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May 26, 2026

Highlights in child mental health research: April 2026

Prepared by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS)

What’s new this month in child mental health research?

Our monthly research highlights focus on a selection of recently released papers, systematic reviews and meta-analyses related to infant and child mental health.

A brief synopsis is provided for each of the month’s highlights. Click through to the longer summary for each item to learn more about why the research is important, what the researchers did, what they found and what that means for practice. Links to abstracts, full-text articles and related resources, where available, are provided in each summary.

The impact of adverse childhood experiences and social determinants of mental health on adult depression

This study analysed survey data from 34,225 adults in the United States using machine learning models to examine predictors of adult depression. The strongest predictor was living with someone with mental health challenges during childhood. Other predictors of adult depression included sex, total adverse childhood experiences score, loneliness, unemployment and healthcare barriers.

How ethnic minority women in the UK experience perinatal mental health screening questions

This UK qualitative study interviewed 12 women and held a focus group with three women. Participants reported mixed perceptions of screening tools, with their perceptions and engagement with the tools shaped by provider communication, time constraints, language barriers and fear of disclosure. A lack of continuity, early support or clear pathways hindered engagement with screening tools. Researchers recommended that practitioners should clearly explain screening, allow sufficient time, ensure privacy and use open-ended questions.

How depression during pregnancy relates to children’s behaviour and development

This study analysed data from seven European birth cohorts, including up to 76,514 children. Prenatal depression was associated with higher internalising and externalising behaviours, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and autism spectrum disorder (autism) symptoms. Postnatal depression (in addition to prenatal depression) explained some, but not all, of these associations.

Long-term effects of cyberbullying victimisation on child and adolescent mental health

This meta-analysis examined 27 longitudinal studies published from 2010–21. While the overall association was weak, cyberbullying victimisation was linked to an increased risk of specific mental health challenges, particularly depression and anxiety. In studies that had samples with more males and studies published more recently (between 2010–21), the impact of cyberbullying on mental health was found to be larger among older adolescents. Practitioners should consider mental health impacts and provide support when cyberbullying is disclosed.

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