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Research
The Role of the Avatar in Gaming for Trans and Gender Diverse Young PeopleA significant proportion of trans and gender diverse (TGD) young people report membership of the gaming community and resultant benefits to wellbeing. To date their experiences and needs regarding a key feature of games, the avatar, are largely unexplored, despite increasing interest in the therapeutic role of avatars in the general population. The aim of this study was to better understand the role of the avatar in gaming, its impact on TGD young people's mental health, and their unique needs regarding avatar design.
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Understanding wellbeing from the perspective of youth with chronic conditions: A group concept mapping approachPromoting wellbeing for youth is a global health priority and young people with chronic conditions demonstrate disproportionately low wellbeing compared to their peers. However, wellbeing is variably defined, and little is understood as to what wellbeing means for this population. The aim of this study was to develop a conceptualisation of wellbeing that is rooted in the perspectives of young people with chronic conditions.
News & Events
The Kids welcomes new WA youth health policyThe Kids welcomes the launch of WA’s first policy on youth health which will give young people a voice in the planning of health services that affect them.
Research
Young people with prior health service contacts have increased risk of repeated alcohol-related harm hospitalisationsAfter a first alcohol-related hospitalisation in youth, subsequent hospitalisations may demonstrate an increased risk of further alcohol-related hospitalisations, but there is no existing data on this.
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The psychosocial impact of rare diseases among children and adolescents attending mainstream schools in Western AustraliaLiving with a long-term medical condition is associated with heightened risk for mental health and psychosocial difficulties, but further research is required on this risk for children and adolescents with a rare disease in the educational setting. The aim of this study is to describe parents’ perceptions of the psychosocial impact of rare diseases on their school-aged children in Western Australia.
Research
Gender differences in the experience of psychotic-like experiences and their associated factors: A study of adolescents from the general population"Psychotic-Like Experiences" (PLEs) are common in the general population. While they are usually transient and resolve spontaneously, they can be distressing and signify increased risk for later psychosis or other psychopathology. It is important to investigate factors associated with PLEs which could be targeted to reduce their prevalence and impact. Males and females are known to experience PLEs differently, but any gender differences in the relationships between PLEs and other, potentially targetable, factors are currently unknown.
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Western Australian adolescent emotional wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been vast and are not limited to physical health. Many adolescents have experienced disruptions to daily life, including changes in their school routine and family’s financial or emotional security, potentially impacting their emotional wellbeing.
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Online self-compassion training to improve the wellbeing of youth with chronic medical conditions: Protocol for a randomised control trialThe Self-Compassion Online program could provide a scalable solution for improving psychological outcomes and quality of life among youth with chronic illness
Research
Alcohol-related harm in emergency departments: linking to subsequent hospitalizations to quantify under-reporting of presentationsAlcohol-related harm in emergency departments: linking to subsequent hospitalizations to quantify under-reporting of presentations.To quantify the proportion of emergency department (ED) presentations that could be identified as alcohol-related when linking to a patient's subsequent hospitalization, compared with using ED data alone, and to assess that comparison according to the change in alcohol harm rates over time and potential variations within subpopulations.
Research
Neck/shoulder pain, habitual spinal posture and computer use in adolescents: The importance of genderThe study aimed to examine the influence of gender on relationships between computer use, habitual posture and neck/shoulder pain.