We all want our children and young people to grow up healthy and strong. Parents are asking a lot of questions about behaviours they see: bullying; lying; forgetfulness; non-suicidal self-injury; risk-taking. We also want to support our older adults.

Brock research on child and youth is well-established. Brock researchers are co-leading the national multi-year COMPASS study of more than 60,000 secondary school students in five Canadian provinces and also the Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, part of a larger World Health Organization ongoing, cross-national study of you aged 11 to 15 years that collects information every four years on young people’s well-being, health behaviours and social contexts.

Another project, called Brock Healthy Youth Program, or “B-HYP,” is studying the link between risks that adolescents take with their health (substance abuse, unsafe sexual activity, poor nutrition) and brain development over a five-year period. Local, national and international partners – UNICEF, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, Niagara Region Public Health – are involved. A Niagara youth advisory committee is advising the researchers.

We also shed light on special challenges some of our children face. Our autism research and outreach activities like the Special Needs Activity Program (SNAP) provide parents and their children much-needed support.

Brock has a strong contingent of researchers studying brain changes and behaviours in older adults, particularly in the areas of Alzheimer’s disease, and memory. Another area of brain development research is in how our brains processes language. Brock’s Institute for Lifespan Development Research brings these investigations under one roof.

Brock News stories

September 27, 2023

New Brock-CAMH report calls for enhanced mental health, neurodiversity supports for Indigenous communities

September 5, 2023

Brock-led research outlines ways high schools can teach responsible use of AI

August 18, 2023

Brock research explores factors in prosocial behaviours among adults

August 17, 2023

Brock houses Ontario behavioural research hub as part of national initiative

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