Dr Honor Young discusses trialling SaFE, a further education-based intervention designed to promote sexual health and prevent dating and relationship violence. Why SaFE matters Improving… Read More »Transforming sexual health and relationships in Further Education: Insights from the SaFE pilot trial
Researchers will investigate how children can be better supported to make healthier choices The provision, uptake and consumption of school meals will be investigated in… Read More »School meals focus of new UK-wide study
Charlotte Wooders and Sarah MacDonald provide an overview of findings from the DECIPHer-led CHIMES study. CHIMES was funded by the National Institute for Health and… Read More »How can we develop interventions to improve mental health amongst children and young people with experience of care? Findings from the CHIMES systematic review
While research has consistently shown that children in out-of-home care tend to face poorer health and educational outcomes than their peers, less is known about… Read More »Hidden Children: Uncovering Educational and Health Disparities Linked to Social Care Involvement
November 20th marks 35 years since the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, celebrated as World Children’s Day. ALPHA member… Read More »ALPHA blog – Children’s Rights: A Century On
Physical activity among secondary school pupils has increased in Wales, reversing a decline that started in 2017. The School Health Research Network (SHRN), a collaboration… Read More »Physical activity up among secondary school pupils in Wales
A recent study found that girls and women are less likely to engage in regular physical activity than boys and men across Wales. But what… Read More »Removing barriers to exercise – period
Two members of DECIPHer’s youth research group, ALPHA, tell us what it means to them. Plus, they take us behind the scenes of ALPHA’s new… Read More »‘We are all so unique but somehow our ideas all fall into place like a jigsaw puzzle.’ Catching up with team ALPHA
Dr Max Ashton joined DECIPHer in April 2024 as Research Assistant at The School Health Research Network (SHRN). Here he explains how his health research… Read More »Meet the Researcher: Max R. Ashton on complexity and pluralism in relationships and sexuality education (RSE) and health research
As part of their evaluation of the whole-school approach to emotional and mental wellbeing, DECIPHer researchers asked teachers about wellbeing in schools In 2021, Welsh… Read More »Changes and challenges: How are teachers experiencing wellbeing in schools?
The report explores learners’ experiences of abuse and their perception and experience of college-level policies and procedures The report, which can be read here, was… Read More »New study on peer-on-peer abuse in colleges
In 2023, DECIPHer researchers spoke with pupils and asked them to create posters around the topic of feeling ‘safe’ in their schools. In 2021, Welsh… Read More »Safe as… schools? Where and with whom do pupils feel most secure?
There was a substantial increase in emotional problems among young people in Wales in the years immediately before the pandemic, research from Cardiff University shows.… Read More »Emotional problems in young people were rising rapidly even before the pandemic
Public Health Wales has published new guidance for secondary schools to help tackle the rise in youth vaping The guidance, which can be read here, provides… Read More »SHRN data informs Public Health Wales vaping guidance
The overall aim of this fellowship is to produce an evidence base about care-experienced children and young people’s social support and perceptions of relationships and their association with mental health and wellbeing.
New study shows addressing masculinities helps to prevent unintended pregnancies On World Contraception Day 2023, a study funded by the National Institute for Health and… Read More »New study shows addressing masculinities helps to prevent unintended pregnancies
DECIPHer is supported by a Public Involvement steering group that draws together expertise from across Wales to develop good practice and value-added activities. This includes… Read More »Public involvement – making a difference to the work we do
Postgraduates Brianna Bowen and Katy-May Price reflect on their experiences as researchers on a DECIPHer school-focused project. In September 2022, Brianna, a doctorate student of… Read More »Meet the researchers: Brianna and Katy-May
The award enables Dr Evans to travel to further her understanding of international innovation in suicide prevention among care-experienced children and young people. The Churchill… Read More »Dr Rhiannon Evans awarded Churchill Fellowship
Researchers at Cardiff University interviewed policymakers and those who hold a strategic role in designing and implementing the Health and Wellbeing aspects of the Curriculum… Read More »Changes to how schools are assessed and improved professional learning critical to the success of education reforms in Wales, study concludes
A Cardiff University academic is investigating how young people at risk of developing mental health conditions could be better supported. More than half of all… Read More »Research into young people’s mental health hopes to stop children ‘falling through the gap’
Rebecca Anthony, Research Associate at DECIPHer and Wolfson Center for Young People’s Mental Health, discusses her new paper Young People’s Online Communication and its Association… Read More »How does online communication affect young people’s mental well-being?
Frequent online communication with best friends and existing friendship groups is associated with better wellbeing in young people, new research by Cardiff University has found.… Read More »Adolescent wellbeing improved by online contact with close friends
Researchers Emily Lowthian and Rebecca Anthony have won funding from eNurture (UKRI) to conduct research on young people’s online communication behaviours and risks and benefits… Read More »Young people’s online communication behaviours – positive or negative for wellbeing?
How young people are living and learning about relationships and sexuality will be the focus of a new research project being led by academics at… Read More »How young people learn about relationships and sexuality subject of new research project
New study, led by Dr Rhiannon Evans, is a partnership between The Fostering Network, Voices from Care Cymru, Cardiff University (CASCADE, DECIPHer and School of… Read More »Online services and interventions: How can they best support the mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced children and young people?
The use of menthol cigarettes in underage smokers was widespread in Wales before a ban was introduced, according to new research from Cardiff University and… Read More »Menthol cigarettes used by three fifths of young smokers in Wales prior to their ban
DECIPHer has worked closely with the Welsh Government on reducing the harm caused to children by secondhand tobacco smoke. Wales was the first UK country… Read More »CHETS II: Childhood exposure to second hand smoke in ‘private’ spaces
Bethan Pell discusses the practical activities helping children and young people express themselves during sensitive research In December 2020, I was awarded an Early Career Researcher Bursary from… Read More »When research is child’s play
E-cigarette use among young people has fallen for the first time in Wales but declines in youth smoking have stalled, analysis from Cardiff University shows. The… Read More »E-cigarette use among young people has fallen for the first time in Wales but declines in youth smoking have stalled
