Journal article
16Up: Outline of a Study Investigating Wellbeing and Information and Communication Technology Use in Adolescent Twins
Twin Research and Human Genetics, Vol.23(6), pp.345-357
2020
PMID: 33509317
Appears in Thompson Institute Research Collection
Abstract
The '16Up' study conducted at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute from January 2014 to December 2018 aimed to examine the physical and mental health of young Australian twins aged 16−18 years (N = 876; 371 twin pairs and 18 triplet sets). Measurements included online questionnaires covering physical and mental health as well as information and communication technology (ICT) use, actigraphy, sleep diaries and hair samples to determine cortisol concentrations. Study participants generally rated themselves as being in good physical (79%) and mental (73%) health and reported lower rates of psychological distress and exposure to alcohol, tobacco products or other substances than previously reported for this age group in the Australian population. Daily or near-daily online activity was almost universal among study participants, with no differences noted between males and females in terms of frequency or duration of internet access. Patterns of ICT use in this sample indicated that the respondents were more likely to use online information sources for researching physical health issues than for mental health or substance use issues, and that they generally reported partial levels of satisfaction with the mental health information they found online. This suggests that internet-based mental health resources can be readily accessed by adolescent Australians, and their computer literacy augurs well for future access to online health resources. In combination with other data collected as part of the ongoing Brisbane Longitudinal Twin Study, the 16Up project provides a valuable resource for the longitudinal investigation of genetic and environmental contributions to phenotypic variation in a variety of human traits.
Details
- Title
- 16Up: Outline of a Study Investigating Wellbeing and Information and Communication Technology Use in Adolescent Twins
- Authors
- Brittany L Mitchell (Corresponding Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyKatherine M Kirk (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteKerrie McAloney (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteMargaret J Wright (Author) - University of QueenslandTracey A Davenport (Author) - University of SydneyDaniel Hermens (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteJames G Scott (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteJohn J McGrath (Author) - University of QueenslandNathan A Gillespie (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteJoanne S Carpenter (Author) - University of SydneyVictoria S O'Callaghan (Author) - University of QueenslandSarah Medland (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteHelen Christensen (Author) - UNSW AustraliaNicholas G Martin (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteJane M Burns (Author)Ian B Hickie (Author) - University of Sydney
- Publication details
- Twin Research and Human Genetics, Vol.23(6), pp.345-357; 13
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Date published
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.1017/thg.2020.83
- ISSN
- 1839-2628
- PMID
- 33509317
- Organisation Unit
- Thompson Institute; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99506306902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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