NHMRC Early Career Fellow
PhD MPsych (Clin) MAPS
she/her/hers
Dr Monique Robinson completed PhD and MPsych (Clinical) degrees at The University of Western Australia. Monique is currently an NHMRC Early Career Fellow at the Telethon Kids Institute and a registered psychologist working in the field of perinatal, child and adolescent mental health.
Monique's primary research focus has been on the relationships between parents and children and in particular how maternal stress and other lifestyle factors impact child and adolescent mental health. Monique has over 50 publications in this area, including peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and government reports. Monique regularly advocates for child and adolescent mental health in the media and her columns on The Conversation website have been republished worldwide with over 1.5m readers.
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Publications
June 2024
Risk of otitis media in offspring following maternal prenatal stress exposure
There is limited but consistent evidence that suggests prenatal factors, including maternal stress, may contribute to susceptibility for otitis media. We aimed to determine the effect of multiple life stress events during pregnancy on risk of acute and recurrent otitis media in offspring at three and five years of age.
Published research Ear Infections Child Disability Ear Health Youth Mental Health Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Maternal healthJanuary 2024A hospital-based asynchronous ENT telehealth service for children with otitis media: Cost-minimisation and improved access
The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness of a hospital-based asynchronous ear, nose, and throat telehealth service (the Ear Portal) in reducing cost and improving access for children with otitis media.
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Vaccine Trials Group Youth Mental Health Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases TelehealthJanuary 2024Joint developmental trajectories of internalizing and externalizing problems from mid-childhood to late adolescence and childhood risk factors: Findings from a prospective pre-birth cohort
There is limited evidence on heterogenous co-developmental trajectories of internalizing and externalizing problems from childhood to adolescence and predictors of these joint trajectories. We utilized longitudinal data from Raine Study participants to identify these joint trajectories from 5 to 17 years using parallel-process latent class growth analysis and analyze childhood individual and family risk factors predicting these joint trajectories using multinomial logistic regression.
Published research Early Childhood Development Youth Mental Health Raine study Mental healthDecember 2023The Impact of Waiting Times on Behavioral Outcomes for Children with Otitis Media: Results from an Urban Ear, Nose, and Throat Telehealth Service
Children with otitis media (OM) experience long waiting times to access Australia's public hospitals due to limited capacity. The aim of this article is to utilize an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) telehealth service (the Ear Portal) to examine whether delayed access to specialist care is associated with poorer behavioral outcomes for children with OM.
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Youth Mental Health TelehealthNovember 2023Recurrent otitis media and behaviour problems in middle childhood: A longitudinal cohort study
To investigate the long-term effects of early-life recurrent otitis media (OM) and subsequent behavioural problems in children at the age of 10 years.
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Youth Mental HealthNovember 2023Impact of ventilation tube insertion on long-term language outcomes at 6 and 10 years of age: A prospective pregnancy cohort study
Investigating the impact of early childhood ventilation tube insertion (VTI) on long-term language outcomes.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Ear Infections Early Childhood Development Language Development Ear Health Vaccine Trials Group Youth Mental Health Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesSeptember 2023Do parent-reported early indicators predict later developmental language disorder? A Raine Study investigation
Developmental language disorder (DLD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions. Due to variable rates of language growth in children under 5 years, the early identification of children with DLD is challenging. Early indicators are often outlined by speech pathology regulatory bodies and other developmental services as evidence to empower caregivers in the early identification of DLD.
Published research Early Childhood Development Autism Research Ear Health Youth Mental Health Subsite: CliniKids Developmental Coordination DisorderAugust 2023The Impact of Early-Life Recurrent Otitis Media in Children on the Psychological Well-Being of Caregivers
Children with early-life recurrent otitis media (OM) will often endure pain, sleep disturbances, and other developmental setbacks that impact the surrounding family system. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological well-being and family functioning of caregivers of children with early-life recurrent OM (rOM).
Published research Ear Infections Ear Health Youth Mental HealthApril 2023The association between otitis media in early childhood with later behaviour and attention problems: A longitudinal pregnancy cohort
The present study aims to investigate the association between an early history of recurrent otitis media (OM) with or without ventilation tube insertion and later behavioural problems in childhood and adolescence.
Published research Academic Biostatistics ADHD Ear Infections Ear Health Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesFebruary 2023How we measure language skills of children at scale: A call to move beyond domain-specific tests as a proxy for language
The aim of this research note is to encourage child language researchers and clinicians to give careful consideration to the use of domain-specific tests as a proxy for language; particularly in the context of large-scale studies and for the identification of language disorder in clinical practice.
Published research Early Childhood Development Language Development Ear Health Youth Mental Health Subsite: CliniKidsNovember 2022Mental health and behavioural problems in adolescents conceived after ART
STUDY QUESTION: Does mental health and behaviour differ between those conceived with and those conceived without ART? SUMMARY ANSWER: Our study observed less externalizing behaviour (delinquent/aggressive), and more parent-reported internalizing behaviour, as well as more (clinical) depression at age 14 years, in adolescents conceived after ART compared to their non-ART counterparts.
Published research Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthDecember 2022Long-term follow-up after recurrent otitis media and ventilation tube insertion: Hearing outcomes and middle-ear health at six years of age
To investigate the long-term impact of recurrent otitis media (rOM) and ventilation tube insertion (VTI) in early childhood on hearing outcomes and middle-ear health three to five years later, in a prospective pregnancy cohort study.
Published research Ear Infections Early Childhood Development Ear Health Vaccine Trials Group Youth Mental HealthAugust 2022The prevalence of and potential risk factors for Developmental Language Disorder at 10 years in the Raine Study
This study sought to determine the prevalence of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) in Australian school-aged children and associated potential risk factors for DLD at 10 years.
Published research Early Childhood Development Language Development Ear Health Youth Mental Health Subsite: CliniKidsNovember 2021The anticipatory response to stress and symptoms of depression and anxiety in early adulthood
Whilst cortisol reactivity has been associated with depression and anxiety disorders, research examining cortisol reactivity with early symptoms of these conditions in males and females is limited.
Published research Youth Mental Health Youth mental healthJune 2021Caregiver-mediated interventions to support self-regulation among infants and young children (0-5 years): A protocol for a realist review
Self-regulation is a modifiable protective factor for lifespan mental and physical health outcomes. Early caregiver-mediated interventions to promote infant and child regulatory outcomes prevent long-term developmental, emotional and behavioural difficulties and improve outcomes such as school readiness, educational achievement and economic success. To harness the population health promise of these programmes, there is a need for more nuanced understanding of the impact of these interventions.
Published research Early Childhood Development Child Disability Youth Health Youth Mental Health Early Neurodevelopment and Mental HealthJanuary 2021Maternal prenatal stress exposure and sex-specific risk of severe infection in offspring
Maternal stressful life events during pregnancy have been associated with immune dysregulation and increased risk for asthma and atopy in offspring. Few studies have investigated whether prenatal stress is associated with increased overall or specific infectious diseases in childhood, nor explored sex differences. We sought to examine the relationship between the nature and timing of maternal stress in pregnancy and hospitalisation with infection in offspring.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human Development and Community Wellbeing Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Youth Mental Health Subsite: Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious DiseasesFebruary 2020The relationship between abdominal pain and emotional wellbeing in children and adolescents in the Raine Study
Abdominal pain in children and adolescents associates with depression, anxiety, being bullied, unhappiness and reduced overall health-rating during adolescence
Published research Human Development and Community WellbeingNovember 2019Bowel patterns, gastrointestinal symptoms, and emotional well-being in adolescents: A cohort study
In adolescents, bowel patterns and gastrointestinal symptoms are diverse and show sex differences
Published research Human Development and Community WellbeingJune 2019Comparing adolescent and parent reports of externalizing problems: A longitudinal population-based study
Substance use, depression and low school motivation impacted on discrepancy in externalizing behaviour scores for 14-year-old male adolescents and their parents
Published research Human Development and Community WellbeingOctober 2018Maternal smoking and low family income during pregnancy as predictors of the relationship between depression and adiposity in young adults
We aimed to investigate the influence of antenatal and postnatal factors on the increasing incidence of overweight/obesity and mental health disorders in young adults
Published research Human Development and Community WellbeingOctober 2017Relationships between depression and anxiety symptoms scores and blood pressure in young adults
This study aimed to assess the relationships among BP, depression and anxiety symptom scores and self-reported history of depression in young adults.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human Development and Community WellbeingJanuary 2017Childhood atopy and mental health: a prospective, longitudinal investigation
Findings are the first linking atopy (measured by both parent report and objective verification) with increased vulnerability to affective and anxiety problems
Published research Human Development and Community Wellbeing Human ImmunologyMay 2016Early life events and motor development in childhood and adolescence: A longitudinal study
Antenatal, perinatal and neonatal factors affecting motor development from late childhood to adolescence were explored.
Published research Human Development and Community WellbeingFebruary 2016The Impact of Maternal Gestational Stress on Motor Development in Late Childhood and Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study
Stressful events experienced in late pregnancy were negatively related with offspring motor development
Published researchJanuary 2016Older maternal age is associated with depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in young adult female offspring
Older maternal age is associated with depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in young adult females
Published research Academic Biostatistics Depression and Anxiety Human Development and Community WellbeingOctober 2015The impact of maternal gestational stress on motor development in late childhood and adolescence: A longitudinal study
The purpose of this article is to investigate whether the number and timing of stressors experienced during pregnancy impacted longterm motor development at...
Published research Early Childhood DevelopmentApril 2015Contrasting effects of prenatal life stress on blood pressure and bodymass index in young adults
The effect of prenatal life stress on BP was accentuated by a higher BMI. Fetal programming events as a result of prenatal stress may underpin some of these...
Published researchApril 2015The mental health of asbestos-exposed subjects with pleural abnormalities
The presence of pleural abnormalities did not further affect the mental health of asbestos-exposed people beyond a decrement associated with exposure per se.
Published researchFebruary 2015Childhood behavior problems and age at first sexual intercourse: A prospective birth cohort study
Early first sexual intercourse (FSI) is a risk factor for unplanned abstract teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infection, and adverse social, emotional...
Published research Depression and Anxiety Infectious DiseasesJanuary 2015Does late childbearing increase the risk for behavioural problems in children? A longitudinal cohort study
This study aimed to examine the relationship between advanced parental age and behavioural outcomes in offspring in a longitudinal cohort of children in...
Published research Academic BiostatisticsJanuary 2015Risk perception in pregnancy
Despite huge advances in obstetric management and technology in recent decades, there has not been an accompanying decrease in patients' perception of risk...
Published researchNovember 2014The association between prenatal environment and children’s mental health trajectories from 2 to 14 years
This study aimed to elucidate how an adverse prenatal environment, as defined by the presence of a number of known prenatal risk factors, would influence...
Published research Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchMarch 2014Low maternal serum vitamin D during pregnancy and the risk for postpartum depression symptoms
Pregnancy is a time of vulnerability for vitamin D insufficiency, and there is an emerging literature associating low levels of 25(OH)-vitamin D with...
Published research Autism Research Inflammation Human Immunology Cardiometabolic SunhealthJanuary 2014Does late childbearing increase the risk for behavioural problems in children? a longitudinal cohort study
This study aimed to examine the relationship between advanced parental age and behavioural outcomes in offspring in a longitudinal cohort of children in WA.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Early Childhood Development Human Development and Community WellbeingSeptember 2013Energy drink consumption among young Australian adults: Associations with alcohol and illicit drug use
Australian energy drink users tend to have heavier alcohol consumption patterns be a cigarette smoker and use illicit drugs relative to non-users.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Human Development and Community Wellbeing Youth Health Food and NutritionSeptember 2013Energy drink consumption is associated with anxiety in australian young adult males
Energy drinks are predominantly targeted to young adult consumers; however, there has been limited research into their effects on psychological functioning...
Published research Academic Biostatistics Depression and Anxiety Human Development and Community WellbeingJune 2013Maternal Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index and Offspring Temperament and Behavior at 1 and 2 Years of Age
Recent research suggests that fetal exposure to increased maternal body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy may be associated with psychopathology later in life.
Published research Human Development and Community WellbeingApril 2013Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy predict parent-reported difficult temperament in infancy
These data suggest that the link between maternal hypertensive diseases of pregnancy and child behavioral development begins in the first year of life.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchApril 2013Delivery at 37 weeks' gestation is associated with a higher risk for child behavioural problems
We suggest that 37 weeks' gestation may not be the optimal cutoff for defining perinatal risk as it applies to behavioural development.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchMarch 2013Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and internalizing and externalizing problems in offspring
Exposure to elevated maternal pre-pregnancy BMI is associated with increased levels of internalizing and externalizing problems throughout childhood and...
Published research Human Development and Community WellbeingMarch 2013Maternal life stress events in pregnancy link to children's school achievement at age 10 years
Maternal antenatal exposure to life stress events has differing effects on the school performance of male and female offspring.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Human Development and Community WellbeingJanuary 2013In utero hypertensive diseases and cognition in offspring into old age
Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia continue to pose a major obstetric risk,...
Published research Human Development and Community WellbeingJanuary 2013Pre-pregnancy maternal overweight and obesity increase the risk for affective disorders in offspring
Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity has been linked with an increased risk for negative emotionality and inattentiveness in offspring in early childhood.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Depression and Anxiety Human Development and Community WellbeingJanuary 2013Umbilical Cord Blood Testosterone and Childhood Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior: A Prospective Study
Antenatal testosterone exposure influences fetal neurodevelopment and gender-role behavior in postnatal life and may contribute to differences in...
Published research Academic Biostatistics Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchJanuary 2013How the first nine months shape the rest of our lives
The field of the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) focuses on prenatal influences as a crucial point in development.
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human Development and Community WellbeingDecember 2012Low intake of B-vitamins is associated with poor adolescent mental health and behaviour
The current prevalence of mental health problems in Western populations is approximately 20% and half of all adult mental health disorders are estimated to...
Published research Nutrition Youth HealthJune 2012Maternal Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index and Offspring Temperament and Behavior at 1 and 2 Years of Age
Recent research suggests that fetal exposure to increased maternal body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy may be associated with psychopathology later in life.
Published research Human Development and Community WellbeingMarch 2012Maternal life stress events in pregnancy link to children's school achievement at age 10 years
To test the hypothesis that maternal antenatal exposure to life stress events is associated with lower achievement in literacy and numeracy at age 10 years,...
Published research Early Childhood Development Human Development and Community WellbeingMarch 2012Do hypertensive diseases of pregnancy disrupt neurocognitive development in offspring?
The current study sought to determine whether gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia are associated with neurocognitive outcomes in middle childhood.
Published research Language Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchJanuary 2012Severity and persistence of asthma and mental health: a birth cohort study
The goal of the current study was to investigate asthma and mental health among youth in the community.
Asthma Published research Depression and Anxiety Human Development and Community WellbeingNovember 2011Do hypertensive diseases of pregnancy disrupt neurocognitive development in offspring?
Do hypertensive diseases of pregnancy disrupt neurocognitive development in offspring?
Published research Autism ResearchAugust 2011Late-talking and risk for behavioral and emotional problems during childhood and adolescence
Although many toddlers with expressive vocabulary delay ("late talkers") present with age-appropriate language skills by the time they are of school age,...
Published research Depression and Anxiety Language Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchJuly 2011Late-talking and risk for behavioural and emotional problems during childhood and adolescence
Although many toddlers with expressive vocabulary delay ("late talkers") present with age-appropriate language skills by the time they are of school age...
Published research Language Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchJune 2011The over-estimation of risk in pregnancy
The concept of risk is especially salient to obstetric care. Unknown factors can still be responsible for peri-natal morbidity
Published researchApril 2011Dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and risk of depressive symptoms in adolescents
Previous randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) are beneficial in reducing symptoms of depression.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Depression and Anxiety Nutrition Human Development and Community WellbeingJanuary 2011Lifestyle and demographic correlates of poor mental health in early adolescence
To determine the constellation of lifestyle and demographic factors that are associated with poor mental health in an adolescent population.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Depression and Anxiety Human Development and Community Wellbeing Youth HealthJanuary 2011Duration of breast-feeding and language ability to middle childhood
There is controversy over whether increased breast-feeding duration has long-term benefits for language development.
Published research Breastfeeding Language Development Autism ResearchJanuary 2011Prenatal stress and risk of behavioral morbidity from age 2 to 14 years:
The maternal experience of stressful events during pregnancy has been associated with a number of adverse consequences for behavioral development offspring...
Published research Academic Biostatistics Depression and Anxiety Human Development and Community WellbeingJanuary 2011The effects of breast-feeding duration on language ability to middle childhood
Modern societies are challenged by "wicked problems" - by definition, those that are difficult to define, multi-casual and hard to treat.
Published research Breastfeeding Language Development Autism ResearchAugust 2010Low-moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and risk to child behavioural development: a prospective cohort study
To examine the association of fetal alcohol exposure during pregnancy with child and adolescent behavioural development.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Academic Biostatistics Depression and Anxiety Human Development and Community WellbeingAugust 2010Maternal life events during pregnancy and offspring language ability in middle childhood
There is accumulating evidence for a link between maternal stress during pregnancy and later behavioural and emotional problems in children.
Published research Language Development Human Development and Community Wellbeing Autism ResearchJuly 2010Smoking cessation in pregnancy and the risk of child behavioural problems: a longitudinal prospective cohort study
The aim of this study was to examine the influence of smoking in pregnancy on child and adolescent behavioural development, in comparison with mothers who cease
Published research Depression and Anxiety Human Development and Community WellbeingApril 2010The long-term effects of breastfeeding on child and adolescent mental health: A Pregnancy Cohort Study followed for 14 years
To determine whether there was an independent effect of breastfeeding on child and adolescent mental health
Published research Academic Biostatistics Breastfeeding Depression and Anxiety Human Development and Community WellbeingJanuary 2010Child behaviour following low to moderate maternal drinking in pregnancy
Child behaviour following low to moderate maternal drinking in pregnancy
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Published research Academic Biostatistics Human Development and Community WellbeingOctober 2009Adolescent dietary patterns are associated with lifestyle and family psychosocial factors
Few studies have examined the dietary patterns of adolescents and the social and environmental factors that may affect them during this life stage.
Published research Academic Biostatistics Nutrition Human Development and Community WellbeingFebruary 2009Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy and the development of behavioural problems in childhood and adolescence: The Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort Study
To examine whether maternal gestational hypertension and preeclampsia are associated with behavioral problems in offspring
Published research Academic Biostatistics Human Development and Community Wellbeing -
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