A New Co-Designed Measure of Child Resilience and Associations with Mental Health in Diverse Contexts
Tracks
Tamborine Gallery - In-Person Only
| Tuesday, March 25, 2025 |
| 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM |
Overview
Dr Deidre Gartland, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Presenter
Dr Deirdre Gartland
Senior Research Fellow
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
A New Co-Designed Measure of Child Resilience and Associations with Mental Health in Diverse Contexts
Abstract
Background: Resilience has been misunderstood, maligned and poorly measured. Resilience is a vital process of drawing on strengths and resources in times of adversity to sustain, regain or grow mental health.
Method: Child Resilience Questionnaire (CRQ) was codesigned through iterative consultation and community-based participatory research methods. All work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families was undertaken by Aboriginal researchers and this part of the study was designed and overseen by an Aboriginal Governance Group. Data collected with 1114 families with a child aged 5-12 years including targeted recruitment of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families (n=323), families of refugee background (n=111) and two mother-child cohorts in which partner violence between caregivers was measured (n=515). Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) total difficulties score of <17 used to classify emotional/behavioural wellbeing. Mental health competence classified using 8 SDQ items.
Results: CRQ is: 1) underpinned by the socio-ecological model; 2) evidence based; 3) inclusive and relevant to a range of contexts in which children may encounter adversity and show resilience. Self-report (7-12 years) and parent/caregiver report (5-12 years) are available (CRQ-school in development).
All children with high resilience scores had significantly higher odds of emotional/behavioural wellbeing and mental health competence, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children, children with refugee backgrounds and children exposed to family violence.
Conclusions: Access to strengths and resources across socio-ecological domains can buffer mental health for children across diverse backgrounds. While not minimising challenges, it is important to acknowledge the strengths and resources available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and refugee background families, where there is often a deficit focus. Understanding which strengths and resources support mental health in different contexts can guide effective interventions.
Method: Child Resilience Questionnaire (CRQ) was codesigned through iterative consultation and community-based participatory research methods. All work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families was undertaken by Aboriginal researchers and this part of the study was designed and overseen by an Aboriginal Governance Group. Data collected with 1114 families with a child aged 5-12 years including targeted recruitment of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families (n=323), families of refugee background (n=111) and two mother-child cohorts in which partner violence between caregivers was measured (n=515). Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) total difficulties score of <17 used to classify emotional/behavioural wellbeing. Mental health competence classified using 8 SDQ items.
Results: CRQ is: 1) underpinned by the socio-ecological model; 2) evidence based; 3) inclusive and relevant to a range of contexts in which children may encounter adversity and show resilience. Self-report (7-12 years) and parent/caregiver report (5-12 years) are available (CRQ-school in development).
All children with high resilience scores had significantly higher odds of emotional/behavioural wellbeing and mental health competence, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children, children with refugee backgrounds and children exposed to family violence.
Conclusions: Access to strengths and resources across socio-ecological domains can buffer mental health for children across diverse backgrounds. While not minimising challenges, it is important to acknowledge the strengths and resources available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and refugee background families, where there is often a deficit focus. Understanding which strengths and resources support mental health in different contexts can guide effective interventions.
Biography
Dr Gartland is a senior research fellow at Intergenerational Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Melbourne, where she leads the Resilience and Mental Health research program. Her research is focused on women and children’s health, and in particular, the impacts of family violence and intergenerational trauma longitudinally. She is working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities and communities with refugee backgrounds to better understand which resilience strengths and resources support child mental health, as potential intervention targets. She has co-designed child resilience and partner violence measures using community-based participatory methods to ensure cultural relevance and acceptability.
