Acquiring Social Fears in Infancy: Underlying Mechanisms and Implications for Behavioural Intervention. Social fears are wide-spread in the community and crippling for those affected. This study aims to (i) isolate parental behaviours and practices that result in elevated and persistent infant fear within social interactions, and (ii) establish the psychological mechanisms (e.g., observational learning) and temperamental features that underpin the transmission of social fears from mother to infa ....Acquiring Social Fears in Infancy: Underlying Mechanisms and Implications for Behavioural Intervention. Social fears are wide-spread in the community and crippling for those affected. This study aims to (i) isolate parental behaviours and practices that result in elevated and persistent infant fear within social interactions, and (ii) establish the psychological mechanisms (e.g., observational learning) and temperamental features that underpin the transmission of social fears from mother to infant. By elucidating the processes involved in the transmission of social fears, this investigation will enrich theories of emotional development in infancy, contribute to our understanding of serious conditions such as childhood shyness and Social Phobia, and provide an empirical basis for the development of effective methods of early intervention.Read moreRead less
Health and resilience in the preschool years: An innovative approach to early intervention. Given the prevalence of psychopathology in childhood, it is essential that we maximise the effectiveness of early intervention (EI). Drawing on theory and research highlighting the marked influence, on cognitive and socio-emotional development, of particular kinds of parent-child discussions about past experiences, this project aims to foster preschooler's achievement of key developmental tasks (emergent ....Health and resilience in the preschool years: An innovative approach to early intervention. Given the prevalence of psychopathology in childhood, it is essential that we maximise the effectiveness of early intervention (EI). Drawing on theory and research highlighting the marked influence, on cognitive and socio-emotional development, of particular kinds of parent-child discussions about past experiences, this project aims to foster preschooler's achievement of key developmental tasks (emergent literacy, emotion knowledge, attachment) by training parents and children in effective conversational styles. The research will (i) develop an innovative, theoretically-driven approach to EI, (ii) test this approach in clinical and nonclinical populations, and (iii) provide a strong test of social interaction theories of development.Read moreRead less
Knowing in advance: Effective strategies for preparing young children for novel experiences. To optimise cognitive and emotional development, it is critical to identify the influences on children's lives. How parent-child conversations about the past shape development is well understood, but scant research has examined how adult-child preparatory discussions influence children's experience and memory of future events. Our research addresses this gap. It has important implications in medical, edu ....Knowing in advance: Effective strategies for preparing young children for novel experiences. To optimise cognitive and emotional development, it is critical to identify the influences on children's lives. How parent-child conversations about the past shape development is well understood, but scant research has examined how adult-child preparatory discussions influence children's experience and memory of future events. Our research addresses this gap. It has important implications in medical, educational, and other contexts in which it is vital to ensure that information given in advance increases children's understanding of an experience. More generally, in specifying optimal parent-child interactions, the findings are also relevant to interventions aiming to enhance psychological and emotional resilience in the early years. Read moreRead less
Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: Determining Critical Pathways to Self-Management. Poor management of Type 1 diabetes during childhood and adolescence can have devastating consequences for the individual's health and quality of life making it a national research priority. By identifying the paths to self-management more effective interventions, tailored to the individual's personal and family circumstances and geographical location can be recommended. This will not only give childr ....Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: Determining Critical Pathways to Self-Management. Poor management of Type 1 diabetes during childhood and adolescence can have devastating consequences for the individual's health and quality of life making it a national research priority. By identifying the paths to self-management more effective interventions, tailored to the individual's personal and family circumstances and geographical location can be recommended. This will not only give children with diabetes a healthy start to life but promote their health and well-being as adults. Such benefits are not just to individuals and their families but to Australian society through their increased independence and productivity and the reduced burden on the health system.Read moreRead less
Fitting in and making friends: The psycho-social underpinnings of children's adaptation to school. This project has four areas of national benefit: It will provide vital information for researchers, educators and clinicians about the psycho-social processes underpinning children's social integration within the classroom; Key factors that assist in school transition will be identified, thus presenting the opportunity for early identification of children at risk of social exclusion; This work will ....Fitting in and making friends: The psycho-social underpinnings of children's adaptation to school. This project has four areas of national benefit: It will provide vital information for researchers, educators and clinicians about the psycho-social processes underpinning children's social integration within the classroom; Key factors that assist in school transition will be identified, thus presenting the opportunity for early identification of children at risk of social exclusion; This work will facilitate the extension of existing models of School Readiness and child-school transition, and contribute to Australia's international profile for conducting influential and cutting-edge research. Given the involvement of research students, this research will promote future research directions of upcoming Australian researchers.Read moreRead less