We are a network of researchers aiming to provide research that can improve the mental health and well-being of children and young people. We want to better understand pathways to mental health outcomes from childhood to late adolescence and early adulthood.

Our research will help to identify the timing and targets of prevention and intervention initiatives. We hope that our research findings will benefit children and young people and their families, mental health researchers, health, social care, education and legal practitioners and services, and policymakers.

Our aims

The Exploring Pathways to Children and Young People’s Mental Health Network was established in 2024. It is led by Dr Jennifer Allen and funded by the GW4 Alliance.

As a network, we want to take advantage of the opportunities provided by longitudinal cohort study datasets and data linkage in the UK and overseas to achieve our goal of improving the mental health and well-being of children and young people.

Together we:

• Share interdisciplinary expertise in research design, methods and analysis, as well as training in public and patient involvement (PPI), youth advocacy, translation of research into policy and knowledge mobilisation in relation to mental health in children and young people
• Collaborate with PPI and external stakeholders to bridge the gap between research and practice, through reflection and planning as to how this knowledge can help children, young people and their support networks (e.g., parents/caregivers, schools, CAMHS), and how best to facilitate this
• Identify existing datasets and data linkage opportunities for secondary analysis in the UK and overseas
• Work with researchers from different disciplines world-wide to develop competitive applications for external funding to enable us to achieve our main goal

Network members

This project is a collaboration between the University of Bath, University of Exeter, University of Bristol and Cardiff University.

University of Bath

• Dr Jennifer Allen
• Jiaxin Deng
• Dr Lindsey Hines
• Dr Rachel Wilder

University of Exeter

• Dr Cassandra Lowe
• Dr Doretta Caramaschi
• Dr Silvana Mareva
• Dr Gemma Sharp
• Dr Siobhan Mitchell

University of Bristol

• Professor Carol Joinson
• Dr Jon Heron
• Dr Andrea Santangelo
• Dr Naomi Warne

Cardiff University

• Dr Kelly Morgan
• Dr Honor Young
• Dr Samantha Garay
• Safia Ouerghi

Project phases

Early or late timing of puberty and the mental health of children and young people

We are currently focused on research to better understand pathways to different mental health outcomes for children and young people who experience an early or late onset of puberty compared to those for whom puberty is ‘on-time’.

An early onset of puberty is a risk factor for a many different mental health outcomes in childhood and adolescence, including emotional and behavioural problems, disordered eating and substance abuse.

There is more research on the impact of early or late timing of puberty on the mental health and well-being of girls, but research findings suggest that early pubertal timing has a negative impact the mental health of both boys and girls. Less is known about the impact of late pubertal timing. Some studies suggest that late puberty increases the risk for poor adjustment in boys, but has a potential protective effect on girls. Girls tend to mature earlier than boys, and a different pace of puberty may also increase risk for poor mental health and differ for boys versus girls.

The onset of puberty is also starting almost a year earlier for children in the UK compared to the 1970s - at a rate of 0.24 years per decade. Longitudinal birth cohort studies in the UK spanning different yet overlapping time periods can help us better understand the reasons for this shift to earlier onset of puberty in children. This information will help to inform health, social and education policy aimed at preventing stressful life experiences leading to poor mental health in children and young people who experience puberty earlier or later than their peers.

Upcoming phases

We are currently working on a GW4 Generator fund proposal to further establish the network and support the development of funding proposals on pubertal timing and child mental health.

A research away day with academic and research staff and doctoral students from all four GW4 universities will be held on the 1 April 2025 to plan interdisciplinary research on pubertal timing and mental health in children and young people.