Neurodevelopmental disorders and loneliness: School predictors & outcomes

该项目旨在建立患有神经发育障碍(NDDS)的青少年在10-18年发育期内孤独的轨迹。这一点意义重大，因为青春期是孤独的高峰期，患有非传染性疾病的青少年经历的社交困难使他们面临更大的孤独风险。较低的学校出勤率、人际关系和精神健康水平，以及较高的破坏性行为、开除、辍学、抑郁、社交退缩和自杀念头与孤独密切相关。因此，预测轨迹中的关键时刻将改善情绪、行为和学校相关的结果，并优化经济、社会和生活质量。

This project aims to establish trajectories of loneliness across the 10-18 year developmental period in adolescents with neuro-developmental disorders (NDDs). This is significant because adolescence is the peak period for loneliness and the social communication difficulties experienced by adolescents with NDDs place them at greater risk of loneliness. Lower levels of school attendance, connectedness and mental well-being, and higher rates of disruptive behaviour, expulsion, drop-out, depression, social withdrawal, and suicide ideation are strongly linked to loneliness. Therefore predicting critical times in trajectories will enhance emotional, behavioural and school related outcomes and optimise economic, societal and quality of life benefits.