The Mathison Centre spurs on research in emerging adults

The term “emerging adulthood” refers to a distinct developmental stage in 18- to 29-year-olds. In this stage, most people in industrialized societies experience life in dramatically different ways than adolescents or older adults. 

People in this specific stage of life can have experiences such as moving away from home or navigating romantic relationships that may impact their long-term mental health and well-being. The University of Calgary’s Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education is taking a leading role in advancing the mental health of emerging adults (EAs) through research. 

The mental health of EAs is a growing concern. For example, Statistics Canada reports that the percentage of Canadians aged 15 years and older who met diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder doubled from 2.6 to 5.2 per cent between 2012 and 2022, with these increases even larger among youth (ages 15-24).

Mathison Centre Research Day on Nov. 8, during the University of Calgary’s UFlourish event, will focus on the intricacies of the EA stage of life. The event is led by Dr. Gina Dimitropoulos, PhD, from the Faculty of Social Work. The keynote speaker is Dr. Jeffrey Arnett, PhD, a developmental psychologist with Clark University in Massachusetts who coined the term “Emerging Adulthood.” Arnett will present on the topic, Emerging Adulthood: The New Life Stage from Age 18 to 29. 

Other speakers and panel members at Research Day include representatives of the Recovery Alberta Emerging Adult Treatment Clinic, Kickstand, Trellis Society and the UCalgary Recovery Community (UCRC). The event rallies community partners working in the emerging adulthood space, researchers, trainees and the post-secondary mental health community to share research and program insights in advancing the mental health and well-being of emerging adults.

Go here to register for Research Day, or go here for more information on UFlourish.

Mathison Centre initiatives push boundaries in emerging adult research

The Framework for Research in Emerging Adults (FREA) project is an innovative clinical research platform funded by a grant from the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. Led by Mathison Centre director Dr. Paul Arnold, PhD, MD, FREA is addressing the knowledge gap on research of mental health during EA, leading to improved care and implementation of new evidence-based treatments.

The FREA team, made up of researchers and clinicians from the Mathison Centre and Recovery Alberta, have launched a registry to enable EAs in becoming more involved in their mental health journey. Participants can monitor their own mental well-being through completing brief questionnaires, charting their trajectory and sharing their stories with different practitioners, if they wish. “EAs are tired of repeating their stories over and over again to each provider," says Arnold. The registry serves as a resource that enables them to author their own stories, own them and share them with their service providers.

A community research hub on post-secondary mental health

In another burgeoning initiative involving the EA population, Mathison Centre researchers, together with the UCalgary Community Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy (CMHWS) team, are developing a research hub on post-secondary mental health, the first of its kind in Western Canada. The hub will be a platform for sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration and driving evidence-based practices. 

Post-secondary education is a key formative life experience for many EAs, during which they navigate the challenge of obtaining education and professional skills and training towards their lifetime careers. 

Research on post-secondary students in North America shows high rates of mental health challenges. Dr. Andrew Szeto, PhD, director of the CMHWS, says he hopes the hub will garner campus-wide research to help understand the needs and priorities for mental health and well-being and lead to impactful programs.

UCalgary institutional support for the creation of the post-secondary mental health hub is through a Transdisciplinary Connector Grant awarded by the Office of the Vice-President (Research). 

Arnold says initiatives such as the FREA and the research hub enable the Mathison Centre to push the boundaries in advancing research that addresses mental health during the distinct and challenging life phase of emerging adulthood.