When Professor John Cairney left U of T ‘s Department of Psychiatry in 2007, he would never have predicted that his research would eventually lead him back to U of T nine years later – this time to the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education.
His journey has led him from studying adult mental health to motor coordination problems in children, and his combined expertise is set to help children improve their physical and mental health.
“We’re interested in how motor coordination problems prevent children from being physically active,” says Cairney, who joined the Faculty in July from McMaster University’s Department of Family Medicine. “Children with motor coordination problems are more likely to be overweight and obese than their peers and have higher rates of depression and anxiety. At the most basic level it affects their ability to play and interact with other children, and the consequences of physical inactivity are lifelong.”
Previously known as “clumsy child syndrome,” children with the Developmental Coordination Disorder not only have difficulty playing sports, but also struggle with everyday activities like tying their shoelaces, riding their bikes and writing. In 2015 Cairney published the book Developmental Coordination Disorder and its Consequences to explain the disorder.
“The exciting thing from my perspective is that we’re leading the field in this area. These children have been invisible and we’re bringing international attention to them.”
Cairney has an impressive track record of high quality publications and sustained external funding. From 2005–08 he was awarded the Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in U of T’s Department of Psychiatry and in 2015 the McMaster Family Medicine Research Chair.
He also has strong ties with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the Hospital for Sick Children and plans to continue to work with physicians, physiotherapists, and occupational and speech and language therapists.
“In Professor John Cairney we have found exactly what we were seeking, a scientist who is recognized around the world for his experience and expertise in building highly successful multi-disciplinary research collaborative networks,” says Professor Ira Jacobs, dean of the Faculty.
So why did Cairney return to U of T?
“I felt that the number of new recruits and the focus on intensive research here makes it an exciting place to be. There’s also the diversity of the population in Toronto and the opportunity to work with the Faculty’s co-curricular programs.”
In the future, Cairney plans to design community-based interventions to help children with Developmental Coordination Disorder increase their physical activity and social participation. “We have a lot of information about the consequences of the disorder, but there are remarkably few interventions. That’s where physical literacy comes in. No two children are alike and we want to create accessible programs that will translate into long-term physical activity participation.”
In addition to his research, Cairney is the editor in chief of the journal Current Developmental Disorders Reports and the incoming president of the North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine.
He’s also a baseball fanatic and author of Immaculate: A History of Perfect Innings in Baseball. The book features statistics, history and the human side of the sport. “What makes sport interesting to most is the major achievements, but I’m interested in the journey – there are always challenges that athletes have had to overcome.”
And overcoming challenges is what Cairney hopes his work will do for children – improving their physical, social and mental health.
“I think that this Faculty can become an international centre of excellence for physical activity and mental health studies, and I see the work that I do as part of that.”