Highlights in child mental health research: July 2026

Prepared by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS)

Anxiety and depression during the transition from childhood to adolescence

This study used longitudinal data from 1,499 children aged nine to 13 years to examine how anxiety and depressive symptoms influence one another during the transition from childhood to adolescence. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were found to be closely related and often occurred together, but the findings showed a directional pattern: increases in depressive symptoms predicted later increases in anxiety, while anxiety did not predict later depressive symptoms. These patterns were similar for girls and boys. The findings reinforce the importance of taking a broad view of children’s emotional wellbeing. Anxiety and depressive symptoms often occur together during the transition from childhood to adolescence. Practitioners should consider screening for and monitoring both when children present with emotional difficulties.

Peripartum mental health and digital media exposure in infants and young children

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether peripartum depression – depression experienced during pregnancy or after birth – is associated with digital media exposure in infants and young children. The review included 13 studies involving 9,603 participants and found that children of mothers experiencing peripartum depression had greater screen exposure. Increased screen exposure may be associated with sleep difficulties and behavioural problems in children, as well as reduced parent–child interaction. Practitioners should be aware that caregiver wellbeing may influence children’s use of early digital media alongside other family, social and contextual factors. Supporting parental mental health may contribute to broader caregiving quality and help families establish routines and activities that support young children’s development.

Early‐life pathways to inequalities in child mental health

This study analysed data from eight birth cohorts across 10 high-income countries to examine how early-life socioeconomic disadvantage is linked to children’s mental health at school entry. Children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to experience behavioural and emotional difficulties. Smoking during pregnancy, postpartum depression and breastfeeding emerged as important pathways linking socioeconomic circumstances with children’s behavioural and emotional difficulties. While several early-life factors helped explain socioeconomic differences in children’s mental health, the authors note that these factors may reflect broader social and psychosocial circumstances affecting families, rather than acting as isolated causes of children’s behavioural and emotional difficulties.

Child conduct challenges and evidence-based parent training

This pilot randomised controlled trial examined a new intervention for children whose conduct challenges persisted after evidence-based parent training. The study included 105 children aged four to 10 years and their parents. Over 70% of children who completed parent training continued to experience clinically significant conduct problems. Based on parent reports, children who received Reflective Interpersonal Therapy for Children and Parents (RICAP) showed greater improvements in emotional and behavioural difficulties than children receiving usual care. However, similar improvements were not observed in teacher-reported outcomes. RICAP shows promise as a second-stage intervention for families where parent training is insufficient, particularly for improving parent-reported emotional and behavioural difficulties.