Department of Psychology, University of Calgary
DETERMINANTS OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT LAB
Our research in the news
In the news: Maternal depression and anxiety nearly doubled during the pandemic.
Our new study in The Lancet found that moms depression and anxiety have nearly doubled during the pandemic. Parents are struggling and need support. See this study in CTV News, The Globe and Mail, and The Conversation.
Global News: Babies born during COVID-19 pandemic not being held by others. Will they be OK?
Dr. Sheri Madigan weighs in on the impacts of COVID19 on infants' social lives. Dr. Madigan advises that the most important socialization for babies happens in their own homes with the caregivers. Find the article here.
Today's Parent: Will all the under-socialized babies born in 2020 be OK?
The answer is 'yes, the babies will be alright'! Dr. Madigan did an interview with Today's Parent on the importance of tuning into babies' cues and signals to enhance language and social skills during COVID-19, and gave tips for how grandparents can engage in serve-and-return interactions virtually.
CTV News: Preschoolers overwhelmingly get more screen time than WHO recommends
The World Health Organization has issued guidelines, suggesting that preschoolers receive no more than 1 hour of screen time daily. However, a recent study from our lab found that 79% and 95% of 2 and 3 year olds, respectively, are exceeding those guidelines. Read more about the findings from the study and an interview with Dr. Madigan in this article from CTV News.
The New York Times: Teens are sexting - Now what?
Our lives these days are intertwined with our digital devices, for good or for ill. That includes adolescent romantic and sexual relationships of all kinds — happy, tragic, mutual, one-sided, healthy, abusive.
Read more about research from our lab examining adolescent sexting and recommendations for talking with your children about the topic!
TIME: Too Much Screen Time Can Have Lasting Consequences for Young Children’s Brains
Growing data suggests that exposing young children to too much time in front of a TV or computer can have negative effects on their development. Research from our lab found that more screen time is linked to poorer progress on developmental milestones. Read more about the findings from the study and an interview with Dr.Madigan in this article from TIME magazine.