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Research And Policy News

Current research and policy news from Government departments, research centres, publishers, and relationships and family organisations, along with links to further information.

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September 2008

05 September 2008

Unemployment and divorce findings from the Institute for Social and Economic Research

According to research by Morten Blekesaune, losing your job in Britain, whether you are a man or a woman, increases the chances that you will lose your partner. The study also reveals that male unemployment tends to lower the financial satisfaction of their partners, and it is this that accounts for a large part of the stress on a relationship.

05 September 2008

What influences childhood achievement at school?

A group of UK researchers, led by Edward Melhuish of the University of London and Executive Director of the National Evaluation of Sure Start, tracked over 2,000 children and their progress between the ages of three and seven. It was found that children of parents who encouraged learning at home were more likely to surpass expectations based on their family backgrounds. Which preschool a child attended also appeared to matter, emphasising the importance of programs such as Sure Start.

04 September 2008

Children blame themselves for their parents' unhappiness

New research by Gordon Harold and his Cardiff University colleagues questions why children whose parents fight run a high risk of underachieving at school. The findings suggest that children living in households characterised by high levels of inter-parental conflict are indeed at risk of lower attainment at school, and, importantly, that children's own appraisal of their parents' conflict and their tendency to blame themselves for what they see happening is the mechanism through which any damage is done.

04 September 2008

Kids behave better if they are self-aware

Josephine Ross from the University of Stirling conducted a study which looked at whether young children's behaviour is influenced by self-awareness. Children took part in a guessing game and differing levels of obedience were found, suggesting that self-awareness does influence young children's behaviour. Like adults, young children regulate their own behaviour, aiming to act in a more socially acceptable way when self-aware.

04 September 2008

Give children a say in their mental health treatment, urges YoungMinds

A YoungMinds poll reveals that 97% of professionals, parents and young people think that children should have a say in their mental health treatment. Actively involving children will make it more likely for the treatment to succeed by ensuring that it meets the child's needs. However, feedback from the charity's children's advisory panel shows that very few children actually do have a say in their mental health treatment.

04 September 2008

Depression disorder is linked to older fathers

A new study by researchers at Sweden's Karolinska Institute suggests that children born to older fathers face a greater chance of developing bipolar disorder. The leading theory to explain this is that older men's sperm may be more likely to develop mutations. The findings show that the risks start increasing around age 40 but are strongest among those 55 and older.

04 September 2008

Advice for parents about gangs

The Home Office has published a new booklet with information for parents to help them protect their children from gangs. 'Gangs: You and Your Child' offers practical steps that parents and carers can take if they suspect their child may be involved with gangs, and tells them who to contact for help and support. 30,000 copies are being distributed in cities involved in the Tackling Gangs action programme.

04 September 2008

New approach to improve standards in reading, writing and maths

The Children's Secretary Ed Balls has said that he will extend nationally groundbreaking schemes to help children in danger of falling behind in reading, writing and maths. The Government is investing £169 million on these innovative programmes over the next three years. The three schemes are Every Child A Writer (ECAW), Every Child Counts (ECC) and Every Child A Reader (ECAR). Emphasis within these programmes will be on one to one tuition.

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