Neurodevelopmental disorders and loneliness: School predictors and outcomes (ARC Discovery Project administered by the University of Western Australia) (2018-2021)

This project aims to establish trajectories of loneliness across the 10-18 year developmental period in adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). This is significant because adolescence is the peak period for loneliness and the social communication difficulties adolescents with NDDs experience place them at greater risk of loneliness. Lower levels of school attendance, connectedness and mental wellbeing, 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.