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Research
Friendly schools’ bullying prevention research: Implications for school counsellorsBullying varies in frequency, intensity, duration and hence severity, and contributes uniquely and directly to mental health problems, with severe and long-lasting consequences. Almost a half of school-age students report being bullied in the past year.
Research
The psychosocial burden of childhood overweight and obesity: evidence for persisting difficulties in boys and girlsOverweight and obese children reported greater psychosocial distress than healthy weight children, and these differences were more pronounced for girls than boys.
News & Events
What are the signs my child is being bullied?More than half of all children who are bullied do not tell anyone.
News & Events
Friendly Schools goes from strength to strengthWhat began as a small formative research project 20 years ago has grown into a universal bullying prevention and social skills development program which has helped countless Australian children and their families.
Research
Efficacy of the Aussie Optimism Program: Promoting Pro-social Behavior and Preventing Suicidality in Primary School Students. A Randomised-Controlled TrialAussie Optimism Program with teacher training along with coaching may have the potential to positively impact on suicidality and pro-social behavior in the pre-adolescent years
Research
School-based bullying intervention programs in Australia and New ZealandKevin Natasha Helen Jacinta Runions Pearce Monks Francis BSc (Hons) BEd MA PhD PhD (Public Health), PostGrad Dip (Health Promotion), BApp Sc MPH BA(
Research
Why do Victims become Perpetrators of Peer Bullying? Moral Disengagement in the Cycle of ViolencePrevious studies have shown that there is overlap between victimization and the perpetration of bullying, and social and motivational variables are known to mediate this relationship. However, the effects of different moral disengagement strategies have not been studied, despite the fact that they exert a major influence on aggressive behavior.
Research
Parental Challenges, Facilitators and Needs Associated with Supporting and Accepting Their Trans Child’s GenderParental support is strongly correlated with protective factors for trans youth yet most experience parental rejection or ambivalence regarding their gender. Many parents report a desire to support their child but indicate lack of understanding and support as key barriers. We aimed to develop a nuanced understanding of the challenges and facilitators experienced by Australian parents in developing understanding, support and acceptance of their child’s gender and their needs to do so.
Research
Adolescent education outcomes and maltreatment: The role of pre-existing adversity, level of child protection involvement, and school attendanceMaltreated children are at high risk for low educational achievement, however few studies have accounted for confounding risk factors that commonly co-occur (including child, family and neighbourhood risk factors) and results have been mixed, particularly for adolescents.
Research
Family Involvement in a Whole-School Bullying Intervention: Mothers’ and Fathers’ Communication and Influence with ChildrenThese results highlight the importance of working with both male and female caregivers when addressing children’s bullying behaviour.