Integrative Adolescence Research Programme (IARP)

Overview

This study aims to understand child health during adolescence. We will examine the role of lifestyle (e.g. physical activity), growth trajectories and other environmental factors that can influence the development of phenotypes in adolescence which confer risk for later physical and mental disorders. With this study, we will develop a deeper understanding of adolescent health and well-being and their main determinants in the local Singaporean context, identify levers for early interventions to mitigate challenges to adolescent health and well-being and enhance protective factors for adolescents to do well in life, contribute to society and maximize their potential.

The study aims to advance current public policy and health service practices by developing public health, clinical and commercially valuable interventions within the context of expanding commercial partnerships and building multidisciplinary translational research capacity in Singapore. In addition to the early life period (i.e., the first 1,000 days), the adolescent period has been identified as a crucial second window of opportunity to influence human development and improve life-long well-being. Adolescence is a key developmental period for body, brain and socioemotional changes. Puberty is characterised by growth spurts and sexual maturation. Concurrently, the brain undergoes maturation processes that underlie higher cognitive functions. The combination of biological changes and environmental influences affect adolescent socioemotional and behaviour patterns. There is a need to raise the human potential of adolescents who will go on to become the next generation of our adult workforce, so that they lead productive, healthy, and fulfilling lives. Yet, in many developed countries, the rates of loss of subjective well-being in young people have at least doubled in the decade prior to COVID-19 and have continued to rise since 10. In the Singapore Youth Epidemiology and Resilience Study (2020-2022), 1 in 3 youths reported experiencing mental health symptoms 11. This requires the development of a cohesive response system designed to deal with the numerous factors influencing adolescent physical and mental health. Moreover, it is essential to investigate the developmental origins of metabolic diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders, which both form a major public health burden in Singapore, from as early as the adolescence phase. A transdisciplinary approach is essential to help adolescents directly recognise their diverse concerns, challenges and experiences and better understand how to manage their health and well-being. This requires going beyond traditional psychological models of mental health to examine the influences of brain and body interaction, socio-affective, behavioural and psychological development that shape adolescents' well-being. At present, there is no comprehensive multi-disciplinary (brain-body-environment) study in the general population which examine adolescent health and well-being holistically in Asia. Findings from primarily Western countries cannot be easily extrapolated to the Singaporean/Asian setting. A new holistic programme will be essential to advance the health of Asian adolescents.