Partners of Australian combat veterans are at an increased risk of experiencing mental health pro... more Partners of Australian combat veterans are at an increased risk of experiencing mental health problems. The present study provides a comparative analysis of the mental health of partners of veterans with that of the Australian normative data. To compare different types of groups of partners, the study samples comprised: (a) partners of Australian combat veterans (Sample 1: n = 282, age M = 60.79, SD = 5.05), (b) a sub-sample of partners of Australian combat veterans from the previous sample (Sample 2: n = 50; M = 60.06, SD = 4.80), (c) partners of Special Air Services Regiment (SASR) personnel (Sample 3: n = 41, age M = 34.39 SD = 7.01), and (d) partners of current serving military (non-SASR) personnel (Sample 4: n = 38, age M = 32.37, SD= 6.20). Respondents completed measures assessing their reported levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Samples 1 and 2 comprised partners of Australian military veterans who reported significantly greater symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress than the comparative population norms. The sample of SASR personnel (Sample 3) partners reported significantly lower levels of depression and anxiety, whereas the sample with non-SASR (Sample 4) personnel partners reported a significantly greater symptomatology in stress than the comparative norms. Number of deployments was found to be associated with depression, anxiety, and stress in partners of non-SASR veterans (Sample 4). Lessons and protective factors can be learnt from groups within the current military as to what may assist partners and families to maintain a better level of psychosocial health.
Frontiers in sustainable food systems, Jul 3, 2023
Introduction: Despite growing interest in gender analysis in value chains, comparatively few stud... more Introduction: Despite growing interest in gender analysis in value chains, comparatively few studies have analyzed gender relations in small ruminant value chains using sex-disaggregated quantitative data in livestock-based systems. Methods: Drawing on baseline data from the Small Ruminant Value Chain Development Program (SRVD) in Ethiopia, this study aims to address two research questions: what is the gender status along small ruminant value chain stages and the related associations among aspects of empowerment and socioeconomic variables? We employed empowerment and value chain frameworks to address these research questions. Results and conclusion: Our findings reveal that small ruminant market participation, related decisions, and control over income are gender di erential. Estimation results identified several variables significantly associated with agency dimensions, achievements, or both, with mixed results. These are age group, context, being married, being men and head of household, participation in breeding stock selection, livestock ownership, contact with extension agents, access to market information, and participation in selling at marketplaces. Participation in a small ruminant value chain may encourage more egalitarian decision-making behaviors but does not guarantee the capacity to make autonomous decision-making, and thus needs to be coupled with interventions on empowerment dimensions. Nevertheless, further investigations are required to establish the mixed results with additional variables on norms.
This study investigated if trait mindfulness and its components, mindful attention, acceptance, a... more This study investigated if trait mindfulness and its components, mindful attention, acceptance, and non-judging correlate negatively with self-reported and indirect markers of mind-wandering. The 552 participants of the study completed an anonymous online questionnaire consisting of trait mindfulness and mind-wandering scales. They also completed the computer-based Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART), an objective measure of mind-wandering. The total mindfulness score and acceptance and non-judging subscale scores were strongly negatively correlated with both self-reported trait mind-wandering (TMW) and SART indices of mind-wandering. In contrast, attention was significantly positively correlated with both. These findings suggest that trait mindfulness conceptualised as a multi-component construct, but not a uni-component one, is probably an opposing construct to trait mind-wandering. Furthermore, mindfulness and its components, acceptance and non-judging, are associated with a reduction in the more common form of SART errors. However, only the acceptance component made a unique contribution to the variance in TMW and SART performance. Therefore, it is advisable for researchers to specify whether they investigated mindfulness as a uni-component or multi-component construct. Furthermore, it would be beneficial if future research investigates the relationship of mindfulness and its components with mind-wandering further by also incorporating a measure of state mindfulness.
Background: The experience of stress, both psychological and physical, differs substantially betw... more Background: The experience of stress, both psychological and physical, differs substantially between individuals. A plethora of research has demonstrated that regular mindfulness practice can reduce the amount of stress experienced by individuals, however the benefits of ‘one-off’ mindfulness exercises has received less attention. Thus, the current study aimed to determine the effect of a single episode mindfulness exercise on both psychological and physiological stress responses within a performance context. Methods: A random control design was used. Participants were required to complete a questionnaire package, wear a heart rate monitor, supply a number of cortisol samples, and take part in the widely used Trier Social Stress Test. The experimental group also participated in a short mindfulness activity. The study consisted of 22 participants (female n= 14, male n=8) ranging between 18 and 59 years of age. Findings: Preliminary results indicate that the Trier Social Stress test successfully increased the amount of perceived stress in participants, with the experimental group reporting significantly greater stress during the task (M=22.30, SD=4.60) when compared to baseline (M=5.5, SD=1.78), t (9) =-11.06, p<0.01. These results were consistent with those for the control group (task: M=19.67, SD=7.64; baseline: M=6.25, SD=2.18; t (-11) = 6.06, p<0.01). Interestingly, however, was that the control group experienced a smaller increase in mean perceived stress scores (214.8%) than the experimental group (305%). Discussion: These findings imply that the use of ‘one-off’ mindfulness exercises to reduce perceived and physiological stress may actually be counter-productive when applied within performance contexts.
Researchers continue to attempt to resolve the psychometric problems associated with the five-fac... more Researchers continue to attempt to resolve the psychometric problems associated with the five-factor Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory through the development of shortened forms of the scale. These atheoretical efforts have been data driven and have resulted in scales whose reliability and validity have not been subsequently supported. The purpose of this paper was to explore the factorial validity and reliability of new short scales on samples independent from which they were developed. We used data from five different samples in four different countries (Australia, Britain, Slovenia, and the United States) to examine the psychometric validity and reliability of three recently developed scales, the ZTPI-20, ZTPI-17, and ZTPI-15. Results regarding validity were equivocal for all scales and reliability coefficients were suboptimal in all samples. We conclude by stressing the necessity for a theoretically driven approach to enhancing the psychometric assessment of time perspective r...
Participants (N = 552) were recruited by Qualtrics®, mainly from the USA (%), India (%), and Aust... more Participants (N = 552) were recruited by Qualtrics®, mainly from the USA (%), India (%), and Australia (%), with ages ranging from 18-94 years (M = 54.06 years, SD = 15.87). All participants were either non-meditators or had less than one year’s experience at meditation. They comprised 330 (60%) females and 222 (40%) males. Participants were presented with an anonymous online questionnaire. By clicking on the questionnaire URL were presented with a Participant Information Sheet and an Online Implied Consent form. Those who continued to the questionnaire were asked to provide demographic information and complete the scales that measured mindfulness and mind-wandering.
Development efforts have increased women’s perceived empowerment and freedom, yet have failed to ... more Development efforts have increased women’s perceived empowerment and freedom, yet have failed to sustainably alter gender norms. There is a lack of research investigating reasons for this anomaly. This study, departing from the conventional approach, tries to fill this gap by employing an interpretative phenomenological approach to assess how women have managed to achieve expanded agency while living within a constraining normative environment. We argue that women have the capacity to deviate and the intentions that lead to new behaviors emerge not only from individuals’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, as suggested by the Theory of Planned Behavior, but also in combination with demographic and economic factors. Individuals need to make decisions in three areas ―self-conviction (attitude and perceived behavioral control), subjective norms (within household and community), and structures (state and non-state institutions). The results shed light on alter...
Background Women's empowerment constitutes an important aspect of the development agenda. Alt... more Background Women's empowerment constitutes an important aspect of the development agenda. Although it is highly contextual in nature, empowerment literature so far has focussed on identifying factors associated with empowerment, neglecting the importance of understanding which empowerment resources and agency dimensions are more important for whom and under what contexts. This is important, because we cannot talk of empowerment for those who are not in a disempowered condition or who do not value it. We examine the gender differences in the relative valuations of empowerment resources and decision-making areas across different farming systems, and examine the most valued empowerment resources. Methods Using a mixed methods approach, data on major household decisions, empowerment resources, and their relative importance were collected. Pairwise ranking methods were used to assess their gendered relative importance. Individual interviews using Ryff’s psychological well-being (PWB)...
While the importance of ethnographic research in developing new knowledge is widely recognised, t... more While the importance of ethnographic research in developing new knowledge is widely recognised, there remains minimal detailed description and discussion of the actual practice and processes involved in completing ethnographic fieldwork. The first author's experiences and struggles as an ethnographer of a group of young men from two locations (a gymnasium in Melbourne, and a remote Australian fishing town) are presented and discussed as a means of informing research practice. Challenges faced by the author were often intrapersonal or interpersonal, but also included meeting institutional demands. The fieldwork process was full of negotiation and compromise between fieldwork dynamics and the restraints and realities of researching within a university. While this project was manageable in the end, it had profound personal impacts and gave rise to consideration of many research implications.
Supplemental material, Sage_Open_Supplementary for Different Version, Similar Result? A Critical ... more Supplemental material, Sage_Open_Supplementary for Different Version, Similar Result? A Critical Analysis of the Multiplicity of Shortened Versions of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory by John L. Perry, Elizabeth C. Temple, Frank C. Worrell, Urška Zivkovic, Zena R. Mello, Bojan Musil, Jon C. Cole and Michael T. McKay in SAGE Open
T ime perspective research assesses the degree to which thoughts and feelings about the past, pre... more T ime perspective research assesses the degree to which thoughts and feelings about the past, present and future influence behaviour, and a balanced time perspective profile has been posited as being ideal. Although this area of research has seen a move towards person-centred analyses, using either cluster analyses or a deviation from balanced time perspective (DBTP) approach, there are a number of theoretical and methodological issues that must be addressed. Using data from diverse samples in four countries, the present study used both cluster analyses and the DBTP approach to assess how cluster membership and DBTP scores related to a range of health and well-being outcomes. As in previous studies, a balanced profile only emerged once in cluster analyses, and positive-oriented profiles were associated with optimal outcomes. The study also found evidence of a relationship between DBTP scores and scores on well-being indicators. However, results gained after manipulating the DBTP equation in two different ways again indicated that higher than expected positive past and present or past and future scores were responsible for the positive outcomes. As such, these findings raise concerns regarding the use of the DBTP construct within clinical settings.
ThIS arTIclE dIScuSSES ThE expectations implicit in both Early Years Learning and National Qualit... more ThIS arTIclE dIScuSSES ThE expectations implicit in both Early Years Learning and National Quality Frameworks regarding the role of early childhood educators in promoting the development of children's social and emotional wellbeing. There is a specific focus on factors that may impact on the ability of early childhood educators to successfully adjust their practice to meet these expectations. Suggestions are made in relation to the training and education of pre-service teachers and the professional development of the current early childhood workforce to ensure that all early childhood educators are able to promote the development of social and emotional wellbeing in children. references ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics). (2008). Childhood education and care (Cat. No. 4402.2).
Background: University students are often perceived to have a privileged position in society and ... more Background: University students are often perceived to have a privileged position in society and considered immune to ill-health and disability. There is growing evidence that a sizeable proportion experience poor physical health, and that the prevalence of psychological disorders is higher in university students than their community peers. This study examined the physical and mental health issues for first year Australian rural university students and their perception of access to available health and support services. Methods: Cross-sectional study design using an online survey form based on the Adolescent Screening Questionnaire modeled on the internationally recognised HEADSS survey tool. The target audience was all first-year undergraduate students enrolled in an on-campus degree program. The response rate was 41% comprising 355 students (244 females, 111 males). Data was analysed using standard statistical techniques including descriptive and inferential statistics; and thematic analysis of the open-ended responses. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 20.2 years (SD 4.8). The majority of the students lived in on-campus residential college style accommodation, and a third combined part-time paid work with full-time study. Most students reported being in good physical health. However, on average two health conditions were reported over the past six months, with the most common being fatigue (56%), frequent headaches (26%) and allergies (24%). Mental health problems included anxiety (25%), coping difficulties (19.7%) and diagnosed depression (8%). Most respondents reported adequate access to medical doctors and support services for themselves (82%) and friends (78%). However the qualitative comments highlighted concerns about stigma, privacy and anonymity in seeking counselling. Conclusions: The present study adds to the limited literature of physical and mental health issues as well as barriers to service utilization by rural university students. It provides useful baseline data for the development of customised support programs at rural campuses. Future research using a longitudinal research design and multi-site studies are recommended to facilitate a deeper understanding of health issues affecting rural university students.
While many aspects of working life have changed in recent decades, the inequality of outcomes exp... more While many aspects of working life have changed in recent decades, the inequality of outcomes experienced by male and female employees has been remarkably resistant. In particular, the progress of women into leadership positions within the workforce has been dismal. Within corporate Australia, for example, the proportion of female chief executives in ASX200 companies only increased from 1.3 per cent in 2002 to 3.5 per cent in 2012. During the same time span, the proportion of executive management positions held by women increased from 8 per cent to 10 per cent while, for board directors, the proportion increased from 8 per cent to 12 per cent. The stats get worse when looking at the full ASX500: only 2.4 per cent of CEOs are women, and they fill just 9 per cent of executive positions and company directorships.
The study investigated (1) if meditators and non-meditators differ in their levels of mindfulness... more The study investigated (1) if meditators and non-meditators differ in their levels of mindfulness, attention, acceptance, loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity, and empathy; and (2) whether and how mindfulness practice affected the above qualities. The 241 participants (18–81 years, M = 40.3, SD = 14.8; 64% female) completed an online questionnaire consisting of scales measuring mindfulness components (mindful attention, acceptance, non-judging), and mindfulness related qualities, including loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity, and empathy. The participants who reported being meditators (N = 122; 50.4%) were also asked questions about their meditation practice. Meditators differed significantly from non-meditators in relation to their levels of mindful attention (t(239) = 4.80, p < .001, d = .63) and empathy (t(239) = 2.80, p < .01, d = .37) but not for the other mindfulness components or related qualities. Multiple regression analyses indicated that practice va...
A growing body of research suggests that some time perspective orientations are more beneficial t... more A growing body of research suggests that some time perspective orientations are more beneficial than others with regard to well-being. However, little is known about the factors affecting the development of these time perspectives. This gap in the research was addressed through two studies. Study 1 (N = 218; M = 29.8 years, SD = 11.45) identified ZTPI past positive (PP) as a beneficial time perspective and past negative (PN) as a detrimental time perspective. Structural equation modelling was then used in Study 2 (N = 443; M = 31.2 years, SD = 13.0) to develop two models of the associations between attachment orientation, basic psychological need satisfaction and PP and PN, respectively. While anxious and avoidant attachment orientation were associated with both PP and PN, the three basic psychological needs were differentially associated. The findings of these studies suggest the importance of early childhood care to the development of beneficial time perspectives.
Partners of Australian combat veterans are at an increased risk of experiencing mental health pro... more Partners of Australian combat veterans are at an increased risk of experiencing mental health problems. The present study provides a comparative analysis of the mental health of partners of veterans with that of the Australian normative data. To compare different types of groups of partners, the study samples comprised: (a) partners of Australian combat veterans (Sample 1: n = 282, age M = 60.79, SD = 5.05), (b) a sub-sample of partners of Australian combat veterans from the previous sample (Sample 2: n = 50; M = 60.06, SD = 4.80), (c) partners of Special Air Services Regiment (SASR) personnel (Sample 3: n = 41, age M = 34.39 SD = 7.01), and (d) partners of current serving military (non-SASR) personnel (Sample 4: n = 38, age M = 32.37, SD= 6.20). Respondents completed measures assessing their reported levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Samples 1 and 2 comprised partners of Australian military veterans who reported significantly greater symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress than the comparative population norms. The sample of SASR personnel (Sample 3) partners reported significantly lower levels of depression and anxiety, whereas the sample with non-SASR (Sample 4) personnel partners reported a significantly greater symptomatology in stress than the comparative norms. Number of deployments was found to be associated with depression, anxiety, and stress in partners of non-SASR veterans (Sample 4). Lessons and protective factors can be learnt from groups within the current military as to what may assist partners and families to maintain a better level of psychosocial health.
Frontiers in sustainable food systems, Jul 3, 2023
Introduction: Despite growing interest in gender analysis in value chains, comparatively few stud... more Introduction: Despite growing interest in gender analysis in value chains, comparatively few studies have analyzed gender relations in small ruminant value chains using sex-disaggregated quantitative data in livestock-based systems. Methods: Drawing on baseline data from the Small Ruminant Value Chain Development Program (SRVD) in Ethiopia, this study aims to address two research questions: what is the gender status along small ruminant value chain stages and the related associations among aspects of empowerment and socioeconomic variables? We employed empowerment and value chain frameworks to address these research questions. Results and conclusion: Our findings reveal that small ruminant market participation, related decisions, and control over income are gender di erential. Estimation results identified several variables significantly associated with agency dimensions, achievements, or both, with mixed results. These are age group, context, being married, being men and head of household, participation in breeding stock selection, livestock ownership, contact with extension agents, access to market information, and participation in selling at marketplaces. Participation in a small ruminant value chain may encourage more egalitarian decision-making behaviors but does not guarantee the capacity to make autonomous decision-making, and thus needs to be coupled with interventions on empowerment dimensions. Nevertheless, further investigations are required to establish the mixed results with additional variables on norms.
This study investigated if trait mindfulness and its components, mindful attention, acceptance, a... more This study investigated if trait mindfulness and its components, mindful attention, acceptance, and non-judging correlate negatively with self-reported and indirect markers of mind-wandering. The 552 participants of the study completed an anonymous online questionnaire consisting of trait mindfulness and mind-wandering scales. They also completed the computer-based Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART), an objective measure of mind-wandering. The total mindfulness score and acceptance and non-judging subscale scores were strongly negatively correlated with both self-reported trait mind-wandering (TMW) and SART indices of mind-wandering. In contrast, attention was significantly positively correlated with both. These findings suggest that trait mindfulness conceptualised as a multi-component construct, but not a uni-component one, is probably an opposing construct to trait mind-wandering. Furthermore, mindfulness and its components, acceptance and non-judging, are associated with a reduction in the more common form of SART errors. However, only the acceptance component made a unique contribution to the variance in TMW and SART performance. Therefore, it is advisable for researchers to specify whether they investigated mindfulness as a uni-component or multi-component construct. Furthermore, it would be beneficial if future research investigates the relationship of mindfulness and its components with mind-wandering further by also incorporating a measure of state mindfulness.
Background: The experience of stress, both psychological and physical, differs substantially betw... more Background: The experience of stress, both psychological and physical, differs substantially between individuals. A plethora of research has demonstrated that regular mindfulness practice can reduce the amount of stress experienced by individuals, however the benefits of ‘one-off’ mindfulness exercises has received less attention. Thus, the current study aimed to determine the effect of a single episode mindfulness exercise on both psychological and physiological stress responses within a performance context. Methods: A random control design was used. Participants were required to complete a questionnaire package, wear a heart rate monitor, supply a number of cortisol samples, and take part in the widely used Trier Social Stress Test. The experimental group also participated in a short mindfulness activity. The study consisted of 22 participants (female n= 14, male n=8) ranging between 18 and 59 years of age. Findings: Preliminary results indicate that the Trier Social Stress test successfully increased the amount of perceived stress in participants, with the experimental group reporting significantly greater stress during the task (M=22.30, SD=4.60) when compared to baseline (M=5.5, SD=1.78), t (9) =-11.06, p<0.01. These results were consistent with those for the control group (task: M=19.67, SD=7.64; baseline: M=6.25, SD=2.18; t (-11) = 6.06, p<0.01). Interestingly, however, was that the control group experienced a smaller increase in mean perceived stress scores (214.8%) than the experimental group (305%). Discussion: These findings imply that the use of ‘one-off’ mindfulness exercises to reduce perceived and physiological stress may actually be counter-productive when applied within performance contexts.
Researchers continue to attempt to resolve the psychometric problems associated with the five-fac... more Researchers continue to attempt to resolve the psychometric problems associated with the five-factor Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory through the development of shortened forms of the scale. These atheoretical efforts have been data driven and have resulted in scales whose reliability and validity have not been subsequently supported. The purpose of this paper was to explore the factorial validity and reliability of new short scales on samples independent from which they were developed. We used data from five different samples in four different countries (Australia, Britain, Slovenia, and the United States) to examine the psychometric validity and reliability of three recently developed scales, the ZTPI-20, ZTPI-17, and ZTPI-15. Results regarding validity were equivocal for all scales and reliability coefficients were suboptimal in all samples. We conclude by stressing the necessity for a theoretically driven approach to enhancing the psychometric assessment of time perspective r...
Participants (N = 552) were recruited by Qualtrics®, mainly from the USA (%), India (%), and Aust... more Participants (N = 552) were recruited by Qualtrics®, mainly from the USA (%), India (%), and Australia (%), with ages ranging from 18-94 years (M = 54.06 years, SD = 15.87). All participants were either non-meditators or had less than one year’s experience at meditation. They comprised 330 (60%) females and 222 (40%) males. Participants were presented with an anonymous online questionnaire. By clicking on the questionnaire URL were presented with a Participant Information Sheet and an Online Implied Consent form. Those who continued to the questionnaire were asked to provide demographic information and complete the scales that measured mindfulness and mind-wandering.
Development efforts have increased women’s perceived empowerment and freedom, yet have failed to ... more Development efforts have increased women’s perceived empowerment and freedom, yet have failed to sustainably alter gender norms. There is a lack of research investigating reasons for this anomaly. This study, departing from the conventional approach, tries to fill this gap by employing an interpretative phenomenological approach to assess how women have managed to achieve expanded agency while living within a constraining normative environment. We argue that women have the capacity to deviate and the intentions that lead to new behaviors emerge not only from individuals’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, as suggested by the Theory of Planned Behavior, but also in combination with demographic and economic factors. Individuals need to make decisions in three areas ―self-conviction (attitude and perceived behavioral control), subjective norms (within household and community), and structures (state and non-state institutions). The results shed light on alter...
Background Women's empowerment constitutes an important aspect of the development agenda. Alt... more Background Women's empowerment constitutes an important aspect of the development agenda. Although it is highly contextual in nature, empowerment literature so far has focussed on identifying factors associated with empowerment, neglecting the importance of understanding which empowerment resources and agency dimensions are more important for whom and under what contexts. This is important, because we cannot talk of empowerment for those who are not in a disempowered condition or who do not value it. We examine the gender differences in the relative valuations of empowerment resources and decision-making areas across different farming systems, and examine the most valued empowerment resources. Methods Using a mixed methods approach, data on major household decisions, empowerment resources, and their relative importance were collected. Pairwise ranking methods were used to assess their gendered relative importance. Individual interviews using Ryff’s psychological well-being (PWB)...
While the importance of ethnographic research in developing new knowledge is widely recognised, t... more While the importance of ethnographic research in developing new knowledge is widely recognised, there remains minimal detailed description and discussion of the actual practice and processes involved in completing ethnographic fieldwork. The first author's experiences and struggles as an ethnographer of a group of young men from two locations (a gymnasium in Melbourne, and a remote Australian fishing town) are presented and discussed as a means of informing research practice. Challenges faced by the author were often intrapersonal or interpersonal, but also included meeting institutional demands. The fieldwork process was full of negotiation and compromise between fieldwork dynamics and the restraints and realities of researching within a university. While this project was manageable in the end, it had profound personal impacts and gave rise to consideration of many research implications.
Supplemental material, Sage_Open_Supplementary for Different Version, Similar Result? A Critical ... more Supplemental material, Sage_Open_Supplementary for Different Version, Similar Result? A Critical Analysis of the Multiplicity of Shortened Versions of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory by John L. Perry, Elizabeth C. Temple, Frank C. Worrell, Urška Zivkovic, Zena R. Mello, Bojan Musil, Jon C. Cole and Michael T. McKay in SAGE Open
T ime perspective research assesses the degree to which thoughts and feelings about the past, pre... more T ime perspective research assesses the degree to which thoughts and feelings about the past, present and future influence behaviour, and a balanced time perspective profile has been posited as being ideal. Although this area of research has seen a move towards person-centred analyses, using either cluster analyses or a deviation from balanced time perspective (DBTP) approach, there are a number of theoretical and methodological issues that must be addressed. Using data from diverse samples in four countries, the present study used both cluster analyses and the DBTP approach to assess how cluster membership and DBTP scores related to a range of health and well-being outcomes. As in previous studies, a balanced profile only emerged once in cluster analyses, and positive-oriented profiles were associated with optimal outcomes. The study also found evidence of a relationship between DBTP scores and scores on well-being indicators. However, results gained after manipulating the DBTP equation in two different ways again indicated that higher than expected positive past and present or past and future scores were responsible for the positive outcomes. As such, these findings raise concerns regarding the use of the DBTP construct within clinical settings.
ThIS arTIclE dIScuSSES ThE expectations implicit in both Early Years Learning and National Qualit... more ThIS arTIclE dIScuSSES ThE expectations implicit in both Early Years Learning and National Quality Frameworks regarding the role of early childhood educators in promoting the development of children's social and emotional wellbeing. There is a specific focus on factors that may impact on the ability of early childhood educators to successfully adjust their practice to meet these expectations. Suggestions are made in relation to the training and education of pre-service teachers and the professional development of the current early childhood workforce to ensure that all early childhood educators are able to promote the development of social and emotional wellbeing in children. references ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics). (2008). Childhood education and care (Cat. No. 4402.2).
Background: University students are often perceived to have a privileged position in society and ... more Background: University students are often perceived to have a privileged position in society and considered immune to ill-health and disability. There is growing evidence that a sizeable proportion experience poor physical health, and that the prevalence of psychological disorders is higher in university students than their community peers. This study examined the physical and mental health issues for first year Australian rural university students and their perception of access to available health and support services. Methods: Cross-sectional study design using an online survey form based on the Adolescent Screening Questionnaire modeled on the internationally recognised HEADSS survey tool. The target audience was all first-year undergraduate students enrolled in an on-campus degree program. The response rate was 41% comprising 355 students (244 females, 111 males). Data was analysed using standard statistical techniques including descriptive and inferential statistics; and thematic analysis of the open-ended responses. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 20.2 years (SD 4.8). The majority of the students lived in on-campus residential college style accommodation, and a third combined part-time paid work with full-time study. Most students reported being in good physical health. However, on average two health conditions were reported over the past six months, with the most common being fatigue (56%), frequent headaches (26%) and allergies (24%). Mental health problems included anxiety (25%), coping difficulties (19.7%) and diagnosed depression (8%). Most respondents reported adequate access to medical doctors and support services for themselves (82%) and friends (78%). However the qualitative comments highlighted concerns about stigma, privacy and anonymity in seeking counselling. Conclusions: The present study adds to the limited literature of physical and mental health issues as well as barriers to service utilization by rural university students. It provides useful baseline data for the development of customised support programs at rural campuses. Future research using a longitudinal research design and multi-site studies are recommended to facilitate a deeper understanding of health issues affecting rural university students.
While many aspects of working life have changed in recent decades, the inequality of outcomes exp... more While many aspects of working life have changed in recent decades, the inequality of outcomes experienced by male and female employees has been remarkably resistant. In particular, the progress of women into leadership positions within the workforce has been dismal. Within corporate Australia, for example, the proportion of female chief executives in ASX200 companies only increased from 1.3 per cent in 2002 to 3.5 per cent in 2012. During the same time span, the proportion of executive management positions held by women increased from 8 per cent to 10 per cent while, for board directors, the proportion increased from 8 per cent to 12 per cent. The stats get worse when looking at the full ASX500: only 2.4 per cent of CEOs are women, and they fill just 9 per cent of executive positions and company directorships.
The study investigated (1) if meditators and non-meditators differ in their levels of mindfulness... more The study investigated (1) if meditators and non-meditators differ in their levels of mindfulness, attention, acceptance, loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity, and empathy; and (2) whether and how mindfulness practice affected the above qualities. The 241 participants (18–81 years, M = 40.3, SD = 14.8; 64% female) completed an online questionnaire consisting of scales measuring mindfulness components (mindful attention, acceptance, non-judging), and mindfulness related qualities, including loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity, and empathy. The participants who reported being meditators (N = 122; 50.4%) were also asked questions about their meditation practice. Meditators differed significantly from non-meditators in relation to their levels of mindful attention (t(239) = 4.80, p < .001, d = .63) and empathy (t(239) = 2.80, p < .01, d = .37) but not for the other mindfulness components or related qualities. Multiple regression analyses indicated that practice va...
A growing body of research suggests that some time perspective orientations are more beneficial t... more A growing body of research suggests that some time perspective orientations are more beneficial than others with regard to well-being. However, little is known about the factors affecting the development of these time perspectives. This gap in the research was addressed through two studies. Study 1 (N = 218; M = 29.8 years, SD = 11.45) identified ZTPI past positive (PP) as a beneficial time perspective and past negative (PN) as a detrimental time perspective. Structural equation modelling was then used in Study 2 (N = 443; M = 31.2 years, SD = 13.0) to develop two models of the associations between attachment orientation, basic psychological need satisfaction and PP and PN, respectively. While anxious and avoidant attachment orientation were associated with both PP and PN, the three basic psychological needs were differentially associated. The findings of these studies suggest the importance of early childhood care to the development of beneficial time perspectives.
A growing body of research suggests that some time perspective orientations are more beneficial t... more A growing body of research suggests that some time perspective orientations are more beneficial than others with regard to wellbeing, however, little is known about the factors affecting the development of these time perspectives. While cross-sectional in design, this study (N= 443; Mage = 31.2, SD = 13.0) investigated the roles played by attachment orientation and basic psychological need satisfaction (Autonomy, Competence,
Relatedness) in explaining the variance in scores on the ZTPI subscales, and the association between all of these variables and wellbeing (depression, positive affect). Multiple regression analyses indicated that 43% of variance in Past Negative scores was accounted for by Attachment Anxiety, Competence and Autonomy, while 19% of variance in Past Positive scores was explained by Competence and Relatedness, and 8% of variance in
Future time perspective was accounted for by Competence and Autonomy. Regarding wellbeing, 53% of variance in positive affect scores was explained by Autonomy, Competence, Past Positive, Past Negative, and Attachment Avoidance, while 42% of variance in depression scores was explained by Autonomy, Past Negative
and Attachment Anxiety. A model will be presented to explain the complex interrelationships between these variables, suggesting the importance of early childhood care to the development of beneficial time perspectives.
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Papers by Liz Temple
Relatedness) in explaining the variance in scores on the ZTPI subscales, and the association between all of these variables and wellbeing (depression, positive affect). Multiple regression analyses indicated that 43% of variance in Past Negative scores was accounted for by Attachment Anxiety, Competence and Autonomy, while 19% of variance in Past Positive scores was explained by Competence and Relatedness, and 8% of variance in
Future time perspective was accounted for by Competence and Autonomy. Regarding wellbeing, 53% of variance in positive affect scores was explained by Autonomy, Competence, Past Positive, Past Negative, and Attachment Avoidance, while 42% of variance in depression scores was explained by Autonomy, Past Negative
and Attachment Anxiety. A model will be presented to explain the complex interrelationships between these variables, suggesting the importance of early childhood care to the development of beneficial time perspectives.