Professor Nick Allen, at the School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, has conducted studies into the influence of family dynamics on depression in teenagers. Speaking at the Australian Psychological Society’s recent conference on Theory to Practice: Positive Development and Wellbeing, Professor Allen presented research that follows young teenagers from ages 12 to 18 and looks at family communication styles prior to the development of depression symptoms. Through early observations and then periodic follow up over several years, Professor Allen and his colleagues have identified patterns of adult and child communication that predict the likelihood of a teenager developing depression. Read full article
With a new Australian study indicating that 1 in 12 adolescents self-harm, it’s important for parents and carers to keep informed about self-harm and what it can mean for their child ... Self-harm or self-injury refers to a person deliberately inflicting physical harm on themself to cope with or communicate their distress ...Why Do Children Self-Harm? Read full article
Public School Funding Australia ~ Mental Health of Students Helps Learning ~ Jamie Oliver's Dream School ~ Early Years Curriculum ~ Motherhood Can Help Depression ~ Early Blood Test Down's Syndrome Read full article
Friday 21 January 2011 - Links to Latest Parenting and Education news: Homophobia Program NSW Schools ~ Depression and Video Games ~ Language and Surrogacy ~ University Skills ~ British National Curriculum ~ Children Process Flood Trauma Queensland Read full article
Book: Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman. An authority on positive psychology and motivation writes about the positive effects of optimism on the quality of life and provides a program of specific exercises designed to break the pessimism habit and help with depression, while developing an optimistic outlook. Read full article
In an article published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, it was concluded that happiness prolongs the life of healthy people and may even protect against us falling ill. Scientists have known for some time that stress can have a negative effect on our immune systems. Probably I am slightly more paranoid that the average parent but I often think about my kids’ health throughout the day – have they brushed their teeth, did they have enough vegetables at dinner, why aren’t they eating lunch at school, did they do enough physical exercise this week? Read full article
I guess we all know that if we feel happy, some of this good mood rubs off on our children. You've also probably noticed how quickly your bad mood spreads through the family home on those inevitable 'off' days. Harvard Medical School researcher, Dr Nicholas Christakis, has researched the spread of indicated a link between how we're feeling and how happy (or not) our social networks are. Read full article
Last year your daughter was so sweet, suddenly she has an “attitude.” Two months ago your son was your best bud, now he treats you like you’re totally “uncool.” Welcome to the world of parenting a teenager. Throw out any of those child-rearing manuals you’ve used in the past. To survive this age group and come out sane you need a whole new parenting perspective. Read full article
Part 1 of an interview with Dr Karen Hansen from the Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne Australia about the definition of emotional intelligence and why it is important in parenting and education. Dr Hansen also points out the importance of emotional intelligence as a protective factor in the incidence of depression. Read full article
Book: The Optimistic Child by Martin Seligman.This book shows adults how to teach children the skills of optimism These skills can help them combat depression and achieve more academically, in sports and improve their physical health. Read full article
