The APEAL lab understands that an important aspect of research is knowledge dissemination, and its research has been featured in a variety of news sources. Through working in partnership with the media, the APEAL lab can ensure that the research it conducts reaches a wider audience.
Dr. Colman’s research has been featured by BBC news, CNN, CBC, the Guardian, the Globe and Mail, and ABC News (Australia).
Depression and Mortality
Maternal Prenatal Stress and Offspring Hyperactivity and Conduct Problems CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/prenatal-stress-study-university-ottawa-1.4250029 Ottawa Citizen: http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/chill-out-mom-please-uottawa-study-finds-link-between-prenatal-stress-and-hyperactivity-in-children Reader’s Digest: https://www.rd.com/health/conditions/stress-during-pregnancy-adhd/
Factors Associated with Suicidal Thought in Transition-Aged Youth
Neighbourhood Social Cohesion and Adolescent Mental Health This study examined neighbourhood social cohesion – a sense of community and trust among residents – at five timepoints from early childhood to preadolescence in a sample of over 5000 Canadian children. Changes in neighbourhood social cohesion throughout childhood were associated with different mental health and behavioural outcomes in adolescence, including depression/anxiety, hyperactivity, social aggression, and prosocial behaviour. Ottawa Sun: http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/07/15/neighbourly-areas-boost-kids-mental-health-study
Maternal Depression and Adolescent Risky Behaviour This study examined the link between mothers’ depressed mood throughout their offspring’s childhood and risky behaviour in adolescence. Adolescents exposed to maternal depressive symptoms during middle childhood were more likely to use common substances (alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana), engage in violent and nonviolent delinquent behavior, and have an earlier debut ages of cigarette, alcohol, marijuana, and hallucinogen use. CBS News: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/depressed-moms-more-likely-to-have-troubled-kids/ Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/22/mothers-depression-kid-behavior_n_6368868.html
Death in Children's Animated Films This study, published in the lighthearted Christmas edition of the BMJ, examined death in children’s animated films. Using survival analysis techniques, the paper showed that risk of death of significant characters was 2.5 times higher in animated films as in dramatic films for adults. The Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/12/why-kids-movies-are-full-of-death/383819/ Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/childrens-movies-are-rife-murder-says-science-293466 The Globe and Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/cartoons-filled-with-death-could-traumatize-kids-experts-say/article22114183/ The Ottawa Citizen: http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/when-cartoons-kill-childrens-films-have-higher-death-rates-than-adult-movies-study-finds Radio Canada: http://ici.radio-canada.ca/regions/ottawa/2014/12/17/006-films-animation-enfants-personnages-morts-etude-udeo.shtml
Suicide Contagion This study looked at the association between being exposed to a suicide at school or by someone you personally know and subsequent suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts. Exposure to a suicide was strongly associated with subsequent suicidal thoughts and behaviour, regardless of whether the student personally knew the person who had died. This article was featured in: Canada AM: http://video.theloop.ca/watch/could-suicide-be-contagious-in-teens/2400696564001#.UaO4-Os1ZT4 CNN.com: http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/05/21/new-study-supports-suicide-contagion-in-teens/ Globe and Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/suicidal-thoughts-can-spread-among-teens-study-finds/article12051128/ CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/05/22/f-suicide-contagion-prevention.html
Fetal programming of depression in Canadian adolescents This study investigates evidence of fetal programming in humans by studying whether adolescents born at high or low birth weights (LBW) are more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety after experiencing stress. High birth weight and low birth weight children are at an increased risk for symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescence. This article was featured in: The Mental Elf
Timing of Maternal Depression and its Association with Adolescent Emotional Disorder This study examined the importance of timing of initial exposure to maternal depression with respect to adolescent mental health outcomes. This study found that children whose mothers were depressed during the pre-school years were more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety themselves during adolescence, while children whose mothers were depressed at other stages of development were comparable to children whose mothers were never depressed. This article was featured in: Radio-Canada http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/science/2012/03/29/001-mere-depression-adolescents.shtml
Predictors of long-term prognosis of depression This study examined factors associated with a long-term negative prognosis of depression. People with major depression who were current smokers or had low levels of mastery were at an increased risk of repeated episodes of depression. This article has been featured in: The British Psychological Society http://www.bps.org.uk/news/frequent-smoking-can-worsen-depression PsychCentral http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/10/25/repeat-bouts-of-depression-linked-to-poor-resiliency-smoking/30696.html
Long-Term Outcomes Associated with Conduct Problems in Adolescence This study examined the long-term outcomes associated with externalising behaviour in adolescence using repeat measures of mental health, social, and economic outcomes at ages 36-53 in a national birth cohort. Adolescents who exhibit externalising behaviour experience multiple social and health impairments that adversely affect them, their families, and society throughout adult life. This article has been featured in: BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7818636.stm The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jan/09/tearaway-teenagers-lifelong CNN http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/09/adolescent.behavior/index.html
The Association Between Low Birth Weight and Depression and Anxiety Later in Life This study examined whether birth weight and indicators of neurodevelopment, as measured by ages of reaching developmental milestones, were associated with longitudinal profiles of symptoms of depression and anxiety over the first 53 years of the life course. The results suggest that very early factors are associated with long-term experience of symptoms of depression and anxiety. This article has been featured in: BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7128614.stm The National Post http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/bodyandhealth/story.html?id=0e0218eb-9a5d-46be-bfed-c24f3d1a7103
