Honorary Emeritus Research Fellow
FASSA, FAAMHS, MSc AM PhD
Stephen Zubrick holds a Professorial appointment in the Centre for Child Health Research at the University of Western Australia and is a Senior Principal Research Fellow at the Telethon Kids Institute. Trained in the United States at the University of Michigan he holds qualifications in clinical and neuropsychology as well as speech pathology and audiology. He worked in Western Australian hospital and outpatient health and mental health settings for many years before commencing work in 1991 at the Telethon Kids Institute.
Over the past 20 years he has been instrumental in designing and implementing the leading Australian studies (national and state) of child and adolescent mental health. Since 2000 has chaired the Consortium Advisory Group for the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children and is also a Member of the Steering Committee for the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children. In 2014, he was one of nine Chief Investigators who lead and won the funding to create an Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Lifecourse (The Life Course Centre) and is its Deputy Director.
In 2010 he received the Citizen of the Year Award for lifetime contributions to the children and young people of Western Australia, and in 2017 became a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Medicine and Health Science and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.
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Projects
The DETECT-Schools Study was launched in May 2020 as a partnership between the WA Government Departments of Education and Health with the Telethon Kids Institute.
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Publications
January 2021
Maternal prenatal stress exposure and sex-specific risk of severe infection in offspring
Maternal stressful life events during pregnancy have been associated with immune dysregulation and increased risk for asthma and atopy in offspring. Few studies have investigated whether prenatal stress is associated with increased overall or specific infectious diseases in childhood, nor explored sex differences. We sought to examine the relationship between the nature and timing of maternal stress in pregnancy and hospitalisation with infection in offspring.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human Capability Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Youth Mental Health Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesFebruary 2021Correlates of Help-Seeking Behaviour in Adolescents Who Experience Bullying Victimisation
A commonly suggested strategy for addressing bullying is for victims to seek help from a trusted person. Despite this recommendation, there are a group of adolescent victims who choose not to seek help. This study aimed to identify factors associated with not seeking help among adolescents who experienced bullying victimisation.
Published research Bullying Human Capability Youth mental healthFebruary 2021DETECT Schools Study Protocol: A Prospective Observational Cohort Surveillance Study Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 in Western Australian Schools
Amidst the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, understanding the transmission dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is key to providing peace of mind for the community and informing policy-making decisions. While available data suggest that school-aged children are not significant spreaders of SARS-CoV-2, the possibility of transmission in schools remains an ongoing concern, especially among an aging teaching workforce. Even in low-prevalence settings, communities must balance the potential risk of transmission with the need for students' ongoing education.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Influenza Infectious Diseases Human Capability Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Skin Health Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Young People Geospatial Health and DevelopmentMarch 2021The relationship between dog ownership, dog play, family dog walking, and pre-schooler social-emotional development: findings from the PLAYCE observational study
Regular physical activity provides children with health and developmental benefits. This study investigated if active play and walking with the family dog was associated with better social-emotional development in young children.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Capability Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentMay 2021Associations Between Developmental Risk Profiles, Mental Disorders, and Student Absences Among Primary and Secondary Students in Australia
This study assessed if the association between mental disorders and higher student absences varies across different profiles of risk factors, and estimated the proportion of student absences associated with mental disorders. Data included responses from a nationally representative Australian survey of child and adolescent mental health.
Published research Human Capability School Attendance Youth HealthJune 2021Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste: Opportunities to Reduce Social Disadvantage from COVID‐19
This article identifies and examines a range of policy reform opportunities in Australia arising from COVID-19. The authors demonstrate how COVID-19 presents unique opportunities for rethinking and redesigning long-standing rules and regulations covering how people live and work in Australia.
Published research COVID-19July 2021The impact of weather on time allocation to physical activity and sleep of child-parent dyads - Life Course Centre Working Paper Series 2021
This study explores the differential impact of weather on time allocation to physical activity and sleep by children and their parents. We use nationally representative data with time use indicators objectively measured on multiple occasions for more than 1,100 child-parent pairs, coupled with daily meteorological data.
Published research Human Capability Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentSeptember 2021Not in employment, education or training (NEET); more than a youth policy issue
Australians who are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) and receive income support span a wide spectrum of working ages. Australian research has concentrated on NEETs aged 15-29 years, in line with international standards. This paper investigates extending the NEET concept to include all working age persons 15-64 years and the value added to welfare policy through analysis of a new linked dataset.
Published research Human CapabilitySeptember 2021Universal child health and early education service use from birth through Kindergarten and developmental vulnerability in the Preparatory Year (age 5 years) in Tasmania, Australia
This study investigated patterns of universal health and education service use from birth through Kindergarten (age 4 years) and estimated associations between cumulative risk and service use patterns, and between service use patterns and children's developmental vulnerability in the Preparatory Year (age 5 years).
Published research Early Childhood Development Human CapabilityDecember 2021“Coronavirus Changed the Rules on Everything”: Parent Perspectives on How the COVID‐19 Pandemic Influenced Family Routines, Relationships and Technology Use in Families with Infants
This study explores how the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic influenced family routines, relationships and technology use (smartphones and tablet computers) among families with infants. Infancy is known to be an important period for attachment security and future child development, and a time of being susceptible to changes within and outside of the family unit.
Published research Human Capability ORIGINS Subsite: ORIGINS Project Technology & Kids COVID-19December 2021“Coronavirus Changed the Rules on Everything”: Parent Perspectives on How the COVID‐19 Pandemic Influenced Family Routines, Relationships and Technology Use in Families with Infants
This study explores how the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic influenced family routines, relationships and technology use (smartphones and tablet computers) among families with infants. Infancy is known to be an important period for attachment security and future child development, and a time of being susceptible to changes within and outside of the family unit.
ORIGINS Subsite: ORIGINS Project Technology & Kids COVID-19December 2020Racial discrimination and allostatic load among First Nations Australians: a nationally representative cross-sectional study
Increased allostatic load is linked with racial discrimination exposure, providing a mechanism for the biological embedding of racism as a psychosocial stressor. We undertook an examination of how racial discrimination interacts with socioecological, environmental, and health conditions to affect multisystem dysregulation in a First Nations population.
Published research Human CapabilityMay 2020Pets Are Associated with Fewer Peer Problems and Emotional Symptoms, and Better Prosocial Behavior: Findings from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
Pets may protect children from developing social-emotional problems and should be taken into account when assessing child development and school readiness
Published research Human Capability Child Physical Activity, Health and DevelopmentApril 2020Children's neighbourhood physical environment and early development: an individual child level linked data study
The neighbourhood physical environment has a weak but significant association with early childhood development
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Capability Child Physical Activity, Health and Development School and Community WellbeingApril 2020Racial discrimination and child and adolescent health in longitudinal studies: A systematic review
This review emphasises the need to gain evidence for the mechanisms linking early racism exposure to adverse health outcomes in later life
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Human CapabilityApril 2020Associations between clusters of early life risk factors and developmental vulnerability at age 5
This study investigated the associations between clusters of early life risk factors and developmental vulnerability in children's first year of full-time school at age 5
Published research Language Development Human CapabilityApril 2020The impact on service collaboration of co-location of early childhood services in tasmanian child and family centres: An ethnographic study
There is a global trend towards place-based initiatives (PBIs) to break the cycle of disadvantage and promote positive child development. Co-location is a common element of these initiatives and is intended to deliver more coordinated services for families of young children. This paper examines how co-locating early childhood services (ECS) from health and education in Child and Family Centres (CFCs) has impacted collaboration between services.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human CapabilityMarch 2020Maternal Alcohol-Use Disorder and Child Outcomes
The effects of maternal alcohol-use disorder are experienced by the majority of exposed children rather than a vulnerable subgroup of this population
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Human Capability Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchMarch 2020Heritability of Specific Language Impairment and Nonspecific Language Impairment at Ages 4 and 6 Years Across Phenotypes of Speech, Language, and Nonverbal Cognition
Nonverbal IQ is not on the same causal pathway as language impairments
Published research Language Development Human CapabilityFebruary 2019The Great Recession and Children’s Mental Health in Australia
This paper analyzes the effects of “shocks” to community-level unemployment expectations, induced by the Great Recession, on children’s mental well-being
Published research Human CapabilityMarch 2019Childcare Use and Its Role in Indigenous Child Development: Evidence from the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children in Australia
Relatively disadvantaged children might benefit more from attending childcare, as indicated by the positive estimated effects found for those who never attended childcare
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Human CapabilityMarch 2019Association between psychotic experiences and non-accidental self-injury: results from a nationally representative survey of adolescents
Adolescents reporting any sychotic experiences in the past 12 months reported increased likelihood of non-accidental self-injury in the same time period
Published research Human CapabilityMay 2019Multiple risk exposures for reading achievement in childhood and adolescence
Across 6 years of school, multiple risk-exposed children lagged behind low risk-exposed children in the order of years of lost gains in reading achievement
Published research Human CapabilityJune 2019Poverty, Parental Mental Health and Child/Adolescent Mental Disorders: Findings from a National Australian Survey
The purpose of this study is to examine the association between poverty and child mental disorders
Published research Human Capability Youth HealthJuly 2019Does Child Care in the First Year of Life Pose a Risk for Concurrent and Future Ear Infections?
The longitudinal analyses found no evidence of increased (or decreased) long-term risk of ear infections in subsequent waves associated with attending a child care centre
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Ear Infections Early Childhood Development Human CapabilitySeptember 2019Caregiver-perceived racial discrimination is associated with diverse mental health outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 7-12 years
Exposure to racial discrimination in Aboriginal children increased the risk for a spectrum of interrelated factors linked to negative mental health
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Human CapabilityOctober 2018How body composition influences hearing status by mid-childhood and mid-life: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
Concurrent adiposity and decade-long BMI trajectories showed small, but clear, associations with poor hearing in mid-life women
Published research Human CapabilityOctober 2018Prevalence of Racial Discrimination in a Cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children
This study looked at the frequency of racism experiences over time in a population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Human CapabilityAugust 2018Prevalence and correlates of psychotic experiences in a nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents
Hallucinatory and delusional experiences are common in Australian adolescents
Published research Human CapabilityAugust 2018Prevalence of Mental Disorders Among Children and Adolescents of Parents with Self-Reported Mental Health Problems
This paper provides Australian population-level estimates of the prevalence of parental self-reported lifetime mental disorders and past 12 month mental disorders in their children
Published research Human CapabilityJune 2018Development and Assessment of Cumulative Risk Measures of Family Environment and Parental Investments in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
This study aimed to derive and assess summary indices of three domains of the family environment, including a Family Stress Index, Home Education Index and Parenting Index
Published research Human CapabilityMay 2018A profile of social, separation and generalized anxiety disorders in an Australian nationally representative sample of children and adolescents
Social, separation and generalized anxiety disorders in young people are relatively common and impairing, with a high level of comorbidity
Published research Human CapabilityApril 2018Psychosocial resilience and vulnerability in Western Australian Aboriginal youth
We review findings from our previous studies which show the application of a person-based resilience framework of analysis in the context of WA aboriginal youth
Published research Human CapabilityMarch 2018What Influences Parents’ Fear about Children’s Independent Mobility? Evidence from a State-Wide Survey of Australian Parents
To identify factors associated with generalized and stranger-specific PF about CIM, a critical aspect of physical activity.
Published research Human CapabilityMarch 2018Educational inequality across three generations in Australia
Using a dataset of Australian children, we have the opportunity to not only investigate the transfer of educational resources across 3 generations in Australia.
Published research Human CapabilityFebruary 2018The Diverse Risk Profiles of Persistently Absent Primary Students: Implications for Attendance Policies in Australia
Understanding variations in risk profiles among persistently non-attending children will inform the development of absence interventions.
Published research Human Capability School AttendanceFebruary 2018Mental disorders in Australian 4- to 17- year olds: Parent-reported need for help
To describe the extent to which parents report that 4- to 17-year-olds with symptoms meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Published research Human CapabilityFebruary 2018Prenatal and perinatal risks for late language emergence in a population-level sample of twins at age 2
This study investigated the extent to which prenatal and perinatal risk factors were associated with LLE in a population-level sample of twins at age 2 without overt disability.
Published research Human CapabilityFebruary 2018Efficacy of the Aussie Optimism Program: Promoting Pro-social Behavior and Preventing Suicidality in Primary School Students. A Randomised-Controlled Trial
Aussie 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
Published research Bullying Human Capability School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2018Does the reason matter? How student-reported reasons for school absence contribute to differences in achievement outcomes among 14–15 year olds
We used data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children to examine the reasons for 14-15 year old absences and how they relate to outcomes in year 9.
Published research Human Capability School AttendanceJanuary 2018Longitudinal study of language and speech of twins at 4 and 6 years: Twinning effects decrease, zygosity effects disappear, and heritability increases
This study investigates the heritability of language, speech, and nonverbal cognitive development of twins at 4 and 6 years of age.
Published research Language Development Human CapabilityJanuary 2017Patterns of multiple risk exposures for low receptive vocabulary growth 4-8 years in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
Our results demonstrate a range of multiple risk profiles in a population-representative sample of Australian children and highlight the mix of risk factors faced by children
Published research Early Childhood Development Language Development Human CapabilityJanuary 2017Nowhere to Go and Nothing to Do but Sit? Youth Screen Time and the Association With Access to Neighborhood Destinations
With not much to do in their neighborhood, youth may spend more time in the home engaged in screen-based activities
Published research Human Capability Youth HealthMarch 2017Associations between school absence and academic achievement: Do socioeconomics matter?
School attendance should therefore be a priority for all schools, and not just those with high rates of absence or low average achievement.
Published research Aboriginal Mental Health & Wellbeing Human Capability Youth Mental HealthMarch 2017The Prevalence of Stimulant and Antidepressant Use by Australian Children and Adolescents
A minority of 4- to 17-year-olds with ADHD and major depressive disorder were being treated with stimulant or antidepressant medication
Published research ADHD Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityApril 2017Mental disorders in Australian 4- to 17- year olds: Parent-reported need for help
Many children and adolescents meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition criteria for mental disorders have a completely unmet need for help, especially those with conduct disorders.
Published research Human CapabilityApril 2017Family structure and childhood mental disorders: new findings from Australia
This report provides new evidence of the relationships between family structure and childhood mental disorders in an under-researched context, Australia
Published research Human Capability Youth Mental HealthMay 2017Maternal alcohol disorders and school achievement: a population cohort record linkage study in Western Australia
Children of mothers with alcohol use disorders are at risk of not meeting minimum educational benchmarks in numeracy and literacy, with the risk highest among Indigenous children.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Human Capability Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchMay 2017The collective impact of rare diseases in Western Australia: An estimate using a population-based cohort
This cohort study provides new evidence of a disparity between the proportion of the population with rare diseases and their combined health-system costs
Published research Human CapabilityMay 2017Worries, 'weirdos', neighborhoods and knowing people: a qualitative study with children and parents regarding children's independent mobility
This study involved focus groups with 132 children and 12 parents in primary and secondary school in Victoria to explore children's independent mobility.
Published research Human CapabilityJuly 2017The psychosocial burden of childhood overweight and obesity: evidence for persisting difficulties in boys and girls
Overweight and obese children reported greater psychosocial distress than healthy weight children, and these differences were more pronounced for girls than boys.
Published research Bullying Depression and Anxiety ORIGINS Youth Mental Health Subsite: ORIGINS ProjectJuly 2017Maternal alcohol use disorder and child school attendance outcomes for non-Indigenous and Indigenous children in Western Australia: A population cohort record linkage study.
Maternal alcohol use disorder was associated with a significantly increased odds of poor school attendance for non-Indigenous and Indigenous children.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD Research School AttendanceJuly 2017Properties of the DASS-21 in an Australian Community Adolescent Population
This study evaluated for a multifactor structure in the DASS-21 teenagers and the specifics of the 3 subscales for teenagers in general at different stages.
Published research School and Community WellbeingAugust 2017Maternal Alcohol Use Disorder and Risk of Child Contact with the Justice System in Western Australia: A Population Cohort Record Linkage Study
Children who were exposed to a maternal alcohol use disorder had significantly increased odds of contact with the justice system.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Human Capability Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchAugust 2017Maternal alcohol use disorder and subsequent child protection contact: A record-linkage population cohort study
We examined the relationship between a maternal alcohol-use diagnosis, and the timing of diagnosis, and child protection outcomes in a WA population cohort.
Published research Human Capability Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchSeptember 2017Prevalence and correlates of bullying victimisation and perpetration in a nationally representative sample of Australian youth
The current findings showed that involvement in any bullying behaviour was associated with increased risk of concurrent mental health problems
Published research Bullying Human CapabilityOctober 2017Maternal alcohol use disorder and subsequent child protection contact: A record-linkage population cohort study
We examined the relationship between a maternal alcohol-use diagnosis, and the timing of diagnosis, and child protection outcomes in a Western Australian population cohort.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Human Capability Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchOctober 2017The continuity and duration of depression and its relationship to non-suicidal self-harm and suicidal ideation and behavior in adolescents 12–17
Overlap between non-suicidal self-harm and suicidal ideation and behavior in young people with both symptom continuity and symptom duration implicated in this association
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityNovember 2017Relationship between the neighbourhood built environment and early child development
The relationship between features of the neighbourhood built environment and early child development was investigated
Published research Child Health, Development & Education Human CapabilityDecember 2016Influence of the day care, home and neighbourhood environment on young children's physical activity and health: protocol for the PLAYCE observational study
The PLAYCE study will empirically investigate the relative and cumulative influence of the day care, and home environment on preschoolers’ physical activity
Published research Human CapabilityDecember 2016Introducing ‘Young Minds Matter’
This article describes the survey, the response rates achieved and the representativeness of the sample for the Young Minds Matter survey
Published research Human CapabilityNovember 2016Childhood Overweight and Obesity: Maternal and Family Factors
The need to target prevention and intervention efforts for childhood overweight and obesity towards families with overweight parents
Published research Nutrition Human Capability ORIGINS Diabetes and ObesityNovember 2016Barriers to Parent–Child Book Reading in Early Childhood
Parent–child book reading interventions alone are unlikely to meet needs of children and families for whom the absence of reading is psychosocial risk factor
Published research Early Childhood Development Language Development Human CapabilitySeptember 2016Service use by Australian children for emotional and behavioural problems: Findings from the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing
The proportion of children and adolescents in Australia with mental disorders who used services for emotional and behavioural problems
Published research Human CapabilitySeptember 2016Key findings from the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing
The prevalence of mental disorders in children and adolescents in Australia, and the severity and impact of those mental disorders
Published research Human CapabilitySeptember 2016Self-harm: Prevalence estimates from the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing
The demonstrated higher risks in young people for continued harm or possible death support the need for ongoing initiatives to reduce self-harm
Published research Human CapabilitySeptember 2016Suicidal behaviours: Prevalence estimates from the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing
Mental disorders should be a leading intervention point for suicide prevention both in the primary health sector and in the mental health sector specifically
Published research Human CapabilityJune 2016Study protocol for screening and diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) among young people sentenced to detention in Western Australia
This study aims to establish FASD prevalence among sentenced young people in detention in Western Australia (WA)
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchFebruary 2016Maternal Work–Family Conflict and Psychological Distress: Reciprocal Relationships Over 8 Years
Employed mothers may benefit from policies and workplace practices that promote maternal well-being and reduce conflicts between employment and raising children
Published research Human CapabilityJanuary 2016Internet use and electronic gaming by children and adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems in Australia
There are links between problem behaviours associated with Internet use and electronic gaming, and mental disorders and risk-taking behaviour in young people
Published research Human CapabilityJanuary 2016Testing for Response Shift Bias in Evaluations of School Antibullying Programs
Researchers conducting program evaluations in other contexts are advised to consider testing for this potential source of bias in their studies
Published research Bullying Human Capability School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2016Longitudinal research: Applications for the design, conduct and dissemination of early childhood research
The conduct of longitudinal research in early childhood is the focus of this chapter
Published research Human CapabilityDecember 2015Relationships between Psychosocial Resilience and Physical Health Status of Western Australian Urban Aboriginal Youth
The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which factors previously documented as buffering the impact of high-risk family environments on...
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Human CapabilityOctober 2015Children and young people at risk of disengagement from school
The review examines the international literature to determine how disengagement can be defined & understood, & then examines student disengagement in Australia.
Published research Human Capability School Attendance Youth HealthSeptember 2015Patterns and Predictors of Language and Literacy Abilities 4-10 Years in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
This research focuses on three questions 1) What are the patterns of stability & change; 2) what are the predictors of this progression, and; 3) what is the...
Published research Language Development Human CapabilityJune 2015Impact of adolescent peer aggression on later educational and employment outcomes in an Australian cohort
This study used prospective birth cohort data to analyse the relationship between peer aggression at 14 years of age and educational and employment outcomes...
Published research Bullying Human Capability Autism Research Youth HealthJune 2015Playgroup participation and social support outcomes for mothers of young children: A longitudinal cohort study.
This study aimed to examine friendship networks and social support outcomes for mothers according to patterns of playgroup participation.
Published research Human Capability PlaygroupsJanuary 2015The effect of the social and physical environment on children's independent mobility to neighborhood destinations
Relationships between context-specific measures of the physical and social environment and children's independent mobility to neighborhood destination types...
Published research Human CapabilityJanuary 2015Development and validation of the Australian Aboriginal racial identity and self-esteem survey for 8-12 year old children (IRISE-C)
In Australia, there is little empirical research of the racial identity of Indigenous children and youth as the majority of the current literature focuses on...
Published research Aboriginal Health Human CapabilityJanuary 2015The Mental Health of Children and Adolescents. Report on the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing
This report regards the health & wellbeing of Australian children & adolescents. Based on a survey conducted in the homes of over 6,300 families with...
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human Capability Youth HealthMay 2015Two methods for engaging with the community in setting priorities for child health research: Who engages?
The Western Australian Telethon Kids Institute Participation Program employs a range of methods for fostering active involvement of community members in its...
Published research Human CapabilityMarch 2015Measuring Severity of Mental Disorders with the Young Minds Matter: Parent/Carer-Reported Impact Items
This document describes the calibration of the parent/carer reported impact items developed for use in the Second Australian Child & Adolescent Survey of...
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human Capability Youth HealthMarch 2015The influence of the neighborhood physical environment on early child health and development: A review and call for research
This review examines evidence of the association between the neighborhood built environment, green spaces and outdoor home area, and early (0-7 years) child...
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Capability PlaygroupsNovember 2014Reliability and Validity of a Short Version of the General Functioning Subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device
The findings of this study support the use of a GF6+ subscale from the FAD, as a quick and effective tool to assess the overall functioning of families
Published research Human CapabilityOctober 2014Dog walking is associated with more outdoor play and independent mobility for children
It is plausible that dog-facilitated activity rather than dog ownership per se encourages children's physical activity behaviors.
Published research Human Capability School and Community WellbeingSeptember 2014Time spent in different types of childcare and children's development at school entry: an Australian longitudinal study
Compared with children who did not attend any type of childcare, children in centre-based care had higher parent-reported and teacher-reported externalising...
Published research Human CapabilityJuly 2014Resilience amongst Australian Aboriginal youth: An ecological analysis of factors associated with psychosocial functioning
We investigate whether the profile of factors protecting psychosocial functioning of high risk exposed Australian Aboriginal youth are the same as those...
Published research Aboriginal Health Human Capability Aboriginal Maternal Health & Child Development Youth HealthJuly 2014Risk factors for low receptive vocabulary abilities in the preschool and early school years in the longitudinal study of Australian children
Receptive vocabulary development is a component of the human language system that emerges in the first year of life and is characterised by onward expansion...
Published research Language Development Human CapabilityJuly 2014Child care quality and children's cognitive and socio-emotional development: an Australian longitudinal study
There is growing evidence that high-quality non-parental child care can contribute to children's learning, development and successful transition to school.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human CapabilityJuly 2014Quality of Childcare Influences Children's Attentiveness and Emotional Regulation at School Entry
Among children using formal childcare, those who experienced higher-quality relationships were better able to regulate their attention and emotions as they...
Published research Early Childhood Development Human CapabilityJune 2014Higher maternal protectiveness is associated with higher odds of child overweight and obesity: A longitudinal Australian study
Using data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, this study aimed to examine the longitudinal relationships between maternal protectiveness and...
Published research Early Childhood Development Human CapabilityJune 2014Late language emergence in 24-month-old twins: Heritable and increased risk for late language emergence in twins
This study investigated the etiology of late language emergence (LLE) in 24-month-old twins, considering possible twinning, zygosity, gender, and...
Published research Language Development Human CapabilityMarch 2014Bias in student survey findings from active parental consent procedures
This study assessed the potential bias present in a sample of actively consented students, and in the estimates of associations between variables obtained...
Published research Human Capability School and Community WellbeingFebruary 2014Gaps in Indigenous disadvantage not closing: A census cohort study of social determinants of health in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand from 1981-2006
Australia, Canada, and New Zealand are all developed nations that are home to Indigenous populations which have historically faced poorer outcomes than their...
Published research Aboriginal Health Human CapabilityJanuary 2014Evidence for the use of an algorithm in resolving inconsistent and missing Indigenous status in administrative data collections
We found that algorithms reduced the amount of missing data and improved within‑individual consistency.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Human CapabilityDecember 2013The Forms of Bullying Scale (FBS): Validity and Reliability Estimates for a Measure of Bullying Victimization and Perpetration in Adolescence
The study of bullying behavior and its consequences for young people depends on valid and reliable measurement of bullying victimization and perpetration.
Published research Bullying Human Capability School and Community WellbeingNovember 2013A three generation study of the mental health relationships between grandparents, parents and children
It is well known that children of parents with mental illness are at greater risk of mental illness themselves.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityOctober 2013The Differential Influence of Contextual Risks on Psychosocial Functioning and Participation of Australian Aboriginal Youth
Methodological issues and implications for interventions to support young Aboriginal people's adaptation are discussed.
Published research Aboriginal Health Human Capability Youth HealthSeptember 2013Factors for Children's Receptive Vocabulary Development from Four to Eight Years in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
Variation in receptive vocabulary ability is associated with variation in children's school achievement, and low receptive vocabulary ability is a risk...
Published research Early Childhood Development Language Development Human CapabilityAugust 2013Childhood obesity: what we have learnt from our failure to engage mothers in our intervention
With more than one in four Australian children overweight or obese, and the significant risks this poses for health problems like asthma, depression,...
Published research Human Capability ORIGINS Subsite: ORIGINS ProjectAugust 2013Prenatal alcohol exposure and educational achievement in children aged 8-9 years
This study examines the relationships between the dose, pattern, and timing of prenatal alcohol exposure and achievement in reading, writing, spelling,...
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Human Capability Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchJuly 2013Trends in sugar supply and consumption in Australia: is there an Australian Paradox?
High consumption of refined carbohydrate, in particular sugar, has been identified as a possible contributory factor in greater risk of excess weight gain.
Published research Nutrition Human CapabilityMay 2013Smoking, mental illness and socioeconomic disadvantage: Analysis of the Australian National survey of mental health and Wellbeing
There are strong socioeconomic and psychosocial gradients in both current smoking and smoking cessation.
Published research Human CapabilityApril 2013Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy predict parent-reported difficult temperament in infancy
These data suggest that the link between maternal hypertensive diseases of pregnancy and child behavioral development begins in the first year of life.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Human Capability Autism ResearchApril 2013Delivery at 37 weeks' gestation is associated with a higher risk for child behavioural problems
We suggest that 37 weeks' gestation may not be the optimal cutoff for defining perinatal risk as it applies to behavioural development.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Human Capability Autism ResearchMarch 2013"Through the Kids... We Connected With Our Community": Children as Catalysts of Social Capital
This article investigates whether having dependent children living at home play a role in forging adult connections, community involvement, and social...
Published research Human CapabilityFebruary 2013Tackling overweight and obesity: does the public health message match the science?
Public health weight-loss interventions seem to be based on an outdated understanding of the science.
Published research Human CapabilityJanuary 2013Adolescent peer aggression and its association with mental health and substance use in an Australian cohort
Prospective longitudinal birth cohort data was used to examine the association between peer aggression at 14yrs and mental health and substance use at 17yrs...
Published research Bullying Depression and Anxiety Human Capability Autism Research Youth HealthJanuary 2013Pre-pregnancy maternal overweight and obesity increase the risk for affective disorders in offspring
Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity has been linked with an increased risk for negative emotionality and inattentiveness in offspring in early childhood.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityJanuary 2013Echoes of disadvantage across generations? The influence of unemployment and separation of grandparents on their grandchildren
This is a rare examination of joblessness over 3 succeeding generations and its onward effects upon children, and is one of the few in the research literature.
Published research Human CapabilityJanuary 2013Parent–child book reading across early childhood and child vocabulary in the early school years
The current study investigated the extent to which low levels of joint attention in infancy and parent-child book reading across early childhood increase the...
Published research Language Development Human CapabilityJanuary 2013Gender, Culture and Intervention: Exploring Differences between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Children's Responses to an Early Intervention Programme
Evaluation of a group parenting programme in the Northern Territory of Australia showed significant differences in benefits for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal...
Published research Aboriginal Health Human Capability Youth HealthJanuary 2013Population and Public Health Perspectives on Late Language Emergence at 24 Months as a Risk Indicator for Language Impairment at 7 Years
The emergence of language during the toddler period is one of the most striking accomplishments in young children's development.
Published research Language Development Human CapabilityDecember 2012Breastfeeding Duration and Residential Isolation amid Aboriginal Children in Western Australia
The objective of this study was to examine the factors that impact on breastfeeding duration among Western Australia Aboriginal children. We hypothesised...
Published research Breastfeeding Aboriginal Health Human CapabilitySeptember 2012Socioeconomic disparities in the mental health of Indigenous children in Western Australia
The burden of mental health problems among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is a major public health problem in Australia.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Depression and Anxiety Aboriginal Health Human CapabilitySeptember 2012Jurisdictional, socioeconomic and gender inequalities in child health and development:
Early child development may have important consequences for inequalities in health and well-being. This paper explores population level patterns of child...
Published research Child Health, Development & Education Early Childhood Development Human CapabilityAugust 2012Associations between aggressive behaviour scores and cardiovascular risk factors in childhood
The objective of this study was to examine the influence of aggressive behaviour scores on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors throughout childhood.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityJuly 2012Adjusting for under-identification of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander births in time series produced from birth records
Statistical time series derived from administrative data sets form key indicators in measuring progress.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Human CapabilityMay 2012Early mental health morbidity and later smoking at age 17 years
We examined the relationship between the onset and pattern of childhood mental health disorders and subsequent current smoking status at age 17 years.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityMay 2012Associations between anxious-depressed symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors in a longitudinal childhood study
The objective of the study was to examine the influence of anxious/depressed scores on cardiovascular risk factors throughout childhood.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityApril 2012Premature to conclude no genetic basis to the association between smoking and major depressive disorder
We analyzed two large-scale surveys, and found high rates of smoking in people with mood disorders and both with and without substance dependence disorders.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityApril 2012Intellectual disability and other neuropsychiatric outcomes in high-risk children of mothers with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and unipolar major depression
We examined risk of intellectual disability and other neuropsychiatric outcomes in children of mothers with and without schizophrenia, bipolar or depression.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Intellectual Disability Human Capability Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchJanuary 2012Fetal head circumference growth in children with specific language impairment
The aim was to characterise fetal brain growth in children with specific language impairment (SLI). A nested case-control study was set in Perth, WA.
Published research Language Development Human Capability Autism ResearchJanuary 2012Severity and persistence of asthma and mental health: a birth cohort study
The goal of the current study was to investigate asthma and mental health among youth in the community.
Asthma Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityJanuary 2012Socioeconomic disparities in physical health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Western Australia
We sought to provide insights by examining socio-economic disparities in physical health outcomes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in WA.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Human CapabilityJanuary 2012Social gradients in the health of indigenous australians
We begin to bridge this knowledge gap by assessing evidence on social gradients in indigenous health in Australia.
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Human CapabilityJanuary 2012The association between playgroup participation, learning competence and social-emotional wellbeing for children aged four-five years in Australia
This study provides evidence that continued participation in playgroups is associated with better outcomes for children from disadvantaged families.
Published research Human Capability PlaygroupsDecember 2011Sugar sweetened beverage consumption by Australian children: Implications for public health strategy
High consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been linked to unhealthy weight gain and nutrition related chronic disease.
Published research Nutrition Human CapabilityDecember 2011Through the kids ... we connected with our community: Children as catalysts of social capital
Both children and adults benefit from living in communities and neighborhoods that are rich in social capital.
Published research Human CapabilityDecember 2011The potential impact of smoke-free facilities on smoking cessation in people with mental illness
The aim of this paper was to estimate the degree to which smoke-free facilities may facilitate smoking cessation in smokers with mental illness by estimating...
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityNovember 2011Early mental health morbidity and later smoking at 17 years of age
We examined the relationship between the onset and pattern of childhood mental health disorders and subsequent current smoking status at age 17 years.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human Capability Youth HealthNovember 2011Social Gradients in Indigenous Health
The pattern of association between socioeconomic factors and health outcomes has primarily depicted better health for those who are higher in the social...
Published research Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing Aboriginal Health Human CapabilityOctober 2011Early vocabulary development: The importance of joint attention and parent-child book reading
The current study brought a bioecological approach to children’s early vocabulary development using data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children...
Published research Language Development Human CapabilitySeptember 2011Maternal death and the onward psychosocial circumstances of Australian Aboriginal children and young people
This study sought to determine the social and emotional impact of maternal loss on Aboriginal children and young people using data from the Western...
Published research Depression and Anxiety Aboriginal Health Human CapabilityAugust 2011Late-talking and risk for behavioral and emotional problems during childhood and adolescence
Although many toddlers with expressive vocabulary delay ("late talkers") present with age-appropriate language skills by the time they are of school age,...
Published research Depression and Anxiety Language Development Human Capability Autism ResearchJuly 2011Late-talking and risk for behavioural and emotional problems during childhood and adolescence
Although many toddlers with expressive vocabulary delay ("late talkers") present with age-appropriate language skills by the time they are of school age...
Published research Language Development Human Capability Autism ResearchJuly 2011Breastfeeding and early child development: A prospective cohort study
Breastfeeding has been associated with multiple developmental advantages for the infant; however, there have also been a number of studies that find...
Published research Breastfeeding Early Childhood Development Human CapabilityJuly 2011The science of prevention for children and youth
The high prevalence of social, emotional and behavioural health problems in children and young people in Australia
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityApril 2011International comparisons of behavioral and emotional problems in preschool children: Parents' reports from 24 societies
International comparisons were conducted of preschool children's behavioral and emotional problems as reported on the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages...
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityApril 2011Dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and risk of depressive symptoms in adolescents
Previous randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) are beneficial in reducing symptoms of depression.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Depression and Anxiety Nutrition Human CapabilityApril 2011Non-specific psychological distress, smoking status and smoking cessation: United States National Health Interview Survey 2005
It is well established that smoking rates in people with common mental disorders such as anxiety or depressive disorders are much higher than in people...
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityMarch 2011Global research neglect of population-based approaches to smoking cessation
It has been argued that the preponderance of studies into individual smoking cessation therapies seems grossly out of proportion to the number of people...
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityJanuary 2011Lifestyle and demographic correlates of poor mental health in early adolescence
To determine the constellation of lifestyle and demographic factors that are associated with poor mental health in an adolescent population.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Depression and Anxiety Human Capability Youth HealthJanuary 2011Children's language development 0-9 years. In Growing up in Australia:
Language development is one of the most important developmental accomplishments of early childhood and is the foundation for literacy, educational...
Published research Language Development Human CapabilityJanuary 2011Prenatal stress and risk of behavioral morbidity from age 2 to 14 years:
The maternal experience of stressful events during pregnancy has been associated with a number of adverse consequences for behavioral development offspring...
Published research Academic Biostatistics Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityJanuary 2011Breastfeeding duration and academic achievement at ten years
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between duration of breastfeeding and educational outcomes.
Published research Breastfeeding Human Capability Autism ResearchJanuary 2011Identification and genetic determination of an early life risk disposition for depressive disorder:
Progress in psychiatric genetics has been slow despite evidence of high heritability for most mental disorders
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityDecember 2010Preschool psychopathology reported by parents in 23 societies: testing the seven-syndrome model of the child behavior checklist for ages 1.5-5.
To test the fit of a seven-syndrome model to ratings of preschoolers' problems by parents in very diverse societies.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human CapabilityDecember 2010Mental health problems among young people on remand: has anything changed since 1989?
To determine whether the prevalence of mental health problems among adolescents on court ordered remand in South Australia has changed since 1989
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human Capability Youth HealthOctober 2010Antecedents of hospital admission for deliberate self-harm from a 14-year follow-up study using data-linkage
A prior episode of deliberate self-harm (DSH) is one of the strongest predictors of future completed suicide. Identifying antecedents of DSH may inform strategi
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityAugust 2010Low-moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and risk to child behavioural development: a prospective cohort study
To examine the association of fetal alcohol exposure during pregnancy with child and adolescent behavioural development.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Academic Biostatistics Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityAugust 2010Maternal life events during pregnancy and offspring language ability in middle childhood
There is accumulating evidence for a link between maternal stress during pregnancy and later behavioural and emotional problems in children.
Published research Language Development Human Capability Autism ResearchJuly 2010Smoking cessation in pregnancy and the risk of child behavioural problems: a longitudinal prospective cohort study
The aim of this study was to examine the influence of smoking in pregnancy on child and adolescent behavioural development, in comparison with mothers who cease
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityJune 2010Anxiety disorders and cigarette smoking: Results from the Australian Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing
The aim of this study was to describe current and daily smoking rates, and smoking cessation rates in adults with anxiety disorders
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityJune 2010The mental health and wellbeing of adolescents on remand in Australia
To compare the nature & prevalence of mental health problems, prevalence of suicidal ideation & behaviour, & health-related quality of life of 13-17-year-olds..
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human Capability Youth HealthApril 2010The long-term effects of breastfeeding on child and adolescent mental health: A Pregnancy Cohort Study followed for 14 years
To determine whether there was an independent effect of breastfeeding on child and adolescent mental health
Published research Academic Biostatistics Breastfeeding Depression and Anxiety Human CapabilityMarch 2010Association between socioeconomic status and the development of asthma: analyses of income trajectories
Using data on 2868 children born in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study, we examined the association between changes in family...
Asthma Published research Academic Biostatistics Human CapabilityFebruary 2010Antecedents of teenage pregnancy from a 14-year follow-up study using data linkage
This study identified possible antecedents of teenage pregnancy using linked data from administrative sources to create a 14-year follow-up from a cross-sect...
Published research Human CapabilityJanuary 2010Evidence of a complex association between dose, pattern and timing of prenatal alcohol exposure and child behaviour problems
There is a lack of evidence regarding the effect of dose, pattern and timing of prenatal alcohol exposure and behaviour problems in children aged 2 years.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Depression and Anxiety Human Capability Alcohol and Pregnancy and FASD ResearchJanuary 2010Child behaviour following low to moderate maternal drinking in pregnancy
Child behaviour following low to moderate maternal drinking in pregnancy
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Academic Biostatistics Human CapabilityOctober 2009Adolescent dietary patterns are associated with lifestyle and family psychosocial factors
Few studies have examined the dietary patterns of adolescents and the social and environmental factors that may affect them during this life stage.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Nutrition Human CapabilityFebruary 2009Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy and the development of behavioural problems in childhood and adolescence: The Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort Study
To examine whether maternal gestational hypertension and preeclampsia are associated with behavioral problems in offspring
Published research Academic Biostatistics Human CapabilityJanuary 2022Anxiety Trajectories in Adolescents and the Impact of Social Support and Peer Victimization
This paper examines whether adolescents can be reliably categorized into subgroups based on their patterns of anxiety levels over time and whether low levels of social support from parents, peers, and their school, and high levels of peer victimization, predict a pattern of increasing anxiety.
Published researchJanuary 2022Western Australian adolescent emotional wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020
The 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.
Published research School Attendance Youth Health Skin Health Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal Young People Geospatial Health and Development COVID-19 School and Community WellbeingJanuary 2022Parental Perspectives on Children’s School Readiness: An Ethnographic Study
School readiness is a construct used by educators and policy makers to describe a range of abilities that are beneficial for children transitioning to school. The association of socioeconomic disadvantage with developmental vulnerability when children start school is well established. Parents play a crucial role in supporting children’s transition to school and are acknowledged as their child’s first and foremost teacher.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Capability School AttendanceJanuary 2022Use of administrative record linkage to examine patterns of universal early childhood health and education service use from birth to Kindergarten (age 4 years) and developmental vulnerability in the Preparatory Year (age 5 years) in Tasmania, Australia
In Australia, the health and education sectors provide universal early childhood services for the same population of children. Therefore, there is a strong imperative to view service use and outcomes through a cross-sectoral lens to better understand and address the service needs of young children and their families.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Capability School AttendanceFebruary 2022‘There’s good and bad’: parent perspectives on the influence of mobile touch screen device use on prenatal attachment
The potential for human-computer interaction to have a substantial impact on adults is well documented. However, its potential importance prior to birth has rarely been reported. Parental use of smartphones and tablet computers could influence the relationship between parent and baby during pregnancy (prenatal attachment) and thus child development.
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Capability ORIGINS Technology & KidsMarch 2022School readiness is more than the child: a latent class analysis of child, family, school and community aspects of school readiness
In this paper, we aim to contribute to the understanding of the multidimensional nature of school readiness. In a sample of over 4,000 Australian children in their first year of school, we used latent class analysis to examine patterns of school readiness based on child, family, school and community characteristics, and examine the relationship between these patterns of school readiness and subsequent outcomes (reading comprehension, school absence and emotional and behavioural difficulties).
Published research Human Capability School AttendanceAugust 2022Gender differences in time allocation contribute to differences in developmental outcomes in children and adolescents
Using over 50 thousand time-use diaries from two cohorts of children, we document significant gender differences in time allocation in the first 16 years in life. Relative to males, females spend more time on personal care, chores and educational activities and less time on physical and media related activities. These gender gaps in time allocation appear at very young ages and widen overtime.
Published research Child Health, Development & Education Early Childhood Development Human CapabilityApril 2008Language outcomes of 7-year-old children with or without a history of late language emergence at 24 months
The aim of this study was to investigate the language outcomes of 7-year-old children with and without a history of late language emergence at 24 months.
Published research Language Development Human CapabilityFebruary 2008Clustering of psychosocial symptoms in overweight children
The aims of the present study were to (i) examine the relationship between children's degree of adiposity and psychosocial functioning; and (ii) compare patterns of clustering of psychosocial measures between healthy weight and overweight/obese children.
Published research Early Childhood Development Nutrition Human Capability ORIGINS Diabetes and Obesity Subsite: ORIGINS ProjectDecember 2007Late language emergence at 24 months: an epidemiological study of prevalence, predictors, and covariates
The primary objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of late language emergence (LLE) and to investigate the predictive status of maternal...
Published research Language Development Human CapabilityJune 2007The role of family and maternal factors in childhood obesity
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a child's weight and a broad range of family and maternal factors.
Published research Nutrition Human Capability ORIGINS Diabetes and Obesity -
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