The Australian Temperament Project

New research from ATP!

The following article about postpartum social support has been published by ATP researchers:

Preconception risk and promotive factors of postpartum social support: A multidecade prospective cohort study

This study found that for both mothers and fathers, postpartum social support is linked to experiences years before parenthood, across childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Parents’ may be at particular risk of lower social support in the postpartum periods if they have a preconception history of mental health problems, lower levels of social skills, or relationship difficulties. Future perinatal interventions designed to address social support could be responsive to parents’ developmental risks and
strengths.

Follow this link to read the full article:

psycnet.apa.org

An Update From Deakin

Previously, ATP was part of Deakin University’s Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED). Now, SEED has grown to become the Deakin Lifespan Institute. The Institute focuses on how health, wellbeing and development are shaped across the lifespan, recognising that every age and stage matters.

ATP is one of the flagship studies that formed the foundation of the Deakin Lifespan Institute. As the longest running study of wellbeing across the lifespan within the Institute, we are able to inform the answers to the questions the Institute has been set up to explore.

Explore the Lifespan Institute website here: https://lifespan.deakin.edu.au/

With the launch of the Deakin Lifespan Institute comes a new logo! See below the previous SEED logo next to the new Lifespan Institute logo. You’ll see this new logo on emails, letters, and surveys from ATP. (It’s still us, we’re just part of the exciting new Institute!)

As part of the University’s 50th anniversary, Deakin shared the success story of ATP.

By following families for three generations, we are one of the few studies worldwide to have insights into how wellbeing develops over time.

‘Our aim is quite simple: to add years to life and life to years,’ said Craig.

Read the full article here:
https://50years.deakin.edu.au/story/taking-a-long-look-at-healthy-living/

ATP was recently featured in the Geelong Advertiser, celebrating what we have learned in our 42-year history.

Director Prof. Craig Olsson shared that ATP data has played a major role in understanding what shapes wellbeing over a lifetime.

ATP has shown that ‘health and longevity emerge from unique combinations of the genes we inherit, the relationships we have, how we manage our emotions, our cognitive reserves and the values that shape how we live our lives,’ Craig explained.

Read the full article here:

wordpress-ms.deakin.edu.au

What a year at ATP!
2025 was full of milestones! Check out the graphic below for a snapshot of our current research.