In the media
Find the latest media mentions of the Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children study.
ABC news
4 February 2024:
- Active children do better at school. So how do we keep teens in sport?
Researchers at the University of Sydney analysed the sports participation and academic performance of more than 4200 students from the age of four through to the age of 21 using data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children…. “We have shown kids who continue playing sports through their childhood and into adolescence perform better academically,” …the study allowed researchers to compare a child’s performance over time, showing an increase in academic outcomes while a child continued playing sport.
Mary Ward
3 January 2024:
“Over the past 20 years, researchers have gained valuable insight into everything from the benefits of three-year-old kindergarten to the impacts of drugs, alcohol and violence on a child's development."
Sacha Payne and Tim Callanan
2 February 2023:
- Fears for 'invisible' young people forced home by COVID-19 pandemic and stuck there due to cost of living
“[The report] found one-in-five young people felt it was difficult or "not beneficial" living with their parents, while one-in-10 said they did not feel supported by their parents and family during those critical first three months of lockdowns”.
Owen Jacques
30 January 2023:
- Child researchers find growing link between pandemic screen time and school refusal rates
We found that for children who have two or more hours of TV a day, two years later they were roughly a third of a year behind their peers in their learning.
Dr Mundy(Project Lead- Longitudinal Study of Australian Children)
The Conversation
22 November 2023:
- Australia’s rates of autism should be celebrated- but real-life impact, not diagnosis, should determine NDIS support
The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children also shows younger children (born 2003–04) have a higher autism prevalence (4.4%) than older children (2.6%; born between 1999–2000). Yet, younger children had fewer social, emotional and behaviour challenges than older children. These findings tell us we are getting better at identifying children with more subtle traits at earlier ages. This is leading to better outcomes.
Nancy Sadka and Josephine Barbaro
9 June 2022:
The study found children on the autism spectrum are more likely to be bullied at high schools than primary schools (an opposite trend from non-autistic children). It’s possible that in high schools the differences due to autism are more pronounced and noticeable.
Misha Ketchell
The Good Men Project
18 November 2023:
Data from Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC), shows that ‘almost three in ten 18-19 year olds have experienced intimate partner violence in the past year…In the 12 months before being surveyed, 25% of 18-19 year olds experienced emotional abuse, 12% experienced physical violence, and 8% experienced sexual abuse in their intimate relationships. A total of 29% experienced at least one form of intimate partner violence.’
Karlee O’Donnell, Pilar Rioseco, Amanda Vittiglia, Bosco Rowland and Lisa Mundy
13 September 2023:
- Young People Whose Parents Receive Welfare Far Less likely to Be Working or Studying
When governments at all levels work effectively with employers and local communities to address entrenched disadvantage, there is a real opportunity to break the cycle, and make a lasting difference to young people and their families,’ Dr Mundy said.
Clement Wong, Brendan Quinn and Lisa Mundy
11 March 2023:
- Home Media Releases ‘Invisible People’ — Policy Makers Urged to Consider the Needs of 20-Somethings Who Moved Back Home During the Pandemic
‘We must monitor the long-term implications of lockdowns on these young adults, including the impact on future employment and family dynamics, so that they can be appropriately supported as they move into the next phase of their adult lives.’ (Dr Lisa Mundy- Project Lead Longitudinal Study of Australian Children)
Tracy Evans-Whipp and Jennifer Prattely
The Sydney Morning Herald
5 November 2023:
- By the time her baby came home from hospital, Kat’s parental leave was gone
Women in their early 20s who returned home felt more isolated than men the same age who did so, the Australian Institute of Family Studies has found, and they also reported feeling more stressed than young men.
Mary Ward
1 February 2023:
- Why moving home during COVID caused many women to struggle
Women in their early 20s who returned home felt more isolated than men the same age who did so, the Australian Institute of Family Studies has found, and they also reported feeling more stressed than young men.
The Guardian
1 October 2023:
- ‘A massive public health problem’: Australian children as young as 10 are hooked on gambling
‘Children and young people are not only gambling online. The Growing Up In Australia Longitudinal Study of children found the most common gambling activity for 16- to 17-year-olds was private betting with friends or family, but they also reported betting on sports games, and horse and dog races.’
Melissa Davey and Natasha May
The National Tribune
22 September 2023:
- Addressing coercive control nationally and protecting our children
‘Recent research…drawing on data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, found a causal link indicating young people that played simulated gambling games had a 40 percent higher probability of spending real money on gambling as young adults.’
Elise Archer, Attorney General
Healthnews
7 September 2023
- The link between playing sports and mental health in children
According to the study, children who internalize their emotions and struggle to interact with their classmates considerably benefit from participating in team sports.
Penny Min
The University of Queensland
5 April 2023:
- Children with asthma at risk of anxiety
“…the findings revealed 4-year-olds with asthma were more likely to develop anxiety between the ages of 6 and 15 years, compared to non-asthmatic children”.
Diana Garcia Sanchez
The Age
26 February 2023:
- Australians spend millions playing the pokies on their phone but they’ll never win a cent
“There was reliable evidence that engaging in simulated gambling – but especially making some in-game purchases – was associated with experiencing gambling-related problems and being at risk of gambling-related harm ... things like impact on relationships, work and study,” [Rebecca Jenkinson- Australian Gambling Research Centre (AIFS)]
James Lemon