PUBLISHED RESEARCH STUDIES & CONFERENCES
Symposium: Innovations in mental health interventions for children and adolescents: the power of parents and schools in meeting the mental health needs of Australian youth most at risk.
Conference Presentation Abstract
Currently over one third of children with anxiety remain symptomatic following evidence-based Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy. Parent/family factors predictive of poorer response include: parental psychopathology and parental stress/strain. Longitudinal studies suggest that high quality, supportive caregiving may play an important protective role against the development of child anxiety. Interest in mindfulness-based parenting interventions (MPI) has been growing rapidly, although there is currently limited data on efficacy or adherence. The aim of these studies was to (a) investigate the preliminary efficacy of a MPI for parents of children with anxiety using a controlled multiple baseline design, as well as (b) examine predictors of adherence. Outcomes were examined at pre-treatment, post treatment and at 2 month follow up. Two controlled trials of an in-person or online version of a MPI for parents (n=83) of 3- to 7-year-old anxious children were conducted, using diagnostic interviews and gold-standard assessment measures. [...]
GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2021
Natalja's Presentation: Feasibility of an in-person vs online mindful parenting program.
Natalja presented results of one of her PhD research studies that aimed to compare the feasibility of an in-person versus online mindful parenting program for parents of clinically anxious children. Additionally, this study identified parent and child characteristics that help to identify those families which may be more or less likely to be able to fully engage with and adhere to this type of intervention.
Abstract
Research on mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) has proliferated in recent years and the integration of mindfulness-based programs in school settings has been at the forefront of implementation research. Recent reviews of studies evaluating the efficacy of school-based mindfulness programs have produced mixed findings, which may in part be due to methodological differences across studies to date, as well as adaptations of MBIs in order to implement them within school settings. For example, there are vast differences across studies in the content, delivery, and training requirements of school-based MBIs, which may influence both fidelity and efficacy. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the literature on the implementation of school-based MBIs and determine the degree to which the interventions align to standards for MBIs. [...]
Abstract
Limited research has examined sleep-related problems (SRPs) among children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The present study addresses this gap by investigating preliminary associations between SRPs, demographic factors (gender and age), family variables (family accommodation and parental stress), and clinical factors (medication status, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, OCD severity, OCD-related impairment), and treatment outcomes in a sample of 103 youth (aged 7 to 17 years; 53% female) with a primary diagnosis of OCD. Clinician, parent, and child measures were used to assess demographic, family, and clinical predictors. [...]