An investigation of the cognitive processes underlying intrusive traumatic cognition. Intrusive unpleasant thoughts and memories occur in sufferers of anxiety and depression, and are common in normal individuals. Understanding the processes underlying intrusive cognition is critical, especially in the present world climate in which the Australian public is increasingly confronted with threats of terrorism and other negative world events. This research will have the direct benefit of leading to i ....An investigation of the cognitive processes underlying intrusive traumatic cognition. Intrusive unpleasant thoughts and memories occur in sufferers of anxiety and depression, and are common in normal individuals. Understanding the processes underlying intrusive cognition is critical, especially in the present world climate in which the Australian public is increasingly confronted with threats of terrorism and other negative world events. This research will have the direct benefit of leading to improved health of sufferers of anxiety and depression in the Australian community, and has the potential to increase normal individuals' ability to contribute to society by reducing intrusions that can interfere with work productivity, promote absenteeism, and have a negative impact on general wellbeing.Read moreRead less
Children's memory for traumatic events. Many children are exposed to negative and distressing events. Understanding the processes underlying memories of such events is critical, especially in the present world climate in which the Australian public is increasingly confronted with threats of terrorism and other negative world events. This research will contribute directly to understanding why some children develop maladaptive responses to major life events, and others appear to adjust with few ps ....Children's memory for traumatic events. Many children are exposed to negative and distressing events. Understanding the processes underlying memories of such events is critical, especially in the present world climate in which the Australian public is increasingly confronted with threats of terrorism and other negative world events. This research will contribute directly to understanding why some children develop maladaptive responses to major life events, and others appear to adjust with few psychological difficulties. The research will pinpoint better management strategies for children affected by trauma by improved understanding of how traumatic memories are developed, as well as identifying critical variables that are amenable to change early after trauma exposure.Read moreRead less
A prospective study of the mental health of grandparents providing part-time child care for their preschool age grandchildren. This project addresses national research priorities and will identify the characteristics of a high-risk subgroup of Australian grandparents for whom the childcare burden has a deleterious impact on health and well being. Results will enable development of improved approaches to education and awareness in health professionals and the lay community about this subgroup, fa ....A prospective study of the mental health of grandparents providing part-time child care for their preschool age grandchildren. This project addresses national research priorities and will identify the characteristics of a high-risk subgroup of Australian grandparents for whom the childcare burden has a deleterious impact on health and well being. Results will enable development of improved approaches to education and awareness in health professionals and the lay community about this subgroup, facilitating early identification and intervention. The study will provide evidence-based guidance to policy makers about the most appropriate support services for grandparents involved in high levels of childcare, reducing their level of stress and improving the quality of the childcare they provide.
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A prospective study of the transition to grandparenthood: psychosocial adjustment, well-being and productive ageing. Given the increasingly common childcare role that grandparents are required to play in Australian society, and the increasing demands of grandparenting, potential benefits arising from this study adhere to the requirements of the National Research Priority Area "Promoting and Maintaining Good Health." They include: identifying the characteristics of the group of grandparents for w ....A prospective study of the transition to grandparenthood: psychosocial adjustment, well-being and productive ageing. Given the increasingly common childcare role that grandparents are required to play in Australian society, and the increasing demands of grandparenting, potential benefits arising from this study adhere to the requirements of the National Research Priority Area "Promoting and Maintaining Good Health." They include: identifying the characteristics of the group of grandparents for whom the change of role and lifestyle produces negative effects; providing increased awareness in health professionals and the lay community about this subgroup, enabling appropriate early identification and intervention; supplying evidence-based data to inform strategies to reduce stress in the grandparents and improve the quality of childcare they provide.Read moreRead less
Indigenous mental health in remote communities: Applying a contextual model of community research and intervention. This project will make an international advance in understanding indigenous mental health that will be of interest to many groups around the world. The main specifically national benefit will flow from contextual knowledge on how to improve mental health for remote indigenous communities that also allows strengthening of communities and their economic and social enterprises. We w ....Indigenous mental health in remote communities: Applying a contextual model of community research and intervention. This project will make an international advance in understanding indigenous mental health that will be of interest to many groups around the world. The main specifically national benefit will flow from contextual knowledge on how to improve mental health for remote indigenous communities that also allows strengthening of communities and their economic and social enterprises. We will also build capacity in the communities for research skills, documentation skills, and writing skills. The types of contextual information collected will provide recommendations to mental health service providers about how to incorporate local forms of knowledge when dealing with issues of well-being.Read moreRead less
Working wounded or engaged? Australian work conditions and consequences through the lens of the Job Demands- Resources Model. Australian researchers will participate in high quality theory driven longitudinal research of crucial practical importance nationally and of theoretical importance internationally. Specifically the study will assist in understanding workplace health and productivity in terms of job conditions, demands and resources. It will underscore costly consequences of stressful j ....Working wounded or engaged? Australian work conditions and consequences through the lens of the Job Demands- Resources Model. Australian researchers will participate in high quality theory driven longitudinal research of crucial practical importance nationally and of theoretical importance internationally. Specifically the study will assist in understanding workplace health and productivity in terms of job conditions, demands and resources. It will underscore costly consequences of stressful jobs e.g. depression related workplace productivity loss in dollar terms. Australian governments, unions, and OHS organisations will have access to high quality evidence to: design and evaluate OHS interventions; inform prevention campaigns, policies and practice; benchmark progress at national levels; monitor changing trends; and develop national standards.Read moreRead less
Digital communication and work stress. This project aims to examine email load and its effects on work pressure, health, sleep and recovery using a national longitudinal design and innovative diary research. The project intends to advance theoretical and practical understanding of the well-being of staff and the impact of technological and competitiveness in the context of Australian universities. Expected outcomes include will address a gap in research by including casual employees, so that the ....Digital communication and work stress. This project aims to examine email load and its effects on work pressure, health, sleep and recovery using a national longitudinal design and innovative diary research. The project intends to advance theoretical and practical understanding of the well-being of staff and the impact of technological and competitiveness in the context of Australian universities. Expected outcomes include will address a gap in research by including casual employees, so that the findings can potentially benefit all occupational groups. In addition to assisting university management to attain healthier work environments, the project may benefit other Australian workers.Read moreRead less
How we remember and misremember traumatic experiences. The project addresses a significant and important problem: the role of memory distortion in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a global disorder with significant personal, societal and economic costs. The aim of this project is to empirically investigate the extent, causes and triggering conditions of errors in memory for traumatic experiences; particularly exaggeration of these memories, which has been linked to poor psychological adjus ....How we remember and misremember traumatic experiences. The project addresses a significant and important problem: the role of memory distortion in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a global disorder with significant personal, societal and economic costs. The aim of this project is to empirically investigate the extent, causes and triggering conditions of errors in memory for traumatic experiences; particularly exaggeration of these memories, which has been linked to poor psychological adjustment. Understanding how people exposed to trauma remember, and misremember, aspects of their experiences in ways that influence their recovery is both theoretically and practically important. Indeed, it will help us refine theory and identify possible points of intervention for PTSD sufferers.Read moreRead less
Understanding Ageism in Australia. Ageism refers to stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination towards people based on their age. This project aims to generate new knowledge in relation to older Australians’ experiences of ageism by conducting a population-based survey of ageism and examining its links with mental health and wellbeing. The project will also use intensive longitudinal methods to study everyday ageism. Expected outcomes include identification of at-risk groups that can be used to i ....Understanding Ageism in Australia. Ageism refers to stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination towards people based on their age. This project aims to generate new knowledge in relation to older Australians’ experiences of ageism by conducting a population-based survey of ageism and examining its links with mental health and wellbeing. The project will also use intensive longitudinal methods to study everyday ageism. Expected outcomes include identification of at-risk groups that can be used to inform government policy responses to tackling ageism and will inform the development of interventions and education programs to reduce ageism in the community. This should provide significant benefits for social inclusion, intergenerational solidarity and economic participation Read moreRead less
The prevalence and cross-cultural comparison of daytime sleepiness in adolescents. International research shows many teenagers have problems falling asleep and being sleepy during the day. This can be due to an irregular sleep pattern of insufficient sleep on school nights, and sleeping-in on weekends. These problems lead to poor outcomes, including poor school performance and negative moods. The aims of the project are to measure the extent of sleep problems in Australian teenagers and compare ....The prevalence and cross-cultural comparison of daytime sleepiness in adolescents. International research shows many teenagers have problems falling asleep and being sleepy during the day. This can be due to an irregular sleep pattern of insufficient sleep on school nights, and sleeping-in on weekends. These problems lead to poor outcomes, including poor school performance and negative moods. The aims of the project are to measure the extent of sleep problems in Australian teenagers and compare these to adolescents in the United States. Detection of teenager sleep problems in Australia could lead to significant community awareness and school policy developments as it has in the United States. Read moreRead less