Overview
Background
My work aims to ensure all children have access to safe, stable, violence-free childhoods they need to thrive in childhood and across life. This spans from extensive work on evidence-based parenting programs to major national epidemiological work on child maltreatment & mental health & wellbeing.
In 2023, I was a ministerial appointment to the Child Death Review Board which conducts systemic reviews of child deaths to identify areas to improve child safety. I also serve on the Board of Directors for the Parenting & Family Researchers Alliance and on the editorial board of the Australian Journal of Social Issues a policy masthead.
As both a clinical psychologist and a research academic, I use a prevention lens to target risk and protective factors to enhance child and family wellbeing to reduce the presence and impact of early adversity & mental ill health. This includes a focus on parenting stress, family violence and maltreatment, and issues associated with balancing work and life.
I am a chief investigator on the Young Minds: Our Future study which is the Third Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, and I am part of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) team which generated the first nationally representative Australian data on the prevalence and mental health impact of the five types of child maltreatment in Australia.
As a researcher, I have received >$10 million in research funding and published extensively in leading D1 & Q1 journals. I am a sought-after speaker & frequently engage in science communication via the media.
Availability
- Associate Professor Divna Haslam is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Member, Australian Psychological Society, Australian Psychological Society
Research impacts
I am an international leader in knowledge generation, particularly around parenting and the use of parenting support to reduce violence toward children and strategies to enhance child mental health and wellbeing. My research has demonstrated global impact on research and policy and there is strong evidence of recognition of my thought leadership by governments and peak bodies within Australia and overseas. My research has been cited in 65 policy documents, across 12 countries (Overton, 2024) including the UK, Australia, and Norway, and by peak bodies such as UNICEF, and in clinical excellence guidelines such as the UK's National Insitute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines. My work has a strong focus on science communication and the media frequently seek me to provide expert commentary on parenting, child adversity, and the importance of the early years. Clinical tools I have developed have been used in over 15 countries across 10 languages.
I actively participate in public discourse and knowledge transfer through the generation of knowledge-sharing resources, and the publication of feature articles aimed at policymakers and the general public in platforms such as the Conversation and John Menadue's Public Policy Journal. I am a sought-after speaker and have provided a range of keynotes and invited presentations across all levels of government, the sector, and in academic conference settings. The Australian government has engaged me as a field expert for several different projects in parenting and child maltreatment. For example, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade contracted me as an expert to provide policy recommendations in the area of parenting to the Indonesian government as they established a parenting directorate, and in 2023 the National Office of Child Safety within the Attorney General's contracted me to conducted a scoping study on Wave Two Australian Child Maltreatment Study. On the basbsu
Works
Search Professor Divna Haslam’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
Adaptation and validation of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire-R2 for a national study of child maltreatment in Australia
Mathews, Ben, Meinck, Franziska, Erskine, Holly E., Tran, Nam, Lee, Ha, Kellard, Karen, Pacella, Rosana, Scott, James G., Finkelhor, David, Higgins, Daryl J., Thomas, Hannah J. and Haslam, Divna M. (2023). Adaptation and validation of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire-R2 for a national study of child maltreatment in Australia. Child Abuse and Neglect, 139 106093, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106093
2023
Other Outputs
The prevalence and impact of child maltreatment in Australia: findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study: Brief Report
Haslam, Divna, Mathews, Ben, Pacella, Rosana, Scott, James Graham, Finkelhor, David, Higgins, Daryl, Meinck, Franziska, Erskine, Holly E., Thomas, Hannah J., Lawrence, David M. and Malacova, Eva (2023). The prevalence and impact of child maltreatment in Australia: findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study: Brief Report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Queensland University of Technology. doi: 10.5204/rep.eprints.239397
2022
Journal Article
Predicting Chinese father involvement: parental role beliefs, fathering self-efficacy and maternal gatekeeping
Liu, Yang, Haslam, Divna M., Dittman, Cassandra K., Guo, Mingchun and Morawska, Alina (2022). Predicting Chinese father involvement: parental role beliefs, fathering self-efficacy and maternal gatekeeping. Frontiers in Psychology, 13 1066876, 1-11. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1066876
2022
Journal Article
Depression and anxiety in second and third trimesters among pregnant women in Kenya: a hospital-based prevalence study
Adina, Japheth, Morawska, Alina, Mitchell, Amy E., Haslam, Divna and Ayuku, David (2022). Depression and anxiety in second and third trimesters among pregnant women in Kenya: a hospital-based prevalence study. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 10 100447, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jadr.2022.100447
2022
Journal Article
Promoting positive relationship between parents and grandparents: a randomized controlled trial of Group Triple P Plus Compassion in Vietnam
Hoang, Nam-Phuong T., Kirby, James N., Haslam, Divna M. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2022). Promoting positive relationship between parents and grandparents: a randomized controlled trial of Group Triple P Plus Compassion in Vietnam. Behavior Therapy, 53 (6), 1175-1190. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2022.06.002
2022
Conference Publication
Profile of parents' preferences to enhance their engagement with parenting interventions
Gonzalez, C., Morawska, A. and Haslam, D. (2022). Profile of parents' preferences to enhance their engagement with parenting interventions. 42nd National Conference of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 13-14 October 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Assessing adolescent functioning from different perspectives: extending the validation of the Adolescent Functioning Scale (AFS)
Dittman, Cassandra K., Burke, Kylie, Haslam, Divna and Ralph, Alan (2022). Assessing adolescent functioning from different perspectives: extending the validation of the Adolescent Functioning Scale (AFS). Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 55 (2), 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s10578-022-01428-2
2022
Journal Article
The impact of message content and format on initial parental engagement in a parenting intervention: an experimental study
Gonzalez, Carolina, Morawska, Alina and Haslam, Divna M. (2022). The impact of message content and format on initial parental engagement in a parenting intervention: an experimental study. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 46 (5), 927-939. doi: 10.1007/s10608-022-10305-0
2022
Journal Article
A review of Australian Government funding of parenting intervention research
Havighurst, Sophie S., Chainey, Carys, Doyle, Frances L., Higgins, Daryl J., Mathews, Ben, Mazzucchelli, Trevor G., Zimmer-Gembeck, Melanie, Andriessen, Karl, Cobham, Vanessa E., Cross, Donna, Dadds, Mark R., Dawe, Sharon, Gray, Kylie M., Guastella, Adam J., Harnett, Paul, Haslam, Divna M., Middeldorp, Christel M., Morawska, Alina, Ohan, Jeneva L., Sanders, Matthew R., Stallman, Helen M., Tonge, Bruce J., Toumbourou, John W., Turner, Karen M.T., Williams, Kate E., Yap, Marie B.H. and Nicholson, Jan M. (2022). A review of Australian Government funding of parenting intervention research. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 46 (3), 262-268. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13235
2022
Journal Article
The ethics of child maltreatment surveys in relation to participant distress: Implications of social science evidence, ethical guidelines, and law
Mathews, Ben, MacMillan, Harriet L., Meinck, Franziska, Finkelhor, David, Haslam, Divna, Tonmyr, Lil, Gonzalez, Andrea, Afifi, Tracie O., Scott, James G., Pacella, Rosana E., Higgins, Daryl J., Thomas, Hannah, Collin-Vézina, Delphine and Walsh, Kerryann (2022). The ethics of child maltreatment surveys in relation to participant distress: Implications of social science evidence, ethical guidelines, and law. Child Abuse and Neglect, 123 105424, 105424. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105424
2021
Journal Article
Profiles of parents’ preferences for delivery formats and program features of parenting interventions
Gonzalez, Carolina, Morawska, Alina and Haslam, Divna M. (2021). Profiles of parents’ preferences for delivery formats and program features of parenting interventions. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 54 (3), 1-16. doi: 10.1007/s10578-021-01284-6
2021
Journal Article
Parental mood, parenting style and child emotional and behavioural adjustment: Australia-Indonesia cross-cultural study
Riany, Yulina E., Haslam, Divna M. and Sanders, Matthew (2021). Parental mood, parenting style and child emotional and behavioural adjustment: Australia-Indonesia cross-cultural study. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 31 (9), 2331-2343. doi: 10.1007/s10826-021-02137-5
2021
Journal Article
Child maltreatment and long-term physical and mental health outcomes: an exploration of biopsychosocial determinants and implications for prevention
Mehta, Divya, Kelly, Adrian B., Laurens, Kristin R., Haslam, Divna, Williams, Kate E., Walsh, Kerryann, Baker, Philip R. A., Carter, Hannah E., Khawaja, Nigar G., Zelenko, Oksana and Mathews, Ben (2021). Child maltreatment and long-term physical and mental health outcomes: an exploration of biopsychosocial determinants and implications for prevention. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 54 (2), 1-15. doi: 10.1007/s10578-021-01258-8
2021
Journal Article
The acceptability of Group Triple P with Brazilian parents
Schulz, Mariajose L. C., Haslam, Divna M., Morawska, Alina and Kish, Antonia (2021). The acceptability of Group Triple P with Brazilian parents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30 (8), 1950-1964. doi: 10.1007/s10826-021-01998-0
2021
Journal Article
The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS): protocol for a national survey of the prevalence of child abuse and neglect, associated mental disorders and physical health problems, and burden of disease
Mathews, Ben, Pacella, Rosana, Dunne, Michael, Scott, James, Finkelhor, David, Meinck, Franziska, Higgins, Daryl J, Erskine, Holly, Thomas, Hannah J., Haslam, Divna, Tran, Nam, Le, Ha, Honey, Nikki, Kellard, Karen and Lawrence, David (2021). The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS): protocol for a national survey of the prevalence of child abuse and neglect, associated mental disorders and physical health problems, and burden of disease. BMJ Open, 11 (5) e047074, e047074. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047074
2021
Journal Article
A model of intention to participate in parenting interventions: the role of parent cognitions and behaviours
Gonzalez, Carolina, Morawska, Alina and Haslam, Divna M. (2021). A model of intention to participate in parenting interventions: the role of parent cognitions and behaviours. Behavior Therapy, 52 (3), 761-773. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2020.09.006
2021
Journal Article
Assessing critical dimensions of the parent–adolescent relationship from multiple perspectives: Development and validation of the Parent-Adolescent Relationship Scale (PARS)
Burke, Kylie, Dittman, Cassandra K., Haslam, Divna and Ralph, Alan (2021). Assessing critical dimensions of the parent–adolescent relationship from multiple perspectives: Development and validation of the Parent-Adolescent Relationship Scale (PARS). Psychological Assessment, 33 (5), 395-410. doi: 10.1037/pas0000992
2021
Journal Article
Influence of father involvement, fathering practices and father-child relationships on children in Mainland China
Liu, Yang, Dittman, Cassandra K., Guo, Mingchun, Morawska, Alina and Haslam, Divna (2021). Influence of father involvement, fathering practices and father-child relationships on children in Mainland China. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30 (8), 1858-1870. doi: 10.1007/s10826-021-01986-4
2020
Journal Article
The Guilt about Parenting Scale (GAPS): Development and Initial Validation of a Self-Report Measure of Parenting Guilt, and the Relationship between Parenting Guilt and Work and Family Variables
Haslam, Divna, Filus, Ania and Finch, Jules (2020). The Guilt about Parenting Scale (GAPS): Development and Initial Validation of a Self-Report Measure of Parenting Guilt, and the Relationship between Parenting Guilt and Work and Family Variables. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 29 (3), 880-894. doi: 10.1007/s10826-019-01565-8
2020
Conference Publication
The role of parents’ cognitions and behaviours in their initial engagement with parenting programs
Gonzalez, C., Morawska, A. and Haslam, D. (2020). The role of parents’ cognitions and behaviours in their initial engagement with parenting programs. Helping Families Change Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 5 -7 February 2020.
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Divna Haslam is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Parenting after migration exploration of the unique parenting needs of migrant parents to australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Alina Morawska
-
Doctor Philosophy
The efficacy of Triple P with Deaf children in Indonesia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Alina Morawska
Completed supervision
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding and increasing father involvement in Mainland China
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Dittman
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the role of parental attributions in parenting interventions
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Alina Morawska
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Efficacy of parenting interventions for maternal perinatal depression and infant developmental outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Amy Mitchell, Associate Professor Alina Morawska
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Bridging the gap between parents and parenting interventions: A model of initial parental engagement
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Alina Morawska
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
The Efficacy of Triple P Plus Compassion in Promoting Co-parenting Relationship Between Parents and Grandparents in Vietnam
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor James Kirby, Professor Matthew Sanders
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The Effect of Work and Family Conflict on Quality of Life of Parents and Children: An Investigation in the Context of Child Chronic Illness
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Divna Haslam directly for media enquiries about:
- adverse childhood experiences
- child abuse
- child anxiety
- child behaviour
- child maltreatment
- child mental health
- children
- family
- parenting
- parenting programs
- triple p
- work life balance
- work-family conflict
- work-life balance
- working parents
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