Relationships and attraction among individuals with autism spectrum disorder

This research investigated attraction among individuals with autism. We found that those with autism prefer partners who assist them to meet their social and cognitive needs. Partners of those with autism chose to trade-off emotional and social skills for other traits. Lastly, those with autism had lower self-perceived mate value.

Mindfulness training for the management of children with ADHD

This thesis investigated the use of mindfulness as an intervention for children with ADHD. Findings indicate significant improvements in attentional, behavioural, and affective deficit symptoms following participation in a mindfulness-based intervention, demonstrating that mindfulness may be a worthwhile alternative or adjunct to ADHD treatment.

Subjective wellbeing in Australian families of Holocaust survivors

This thesis explored the idea that trauma experienced by Holocaust survivors has been transferred to their children and grandchildren. Findings provided evidence for an ' intergenerational transmission of trauma, revealing children of two Holocaust survivors to be particularly at risk. The transmission oftrauma was best explained through an attachment model.

Converting potential organ donors : a situational analysis of Australian physicians

This theory-building research suggests that the key to unlocking Australia's potential organ donor pool is to reduce the ethical ambiguity and legal uncertainty plaguing physicians' interepretation of the patients's best interests standard. This may generate a greater acceptance of organ donation as part of end-of-life patient care amongst our physicians.

Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and depression among socio-economically disadvantaged women

Promoting physical activity, particularly for leisure and transport, could be an important aspect in preventing depression amongst women living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Furthermore, including some aspect of social physical activity and reducing time spent in sedentary behaviours may further reduce risk of depression.

Child maltreatment in stepfamilies : the impact of mother's dating behaviour

This thesis explored the relative utility of evolutionary and ecological theories to understand under which conditions children in non-biological families are most at risk of childmaltreatment.  The study revealed that single-mothers have complex needs and stressors, which may increase their vulnerability and impact on decisions made in selection of partners.

Health satisfaction and perceived control : investigating subjective wellbeing homeostasis

Through an investigation of relationships between subjective wellbeing, health satisfaction and perceived control, the thesis contributes to a greater understanding of the psychological adaptation processes of individuals experiencing back pain. Risk factors to subjective wellbeing are also identified, thus presenting opportunities to provide assistance before the onset of psychopathology.

Clarifying the Effort-Reward Imbalance Model : the role of personality

The thesis aimed to identify the sources of stress experienced by a sample of Australian police officers. It was guided by the Effort-Reward Imbalance Model, augmented with Type A personality components. The findings support the research model and suggest that interventions to reduce stress should focus on reward and recognition.

Consumer-citizens of China : the role of foreign brands in the imagined future China

This book presents a comprehensive examination of Chinese consumer behaviour and challenges the previously dichotomous interpretation of the consumption of Western and non-Western brands in China.

Juvenile justice diversion in Victoria : a blank canvas?

Unlike many jurisdictions in Australia, Victoria has not adopted a legislative, court-based diversion scheme for addressing crime committed by children and young people. The state has also seen limited investment in diversionary programs and an over-reliance on discretionary police cautions. For young people in rural and regional areas, access to diversion programs and support services is especially limited. This article examines the limited diversionary options available in the current youth justice system, identifying strengths and opportunities. It concludes that legislated, court-based diversion schemes — assisted by community programs that provide appropriate intervention and support to those at risk of reoffending — are an essential means of addressing young people’s engagement in crime.

Perceived discrimination and stigmatisation against severely obese women : age and weight loss make a difference

Aims: Patients’ perceptions about weight-related stigma and discrimination were assessed in 2 groups of patients, obese and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB).

Methods: Seven focus group sessions were held including a total of 32 women, 8 obese (body mass index 35+) and 24 who had lost 50% of excess weight following bariatric surgery. During the sessions, participants were asked to consider their experiences in situations including general, family, friends, work place, medical, and educational settings.

Results: Whilst perceptions of discrimination and stigmatisation were common and affected many life situations, they were less prevalent than previous reports. It appeared that it was not the frequency or number of events which affected an individual but the intensity of the experience. Younger women reported greater discrimination than older women and felt the social consequences of obesity to a greater extent. Older women were more concerned about the consequences of being overweight on their health.

Conclusions: Women who had lost weight considered that aspects of their own behaviours when obese contributed to their experiences of discrimination and stigmatisation. Perceptions of discrimination and stigmatisation appear to be influenced by age and current weight status.

A preliminary investigation of adult defence style and physiological reactivity to infant distress signals

Species whose offspring require extended care-giving ought to be predisposed to being biologically responsive to their infant's signalling. This paper examined the interplay between biological and psychological aspects of adult response to an infant's distress. HR (heart rate) and GSR (galvanic skin response) were recorded continuously, while 50 adults listened to white noise and an infant cry audio recording. Participants completed the defence style questionnaire and the state trait anxiety inventory. HR acceleration occurred in response to the control sound, while HR decelerated in response to the infant cry. GSR responsiveness was positively correlated with immature and neurotic defence styles. When controlling for other variables, immature defence was a unique and independent predictor of GSR change in response to infant distress. Defence demonstrated a stronger relationship than self-reported anxiety, than that with physiological responsiveness. Employing defence mechanisms appears to reduce an individual's perceived anxiety, though it has little effect on physiological arousal levels.

You kind of want to fix it don’t you? Exploring general practice trainees’ experiences of managing patients with medically unexplained symptoms

Background
Much of a General Practitioner’s (GP) workload consists of managing patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). GP trainees are often taking responsibility for looking after people with MUS for the first time and so are well placed to reflect on this and the preparation they have had for it; their views have not been documented in detail in the literature. This study aimed to explore GP trainees’ clinical and educational experiences of managing people presenting with MUS.
Method
A mixed methods approach was adopted. All trainees from four London GP vocational training schemes were invited to take part in a questionnaire and in-depth semi-structured interviews. The questionnaire explored educational and clinical experiences and attitudes towards MUS using Likert scales and free text responses. The interviews explored the origins of these views and experiences in more detail and documented ideas about optimising training about MUS. Interviews were analysed using the framework analysis approach.


Results

Eighty questionnaires out of 120 (67 %) were returned and a purposive sample of 15 trainees interviewed. Results suggested most trainees struggled to manage the uncertainty inherent in MUS consultations, feeling they often over-investigated or referred for their own reassurance. They described difficulty in broaching possible psychological aspects and/or providing appropriate explanations to patients for their symptoms. They thought that more preparation was needed throughout their training. Some had more positive experiences and found such consultations rewarding, usually after several consultations and developing a relationship with the patient.
Conclusion
Managing MUS is a common problem for GP trainees and results in a disproportionate amount of anxiety, frustration and uncertainty. Their training needs to better reflect their clinical experience to prepare them for managing such scenarios, which should also improve patient care.

The burden of neck pain: its meaning for persons with neck pain and healthcare providers, explored by concept mapping

PURPOSE: To empirically define the concept of burden of neck pain. The lack of a clear understanding of this construct from the perspective of persons with neck pain and care providers hampers adequate measurement of this burden. An additional aim was to compare the conceptual model obtained with the frequently used Neck Disability Index (NDI). METHODS: Concept mapping, combining qualitative (nominal group technique and group consensus) and quantitative research methods (cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling), was applied to groups of persons with neck pain (n = 3) and professionals treating persons with neck pain (n = 2). Group members generated statements, which were organized into concept maps. Group members achieved consensus about the number and description of domains and the researchers then generated an overall mind map covering the full breadth of the burden of neck pain. RESULTS: Concept mapping revealed 12 domains of burden of neck pain: impaired mobility neck, neck pain, fatigue/concentration, physical complaints, psychological aspects/consequences, activities of daily living, social participation, financial consequences, difficult to treat/difficult to diagnose, difference of opinion with care providers, incomprehension by social environment, and how person with neck pain deal with complaints. All ten items of the NDI could be linked to the mind map, but the NDI measures only part of the burden of neck pain. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the relevant domains for the burden of neck pain from the viewpoints of persons with neck pain and their care providers. These results can guide the identification of existing measurements instruments for each domain or the development of new ones to measure the burden of neck pain.