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Research

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Our research program focuses on the individual, family- and school-related factors associated with the development of mental health problems and psycho-social maladjustment in young people. We are also interested in examining the neuro-physiological processes that mediate these associations. To this end, we use several longitudinal databases, including a genetically informative database based on a sample of monozygotic and dizygotic twins followed from birth to young adulthood. Different evaluation methods have been used over the years, including: self-reported questionnaires; peer nominations in class; questionnaires completed by mother, father, and teacher; video-filmed observations at home and in the classroom; telephone interviews; official records; biological and neurophysiological measurements (cortisol, genotyping). The instruments used aim to measure different social experiences (with parents, friends, peer group, teacher, romantic partners, etc.) and different aspects of mental health: internalizing problems (depression, anxiety, perception of self, etc.), externalizing problems (physical and relational aggression, delinquency, alcohol and drug consumption, risky sexual behavior, etc.). Other instruments focus on physical health and sleep disorders as well as academic difficulties. To analyze these data, we use state-of-the-art parametric and semi-parametric statistical modelling approaches, such as multi-level regression, structural equation modelling (e.g., path analysis, cross-lagged panel modelling, APIM), growth curve modelling, growth-mixture modelling, or latent-class analysis. The LESMEA research program is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Société et Culture (FRQSC). Our work is carried out in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Montreal, Laval University, Concordia University, McGill University, Florida Atlantic University and the University of Oslo.

Research: Text

Funded Research Projects

Trajectories of Externalizing Behaviour Problems and New Parents' Distress and Harsh Parenting: A Genetically-Informed, Prospective Longitudinal Study 

  • Principal Investigator: Amélie Peticlerc, Université Laval

  • Co-Researchers: Michel Boivin, Université Laval; Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal; Sylvana Côté, Université de Montréal; Célia Matte-Gagné, Université Laval; Gina Muckle, Université Laval; Isabelle Ouellet-Morin, Université de Montréal; George Tarabulsy, Université Laval; Frank Vitaro, Université de Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Insight Grant Program (2022-2027)

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Readiness for parenthood: An investigation of its developmental and social determinants in two samples of young adults followed since infancy

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  • Principal Investigator: Amélie Peticlerc, Université Laval

  • Co-Researchers: Isabelle Ouellet-Morin, Université de Montréal; Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal; Michel Boivin, Université Laval; Célia Matte-Gagné, Université Laval; George Tarabulsy, Université Laval; Gina Muckle, Université Laval;

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Insight Grant Program (2022-2027)

 


Adult Mental and Social Health Outcomes of Peer Victimization: The Role of Neural and Physiological Responses to Social Challenges and Stress

  • Principal Investigator: Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal

  • Co-Principal Investigators: Anna Weinberg, McGill University; Michel Boivin, Université Laval

  • Co-Researchers: Isabelle Ouellet-Morin, Université de Montréal; Jean-Philippe Gouin, Concordia University; Ginette Dionne, Université Laval; Frank Vitaro, Université de Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Project Grant Program (2020-2027)

Reducing chronic stress in toddlers and preschoolers: A randomized controlled trial of interventions to improve social behaviors in daycare and parenting practices at home

  • Principal Investigator: Isabelle Ouellet-Morin, Université de Montréal

  • Co-Researchers: Michel Boivin, Université Laval; Mara  Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal; Marie-Claude Geoffroy, McGill University; Nadine Provencal, Simon Fraser University; Sonia Lupien, Benoit Mâsse, Sylvana Côté, Richard Tremblay, Frank Vitaro, Université de Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Project Grant Program (2020-2024)

Does friendship quality matter in how well children and adolescents do in school?

  • Principal Investigator: Ginette Dionne, Unversité Laval

  • Co-Researchers: Vickie Plourde, Université de Moncton; Frank Vitaro, Unviversité de Montréal; Gabrielle Garon-Carrier, Université Sherbrooke; Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal; Michel Boivin, Université Laval

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Insight Grants Program (2020-2024)

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Le rôle des pairs dans le développement psychosocial, scolaire et physique des enfants et des adolescents : comprendre pour mieux intervenir et intervenir pour mieux comprendre

  • Principal Investigator: Frank Vitaro, Université de Montréal

  • Co-Researchers: Mara Brendgen, François Poulin, Université du Québec à Montréal; François Bowen, Stéphane Cantin, Nathalie Castellanos Ryan, Isabelle Ouellet-Morin, Natalie Fontaine, Université de Montréal; Sébastien Normand, Marie-Claude Salvas, Université du Québec en Outaouais; Anne-Sophie Denault, Université Laval; Melanie Dirks, McGill University

  • Grant awarded by the Fonds de recherche de Québec-Société et culture (FRQSC), Programme Soutien aux équipes de recherche (2018-2022)

Adult Health Outcomes in Male and Female Victims of School Bullying: A Longitudinal and Genetically Informed Study of Underlying Bio-Physiological Mechanisms

  • Principal Investigator: Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal

  • Co-Principal Investigators: Isabelle  Ouellet-Morin, Université de Montréal; Michel Boivin, Université Laval

  • Co-Researchers: Michael Meaney, McGill University; Frank Vitaro, Éric Lacourse, Université de Montréal, Ginette Dionne,, Université Laval

  • Grant awarded by the  Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Project Grant Program (2015-2020)

Predictors of school achievement from kindergarten to age 19 and postsecondary outcomes at 21: Disentangling how genetic endowment and environmental factors interact over time

  • Principal Investigator: Ginette Dionne, Université Laval

  • Co-Researchers: Frank Vitaro, Université de Montréal; Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal; Michel Boivin, Anne-Sophie Denault, Stéphane Duchène, Simon Larose, Celia Matte-Gagné, Cathérine Ratelle, Université Laval

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Insight Grants Program (2016-2020)

Longitudinal interplay between problematic peer experiences and antisocial behavior in childhood and adolescence: a genetically informed study

  • Principal Investigator: Frank Vitaro, Université de Montréal

  • Co-Researcher: Mara Brendgen, Unviversité du Québec à Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Insight Grants Program (2018-2020)

Social media use and social, emotional and cognitive functioning during the transition from preadolescence to adolescence

  • Principal Investigator: Catherine Herba, Université du Québec à Montréal

  • Co-Researchers: Myriam Beauchamp, Université de Montréal; Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal; Sylvana Côté, Université de Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Insight Grants Program (2016-2019)

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Peer victimization and the transition to adulthood

  • Principal Investigator: Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal;

  • Co-Researchers: Frank Vitaro, Université de Montréal; Michel Boivin, Ginette Dionne, Université Laval

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Insight Grants Program (2014-2019)

Developmentally dynamic genetic and environmental factors linking deviant peer group affiliation and antisocial behaviour in emerging adulthood

  • Principal Investigator: Eric Lacourse, Université de Montréal

  • Co-Researchers: Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal; Frank Vitaro, Université de Montréal; Ginette Dionne, Michel  Boivin, Université Laval

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Operating Grants Program (2013-2018)

The dark side of friends: Victimization in dyadic friendships

  • Principal Investigator: Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Operating Grants Program (2009-2013)

Interface entre la qualité de la relation d'amitié et les caractéristiques des amis: de l'enfance à la préadolescence

  • Principal Investigator: Frank Vitaro, Université de Montréal

  • Co-Researchers: Michel Boivin, Université Laval; Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal, William Bukowski, Concordia University

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Operating Grants Program (2010-2013)

Peer abuse and adolescent health: A biopsychosocial perspective

  • Principal Investigator: Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal

  • Co-Principal Investigator: Michel Boivin, Université Laval

  • Co-Researchers: Sonia Lupien, Frank Vitaro, Université de Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Project Grant Program (2009-2013)

La contribution des habiletés langagières à la réussite scolaire : examen du rôle médiateur des compétences sociales’

  • Principal Investigator: Ginette Dionne, Université Laval

  • Co-Researchers; Michel Boivin, Université Laval; Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal; Frank Vitaro, Université de Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Operating Grants Program

Peer abuse and child adjustment: The role of individual, school-related and family-related factors

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Operating Grants Program (2008-2011)

The genetic-environment etiology of peer relationship difficulties and associated socio-emotional problems in middle childhood

  • Principal Investigator: Michel Boivin, Université Laval

  • Co-Researchers: Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal; Frank Vitaro, Université de Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Insight Grants Program

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Peer contagion effects: variations as a function of self, social cognition, and culture

  • Principal Investigator: William Bukowski, Concordia University

  • Co-Researcher: Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Operating Grants Program

Peer abuse and child health: A genetically informed study

  • Principal Investigator: Mara Brendgen, Université de Montréal; 

  • Co-Researchers: Frank Vitaro, Daniel Pérusse, Université de Montréal; Michel Boivin, Université Laval

  • Grant awarded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Project Grant Program

Mechanisms of peer abuse : A closer look at the victims

  • Principal Investigator: Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Operating Grants Program (2005-2008)

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L’agressivité chez les enfants: mieux comprendre pour mieux intervenir

  • Principal Investigator: Frank Vitaro, Université de Montréal

  • Co-Researcher: Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal; Michel Boivin, Université Laval; Claude Gagnon, Université de Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (2004-2006)

The many ways of suffering: Physical and psychological victimization experiences among children

  • Principal Investigator: Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC), Programme d'appui à la recherche innovante (2003-2006)

Peer Influences on Indirect and Physical Aggression: A Micro-Level Process Analysis

  • Principal Investigator: Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Fonds pour la formation de chercheurs et l'aide à la recherche (FCAR), Programme Établissement de nouveaux chercheurs/ Volet individuel (2002-2005)

Comparing Indirect and Overt Aggression in Children : Early Risk Factors and Subsequent Adjustment Outcomes

  • Principal Investigator: Mara Brendgen, Université du Québec à Montréal

  • Grant awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Operating Grants Program (2001-2004)

Research: Research
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