We are very pleased to announce two recent PhDs awarded in our Youth Mental Health research team. Kassie Bromley and Lia Mills both had their PhDs conferred earlier this month.

Kassie Bromley: 'From Research to Practice: Shaping Adolescent Brain Health Through Health Enhancing Behaviour'

Kassie's thesis examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between health enhancing behaviours (HEBs) and psychological distress and wellbeing in early-mid adolescence (two LABS papers). Then, in a third and comprehensive study, Kassie applied her theoretical and research findings to the creation and implementation of practical school-based ‘Brain Changer’ workshops, designed to target HEBs in adolescents, and educate them around the importance of brain health and how this relates to mental health. The full protocol and findings across the four-workshop program were presented. The Brain Changer pilot was a great success, and the beginning of the evidence base for these neuroscience-based workshops to promote brain health and mental health in schools.

Kassie’s thesis included a first-author publication, and other chapters are currently submitted to peer-reviewed journals.

I would like to acknowledge the contributions of Dr Chrissie Driver as Kassie’s co-supervisor, as well as the broader YMH/LABS team for their support.

Lia Mills: ‘Neurophysiological Markers of Cyberbullying Involvement in Early Adolescence: An Investigation using Electroencephalography’

Lia's thesis investigated associations between cyberbullying and brain activity in adolescence. Lia explored the relationship between different types of cyberbullying involvement, brain activity and psychosocial variables in LABS participants.

Decreased theta and alpha EEG power – different brain frequencies – were found to be associated with cyberbullying in early adolescence. 

Changes in delta and alpha power over time were linked to different cyberbullying experiences, suggesting there may be long term neurophysiological associations.

This may be reflective of changes to emotional regulation and response inhibition. 

This research was the first of its kind to explore brain-related changes (EEG) in adolescents with differing experiences of cyberbullying and cybervictimisation, with evidence to suggest that there are significant links to brain activity among different cyberbullying roles.

This research highlights that there may be long-term consequences of cyberbullying at a neurophysiological level, emphasising the importance of addressing this issue in an adolescent population. 

Additionally, this research provides support for the use of EEG as a method of investigating ways to prevent and manage the risk of cyberbullying impacts. 

Lia’s thesis included two first-author published papers to date: 

• Longitudinal insights into the neurophysiology of cyberbullying involvement in adolescence: A Bayesian approach using EEG spectral power
• A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Electrophysiological Studies of Online Social Exclusion: Evidence for the Neurobiological Impacts of Cyberbullying

I would like to acknowledge the contributions of Drs Chrissie Driver and Larisa McLaughlin as Lia’s co-supervisors, as well as the broader YMH/LABS team for their support.