Ageing well in a foreign land. Ageing well in a foreign land. This project aims to enhance well-being among people ageing in a foreign land, by understanding the best approaches to connect them. Older people from diverse cultural backgrounds are socially isolated as they age in a foreign land. This project will use a mixed methods approach to identify the factors that contribute to social isolation and low well-being; understand when and how engagement in ethnocultural and multicultural activiti ....Ageing well in a foreign land. Ageing well in a foreign land. This project aims to enhance well-being among people ageing in a foreign land, by understanding the best approaches to connect them. Older people from diverse cultural backgrounds are socially isolated as they age in a foreign land. This project will use a mixed methods approach to identify the factors that contribute to social isolation and low well-being; understand when and how engagement in ethnocultural and multicultural activities enhances social connectedness and well-being; and evaluate and determine key principles underlying effective identity-based interventions. The intended outcome of the project is a new policy model that builds Australia’s care capacity in tandem with its diverse ageing population.Read moreRead less
Breaking the cycle of homelessness: an identity change approach to enhance resilience and well-being. This project will explore the factors that contribute to the development of well-being and resilience among those who are homeless. We focus on the importance of social connections in enhancing resilience, well-being and breaking the cycle of homelessness. Findings will inform best practice guidelines and policy in emergency accommodation centres.
Antecedents of innovation vs. conservatism in rural industries and communities. This project will investigate antecedents of conservatism and innovation within rural communities and industries. Whilst effort, from government, community and industry, has focussed on social, economic and environmental reform, intended shifts in thinking and practice are frequently not realised. .Personality literature suggests individual differences in conservatism/innovation. Further, people are drawn towards ....Antecedents of innovation vs. conservatism in rural industries and communities. This project will investigate antecedents of conservatism and innovation within rural communities and industries. Whilst effort, from government, community and industry, has focussed on social, economic and environmental reform, intended shifts in thinking and practice are frequently not realised. .Personality literature suggests individual differences in conservatism/innovation. Further, people are drawn towards situations that satisfy intrinsic needs and away from situations that do not. The result may be greater concentrations of particular personality types in conservative industries and communities and a quite different concentration in innovative groups. Validation of this hypothesis would permit more appropriate and effective policy and management strategy.Read moreRead less
Understanding effective and satisfying communication between health providers and patients and its relationship with health outcomes. This project investigates the components of satisfying and effective consultations for both health professionals and patients, and their relationship with good health outcomes. This project takes an intergroup theoretical perspective to examine interpersonal interactions between health providers and patients. It examines differences in perceptions of role and co ....Understanding effective and satisfying communication between health providers and patients and its relationship with health outcomes. This project investigates the components of satisfying and effective consultations for both health professionals and patients, and their relationship with good health outcomes. This project takes an intergroup theoretical perspective to examine interpersonal interactions between health providers and patients. It examines differences in perceptions of role and communication strategies between in health professionals from different disciplines and between a broad range of patients types.Read moreRead less
A community based social identity approach to loneliness. Loneliness across Australia is a deep concern. Social prescribing is a novel community-based approach to managing loneliness, however it is unclear when and in what circumstances it is effective. This project aims to test a social identity approach to loneliness, incorporating longitudinal, cross-sectional, and experimental methods to understand how best to engage isolated people in group programs. The expected benefits of this project ar ....A community based social identity approach to loneliness. Loneliness across Australia is a deep concern. Social prescribing is a novel community-based approach to managing loneliness, however it is unclear when and in what circumstances it is effective. This project aims to test a social identity approach to loneliness, incorporating longitudinal, cross-sectional, and experimental methods to understand how best to engage isolated people in group programs. The expected benefits of this project are to produce a validated social prescribing model that can be implemented in multiple settings across Australia in order to reduce loneliness, strengthen communities, and guide more appropriate uses of health services.Read moreRead less
Emotional responses to comparisons in romantic relationships: implications for relationship wellbeing. This project will identify the nature of the emotions that stem from comparisons between romantic partners. It will reveal how these emotions in turn impact relationship dynamics and ultimately, relationship wellbeing. This research will provide important insights into the underlying processes that make some relationships thrive and others fail.
The role of implicit identity and implicit beliefs in recovery from mental illness. Although effective treatments have been developed for many mental disorders, some people still fail to recover when others with a similar psychological profile respond well to therapy. The proposed research addresses this conundrum by examining the role of unconscious identification with mental illnesses and the role it plays in recovery.
A longitudinal study into the development of personal vulnerabilities and well-being in adolescence. Character strengths such as empathy and emotion management skills are potentially teachable and help prevent an adolescent from experiencing difficulties in social, emotional, and academic adjustment. This longitudinal study examines the temperament and environmental factors that promote character strengths in adolescents.
Attachment security and relationship outcomes in adult adoptees: The moderating effects of family experiences and recent relationship events. Personal relationships are vital to well-being and to the structure of society; hence, factors involved in maintaining satisfying relationships are of prime importance. The relationship experiences of adult adoptees deserve particular attention. These individuals have lost the major persons with whom attachments normally form; further, given legislative ....Attachment security and relationship outcomes in adult adoptees: The moderating effects of family experiences and recent relationship events. Personal relationships are vital to well-being and to the structure of society; hence, factors involved in maintaining satisfying relationships are of prime importance. The relationship experiences of adult adoptees deserve particular attention. These individuals have lost the major persons with whom attachments normally form; further, given legislative changes, an increasing number are facing issues related to the search for birth parents. These studies, based on adult attachment theory, represent the first research program to systematically examine the links among adoption, family experiences, attachment security and relationship outcomes. The research has implications for policy and practice regarding adoption and post-adoption counselling.Read moreRead less
Hearing, social connectedness, and well-being of ageing adults in Australia. Hearing ability declines with age and hearing loss has a fundamental impact on an adult’s ability to communicate and, in turn, socially connect with others. This benchmark study aims to apply innovative, quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the real-world social connections of adults with hearing loss who use or do not use hearing aids. This project expects to increase understanding of the social impacts of a ....Hearing, social connectedness, and well-being of ageing adults in Australia. Hearing ability declines with age and hearing loss has a fundamental impact on an adult’s ability to communicate and, in turn, socially connect with others. This benchmark study aims to apply innovative, quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the real-world social connections of adults with hearing loss who use or do not use hearing aids. This project expects to increase understanding of the social impacts of age-related hearing loss and the relationship to hearing rehabilitation. The expected outcomes have the potential to guide research, policy, and practice for ageing Australians. This should provide significant benefits, such as reducing social isolation and enhancing the well-being of millions of Australians.Read moreRead less