An expert in child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing from The University of Western Australia has been elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.

Professor Stephen Houghton, from UWA’s School of Graduate Education, received the accolade which recognises leaders in research, educators and public intellectuals who are shaping policy, enhancing public understanding and contributing to meaningful change.

Professor Houghton’s research is focused on child and adolescent developmental psychopathology, and the underlying mechanisms that adversely impact children and adolescents, especially those with heightened vulnerability to adverse educational and mental health outcomes and loneliness.

A unique feature of Professor Houghton’s research has been the development and validation of new and innovative measures of loneliness, worry, and positive mental wellbeing that include young people’s voices, conceptualisations and lived experiences.

Recent longitudinal research examined the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic school lockdowns on trajectories of mental health and loneliness among Australian adolescents with-or-without neurodevelopmental disorders.

Professor Houghton and his colleagues have enhanced the translation of research into real-world settings by co-designing innovative ways to embed therapeutic 3-D animated approaches to increase the engagement of children and adolescents in school and clinic-based programs.

The Academy’s election process ensures that only those who have demonstrated exceptional scholarship and impact are invited to join as Fellows.