Full Publication List

The following presents the full list of publications from the Belfast Youth Development Study. 

Peer-reviewed papers

Higgins K, Perra, O, Jordan JA, O’Neill T McCann, M (2020) School bonding and ethos in trajectories of offending: Results from the Belfast Youth Development Study. British Journal of Educational Psychology. doi: 10.1111/bjep.12303

Higgins, K., O Neill, N., O Hara, L., Jordan J-A., Mc Cann, M., Clarke, M., O Neill, F. and Campbell, A. (2019) Variations and Determinants of Novel Psycho active substances (NPS) Implications for Policy and Practice NIHR: Public Health Research Programme, Public Health Research, 7(14).

McCann, M., Moore, L., Higgins, K. and Jordan, J-A. (2019) ‘Longitudinal social network analysis of peer, family and school contextual influences on adolescent drinking frequency’. Journal of Adolescent Health, 65(3): 350-358. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.03.004

Honman L, Perra, O Higgins K O Neill F (2019) The longitudinal relationship of alcohol problems and depressive symptoms and the impact of externalising symptoms: findings from the Belfast Youth Developmental Study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 22.03.2019: 1-11 doi:10.1007/s00127-019-01696-9

Higgins, K, McLaughlin, A Perra, O, McCann, M (2018) The Belfast Youth Development Study (BYDS): a prospective cohort study of the initiation, persistence and desistance of substance use from adolescence to adulthood in Northern Ireland. PLoS ONE, 13(5): e0195192, 23.05.201 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0195192

McCann, M., Perra, O., McLaughlin, A., McCartan, C. and Higgins, K. (2016) Assessing elements of a family approach to reduce adolescent drinking frequency: parent-adolescent relationship, knowledge management, and keeping secrets. Addiction, 111(5): 761–952. doi: 10.1111/add.13258

Moriarty, J. and Higgins, K. (2015) Effects of peer network interactions on adolescent cannabis use. Journal of Criminal Psychology 2(5): 75-91. doi: 10.1108/JCP-01-2015-0003

O'Neill, T., McLaughlin, A., Higgins, K., McCartan, C., Murphy, S & Gossrau-Breen, D. (2015). Adolescent alcohol use and school disengagement: Investigating alcohol use patterns in adolescence and pathways to being NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training). Alcohol Research UK

McCann, M., Higgins, K., Perra, O., McCartan, C & McLaughlin, A. (2014). Adolescent ecstasy use and depression: cause and effect, or two outcomes of home environment. The European Journal of Public Health, doi: 10.1093/eurpub/cku062.

Perra, O., Fletcher, A., Bonell, C., Higgins, K. & McCrystal, P. (2012). Educational determinants of smoking, drinking and drug use: evidence from the Belfast Youth Development Study. Journal of Adolescence, 35(2), 315-324. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.08.009

Higgins, K. and Kilpatrick, R. (2005). The impact of paramilitary violence against a heroin-user community in Northern Ireland: A qualitative analysis. International Journal of Drug Policy, 16: 334-342. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2005.06.009

Higgins, K., Percy, A. & McCrystal, P. (2004). Secular trends in substance use: The conflict and young people in Northern Ireland. Journal of Social Issues, 60(3): 485-506. doi: 10.1111/j.0022-4537.2004.00368.x

McCrystal, P & Percy, A. (2009). A profile of adolescent cocaine use in Northern Ireland. International Journal of Drug Policy, 20: 357-364. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2008.09.005

McCrystal, P. (2008). Drug taking prevention for young people with Severe Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties attending special education provision. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 13 (4): 305-314. doi: 10.1080/13632750802442243

McCrystal, P. & Winning, K. (2009). Cannabis Reclassification: What is the message to the next generation of cannabis users? Child Care in Practice, 15(1): 57-73. doi: 10.1080/13575270802504354

McCrystal, P (2008). Researching Children and Young People Living in Residential State Care: Hurdles on the Path to Consent. Research Ethics Review, 4(3): 89-94. doi: 10.1177/174701610800400302

McCrystal, P., Percy, A. & Higgins, K., (2008) Substance Use Among Young People Living in Residential State Care. Child Care in Practice, 14(2): 181-192. doi: 10.1080/13575270701868819

McCrystal, P., Percy, A., & Higgins, K. (2006). School Exclusion Drug Use and Antisocial Behaviour at 15/16 years: Implications for Youth Transitions. Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies 2(3):181-190 doi: 10.1080/17450120701534906

McCrystal, P., Percy, A., & Higgins, K., (2007). Frequent cannabis use among 14/15 years old in Northern Ireland. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 88(1): 19–27 doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.09.007

McCrystal, P., Percy, A. & Higgins, K. (2007). Substance use behaviours of young people with a moderate learning disability: A Longitudinal Analysis. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 33(1): 155-161 doi: 10.1080/00952990601091143

McCrystal, P., Percy, A. & Higgins, K (2007). Exclusion and Marginalisation: The Experience of School Exclusion on Drug Use and Antisocial Behaviour. Journal of Youth Studies 10(1): 37-56. doi: 10.1080/13676260701196103

McCrystal, P., Percy, A. & Higgins, K.,(2007). The Cost of Drug Use in Adolescence: Young People, Money and Substance Abuse. Drugs: Education Policy and Prevention 14(1): 19-28 doi: 10.1080/09687630600832641

McCrystal, P., Percy, A. & Higgins, K. (2007). Drug Use amongst young people attending emotional and behavioural difficulty units during adolescence: A longitudinal analysis. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 12(1): 49-68. doi: 10.1080/13632750601135907

McCrystal, P., Percy, A., & Higgins, K. (2007). The Belfast Youth Development Study 2005: Technical Report to the Research and Development Office on 2005 sweep. Belfast: Institute of Child Care Research, Queens University.

McCrystal, P., Percy, A., & Higgins, K (2006). Drug Use Patterns and Behaviours of Young People at an Increased Risk of Drug Abuse during Adolescence. International Journal of Drug Policy 17(5): 393-401. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2006.05.007

McCrystal, P., Higgins, K., & Percy, A. (2006). School Exclusion Drug Use and Delinquency in Adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 29(5): 829-836. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2006.05.006

McCrystal, P., Higgins, K., Percy, A., & Thornton, M. (2005) Adolescent Substance Abuse Among Young People Excluded from School in Belfast. Drugs: Education Policy and Prevention, 12(2): 101-113. doi: 10.1080/09687630512331323503

McCrystal, P., Percy, A. & Higgins, K. (2005). Substance Abuse among 12 and 13-year old young people in Belfast at a High Risk of developing problem drug use, Child care in Practice, 11(3): 313-322. doi: 10.1080/13575270500151854

McCrystal, P., Higgins, K., Percy, A. (2005). Drug use amongst 12 and 13 year olds attending emotional and behavioral difficulty units in Belfast. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties 10 (3), 203-218. doi: 10.1177/1363275205056707

McCrystal, P., Higgins, K. & Percy, A. (2004). The Youth Development study: Research Update for Schools. Issue 4 Autumn 2004. Belfast: Institute of Child Care Research, Queens University.

McCrystal, P., Higgins, K., & Percy, A. (2004). The Belfast Youth Development Study 2004: Technical Report to the Research and Development Office. Belfast: Institute of Child Care Research, Queens University. 

McCrystal, P. (2004). Social Exclusion – A Holistic Approach to understanding adolescent drug use. Radical Statistics, 85, 13-29. ISSN: 0268 6376.

McCrystal, P. & Thornton, M. (2004). Drug and Alcohol Knowledge and Use Amongst Primary School Children: Empirical Evidence and Methodological Issues in the Development of Instruments for Measuring Use of and Attitudes to Drugs and Alcohol in Primary School Children. Belfast: Drug and Alcohol Information and Research Unit, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

McCrystal, P., Higgins, K., Percy, A. & Thornton, M. (2003) ‘Emerging patterns in adolescent drug use in Northern Ireland: The Belfast Youth Development Study’. Child Care in Practice, 9(1): 73-83. doi: 10.1080/13575270302168

Percy, A., Thornton, M. & McCrystal, P. (2008). The extent and nature of family alcohol and drug use: findings from the Belfast Youth Development Study. Child Abuse Review, 17(6): 371-386. doi: 10.1002/car.1046

Percy, A., McCrystal, P Higgins, K. (2008). Confirmatory factor analysis of the self-report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 24(1): 43-48. doi: 10.1027/1015-5759.24.1.43

Percy, A., McAllister, S., Higgins, K., McCrystal, P., & Thornton, M. (2004). Response consistency in young adolescents’ drug use self-reports: a recanting rate analysis. Addiction, 100(2): 189-196. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00943.x

Reports

McCrystal, P., Higgins, K., Percy, A. & Thornton, M. (2003). The Belfast Youth Development Study 2002: Technical report to the Research and Development Office. Belfast: Institute of Child Care Research, Queen's University. 

McCrystal, P. & McKiernan, E. (2003). Special Education Needs and Adolescent Drug Taking Behaviour. Belfast: Institute of Child Care Research, Queen's University Belfast, Occasional Paper No.7. 

McCrystal, P. & Cunningham, G. (2003). Social exclusion in adolescence: identifying the issues and the consequences. Belfast: Institute of Child Care Research, Queen's University Belfast, Occasional Paper No. 6. 

Percy, A., Higgins, K. & McCrystal, P. (2003). Belfast Youth Development Study: Technical Report to the Research and Development Office on the 2001 sweep. Report to funder. 

Percy, A., Higgins, K. & McCrystal, P. (2003). The Youth Development study: Research Update for Schools. Issue 3 Autumn 2003. Belfast: Institute of Child Care Research, Queens University.

McCrystal, P., Higgins, K., Percy, A. & Thorton, M. (2002). The Youth Development Study: Research Update for Schools. Issue 2 Autumn 2002. Belfast: Institute of Child Care Research, Queen's University Belfast. 

McCrystal, P., Higgins, K., Percy, A. & Thornton, M. (2002). The Belfast Youth Development Study: The High Risk Booster Sample. Belfast: Institute of Child Care Research, Queen's University Belfast. Occasional paper No. 5.

McCrystal, P. (2002). Social exclusion: young people and adolescent drug taking behaviours. Belfast: Institute of Child Care Research, Queen's University Belfast, Occassional Paper No.1. 

Percy, A., Higgins, K. & McCrystal, P. (2001). The Youth Development study: Research Update for Schools. Issue 1 Autumn 2001. Belfast: Institute of Child Care Research, Queens University.

Percy, A., Higgins, K. & McCrystal, P. (2001). The Belfast Youth Development Study 2001: Technical Report to the Research and Development Office. Belfast: Institute of Child Care Research, Queens University.