Associate Professor Benjamin Edwards
Areas of expertise
- Developmental Psychology And Ageing 170102
- Psychological Methodology, Design And Analysis 170110
- Family And Household Studies 160301
- Early Childhood Education (Excl. Maori) 130102
- Social Policy 160512
Research interests
Children and adolescent development: understanding the impact of social and family environments and institutions (e.g. family structure, parental employment, ECEC and school, housing, neighbourhoods);
Advancing longitudinal studies of human development through:
- combining large-scale surveys and linked administrative data to maximal effect;
- biosocial assessments in cohort studies;
- computerised assessment of cognitive and social and emotional functioning, event history and time use diary methods.
Evaluation of government programs for disadvantaged children: particularly area based initiatives;
Carers: caring for a family member with a disability;
The impact of drought and climate change on populations; and
The intergenerational impacts of traumatic experiences in refugee families or offspring of war veterans.
Biography
Associate Professor Ben Edwards is a Senior Fellow at the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods where he is focused on policy relevant research on child and youth development and advising and supporting longitudinal studies (Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, the Longitudinal Study of Australian Youth, Ten to Men, and a new longitudinal of children in the Philippines). Internationally, he advised the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on the measurement of non-cognitive skills in longitudinal studies. Ben is Co-Editor of the Australian Journal of Social Issues.
He is an expert in longitudinal studies of child and youth development, linkage of administrative data to surveys and longitudinal studies of disadvantaged groups such as refugees.
Associate Professor Edwards has undertaken consultancies for the OECD, the Australian Government Departments of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Social Services, Education, the New South Wales Departments of Premier and Cabinet, Families and Community Services as well as the Benevolent Society and the Smith Family.
For a link to my publications see
https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=C9tS6r8AAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate
Researcher's projects
Natural disasters and child and youth development
Place Based Initiatives and child development
Refugee families and child and youth development
Developmental criminology
Experimental studies of data linkage consent
Available student projects
I am interested in developing the next generation of social scientists who have strong quantitative skills and an interest in child and youth development research influencing social policy. I am available to supervise PhD projects in the following areas:
- Natural disasters and children and youth development
- Refugee children and youth
- Impacts of public policy on children and youth
My work uses large-scale longitudinal surveys and administrative data. Students under my supervision will develop skills in working with such data
Publications
- Biddle, N, Edwards, B, Gray, M et al. 2021, Change in vaccine willingness in Australia: August 2020 to January 2021.
- Biddle, N, Edwards, B, Gray, M et al. 2021, Vaccine willingness and concerns in Australia: August 2020 to April 2021.
- Curchin, K & Edwards, B 2021, 'Introduction to the Special Issue on Big Data and Social Policy in Australia', Australian Journal of Social Issues, vol. 56, no. 2, pp. 132-142.
- Falster, K, Hanly, M, Edwards, B et al. 2020, 'Preschool attendance and developmental outcomes at age five in Indigenous and non-Indigenous children: a population-based cohort study of 100 357 Australian children', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, vol. 75, pp. 371-379.
- Biddle, N, Edwards, B, Gray, M et al. 2020, Tracking outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic (August 2020) Divergence within Australia.
- Letcher, P, Greenwood, C, Romaniuk, H et al. 2020, 'Adolescent and young adult mental health problems and infant offspring behavior: Findings from a prospective intergenerational cohort study', Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 272, pp. 521-528.
- Biddle, N, Edwards, B, Gray, M et al. 2020, Alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 period: May 2020.
- Biddle, N, Edwards, B, Gray, M et al. 2020, Mental health and relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Biddle, N, Edwards, B, Gray, M et al. 2020, Initial impacts of COVID-19 on mental health in Australia.
- Biddle, N, Edwards, B, Gray, M et al. 2020, COVID-19 and mortgage and rental payments: May 2020.
- Sollis, K, Biddle, N, Edwards, B et al. 2020, Improved wellbeing or distress? Measuring the impacts of participation in a COVID-19 survey on participant wellbeing.
- Biddle, N, Edwards, B, Gray, M et al. 2020, Public attitudes on vaccine distribution.
- Edwards, B, Biddle, N, Gray, M et al. 2020, 'Working paper: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance: Correlates in a nationally representative longitudinal survey of the Australian population', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 16, no. 3.
- Biddle, N, Edwards, B, Gray, M et al. 2020, Experience and views on education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Hanly, M, Edwards, B, Goldfeld, S et al 2019, 'School starting age and child development in a state-wide, population-level cohort of children in their first year of school in New South Wales, Australia', Early Childhood Research Quarterly, vol. 48, pp. 325-340.
- Edwards, B, Forrest, W, Vassallo, S et al 2019, 'Depression and anxiety in adolescent and young adult offenders: A longitudinal study from 13 to 32 years using the Australian Temperament Project', Journal of Criminal Justice, vol. 62, pp. 87-93.
- Nickerson, A, Liddell, B, Keegan, D et al. 2019, 'Longitudinal association between trust, psychological symptoms and community engagement in resettled refugees', Psychological Medicine, vol. 49, no. 10, pp. 1661-1669.
- Wang, J, Quach, J, Sung, V et al. 2019, 'Academic, behavioural and quality of life outcomes of slight to mild hearing loss in late childhood: A population-based study', Archives of Disease in Childhood, vol. 104, no. 11, pp. 1056-1063.
- Liu, R, Wake, M, Grobler, A et al 2019, 'Cross-sectional associations between Ideal Cardiovascular Health scores and vascular phenotypes in 11- to 12-year-olds and their parents: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children', International Journal of Cardiology, vol. 277, pp. 258-265.
- Edwards, B, Gray, M & Hunter, B 2019, 'The social and economic impacts of drought', Australian Journal of Social Issues, vol. 54, no. 1, pp. 22-31.
- Lau, W, Silove, D, Edwards, B et al. 2018, 'Adjustment of refugee children and adolescents in Australia: outcomes from wave three of the Building a New Life in Australia study', BMC Medicine, vol. 16, no. 157.
- Edwards, B & Yu, M 2018, 'The influence of child care on the behavior problems of children of teenage mothers', Children and Youth Services Review, vol. 94, pp. 96-104.
- Osborn, W, Simm, P, Olds, T et al 2018, 'Bone health, activity and sedentariness at age 11-12 years: Cross-sectional Australian population-derived study', Bone, vol. 112, pp. 153-160pp.
- Edwards, B, Smart, D, de Maio, J et al 2018, 'Cohort Profile: Building a New Life in Australia (BNLA): the longitudinal study of humanitarian migrants', International Journal of Epidemiology, vol. 47, no. 1, pp. 9pp.
- Forrest, W, Edwards, B & Daraganova, G 2018, 'The intergenerational consequences of war: anxiety, depression, suicidality, and mental health among the children of war veterans', International Journal of Epidemiology, vol. 47, no. 4, pp. 1060-1067pp.
- Bryant, R, Edwards, B, Creamer, M et al 2018, 'The effect of post-traumatic stress disorder on refugees' parenting and their children's mental health: a cohort study', The Lancet Public Health, vol. 3, no. 5, pp. E249-E258.
- Edwards, B, Gray, M & Hunter, B 2018, 'The social and economic impacts of drought', Australian Journal of Social Issues, 53(4): 1–10. DOI: 10.1002/ajs4.52 .
- Biddle, N & Edwards, B 2017, The Characteristics and Potential Effects of the Schools that Indigenous Australians Attend.
- Wong, M, Olds, T, Gold, L et al 2017, 'Time-Use Patterns and Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents', Pediatrics (English edition), vol. 140, no. 1, pp. 9pp.
- Doidge, J, Edwards, B, Higgins, D et al 2017, 'Adverse childhood experiences, non-response and loss to follow-up: Findings from a prospective birth cohort and recommendations for addressing missing data', Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 382-400pp.
- Liu, R, Mensah, F, Carlin, J et al 2017, 'Socioeconomic Position Is Associated With Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Mid-Childhood: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children', American Heart Association, Journal, vol. 6, no. 8, pp. 1-16.
- Doidge, J, Higgins, D, Delfabbro, P et al 2017, 'Economic predictors of child maltreatment in an Australian population-based birth cohort', Children and Youth Services Review, vol. 72, pp. 14-25pp.
- Miller, P, Butler, E, Richardson, B et al. 2016, 'Relationships between problematic alcohol consumption and delinquent behaviour from adolescence to young adulthood', Drug and Alcohol Review, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 317-325.
- Vassallo, S, Lahausse, J & Edwards, B 2016, 'Factors affecting stability and change in risky driving from late adolescence to the late twenties', Accident Analysis and Prevention, vol. 88, pp. 77-87pp.
- Vassallo, S, Edwards, B & Forrest, W 2016, 'Childhood behavior problems and fighting in early adulthood: What factors are protective?', Journal of Criminal Justice, vol. 45, pp. 85-93.
- Jenkinson, R, Silbert, M, de Maio, J et al 2016, 'Settlement experiences of recently arrived humanitarian migrants: Building a New Life in Australia-Wave 1', Family Matters, no. 97, pp. 82-82.
- Forrest, W, Edwards, B & Vassallo, S 2014, 'Individual differences in the concordance of self-reports and official records', Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 305-315pp.
- Vassallo, S, Edwards, B, Renda, J et al 2014, 'Bullying in Early Adolescence and Antisocial Behavior and Depression Six Years Later: What Are the Protective Factors?', Journal of School Violence, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 100-124pp.
- Renda, J, Vassallo, S & Edwards, B 2011, 'Bullying in early adolescence and its association with anti-social behaviour, criminality and violence 6 and 10 years later', Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 117-127pp.
Projects and Grants
Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.
- National Post School Destination Survey (Primary Investigator)
- Ngurrambai Bail Support Program Evaluation: Work Order 4 (Secondary Investigator)
- Early Childhood Place Based Programs analysis (Primary Investigator)
- Justice Housing Program Evaluation: work order 3 (Secondary Investigator)
- Widening Participation Longitudinal Study (WPLS) 2020 Implementation and Scoping Study (Secondary Investigator)
- The short and long term impacts of bushfires on children and their caregivers mental health: Using the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children to understand the economic, family and community protective factors (Primary Investigator)
- Independent Evaluation of the Integrated Carer Support Service (baseline evaluation) (Primary Investigator)
- Blueprint for leveraging administrative data in the Post-school Destinations Survey (Primary Investigator)
- Mental health measures in the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children (LSIC) (Secondary Investigator)
- Understanding the developmental well-being of refugee children in Canada and Australia (Secondary Investigator)
