The Child to Adult Transition Study (CATS)
CATS is an ongoing metropolitan Melbourne-based longitudinal study, which began in 2012 and has followed over 1200 children from grade 3 (8-9 years of age) and beyond as they transition through adolescence, and now into young adulthood. The young people are assessed once every year. CATS has also collected information from teachers throughout primary school, as well as from parents when their children were aged 8-14 years, and again at 16-17 years.
A main focus of the study is health, emotional and educational outcomes of children as they mature through the middle years (8-14 years), navigate the biological changes associated with puberty, and transition from primary to secondary school. CATS continues to explore these outcomes for young people within changing social contexts including the secondary school years and beyond.
| Study Summary | |
|---|---|
| Study name | Child to Adult Transition Study |
| Study abbreviation | CATS |
| Current principal investigator/s |
Susan Sawyer |
| Current project manager |
Carolina Murphy |
| Primary Institution/s |
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute - MCRI
|
| Collaborating Institution/s |
The University of Melbourne - UoM
University of South Australia University of New South Wales University College London Institute of Child Health, UK - UCL La Trobe University |
| Major funding source/s |
National Health and Medical Research Council - NHMRC
|
| Study website | https://cats.mcri.edu.au/ |
| Key reference for study | Mundy, L.K., Simmons, J.G., Allen, N.B., Viner, R.M., Bayer, J.K., Olds, T., Williams, J., Olsson, C., Romaniuk, H., Mensah, F., Sawyer, S.M., Degenhardt, L., Alati, R., Wake, M., Jacka, F. and Patton, G.C.. Study protocol: the Childhood to Adolescence Transition Study (CATS). BMC Pediatr. 2013 Oct 8;13:160. doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-13-160 |
| Study focus |
The health and emotional development of young people as they pass through puberty and now into adulthood, to improve the understanding of the many influences that effect the health and emotional adjustment during these transition years. |
| Sampling frame |
All Grade 3 students (8-9 years of age) from a stratified cluster sample of schools in Melbourne, Australia were invited to take part. |
| Primary study type | Longitudinal cohort |
| Year commenced |
2012 |
| Is this study ongoing? | Yes - the study is ongoing |
| Ongoing recruitment? | No |
| Sample size (N) |
1239 |
| Survey data available? | Yes |
| Imaging data available? | Yes |
| Linkage to administrative dataset/s? | Yes, linkage to (at least one) administrative dataset completed |
| Biosamples available? | Yes |
| Are data available to others outside study team, with appropriate safeguards and structures in line with the cohort’s ethics and governance processes? | Yes |
| Are there any costs associated with data/sample access for approved requests? | There are usually no costs associated with access |
| Broadest type of participant consent available |
Extended consent (can be used for future ethically approved research related to this project) |
2025
O'Connor M, Olsson CA, Lange K, Downes M, Moreno-Betancur M, Mundy L, Viner RM, Goldfeld S, Patton G, Sawyer SM, Hope S. (2025). Progressing "Positive Epidemiology": A Cross-national Analysis of Adolescents' Positive Mental Health and Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Epidemiology, 36(1), 28 - 39. DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000001798
2024
Vijayakumar N, Husin HM, Dashti SG, Mundy L, Moreno-Betancur M, Viner RM, Goddings A-L, Robson E, Sawyer SM, Patton GC. (2024). Characterization of Puberty in an Australian Population-Based Cohort Study. J Adolesc Health, 74(4), 665 - 673. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.08.035
2023
Mundy LK, Canterford L, Dashti SG, Husin HM, Beatson R, Edwards B, Patton GC. (2023). Adolescents at risk of mental health problems in the COVID‐19 pandemic: A prospective population‐based study of the effects of government mandates and school closures Australian Journal of Social Issues, 58(1), 70 - 89. DOI: 10.1002/ajs4.249
Mundy LK, Canterford L, Moreno-Betancur M, Hoq M, Viner RM, Bayer JK, Lietz P, Redmond G, Patton GC. (2023). Learning outcomes in primary school children with emotional problems: a prospective cohort study. Child Adolesc Ment Health, 28(3), 377 - 384. DOI: 10.1111/camh.12607
2022
Dashti SG, Mundy L, Goddings A-L, Canterford L, Viner RM, Carlin JB, Patton G, Moreno-Betancur M. (2022). Modelling timing and tempo of adrenarche in a prospective cohort study. PLoS One, 17(12), e0278948. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278948
2021
Borschmann R, Mundy L, Canterford L, Moreno-Betancur M, Moran P, Allen N, Viner R, Degenhardt L, Kosola S, Fedyszyn I, Patton G. (2021). 533The psychosocial profiles of children aged 11-12 years who have self-harmed: A prospective cohort study International Journal of Epidemiology, 50(Supplement_1), dyab168.090. DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyab168.090
Dimov S, Mundy LK, Bayer JK, Jacka FN, Canterford L, Patton GC. (2021). Diet quality and mental health problems in late childhood. Nutr Neurosci, 24(1), 62 - 70. DOI: 10.1080/1028415X.2019.1592288
Fujikawa S, Mundy LK, Canterford L, Moreno-Betancur M, Patton GC. (2021). Bullying Across Late Childhood and Early Adolescence: A Prospective Cohort of Students Assessed Annually From Grades 3 to 8. Acad Pediatr, 21(2), 344 - 351. DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2020.10.011
Goddings A-L, Viner RM, Mundy L, Romaniuk H, Molesworth C, Carlin JB, Allen NB, Patton GC. (2021). Growth and adrenarche: findings from the CATS observational study. Arch Dis Child, 106(10), 967 - 974. DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-319341
Mundy LK, Canterford L, Moreno-Betancur M, Hoq M, Sawyer SM, Allen NB, Patton GC. (2021). Social networking and symptoms of depression and anxiety in early adolescence. Depress Anxiety, 38(5), 563 - 570. DOI: 10.1002/da.23117
2020
Andreucci A, Campbell P, Mundy LK, Sawyer SM, Kosola S, Patton GC, Dunn KM. (2020). Sleep problems increase the risk of musculoskeletal pain in boys but not girls: a prospective cohort study. Eur J Pediatr, 179(11), 1711 - 1719. DOI: 10.1007/s00431-020-03667-8
Borschmann R, Mundy LK, Canterford L, Moreno-Betancur M, Moran PA, Allen NB, Viner RM, Degenhardt L, Kosola S, Fedyszyn I, Patton GC. (2020). Self-harm in primary school-aged children: Prospective cohort study. PLoS One, 15(11), e0242802. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242802
Mundy LK, Canterford L, Hoq M, Olds T, Moreno-Betancur M, Sawyer S, Kosola S, Patton GC. (2020). Electronic media use and academic performance in late childhood: A longitudinal study. PLoS One, 15(9), e0237908. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237908
2019
Ellis R, Fernandes A, Simmons JG, Mundy L, Patton G, Allen NB, Whittle S. (2019). Relationships between adrenarcheal hormones, hippocampal volumes and depressive symptoms in children. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 104, 55 - 63. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.02.016
2018
Barbosa C, Simmons JG, Vijayakumar N, Dudgeon P, Patton GC, Mundy LK, Allen NB, Whittle S. (2018). Interaction Between Parenting Styles and Adrenarcheal Timing Associated With Affective Brain Function in Late Childhood. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 57(9), 678 - 686.e4. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.05.016
Barendse MEA, Simmons JG, Byrne ML, Patton G, Mundy L, Olsson CA, Seal ML, Allen NB, Whittle S. (2018). Associations between adrenarcheal hormones, amygdala functional connectivity and anxiety symptoms in children. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 97, 156 - 163. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.07.020
Bayer JK, Mundy L, Stokes I, Hearps S, Allen N, Patton G. (2018). Bullying, mental health and friendship in Australian primary school children. Child Adolesc Ment Health, 23(4), 334 - 340. DOI: 10.1111/camh.12261
Hughes EK, Mundy LK, Romaniuk H, Sawyer SM, Wake M, Williams J, Olds T, Allen NB, Patton GC. (2018). Body Image Dissatisfaction and the Adrenarchal Transition. J Adolesc Health, 63(5), 621 - 627. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.05.025
2017
Byrne ML, Badcock PB, Simmons JG, Whittle S, Pettitt A, Olsson CA, Mundy LK, Patton GC, Allen NB. (2017). Self-reported parenting style is associated with children's inflammation and immune activation. J Fam Psychol, 31(3), 374 - 380. DOI: 10.1037/fam0000254
Evans-Whipp T, Mundy L, Miller E, Canterford L, Patton G, Sawyer S. (2017). The Effects on Schooling Outcomes of Early Developmental Vulnerabilities in Children .
Kosola S, Mundy LK, Sawyer SM, Canterford L, van der Windt DA, Dunn KM, Patton GC. (2017). Pain and learning in primary school: a population-based study. Pain, 158(9), 1825 - 1830. DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000984
Mundy LK, Canterford L, Kosola S, Degenhardt L, Allen NB, Patton GC. (2017). Peer Victimization and Academic Performance in Primary School Children. Acad Pediatr, 17(8), 830 - 836. DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2017.06.012
Mundy LK, Canterford L, Olds T, Allen NB, Patton GC. (2017). The Association Between Electronic Media and Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Late Childhood. Acad Pediatr, 17(6), 620 - 624. DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2016.12.014
Mundy LK, Canterford L, Tucker D, Bayer J, Romaniuk H, Sawyer S, Lietz P, Redmond G, Proimos J, Allen N, Patton G. (2017). Academic Performance in Primary School Children With Common Emotional and Behavioral Problems. J Sch Health, 87(8), 593 - 601. DOI: 10.1111/josh.12531
2016
Delany FM, Byrne ML, Whittle S, Simmons JG, Olsson C, Mundy LK, Patton GC, Allen NB. (2016). Depression, immune function, and early adrenarche in children. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 63, 228 - 234. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.10.003
Murray CR, Simmons JG, Allen NB, Byrne ML, Mundy LK, Seal ML, Patton GC, Olsson CA, Whittle S. (2016). Associations between dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels, pituitary volume, and social anxiety in children. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 64, 31 - 39. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.11.004
Simmons JG, Badcock PB, Whittle SL, Byrne ML, Mundy L, Patton GC, Olsson CA, Allen NB. (2016). The lifetime experience of traumatic events is associated with hair cortisol concentrations in community-based children. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 63, 276 - 281. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.10.004
2015
Klauser P, Whittle S, Simmons JG, Byrne ML, Mundy LK, Patton GC, Fornito A, Allen NB. (2015). Reduced frontal white matter volume in children with early onset of adrenarche. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 52, 111 - 118. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.10.020
Mundy LK, Romaniuk H, Canterford L, Hearps S, Viner RM, Bayer JK, Simmons JG, Carlin JB, Allen NB, Patton GC. (2015). Adrenarche and the Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Late Childhood. J Adolesc Health, 57(6), 608 - 616. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.09.001
Whittle S, Simmons JG, Byrne ML, Strikwerda-Brown C, Kerestes R, Seal ML, Olsson CA, Dudgeon P, Mundy LK, Patton GC, Allen NB. (2015). Associations between early adrenarche, affective brain function and mental health in children. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci, 10(9), 1282 - 1290. DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsv014
2014
Simmons JG, Whittle SL, Patton GC, Dudgeon P, Olsson C, Byrne ML, Mundy LK, Seal ML, Allen NB. (2014). Study protocol: imaging brain development in the Childhood to Adolescence Transition Study (iCATS). BMC Pediatr, 14, 115. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-14-115
2013
Mundy LK, Simmons JG, Allen NB, Viner RM, Bayer JK, Olds T, Williams J, Olsson C, Romaniuk H, Mensah F, Sawyer SM, Degenhardt L, Alati R, Wake M, Jacka F, Patton GC. (2013). Study protocol: the Childhood to Adolescence Transition Study (CATS). BMC Pediatr, 13, 160. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-13-160
| Study Contacts | |
|---|---|
| Principal investigator/s |
Susan Sawyer |
| Project manager |
Carolina Murphy |
| Study Contact |
Email: [email protected] |