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The research collaboration between Birkbeck, University of London, and King’s College London looked at infants who had different levels of touchscreen usage. The study, published in JAMA Paediatrics, found that at both 18 months and 3.5 years infants who are high touchscreen users are faster in finding visual cues (a red apple or red apple slices amongst blue apples) than their peers. Further studies need to examine whether this attention difference is beneficial or detrimental to the children’s development.

Find out more https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/toddlers-who-use-touchscreens-show-attention-differences

 

The survey “Moms during COVID” aims to understand the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of pregnant women and new mothers.

Twenty per cent of expecting and new mothers experience a wide range of mental health conditions. It is, however, unclear what the positive and negative impacts of the pandemic are on these women. The international study will be run in 11 countries as part of an international project RiiseupPPD-COVID19 that look at the impact of COVID-19 in Perinatal Mental Health. The UK part of the study is led by Dr Claire Wilson from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London. Women over the age of 18 who are pregnant or the mother of a child 6 months old or younger can participate.

Find out more https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/international-survey-to-assess-impact-of-covid-19-on-pregnant-women-and-new-mothers

The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal, indicates that mental health declined substantially particularly among women and in younger individuals aged 16-24

This research was a collaboration between the University of Manchester, King’s College London and the  National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). The study surveyed 17,452 people, who self-reported increase in mental distress throughout April 2020. It found that the increase in mental distress was greater among women than men and in younger age groups than older people. Additionally, the research saw greater mental distress in people living with young children than people from child-free homes. The researchers warn that mental health inequalities will likely widen and deepen as the pandemic progresses and must be monitored closely to mitigate the rise in mental illnesses.

For more information https://www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2020/july/study-estimates-impact-of-covid-19-pandemic-on-uk-mental-health-after-first-month-of-lockdown/

This study led by King’s College London gives important insight into the development of eating disorders as well as the biological and behavioural trajectories over time.

This study analysed data from 1386 healthy adolescents from eight countries. It looked at adolescents who developed three types of disordered eating behaviours to those who didn’t at ages 14, 16 and 19. It found differences in various brain areas and the mental health of these adolescents. These findings hope to support early interventions and approaches to help those with eating disorders.

For more information https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/adolescent-brain-structure-could-inform-early-interventions-for-eating-disorders