Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Health Promoting Schools - Lessons From A National Evaluation Of A Kitchen Garden Program, Heather Yeatman, K Quinsey, D Condon-Paoloni, J Dawber, Simon Eckermann, D Fildes, J Green, P Grootemaat, D Morris, W Nielsen

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract of paper presented at PHAA 42nd Annual conference: Abstract & Program Book, Melbourne, 16-18 September 2013.

Organizational Communication And Occupational Stress In Australian Catholic Primary Schools, John De Nobile, John Mccormick, Katherine Hoekman

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Purpose: This paper reports two related studies of relationships between organizational communication and occupational stress of staff members in Catholic primary schools. Design/methodology/approach: Data from both studies were obtained using survey questionnaires. Participants were staff members of Catholic diocesan primary schools in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland, Australia. Research hypotheses were tested using correlation and multiple regression analyses. Findings: Ten organizational communication factors and four occupational stress domains were identified. Several organizational communication variables were found to be predictors of occupational stress in four identified domains. Practical implications: The findings provide implications for school administrators in relation …

Can Event-Related Potentials Serve As Neural Markers For Wins, Losses, And Near-Wins In A Gambling Task? A Principal Components Analysis, Lisa Lole, Craig J. Gonsalvez, Robert J. Barry, Frances M. De Blasio

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Originally, the feedback related negativity (FRN) event-related potential (ERP) component was considered to be a robust neural correlate of non-reward/punishment processing, with greater negative deflections observed following unfavourable outcomes. More recently, it has been suggested that this component is better conceptualised as a positive deflection following rewarding outcomes. The current study sought to elucidate the nature of the FRN, as well as another component associated with incentive-value processing, the P3b, through application of a spatiotemporal principal components analysis (PCA). Seventeen healthy controls played a computer electronic gaming machine (EGM) task and received feedback on credits won or lost on each …

Chronic Effects Of Cannabis On Sensory Gating, Samantha J. Broyd, Lisa-Marie Greenwood, Rodney Croft, Anna Dalecki, Juanita Todd, Patricia T. Michie, Stuart J. Johnstone, Nadia Solowij

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Chronic cannabis use has been associated with neurocognitive deficits, alterations in brain structure and function, and with psychosis. This study investigated the effects of chronic cannabis use on P50 sensory-gating in regular users, and explored the association between sensory gating, cannabis use history and the development of psychotic-like symptoms. Twenty controls and 21 regular cannabis users completed a P50 paired-click (S1 and S2) paradigm with an inter-pair interval of 9. s. The groups were compared on P50 amplitude to S1 and S2, P50 ratio (S2/S1) and P50 difference score (S1-S2). While cannabis users overall did not differ from controls on …

Clustering Of Attitudes Towards Obesity: A Mixed Methods Study Of Australian Parents And Children, Tim Olds, Samantha Thomas, Sophie Lewis, John Petkov

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background Current population-based anti-obesity campaigns often target individuals based on either weight or socio-demographic characteristics, and give a 'mass' message about personal responsibility. There is a recognition that attempts to influence attitudes and opinions may be more effective if they resonate with the beliefs that different groups have about the causes of, and solutions for, obesity. Limited research has explored how attitudinal factors may inform the development of both upstream and downstream social marketing initiatives. Methods Computer-assisted face-to-face interviews were conducted with 159 parents and 184 of their children (aged 9-18 years old) in two Australian states. A mixed methods …

Relative Importance Of Abstinence In Clients' And Clinicians' Perspectives Of Recovery From Drug And Alcohol Abuse, Lauren Maffina, Frank P. Deane, Geoffrey C.B Lyons, Trevor P. Crowe, Peter J. Kelly

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This study collected data on drug and alcohol workers' (n = 55) and clients' (n = 139) perspectives on what constitutes a "recovery" from substance use disorder. Data were collected during 2010 from four residential faith-based treatment programs across the east coast of Australia. Self-report surveys specifically designed for this study were administered. Responses were compared using nonparametric test. Abstinence was seen as an important component of recovery but nonabstinent factors were also seen as having an important role. Staff placed more emphasis on clients taking responsibility for their problems and on the role of spiritual development. The importance of …

Vection Induced By Illusory Motion In A Stationary Image, Takeharu Seno, Akiyoshi Kitaoka, Stephen Palmisano

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Ilusory self-motion (vection) can be induced by large areas of visual motion stimulation. Here we demonstrate for the first time that illusory expansion can induce vection in the absence of any physical display motion.

Ten Years On: A Follow-Up Review Of Erp Research In Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Stuart J. Johnstone, Robert J. Barry, Adam R. Clarke

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This article reviews the event-related potential (ERP) literature in relation to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) over the years 2002-2012. ERP studies exploring various aspects of brain functioning in children and adolescents with AD/HD are reviewed, with a focus on group effects and interpretations in the domains of attention, inhibitory control, performance monitoring, non-pharmacological treatments, and ERP/energetics interactions. There has been a distinct shift in research intensity over the past 10 years, with a large increase in ERP studies conducted in the areas of inhibitory control and performance monitoring. Overall, the research has identified a substantial number of ERP correlates of AD/HD. …

Manipulation Of The Self-Determined Learning Environment On Student Motivation And Affect Within Secondary Physical Education, Dana Perlman

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Secondary physical education (PE) has become a popular area of inquiry because students are not meeting overarching goals of PE programs, are less motivated, and demonstrate negative affect while in class. As such, teachers and researchers are starting to examine pedagogical approaches that support student motivation as a means to alleviate some of the aforementioned issues. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of two different learning contexts based within self-determination theory on the motivation and affect of secondary PE students. Seventy-nine secondary PE students were randomly assigned to a unit of basketball taught in either a …

Faith-Based Substance Abuse Programs, Geoffrey C. B Lyons, Frank P. Deane, Peter J. Kelly

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Faith-based programs are one of the primary treatment options for individuals with substance use disorders. However, there is ambiguity regarding what faith-based programs are, how they differ from secular programs, and how they incorporate religion or spirituality into treatment. Furthermore, though evidence suggests faith-based programs can be as effective as other secular treatments, it is unclear how the utilization of religion or spirituality in the treatment process influences recovery outcomes. Preliminary research suggests that the exploration and cultivation of spirituality may operate on recovery by improving a client's psychological well-being, social support systems, and the ability to cope with distress.

Shepherds In The Gym: Employing A Pastoral Power Analytic On Caring Teaching In Hpe, Louise Mccuaig, Marie Ohman, Jan Wright

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Drawing on research conducted in Australian Health' and Physical Education (HPE) and Swedish Physical Education and Health (PEH), this paper demonstrates the analytic possibilities of Foucault's notion of pastoral power to reveal the moral and ethical work conducted by HPE/PEH teachers in producing healthy active citizens. We use the pastoral power analytic to make visible the consequences of caring HPE/PEH teaching practices which appear unassailable as producing a general 'good' for all students. In so doing we undertake the challenge posed by Nealon to be attuned to those social practices that appear beyond reproach as 'power becomes more effective while …

Student Perceptions Of High-Achieving Classmates, Marion Händel, Wilma Vialle, Albert Ziegler

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The reported study investigated students' perceptions of their high-performing classmates in terms of intelligence, social skills, and conscientiousness in different school subjects. The school subjects for study were examined with regard to cognitive, physical, and gender-specific issues. The results show that high academic achievements in particular school subjects lead to negative reactions in the peer group whereas high achievements in other school subjects result in positive peer reactions. In contrast, the respondents' gender and the gender of the successful classmates had little influence on student perceptions of high achievers. The results are discussed in regard to their implications for gifted …

Effective Teaching And Motivation: Application Of Self-Determination Theory, Dana J. Perlman

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Developing quality and effective future teachers is a cornerstone of all teacher-education programs. An area of inquiry that has been identified as influential within the teacher development process is the concept of motivation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine if there were differences between elements of effective teaching based on preservice teachers (PTs) motivation toward teaching. 68 (Male=44; Female=24) undergraduate Physical and Health Education PTs were recruited within this study. PT data were collected on their motivation toward teaching and elements of effective teaching. Results indicated that motivation was associated with elements of effective teaching.

Unifying Psychology Through Situational Realism, Agnes Petocz, Nigel Mackay

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

We propose that a coherent and thoroughgoing version of realism, known as situational realism, offers a unifying program for psychology. This realism emerges from the conditions of being that enable knowledge and discourse. Because this research originated largely in a century's work by Australian psychologists and philosophers, we will introduce and explain research and vocabulary that might be unfamiliar to some readers. The approach is characterized by seven themes: ontological egalitarianism; situational complexity and process orientation; a network or field view of causality; a realist logic; a view of relations as nonconstitutive; an externalist relational approach to mind; and acceptance …

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Circumstances And The Co-Occurrence Of Unhealthy Lifestyles: Evidence From 206,457 Australians In The 45 And Up Study, Xiaoqi Feng, Thomas Astell-Burt

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: Research on the co-occurrence of unhealthy lifestyles has tended to focus mainly upon the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of individuals. This study investigated the relevance of neighborhood socioeconomic circumstance for multiple unhealthy lifestyles. Method: An unhealthy lifestyle index was constructed for 206,457 participants in the 45 and Up Study (2006-2009) by summing binary responses on smoking, alcohol, physical activity and five diet-related variables. Higher scores indicated the co-occurrence of unhealthy lifestyles. Association with self-rated health, quality of life; and risk of psychological distress was investigated using multilevel logistic regression. Association between the unhealthy lifestyle index with neighborhood characteristics (local …

Proximity To Green Space Increases The Propensity For Regular Walking And Physical Activity In Adults, Gregory Kolt, Thomas Astell-Burt, Xiaoqi Feng

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at the American College of Sports Medicine 60th annual meeting, 28 May - 1 June 2013, Indianapolis, United States

Does Access To Neighbourhood Green Space Promote A Healthy Duration Of Sleep? Novel Findings From A Cross-Sectional Study Of 259 319 Australians, Thomas Astell-Burt, Xiaoqi Feng, Gregory Kolt

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objectives Experiments demonstrate that exposure to parks and other ‘green spaces’ promote favourable psychological and physiological outcomes. As a consequence, people who reside in greener neighbourhoods may also have a lower risk of short sleep duration (<6 h). This is potentially important as short sleep duration is a correlate of obesity, chronic disease and mortality, but so far this hypothesis has not been previously investigated.

Design Cross-sectional data analysis.

Setting New South Wales, Australia.

Participants This study investigated whether neighbourhood green space was associated with a healthier duration of sleep (to the nearest hour) among 259 319 Australians who completed the 45 and Up Study baseline questionnaire between 2006 and 2009 inclusive.

Primary and secondary outcome measures Multinomial logit regression was used to investigate the influence of an …

Health And The 2008 Economic Recession: Evidence From The United Kingdom, Thomas Astell-Burt, Xiaoqi Feng

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Introduction: The economic recession which began in 2008 has resulted in a substantial increase in unemployment across many countries, including the United Kingdom. Strong association between unemployment and poor health status among individuals is widely recognised. We investigated whether the prevalence of poor health at a population level increased concurrent to the rise in unemployment during the economic recession, and whether the impact on health varied by geographical and socioeconomic circumstances. Method: Health, demographic and socioeconomic measures on 1.36 million survey responses aged 16-64 were extracted from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey of the United Kingdom, collected every three months, …

How The Factoid Of Wind Turbines Causing 'Vibroacoustic Disease' Came To Be 'Irrefutably Demonstrated', Simon Chapman, Alexis B. St George

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: In recent years, claims have proliferated in cyberspace that wind turbines cause a large variety of symptoms and diseases. One of these, "vibroacoustic disease" (VAD) is frequently mentioned. The aim of this study is to examine the quality of the evidence on how VAD came to be associated with wind turbine exposure by wind farm opponents. Methods: Searches of the web (Google advanced) and major research databases for papers on VAD and wind turbines. Self-citation analysis of research papers on VAD. Results: Google returned 24,700 hits for VAD and wind turbines. Thirty-five research papers on VAD were found, none …

Musicals Are Gay: A Brief History Of Gay Men, Hollywood Divas And Movie Musicals, Scott J. Mckinnon

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

It's A Dog's Life When Man's Best Friend Becomes His Fattest, Christopher J. Degeling

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

A study published this morning in Nature offers further insight into how dogs became domesticated. The comparative analysis of human, canine and wolf genomes suggests that humans and dogs have evolved in parallel as a response to the increasingly starchy diets on offer after the agricultural revolution. Such a wholesale change in diet has not necessarily been benign for either species.

Public Health Ethics And A Status For Pets As Person-Things: Revisiting The Place Of Animals In Urbanized Societies, Melanie Rock, Christopher J. Degeling

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Within the field of medical ethics, discussions related to public health have mainly concentrated on issues that are closely tied to research and practice involving technologies and professional services, including vaccination, screening, and insurance coverage. Broader determinants of population health have received less attention, although this situation is rapidly changing. Against this backdrop, our specific contribution to the literature on ethics and law vis-à-vis promoting population health is to open up the ubiquitous presence of pets within cities and towns for further discussion. An expanding body of research suggests that pet animals are deeply relevant to people's health (negatively and …

Correlates Of Pain In An In‐Treatment Sample Of Opioid‐Dependent People, Suzanne Nielsen, Briony K. Larance, Nicholas Lintzeris, Emma Black, Raimondo Bruno, Bridin Murnion, Adrian Dunlop, Louisa Degenhardt

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Introduction and Aims The limited literature on pain in opioid‐treatment samples indicates that it is highly prevalent. Understanding the implications of pain on treatment outcomes is important, particularly in light of ageing opioid‐treatment cohorts. This study explores correlates of pain, including aberrant behaviours related to prescribed opioids. Our hypothesis is that pain may increase aberrant opioid‐related behaviours, including illicit substance use, among opioid‐dependent people. Design and Methods We examined pain in methadone or buprenorphine patients (n = 141) from three treatment services. Measures included basic demographics, Brief Pain Inventory, general mental health, physical health and quality of life measures, pain …

Sociodemographic And Health-Related Predictors Of Self-Reported Mammogram, Faecal Occult Blood Test And Prostate Specific Antigen Test Use In A Large Australian Study, Marianne Weber, Michelle Cunich, David Smith, Glenn P. Salkeld, Freddy Sitas, Dianne O'Connell

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: While several studies have examined factors that influence the use of breast screening mammography, faecal occult blood tests (FOBT) for bowel cancer screening and prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests for prostate disease in Australia, research directly comparing the use of these tests is sparse. We examined sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with the use of these tests in the previous two years either alone or in combination. Methods. Cross-sectional analysis of self-reported questionnaire data from 96,711 women and 82,648 men aged 50 or over in The 45 and Up Study in NSW (2006-2010). Results: 5.9% of men had a …

Effect Of Air Pollution And Racism On Ethnic Differences In Respiratory Health Among Adolescents Living In An Urban Environment, Thomas E. Astell-Burt, Maria J. Maynard, Erik Lenguerrand, Melissa Whitrow, Oarabile R. Molaodi, Seeromanie Harding

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Recent studies suggest that stress can amplify the harm of air pollution. We examined whether experience of racism and exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µm and 10 µm (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) had a synergistic influence on ethnic differences in asthma and lung function across adolescence. Analyses using multilevel models showed lower forced expiratory volume (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC) and lower rates of asthma among some ethnic minorities compared to Whites, but higher exposure to PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and racism. Racism appeared to amplify the relationship …

Validation Of The Dynamic Direct Exposure Method For Toxicity Testing Of Diesel Exhaust In Vitro, Lucky Joeng, Amanda Hayes, Shahnaz Bakand

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Diesel exhaust emission is a major health concern because of the complex nature of its gaseous content (e.g., NO₂, NO, CO, and CO₂) and high concentration of particulate matter (PM) less than 2.5 μm which allows for deeper penetration into the human pulmonary system upon inhalation. The aim of this research was to elucidate the potential toxic effects of diesel exhaust on a human pulmonary-based cellular system. Validation of a dynamic direct exposure method for both laboratory (230 hp Volvo truck engine) and field (Volkswagen Passat passenger car) diesel engines, at idle mode, was implemented. Human …

Do Social Interactions Explain Ethnic Differences In Psychological Distress And The Protective Effect Of Local Ethnic Density? A Cross-Sectional Study Of 226 487 Adults In Australia, Xiaoqi Feng, Thomas Astell-Burt, Gregory Kolt

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background A frequently proposed, but under-researched hypothesis is that ethnic density benefits mental health through increasing social interactions. We examined this hypothesis in 226 487 adults from 19 ethnic groups aged 45 years and older in Australia. Methods Multilevel logit regression was used to measure the association between ethnicity, social interactions, own-group ethnic density and scores of 22+ on the Kessler scale of psychological distress. Self-reported ancestry was used as a proxy for ethnicity. Measures of social interactions included a number of times in the past week were (i) spent with friends or family participants did not live with; (ii) …

Measuring The Challenges Of People With Epilepsy In Harare, Zimbabwe, Jacob Mugumbate, Andrew Nyanguru

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

In this 6 months study the researchers measured the challenges of people with epilepsy who were all members of the Epilepsy Support Foundation in Harare, Zimbabwe. Possible challenges arising from the various aspects of life of 60 people with epilepsy were measured using a Problem Index Questionnaire for People with Epilepsy adapted from Dr. John Collings Problem Index method which was used at Leeds Polytechnic in 1990 to develop the British Epilepsy Association's Charter for Epilepsy. The method uses a short questionnaire that has a set of problem areas with three possible responses, 'no problem', 'some problems' and 'serious problems'. …

Exploring African Philosophy: The Value Of Ubuntu In Social Work, Jacob Mugumbate, Andrew Nyanguru

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This paper looks at the concept of ubuntu, how it has been applied in different fields and lessons that can be drawn for the social work profession. Ubuntu can best be described as an African philosophy that places emphasis on 'being self through others'. It is a form of humanism which can be expressed in the phrases 'I am because of who we all are' and ubuntu ngumuntu ngabantu in Zulu language. So far, it has been successfully applied in theology, management and computer science. This paper concludes that its utilisation in these disciplines makes it suitable for application in …

Targeted Offender Support Programs: Addressing 'Culture' Through Corrections, Natalia K. Hanley

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at The 7th Annual Australian & New Zealand Critical Criminology Conference, 22-23 July 2013, Adelaide, Australia