological adjustment by type of aggression experienced (i.e. relational victimization and perpetration; physical victimization and perpetration). Other goals included predicting level of psychological adjustment through social sharing and emotional regulation; and examining the role of cognitive beliefs and rumination tendencies as predictors of psychological adjustment by those who experience aggression in relationships.
Effects of Anxiety, Coping, Adjustment and Stress on Eating Dysfunction.
The main objective of this study was to longitudinally examine the predictive relationship of worrying on eating dysfunction. Secondary purposes included exploring if perceived stress, poor coping ability, body image concerns and adjustment to university have any effect on the relationship between anxiety and eating dysfunction in emerging adults.
