Current Projects
Our team is busy analyzing data from past surveys, creating new surveys for upcoming projects, analyzing biological data, and creating novel methodologies.
Maternal & Youth 12-14 Year Surveys
The 12-14 year surveys were sent to AOF mothers and their youth in January 2023, asking questions about health and wellness, child development and lifestyle habits. We are very grateful for the continued support of our AOF families!
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on AOF Families
Three surveys were launched from May 2020 to January 2022 in order to understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on AOF families. Much of this data has been analyzed and shared with our communities, and we continue to analyze the data to best understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. You may click on the links below to read executive summaries from three of the six surveys. Additional information is available in Study Results.
Early Pandemic Experiences
Resilience of Families
Impact of Late Pandemic on Youth
Parent-Youth Mental Health Before and After the Pandemic
The purpose of this study is to identify patterns of mental health stability and change due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including people most at risk for mental health concerns based on structural determinants of health, personal and familial factors.
Genetic Link to Spontaneous Preterm Birth
This study is using biological data from blood samples collected when AOF mothers were pregnant to better understand gene variants in the oxytocin receptor, which may impact uterine contractility and increase the risk of spontaneous preterm birth.
From Languishing to Flourishing
This study will use focus groups with AOF mothers, youth and community stakeholders to understand the languishing and flourishing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A primary goal of the study is to examine the changing nature of social, economic and health-related impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to provide evidence to decision makers to assist in planning future pandemic waves and long-term recovery.
Early developmental risk and protective factors to prevent chronic pain in children
Chronic pain affects 1 in 5 Canadian children, impacting cognitive, psychological, physical, and social functioning. Chronic pain often starts a cascade of mental health issues (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD) and substance misuse (e.g., alcohol, cannabis, opioids) that persists into adulthood, making prevention and early intervention a leading priority. This study will use All Our Families study data from birth to child age 13 to determine if early child pain experiences (e.g., NICU stay, injuries, surgery) impact mental health and pain experiences in later childhood/ adolescence. The study will investigate the effects of maternal mental health and parenting behaviours on the pain experiences of their children, to identify possible risk and protective factors of chronic pain in children.
Do children born preterm "catch-up"?
Infants born preterm and early term (37-38 weeks) can experience challenges in development and health including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, respiratory conditions, asthma, sleep disturbances, cognitive and psychologic disorders including poor social adaptation. These children are at greater risk for experiencing challenges in development, including reading, communication and mathematics, which are crucial skills for academic and career success. This study will investigate if children born preterm can 'catch up' by comparing child development outcomes between term and preterm children at ages 3, 5 and 8 using already collected All Our Families study data.
Prenatal cannabis exposure and child neurodevelopmental outcomes
This study will measure cannabis metabolites from blood samples collected when AOF mothers were in their first and third trimesters of pregnancy, to investigate the possible effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on child development. Since legalization, cannabis use in pregnancy is on the rise, but the effects of cannabis use in pregnancy on infant and child development remains unclear. Therefore, this study will investigate possible associations between cannabis levels in pregnancy and child mental health and development up to age 13. The project will conduct brain MRI scans (magnetic resonance imaging) and psychological assessments in a sample of AOF youth to measure IQ, executive functioning, and mental health, in order to determine if prenatal exposure to cannabis impacts any of these neurodevelopmental outcomes.
health
Healthcare access experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic
This project is investigating patients’ perspectives on their family’s health care service access during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify factors that helped and hindered health care access for mothers and children.
Will the kids be alright?
Research has shown that youth depression and anxiety have doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study will connect with AOF youth when they are 15 to 17 years old to determine if pandemic increases in depression and anxiety remain in the aftermath of the pandemic. The goal of the project is to identify patterns of risk and protective factors related to youth depression and anxiety, which can inform decision making on resource allocation, prevention and intervention strategies to optimize youth mental health.
Interested in learning more about any of our research projects?! Contact us and we will connect you with the respective lead investigator.