ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4915-169X
Current Organisation
University of Queensland
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Research Topics
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Top 5 Research Topics
ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)
Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology | Psychology | Social and Community Psychology | Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified | Social Program Evaluation | Studies in the Creative Arts and Writing not elsewhere classified | Public Health and Health Services
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Social Structure and Health | Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health) not elsewhere classified | Community Service (excl. Work) not elsewhere classified | Substance Abuse | Health not elsewhere classified |
Related Links
Publications
Social isolation schema responds to positive social experiences: Longitudinal evidence from vulnerable populations
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-01-2014
DOI: 10.1111/BJC.12042
Abstract: Maladaptive schemas are stable cognitive working models of the world, learnt early in life, that interfere with effective functioning and underlie chronic mental illness. A major challenge for cognitive therapy has been how to modify schemas when they are so enduring and stable. We propose that because maladaptive schemas are formed through social experiences (typically abusive or neglectful ones), they might best be corrected through positive social experiences that directly challenge the schema. Two longitudinal studies were conducted, one with patients undergoing group cognitive-behavioural therapy (N = 92) and one with homeless in iduals residing in temporary accommodation (N = 76). In each study, social isolation schema was measured at Time 1 and again at Time 2 following a group-based social experience (group psychotherapy or temporary residence at a community organization). A positive experience of group life was operationalized as social identification with the therapy group in Study 1 or the community organization in Study 2. In both studies, social identification led to a significant reduction in social isolation schema. Study 2 indicated that these effects were fully mediated by the formation of ties to new social groups, such that social identification scaffolded the development of new group memberships, which in turn decreased the endorsement of maladaptive schema. Social identification facilitates the correction of socially situated schema such as social isolation. Maladaptive schemas are modifiable in short-term therapy or even in community settings. The experience of being accepted and belonging to a social group can challenge a person's deep-seated belief that they are socially isolated. Positive social experiences may act as scaffolding to help socially isolated in iduals build new social group memberships. Less positively, social isolation schema can also act as a feedback loop, preventing people from identifying with groups, resulting in a negative social experience that may further embed the schema. Further research is needed to determine how clinicians might facilitate social identification.
Misery loves company: Predictors of treatment response to a loneliness intervention
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 20-11-2023
DOI: 10.1080/10503307.2022.2143300
Abstract: The last 10 years have seen a surge of interest in loneliness and interventions to reduce it. However, there is little evidence regarding differential treatment effectiveness and predictors of treatment outcome. This paper aimed to investigate possible predictors of treatment response. We analysed data from two clinical trials of an evidence-based loneliness intervention: Groups 4 Health (G4H). Study 1 had 163 observations across two timepoints, Across both trials, participants with more severe baseline loneliness or social anxiety, or who attended more sessions, experienced greater improvement in loneliness. In Study 2, those with diagnosed mental illness or more severe baseline depression also tended to have better outcomes. There was no evidence that age, gender, or ethnicity predicted program efficacy. Overall, those with greater need-reflected in either severity of loneliness or psychological distress-tended to show greater improvement over time. This was due, in part, to greater engagement with the program among those who were lonelier. We discuss how loneliness interventions can be deployed most effectively to combat this profound public health challenge.
Individual and interpersonal emotion regulation among adults with substance use disorders and matched controls
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-12-2018
DOI: 10.1111/BJC.12168
Two pathways through adversity: Predicting well-being and housing outcomes among homeless service users
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-09-2016
DOI: 10.1111/BJSO.12127
How Groups Affect Our Health and Well-Being: The Path from Theory to Policy
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1111/SIPR.12003
Loneliness, Belonging, and Mental Health in Australian University Students Pre- and Post-COVID-19
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 27-05-2022
DOI: 10.1017/BEC.2022.6
Abstract: The move to online learning during COVID-19 deprived first-year students of friendships and other sources of social support that could buffer against stress during their transition to university. These effects may have been worse for international students than domestic students as many were subjected to travel restrictions or quarantine in addition to the usual stressors. This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on social connectedness and mental health of first-year students enrolled in a metropolitan university in Australia. The study involved 1239 students (30.4% international) and used a 3 (cohorts: 2019, 2020, 2021) × 2 (enrolment status: domestic and international) between-group design. Results showed that both loneliness and university belonging were significantly worse during the first year of COVID-19 compared to the year before or after. Contrary to expectation, domestic students were lonelier than international students across all cohorts. Multiple-group memberships did not change. As predicted, loneliness was moderately to highly correlated with the number of stressors, psychological distress, and (lower) well-being, whereas university belonging and multiple-group memberships were related to positive mental health outcomes. These findings highlight the need for initiatives that promote student connectedness and mental health as the university sector recovers from COVID-19.
Identification with arts-based groups improves mental wellbeing in adults with chronic mental health conditions
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 29-05-2018
Abstract: People experiencing chronic mental health conditions often report feeling socially marginalised. There is emerging evidence that social and mental wellbeing can be enhanced through arts-based programs. In this paper, a social identity theoretical approach was applied to explore how participation in the arts may improve mental health in a longitudinal study. A one-year prospective study of 34 choir members and 25 creative writing group members (Mage = 46, 51% female) with chronic mental health conditions, involved three assessments of participants’ group identification and mental wellbeing, measured by the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. The programs were community-based and facilitated by arts professionals. Multilevel modelling analyses demonstrated that participants’ mental wellbeing significantly improved over time. Greater identification with their arts based group was significantly related to an increased rate of improvement in mental wellbeing. The trajectory of improvement in mental wellbeing did not differ between participants partaking in the choir or creative writing group. This study demonstrates that participation in arts-based groups can be effective in improving mental wellbeing in adults with chronic mental health problems, particularly for those who strongly identify with the group. This study supports arts-based group participation as an accessible component of mental health services.
A systematic review of the methodologies used in research related to adult drug and alcohol rehabilitation in therapeutic communities published 2000-2013
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 14-12-2015
Abstract: – The purpose of this paper is to summarize research conducted in long-term residential rehabilitation centers, including therapeutic communities (TCs), in order to further clarify the effectiveness of this treatment approach and to evaluate the quality of TC research conducted in the period 2000-2013. – The composite search engine UQ database Summon were used to find articles with “Therapeutic Community” as title words, and the search was limited to adult participants, peer-reviewed articles, published between January 2000 and June 2013 in the English language. The review was conducted using Cochrane Collaboration methods and reported under the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses guidelines. – In total, 25 studies met inclusion criteria for the review and represented data from n =5,923 participants in the USA, Australia, Spain, England, and Belgium. Evidence supports the TC approach for a erse range of in iduals who misuse a range of substances. Several studies reported a relationship between retention and outcomes however dropout from treatment is a widespread issue. A paucity of research using multiple time points precludes any firm conclusions regarding the optimal length of treatment in a TC. There is a lack of research on the interplay between in idual and community-level factors on client well-being, retention, and longer term outcomes. – This review highlights the need for TC research that includes multiple time points and follow-up assessments, and measures of change in theoretically meaningful constructs alongside standard measures of demographics, substance use, and psychiatric symptoms. – The reporting format of TC research should be better standardized in order to create a better basis for research comparison. More standardized reporting would also allow for effect size analysis, and create a more efficacious evidence base. – This updates the systematic review body of research.
Expanding the social cure: a mixed-methods approach exploring the role of online group dance as support for young people (aged 16-24) living with anxiety.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 12-04-2023
Abstract: There is an increased interest in whether online arts interventions support mental health and social connections. This study explored eight weeks of online group dance as support for young people (aged 16-24) living with anxiety. The applicability of the ‘social cure’ theoretical framework to the novel context of an online dance class was sought. The study utilised an embedded QUAL+quan design, incorporating participatory focus group discussions (n=3 groups n=11 participants) and one-on-one interviews (n=2 participants), creative reflections (n=16 participants) and ethnographic fieldnotes, and a repeated measures design with surveys at three timepoints (week 1, n=27 week 4, n=18 week 8, n=14). Thematic analysis identified two overarching themes demonstrating how the dance classes i) provided the opportunity to co-construct a meaningful shared identity and ii) supported holistic wellbeing. This was supported by the quantitative findings suggesting lower anxiety, depression, and loneliness, and higher group bonding, self-esteem, and self-efficacy over time. This study expands the social cure to its application to an online dance class for the first time.
Does crying help? Development of the beliefs about crying scale (BACS)
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 18-06-2019
DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2018.1488243
Abstract: Crying is often considered to be a positive experience that benefits the crier, yet there is little empirical evidence to support this. Indeed, it seems that people hold a range of appraisals about their crying, and these are likely to influence the effects of crying on their emotional state. This paper reports on the development and psychometric validation of the Beliefs about Crying Scale (BACS), a new measure assessing beliefs about whether crying leads to positive or negative emotional outcomes in in idual and interpersonal contexts. Using 40 preliminary items drawn from a qualitative study, an exploratory factor analysis with 202 participants (50% female aged 18-84 years) yielded three subscales: Helpful Beliefs, Unhelpful-In idual Beliefs, and Unhelpful-Social Beliefs, explaining 60% of the variance in the data. Confirmatory factor analysis on the 14-item scale with 210 participants (71% female aged 17-48 years) showed a good fit to the three factors. The subscales showed differential relationships with measures of personality traits, crying proneness, emotion regulation and expressivity, and emotional identification (alexithymia). The BACS provides a nuanced understanding of beliefs about crying in different contexts and helps to explain why crying behaviour may not always represent positive emotion regulation for the crier.
I Get Knocked Down but I Get Up Again: The Effects of Listening to Music When Sad on Young Adults
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 11-04-2018
Abstract: *THIS PAPER HAS NOT YET BEEN PEER REVIEWED* Listening to music is a strategy many people use to regulate their emotions, especially sadness. However, there is disagreement about whether listening to music is a healthy way to regulate emotions, with some research finding that sad music worsens a sad state, especially for people high in rumination. To further explore the immediate consequences of music listening when sad 128 young adults (41% male, aged 18 to 25 years) were induced into a sad emotional state prior to random assignment to listening of either self-selected music, experimenter-selected sad music, or no music. Results revealed that listening to either self-selectedor experimenter-selected music led to a decrease in sadness. No difference was found between groups at post-listening. However, participants who listened to self-selected music reported a return to baseline levels of sadness, while this did not occur for participants who listened to experimenter-selected or were in the no music control. Rumination was also measured but did not moderate the impact of music listening on sadness for either musiccondition. Furthermore, there was no impact of rumination on participants’ perceptions of sadness in music. These results support the notion that listening to sad music does not worsen a sad state—even for those high in rumination—although it does appear to slow the emotion regulation process in cases where sad music is not self-selected.
Craving mediates the effect of impulsivity on lapse-risk during alcohol use disorder treatment
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2020
Alcohol expectancies pre-and post-alcohol use disorder treatment: Clinical implications
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2018
With a little help from my friends: cognitive-behavioral skill utilization, social networks, and psychological distress in SMART Recovery group attendees
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 19-09-2019
Efficacy and Outcomes of a Music-Based Emotion Regulation Mobile App in Distressed Young People: Randomized Controlled Trial
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 16-01-2019
DOI: 10.2196/11482
Exploring links between social identity, emotion regulation, and loneliness in those with and without a history of mental illness
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-02-2022
DOI: 10.1111/BJC.12358
Abstract: Emotion regulation and social identity theorizing provide two influential perspectives on loneliness. From an emotion regulation perspective, loneliness is understood as a negative emotional state that can be managed using emotion regulation strategies. A social identity perspective views loneliness as resulting from a loss or lack of important social groups and related identities. This study aimed to explore the relationships between key constructs drawn from both perspectives, with a view to understanding loneliness in adults with and without a history of mental illness. Participants ( N = 875) with a mental illness history (MH Hx, n = 217 M age = 45 years, 59% female) and without a mental illness history (No MH Hx, n = 658 M age = 47 years, 48% female) completed a survey comprising measures of group membership and connectedness, emotion regulation strategies, and loneliness. The MH Hx group reported higher internal affect worsening strategy use and loneliness than those No MH Hx. Hierarchical regressions indicated that the unique contributions of emotion regulation strategies and social identity factors to loneliness were equivalent between the groups. Together, social identity and emotion regulation explained 37% of the variance in loneliness in the No MH Hx subs le and 35% in the MH Hx subs le. These findings suggest that both emotion regulation and social identity had significant unique contributions to the reported loneliness of people when controlling for demographics and each other in those with and without a history of mental illness. Integration of the two frameworks may provide novel avenues for the prevention and management of loneliness. In iduals with a history of mental illness report more use of internal emotion worsening regulation strategies and greater loneliness than those with no such history, but there were no differences in social identity factors. Internal emotion worsening strategies and social support received from others explained the variance in reported loneliness for both those with and without a history of mental illness. Internal emotion improving strategies were significant for those with a history of mental illness, while social support given was significant for those without a history of mental illness. Screening clients for emotion regulation difficulties, social disconnectedness, and loneliness may provide clinicians with an indication of risk for developing psychological distress/disorders.
Negative valence specific deficits in judgements of musical affective quality in alexithymia
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-01-2021
DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2019.1707514
Abstract: Alexithymia is characterised by a lack of words for emotional experiences and it has been implicated in deficits in emotion processing. Research in this area has typically focused on judgements of discrete emotions rather than of affect, which is a precursor to emotion construction. In the current study, higher alexithymia was predicted to be related to more neutral judgements of valence and arousal of music representing a range of emotions. Participants (
Development of emotion recognition in popular music and vocal bursts
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 05-12-2020
DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2019.1700482
Abstract: Previous research on the development of emotion recognition in music has focused on classical, rather than popular music. Such research does not consider the impact of lyrics on judgements of emotion in music, impact that may differ throughout development. We had 172 children, adolescents, and adults (7- to 20-year-olds) judge emotions in popular music. In song excerpts, the melody of the music and the lyrics had either congruent valence (e.g. happy lyrics and melody), or incongruent valence (e.g. scared lyrics, happy melody). We also examined participants' judgements of vocal bursts, and whether emotion identification was linked to emotion lexicon. Recognition of emotions in congruent music increased with age. For incongruent music, age was positively associated with judging the emotion in music by the melody. For incongruent music with happy or sad lyrics, younger participants were more likely to answer with the emotion of the lyrics. For scared incongruent music, older adolescents were more likely to answer with the lyrics than older and younger participants. Age groups did not differ on their emotion lexicons, nor recognition of emotion in vocal bursts. Whether children use lyrics or melody to determine the emotion of popular music may depend on the emotion conveyed.
Predictors of Flexibility in Social Identity Among People Entering a Therapeutic Community for Substance Abuse
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-01-2015
MAVIS: science case, imager, and spectrograph
Publisher: SPIE
Date: 13-12-2020
DOI: 10.1117/12.2561930
GROUPS 4 HEALTH reduces loneliness and social anxiety in adults with psychological distress: Findings from a randomized controlled trial
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 09-2019
DOI: 10.1037/CCP0000427
Abstract: Loneliness is a key public health issue for which various interventions have been trialed. However, few directly target the core feature of loneliness-lack of belonging. This is the focus of Groups 4 Health (G4H), a recently developed intervention that targets the development and maintenance of social group memberships to support health. To investigate the efficacy of this intervention, a randomized controlled trial was conducted with participants (N = 120) assigned to G4H or treatment-as-usual (TAU) by computer software. Assessment of primary (loneliness) and secondary (depression, social anxiety, general practitioner visits, multiple group membership) outcomes was conducted at baseline and 2-month follow-up using mixed-model repeated-measures analyses. G4H produced a greater reduction in loneliness (d = -1.04) and social anxiety (d = -0.46) than TAU (d = -0.33 and d = 0.03, respectively). G4H was also associated with fewer general practitioner visits at follow-up (d = -0.33) and a stronger sense of belonging to multiple groups (d = 0.52) relative to TAU (d = 0.30 and d = 0.33, respectively). Depression declined significantly in both G4H (d = -0.63) and TAU (d = -0.34), but follow-up analyses showed this was greater in G4H among those not receiving adjunct psychopharmacological treatment and whose symptoms were milder. Findings suggest that G4H can be a useful way to treat loneliness and highlight the importance of attending to group memberships when tackling this important social challenge. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Young adults’ sexual health in the digital age: Perspectives of care providers
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
The effects of social group interventions for depression: Systematic review
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2021
Comparing the Effects of Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM), Music and LKM Plus Music on Psychological Well-Being
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 28-12-2019
Social identity, social networks and recovery capital in emerging adulthood: A pilot study
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-11-2015
The Relationship of Gender Roles and Beliefs to Crying in an International Sample
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 10-10-2019
The influence of music on emotions and cravings in clients in addiction treatment: A study of two clinical samples
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2015
Social Identity Mapping in Addiction Recovery (SIM-AR): extension and application of a visual method
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 16-01-2019
How to tame your BAS: Reward sensitivity and music involvement
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2016
Efficacy and Outcomes of a Music-Based Emotion Regulation Mobile App in Distressed Young People: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 04-07-2018
Abstract: motion dysregulation increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Music can help regulate emotions, and mobile phones provide constant access to it. The Music eScape mobile app teaches young people how to identify and manage emotions using music. his study aimed to examine the effects of using Music eScape on emotion regulation, distress, and well-being at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months. Moderators of outcomes and user ratings of app quality were also examined. randomized controlled trial compared immediate versus 1-month delayed access to Music eScape in 169 young people (aged 16 to 25 years) with at least mild levels of mental distress (Kessler 10 score ). o significant differences between immediate and delayed groups on emotion regulation, distress, or well-being were found at 1 month. Both groups achieved significant improvements in 5 of the 6 emotion regulation skills, mental distress, and well-being at 2, 3, and 6 months. Unhealthy music use moderated improvements on 3 emotion regulation skills. Users gave the app a high mean quality rating (mean 3.8 [SD 0.6]) out of 5. usic eScape has the potential to provide a highly accessible way of improving young people’s emotion regulation skills, but further testing is required to determine its efficacy. Targeting unhealthy music use in distressed young people may improve their emotion regulation skills. ustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000051549 www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=365974
Music as an auditory cue for emotions and cravings in adults with substance use disorders
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 02-04-2016
Abstract: Music is commonly found in substance using contexts yet little is known about whether music acts as an auditory cue for emotions and cravings that might lead to substance use. The current study addressed two questions: first, whether in iduals in treatment for substance use disorders (SUD) show different emotional responses to music compared to matched controls, and second, whether music listening can increase and reduce cravings to use substances in in iduals with SUD. Participants were 19 adults in residential treatment for SUD and 19 healthy adults matched for age and gender (both s les had a mean age of 31 years and 53% males). There were significant between-group differences in emotional response to relaxing, happy, and sad music – in particular, participants with SUD showed a d ened response to happy music. Furthermore, after listening to a participant-selected song related to their substance use, in iduals with SUD experienced an increase in cravings, while after listening to a nominated abstinent song, there was a decrease in cravings. These results show that music may act as a mild auditory cue for emotions and cravings in adults with SUD. Potential uses of music in SUD treatment are discussed, such as musical stimuli for cue exposure.
Experiences of Reproductive Coercion in Queensland Women
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 05-05-2019
Abstract: Reproductive coercion is any interference with a person’s reproductive autonomy that seeks to control if and when they become pregnant, and whether the pregnancy is maintained or terminated. It includes sabotage of contraceptive methods and intervention in a woman’s access to health care. Our study sought to explore the prevalence and associations with reproductive coercion within Queensland, Australia, where legislation addressing domestic violence and abortion are largely state based and undergoing a period of law reform. The study was a retrospective analysis of 3,117 Queensland women who contacted a telephone counseling and information service regarding an unplanned pregnancy. All data were collected by experienced counselors regarding circumstances within a current pregnancy between January 2015 and July 2017. Overall, experience of current domestic violence was significantly more likely to co-occur with reproductive coercion (21.1%) compared with reproductive coercion identified in the absence of other domestic violence (3.1%). Furthermore, significantly more mental health issues were reported by 36.6% of women affected by reproductive coercion, compared with 14.1% of women with no reproductive coercion present. Disclosure for reproductive coercion, violence, and mental health issues was much higher among women who made a repeat contact to the counselors about their pregnancy (17.8%) compared with those who disclosed at first contact (5.9%). These findings demonstrate the importance for health services to ensure that appropriate screening (and re-screening) for reproductive coercion is completed as a distinct part of screening for violence during a health care relationship.
Depression and Social Identity: An Integrative Review
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 12-04-2014
Abstract: Social relationships play a key role in depression. This is apparent in its etiology, symptomatology, and effective treatment. However, there has been little consensus about the best way to conceptualize the link between depression and social relationships. Furthermore, the extensive social-psychological literature on the nature of social relationships, and in particular, research on social identity, has not been integrated with depression research. This review presents evidence that social connectedness is key to understanding the development and resolution of clinical depression. The social identity approach is then used as a basis for conceptualizing the role of social relationships in depression, operationalized in terms of six central hypotheses. Research relevant to these hypotheses is then reviewed. Finally, we present an agenda for future research to advance theoretical and empirical understanding of the link between social identity and depression, and to translate the insights of this approach into clinical practice.
Tuned In Emotion Regulation Program Using Music Listening: Effectiveness for Adolescents in Educational Settings
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 07-06-2016
Smoke into Sound: A pilot randomised controlled trial of a music cravings management program for chronic smokers attempting to quit
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 23-05-2017
Abstract: Chronic smokers display greater cravings and higher dependence on nicotine than smokers who successfully quit, which indicates a need for novel interventions that address cravings. Smoke into Sound is an online interactive program that uses personalised music-listening to assist participants to manage emotional states and cravings that act as cues for their smoking. This study describes a pilot randomised trial of Smoke into Sound (MUSIC) in comparison to current best practice cognitive behaviour therapy programs delivered online and by telephone (CBTE) or by telephone only (CBTT). Participants were 55 chronic smokers aged 18 to 66 years (45% females) who completed an online questionnaire before being randomly assigned to one of the three conditions: MUSIC, CBTE or CBTT. The 38 participants remaining 6 weeks later completed a post-program online questionnaire to assess smoking status craving strength self-efficacy for cessation and confidence in regulating emotions without smoking. Almost half (45%) of the s le had stopped smoking at the post-program assessment, with similar proportions of participants in each condition no longer smoking. Participants in the MUSIC and CBTE conditions had greater reductions in craving strength and improvements in emotion regulation than those in the CBTT. The findings indicate that chronic smokers responded equally well to the music emotion regulation strategies as to the CBT strategies for smoking cessation. Smoke into Sound is the first program to our knowledge that applies music psychology theory to an intervention for addictive behaviour.
Low Mood Leads to Increased Empathic Distress at Seeing Others’ Pain
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 20-11-2018
Changes in posttraumatic stress disorders symptoms during and after therapeutic community drug and alcohol treatment
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 12-12-2016
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the changes in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology during treatment in a drug and alcohol therapeutic community. A repeated measures design was employed that looked at PTSD, depression, anxiety, and stress at a pre- and post-timepoint. A second s le was then evaluated at time of program completion to seven months post-treatment. PTSD symptomatology significantly decreased in in iduals who had undertaken treatment, and continued to decline post-treatment. This finding was irrespective of any PTSD-specific treatment. PTSD specific treatment is not necessary to lower the symptomatology. Furthermore, this provides evidence that PTSD and substance use disorders are so highly intertwined that the comorbidity can almost be considered a single, diagnosis. This is a partial replication of previous research which had not previously been replicated. This research also adds to the limited research which looks at PTSD from the perspective of drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
The Impact of Self-Categorizing as “Homeless” on Well-Being and Service Use
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-10-2015
DOI: 10.1111/ASAP.12089
Social identity differentiation predicts commitment to sobriety and wellbeing in residents of therapeutic communities
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2019.112459
Abstract: Therapeutic communities (TC) for alcohol and other drug treatment rely strongly on social factors as agents of recovery an approach known as 'community-as-method'. This study adopted a social identity approach in examining the relative strength of participants' recovery group identity and substance using group identity at admission (T1) and after six months (T2) in a TC. Were to investigate whether identity differentiation - the extent to which respondents see themselves more as belonging to recovery groups than belonging to substance using groups - (a) is related to in iduals' primary substance of concern (i.e., hetamine type stimulants alcohol other drugs), and (b) predicts positive indicators of recovery six months after entering a therapeutic community. Adults (N = 307) entering one of five Australian therapeutic communities (TC) completed measures of identification (user, recovery), commitment to sobriety, psychological distress, and personal wellbeing. Participants' endorsement of the user and recovery identity at T1 and T2 did not differ as a function of primary substance of concern. User identity diminished over the six months while recovery identity remained high, regardless of primary drug category. Identity differentiation measured at T2 accounted for 20-25% variance in commitment to sobriety and wellbeing, after accounting for participant demographics, addiction severity, and T1 identity variables. These findings highlight the importance of the relative strength of recovery over substance use related identities in supporting recovery indicators and the central role of the TC in supporting this trajectory.
Perceptions of loneliness among people accessing treatment for substance use disorders
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2020
DOI: 10.1111/DAR.13120
Associations Between Unintended Pregnancy, Domestic Violence, and Sexual Assault in a Population of Queensland Women
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 24-10-2019
Reducing loneliness among people with substance use disorders: Feasibility of ‘Groups for Belonging’
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2020
DOI: 10.1111/DAR.13121
The Social Determinants of Loneliness During COVID-19: Personal, Community, and Societal Predictors and Implications for Treatment
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 04-2023
DOI: 10.1017/BEC.2023.3
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered social determinants of health including work, education, social connections, movement, and perceived control and loneliness was commonly experienced. This longitudinal study examined how social determinants at the personal (micro), community (meso), and societal (macro) levels predicted loneliness during the pandemic. Participants were 2056 Australian adults surveyed up to three times over 18 months in 2020 and 2021. Multi-level mixed-effect regressions were conducted predicting loneliness from social determinants at baseline and two follow-ups. Loneliness was associated with numerous micro determinants: male gender, lifetime diagnosis of a mental health disorder, experience of recent stressful event(s), low income, living alone or couples with children, living in housing with low natural light, noise, and major building defects. Lower resilience and perceived control over health and life were also associated with greater loneliness. At the meso level, reduced engagement with social groups, living in inner regional areas, and living in neighbourhoods with low levels of belongingness and collective resilience was associated with increased loneliness. At the macro level, increased loneliness was associated with State/Territory of residence. Therapeutic initiatives must go beyond psychological intervention, and must recognise the social determinants of loneliness at the meso and macro levels.
Social Identities as Pathways into and out of Addiction
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 30-11-2015
Correction: Having a lot of a good thing: Multiple important group memberships as a source of self-esteem
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 15-06-2015
Stress, wellbeing, and help seeking in first year university students
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 15-01-2021
Abstract: The transition into the first year at university can be a difficult adjustment to new students. The majority of lifetime mental disorders onset by the mid-20s, making undergraduate students in this age-range most at risk for mental illness onset. This project surveyed first year students about the factors that cause them stress, the coping strategies they find helpful, their preferred help-seeking options, and what potential barriers prevent them from seeking help when required. The project further investigated wellbeing and mental health of domestic and international first year students, and correlated these measures with their end of semester academic achievement. The final s le consisted of 475 participants (61.9% domestic students, 38.1% international students Mage(international) = 21.61, Mage(domestic) = 18.89). The survey revealed that domestic students reported a greater number of stressors than international students overall, whereas the international students reported more components of academic study as causes of stress. The survey indicates that domestic and international students show similar levels of well-being, although domestic students reported significantly more stressors and more psychological symptoms than international students, and also showed more risky alcohol consumption. Furthermore, GPA is similar between domestic and international students, and for domestic students at least, higher semester GPA is associated with reporting fewer stressors and fewer psychological symptoms earlier in the semester. The findings also suggest that University staff could better communicate to students where to seek help and that it is available to anyone who considers that they are struggling.
Groups 4 Health: Evidence that a social-identity intervention that builds and strengthens social group membership improves mental health
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.JAD.2016.01.010
Abstract: Social isolation and disconnection have profound negative effects on mental health, but there are few, if any, theoretically-derived interventions that directly target this problem. We evaluate a new intervention, Groups 4 Health (G4H), a manualized 5-module psychological intervention that targets the development and maintenance of social group relationships to treat psychological distress arising from social isolation. G4H was tested using a non-randomized control design. The program was delivered to young adults presenting with social isolation and affective disturbance. Primary outcome measures assessed mental health (depression, general anxiety, social anxiety, and stress), well-being (life satisfaction, self-esteem) and social connectedness (loneliness, social functioning). Our secondary goal was to assess whether mechanisms of social identification were responsible for changes in outcomes. G4H was found to significantly improve mental health, well-being, and social connectedness on all measures, both on program completion and 6-month follow-up. In line with social identity theorizing, analysis also showed that improvements in depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness, and life satisfaction were underpinned by participants' increased identification both with their G4H group and with multiple groups. This study provides preliminary evidence of the potential value of G4H and its underlying mechanisms, but further examination is required in other populations to address issues of generalizability, and in randomized controlled trials to address its wider efficacy. Results of this pilot study confirm that G4H has the potential to reduce the negative health-related consequences of social disconnection. Future research will determine its utility in wider community contexts.
Enhancing Well-being of Homeless Individuals by Building Group Memberships
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-04-2016
DOI: 10.1002/CASP.2272
Tuned In: The effectiveness for young adults of a group emotion regulation program using music listening
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 19-10-2017
Abstract: This article presents a description and pilot evaluation of Tuned In, a brief group intervention using music listening to teach young people emotional awareness and regulation skills. The program is underpinned by a two-dimensional (valence and arousal) model of emotion and activities to enhance participants’ emotional responses while listening to music. The four-session program was piloted with 51 university students aged 18–25 years (67% female). Approximately a third of the s le was above the normal range for depression, anxiety or stress symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to Tuned In or a wait-list control. Tuned In involved groups of around eight participants with two psychologist facilitators. Tuned In participants experienced greater improvement in emotional awareness and clarity and total emotion regulation than controls. Weekly ratings pooled for the entire s le (after the wait-listed participants had completed Tuned In) indicated significant improvements over time in emotional awareness, ability to name emotions, and ability to regulate emotions. Ratings of engagement were high and the overall attendance rate was 98%. Tuned In shows promise as a brief emotion regulation intervention for young adults.
Feeling connected again: Interventions that increase social identification reduce depression symptoms in community and clinical settings
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.JAD.2014.02.019
Abstract: Clinical depression is often preceded by social withdrawal, however, limited research has examined whether depressive symptoms are alleviated by interventions that increase social contact. In particular, no research has investigated whether social identification (the sense of being part of a group) moderates the impact of social interventions. We test this in two longitudinal intervention studies. In Study 1 (N=52), participants at risk of depression joined a community recreation group in Study 2 (N=92) adults with diagnosed depression joined a clinical psychotherapy group. In both the studies, social identification predicted recovery from depression after controlling for initial depression severity, frequency of attendance, and group type. In Study 2, benefits of social identification were larger for depression symptoms than for anxiety symptoms or quality of life. Social identification is subjective and psychological, and therefore participants could not be randomly assigned to high and low social identification conditions. Findings have implications for health practitioners in clinical and community settings, suggesting that facilitating social participation is effective and cost-effective in treating depression.
Dingle et al_Agenda for Best Practice Research in Group Singing Health and Wellbeing_Music & Science in press
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 15-06-2019
Abstract: This paper summarises the 18 authors' collective thoughts in relation to priority questions for future group singing research, theoretical frameworks, potential solutions for design and ethical challenges, quantitative measures, qualitative methods, and whether there is scope for a benchmarking set of measures across singing projects. With eight key recommendations, the paper sets an agenda for best practice research on group singing.
Social group membership before treatment for substance dependence predicts early identification and engagement with treatment communities
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 09-01-2019
A controlled evaluation of the effect of social prescribing programs on loneliness for adults in Queensland, Australia (protocol)
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-07-2022
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-022-13743-3
Abstract: In social prescribing, link workers support in iduals whose persistent health problems are exacerbated by loneliness by connecting them to community-based social activities. This approach is well established in the UK and is gaining attention in Australia. However, a major limitation of research to date has been a lack of theoretically informed and rigorous evaluations of social prescribing. We will address these points in this study, applying a social identity framework to examine the effects of group-based social prescribing (SP) activity compared to primary care treatment as usual (TAU). Ninety participants experiencing loneliness recruited from primary care services and community centres across five sites in Southeast Queensland will be assigned to one of two conditions (SP, TAU) and assessed at two timepoints (baseline, + 8 weeks). In iduals will be aged 18 years and over, have sufficient English language skills to provide consent, and at the time of recruitment they will not be experiencing acute symptoms or social issues that require urgent intervention. Primary outcomes are loneliness, mental well-being, and health service use (total number of GP, hospital, and allied health visits in the past 3 months). Secondary outcomes will assess social group processes, including number of important social groups, new group identification, multiple identity compatibility, and group-based support and emotion regulation. This study will provide comprehensive data about the extent to which, and how, social prescribing to community-based group activities may help people to feel less lonely, more socially integrated, and healthy over the first 8 weeks. If effective, this social identity-informed model of social prescribing can be disseminated in communities across Australia. ANZCTR, Registered 8 June 2022 - Retrospectively registered, www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12622000801718.aspx
Social isolation predicts frequent attendance in primary care
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 03-02-2018
DOI: 10.1093/ABM/KAX054
Abstract: Frequent attenders in primary care have complex physical and mental healthcare needs as well as low satisfaction with their health care. Interventions targeting mental health or psychoeducation have not been effective in reducing attendance. Here, we test the proposition that both frequent attendance and poor health are partly explained by unmet social needs (i.e., limited social group support networks). Study 1 (N = 1,752) was a large, cross-sectional community s le of primary care attenders in Scotland. Study 2 (N = 79) was a longitudinal study of a group of young people undergoing a life transition (moving countries and commencing university) that increased their risk of frequent attendance. Study 3 (N = 46) was a pre-post intervention study examining whether disadvantaged adults who joined a social group subsequently had reduced frequency of primary care attendance. All three studies found that low social group connectedness was associated with a higher frequency of primary care attendance. This was not attributable to poorer health among those who were socially isolated. In Study 3, joining a social group led to reduced primary care attendance to the extent that participants experienced a (subjective) increase in their social group connectedness. Unmet social needs among frequent attenders warrant closer consideration. Interventions that target social group connectedness show promise for reducing overutilization of primary care services.
Mater Young Adults Health Centre Arts in Health Project Report
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 07-04-2022
Abstract: The aims of the project were to implement a new arts in health program within a young adults health centre and to evaluate the potential benefits to participants’ wellbeing and psychosocial functioning over and above their treatment as usual, which was in idual medical and allied health appointments. The study had a 2 x 2 design, with two conditions: arts groups versus treatment as usual control (TAU) and two time points: pre- and post-program or 6 weeks later (for the TAU). Participantswere 38 patients of the Young Adults Health Centre recruited to the study, 22 enrolled in an arts group and 16 TAU controls recruited from various clinic waiting rooms. Their average age was 21 years (SD = 3 years), and 74% were female. Results indicate that participation in an arts group did benefit participants’ quality of life over and above treatment as usual, in particular in the domains of independent living, relationships, and coping. It appears that the main psychosocial mechanism by which these quality of life improvements occurred was through social connectedness. There is evidence from this study that participants in the arts group programs moved from identifying strongly with their health condition to identifying with their arts based group, a new positive social identity.
Children’s recognition of emotion in music and speech
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 2018
Abstract: The acoustic cues that convey emotion in speech are similar to those that convey emotion in music, and recognition of emotion in both of these types of cue recruits overlapping networks in the brain. Given the similarities between music and speech prosody, developmental research is uniquely positioned to determine whether recognition of these cues develops in parallel. In the present study, we asked 60 children aged 6 to 11 years, and 51 university students, to judge the emotions of 10 musical excerpts, 10 inflected speech clips, and 10 affect burst clips. We presented stimuli intended to convey happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and pride. Each emotion was presented twice per type of stimulus. We found that recognition of emotions in music and speech developed in parallel, and adult-levels of recognition develop later for these stimuli than for affect bursts. We also found that sad stimuli were most easily recognised, followed by happiness, fear, and then anger. In addition, we found that recognition of emotion in speech and affect bursts can predict emotion recognition in music stimuli independently of age and musical training. Finally, although proud speech and affect bursts were not well recognised, children aged eight years and older showed adult-like responses in recognition of proud music.
Sharper Minds 2021 Pilot Report
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 03-01-2022
Abstract: Sharper Minds is a stepped care package designed by the researchers in collaboration with students and UQ Health Care providers to increase awareness and use of mental health prevention strategies among first year university students. The package was 'soft launched' in 2021, and this report presents findings from the pilot evaluation. The pilot adopted a non-randomised controlled design with 266 students (33% international students). Of these, 157 were in the INTERVENTION condition (students who participated in any aspect of the Sharper Minds package: app tracker or one of the short courses) and 109 were in the CONTROL condition (students who completed pre and post surveys only). Results showed a significantly greater benefit to students in the Intervention v Control on pre to post changes in % screening positive for mental health problems, and scores on measures of depression, wellbeing, and loneliness. Students in both conditions improved across semester on measures of anxiety, somatic symptoms, number of academic stressors and number of COVID-19 related stressors. The pilot also provided practical training for 15 Masters in Psychology students and 2 Masters in Dietetics students and research thesis projects for 1 Masters in Clinical Psychology student 21 Psychology Honours students and 5 Exercise Physiology Honours students.
Personal autonomy in group-based interventions
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-07-2017
DOI: 10.1002/EJSP.2230
Breaking the cycle of homelessness: Housing stability and social support as predictors of long-term well-being
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 20-11-2016
Discrimination and well-being amongst the homeless: the role of multiple group membership
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 06-2015
Drinking not thinking: A prospective study of personality traits and drinking motives on alcohol consumption across the first year of university
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2015
Social networks and recovery (SONAR): characteristics of a longitudinal outcome study in five therapeutic communities in Australia
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 12-09-2016
Enhancing mental health recovery by joining arts-based groups: A role for social identification
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 29-05-2018
Abstract: Emerging evidence suggests that arts-based programs are helpful in mental health treatment, however, the research has lacked a cohesive and compelling theoretical framework. This study explored how the psychological mechanisms involved in participating in a choir and a creative writing group relate to a social identity theoretical approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 choir members, and 23 creative writing group members at two time points. A thematic analysis revealed that the programs provided participants with a new group identity and renewed participants’ creative identities. These identities frame how the groups meet psychological needs (belonging, esteem, agency, purpose, and hedonic enjoyment) on both a collective and in idual level, thus enhancing wellbeing. Challenges relating to attending and connecting with the group were also identified (experiences of identity incompatibility, anxiety, chronic pain, and practical barriers). These findings conceptualise how arts-based groups can develop empowered identities which provide pathways toward mental health recovery.
Social Identity Mapping: A procedure for visual representation and assessment of subjective multiple group memberships
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 31-08-2016
DOI: 10.1111/BJSO.12155
Abstract: In this research, we introduce Social Identity Mapping (SIM) as a method for visually representing and assessing a person's subjective network of group memberships. To provide evidence of its utility, we report validating data from three studies (two longitudinal), involving student, community, and clinical s les, together comprising over 400 participants. Results indicate that SIM is easy to use, internally consistent, with good convergent and discriminant validity. Each study also illustrates the ways that SIM can be used to address a range of novel research questions. Study 1 shows that multiple positive group memberships are a particularly powerful predictor of well-being. Study 2 shows that social support is primarily given and received within social groups and that only in-group support is beneficial for well-being. Study 3 shows that improved mental health following a social group intervention is attributable to an increase in group compatibility. In this way, the studies demonstrate the capacity for SIM to make a contribution both to the development of social-psychological theory and to its practical application.
An Agenda for Best Practice Research on Group Singing, Health, and Well-Being
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 2019
Abstract: Research on choirs and other forms of group singing has been conducted for several decades and there has been a recent focus on the potential health and well-being benefits, particularly in amateur singers. Experimental, quantitative, and qualitative studies show evidence of a range of biopsychosocial and well-being benefits to singers however, there are many challenges to rigor and replicability. To support the advances of research into group singing, the authors met and discussed theoretical and methodological issues to be addressed in future studies. The authors are from five countries and represent the following disciplinary perspectives: music psychology, music therapy, community music, clinical psychology, educational and developmental psychology, evolutionary psychology, health psychology, social psychology, and public health. This article summarizes our collective thoughts in relation to the priority questions for future group singing research, theoretical frameworks, potential solutions for design and ethical challenges, quantitative measures, qualitative methods, and whether there is scope for a benchmarking set of measures across singing projects. With eight key recommendations, the article sets an agenda for best practice research on group singing.
Identification with arts-based groups improves mental wellbeing in adults with chronic mental health conditions
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-11-2019
DOI: 10.1111/JASP.12561
Extreme Metal Music and Anger Processing
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 21-05-2015
Breaking good: Breaking ties with social groups may be good for recovery from substance misuse
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-09-2014
DOI: 10.1111/BJSO.12081
Abstract: According to the Social Identity Model of Identity Change, maintaining social identities and support over time is good for health and well-being, particularly during stressful transitions. However, in this study we explore the circumstances under which maintaining social identities - such as 'substance user' - may be harmful to health, and when a successful transition constitutes identity change, rather than maintenance. This prospective study examined social identities of 132 adults entering a drug and alcohol therapeutic community (TC) at admission, three fortnightly intervals and exit, as well as a representative subs le of 60 participants at follow-up. Repeated measures ANOVA results showed that user identity decreased significantly over time, such that 76% of the s le decreased in user identity strength over the first month in the TC. At the same time, recovery identity ratings increased significantly over time, with 64% of the s le staying the same or increasing their recovery identity ratings over the first month. Identity change, indexed by the change in the difference score between user identity and recovery identity over the treatment period, accounted for 34% of the variance in drinking quantity, 41% of the variance in drinking frequency, 5% of the variance in other drug use frequency, and 49% of the variance in life satisfaction at follow-up, after accounting for initial substance abuse severity and social identity ratings at entry to the TC. The findings indicate that moving from a substance using identity towards a recovery identity constitutes an important step in substance abuse treatment.
Enhancing mental health recovery by joining arts-based groups: a role for the social cure approach.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 31-05-2020
DOI: 10.1080/17533015.2019.1624584
Abstract: . Even though emerging evidence suggests that participation in arts-based group programs are helpful in supporting mental health, the field lacks an established theorical framework. This study explored the extent to which participants' experiences of singing or creative writing groups aligned with theorising proposed by the social cure approach. . Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 choir members, and 23 creative writing group members with chronic mental health conditions at two time points. Transcripts of the interviews were examined by four coders using thematic analysis. . Consistent with social cure theorising, participation in the choir and creative writing group facilitated meeting participants' needs for belonging, support, self-efficacy, purpose, and positive emotions. . This study demonstrated the psychosocial mechanisms by which participation in arts-based groups can enhance mental health. We conclude that engagement with the social cure framework may be useful to structure practice in this field.
An Update on Loneliness Theory and Practice for Health Professionals
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 09-2022
DOI: 10.1017/BEC.2022.19
Using crying to cope: Physiological responses to stress following tears of sadness.
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 10-2020
DOI: 10.1037/EMO0000633
Abstract: This research tested the hypothesis that emotional crying facilitates coping and recovery, specifically through physiological changes that occur during crying. Female undergraduate students (N = 197) were randomly assigned to either a sad or neutral condition using short videos. Sad videos were selected for their extreme emotion elicitation. We predicted that compared to those who did not cry to the stimuli and those who were exposed to neutral videos, people who cried would (a) be able to withstand a stressful task for longer (b) show lower levels of cortisol following crying and exposure to the stressor and (c) have faster recovery (i.e., return to baseline levels of affect). The final groups consisted of the neutral group (n = 65), sad criers (n = 71), and sad noncriers (n = 61). After a 5-min baseline period, participants watched either the sad or neutral videos for 17 min and then completed a physical stressor (cold pressor test). Heart rate and respiration were continuously recorded, whereas salivary s les for cortisol were taken at 4 separate time points during testing. Analyses revealed no differences between the 3 groups in time withstanding the stressor or cortisol changes. Respiration rate, however, increased in the neutral group and noncriers while watching the videos, with criers' respiration remaining stable. Furthermore, heart rate was found to decelerate just before crying, with a return to baseline during the first crying period. These results suggest that crying may assist in generally maintaining biological homeostasis, perhaps consciously through self-soothing via purposeful breathing and unconsciously through regulation of heart rate. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Audiences’ emotional response to choir singing by people living with mental health conditions
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 19-04-2023
DOI: 10.1177/03057356231153065
Abstract: Growing evidence shows that choirs improve the well-being of people experiencing chronic mental health conditions however, the impact of performances by “recovery choirs” (i.e., singers with mental health conditions) on their community audience members has not been examined. In three studies, we explored whether performances foster positive emotions toward recovery choristers. In Study 1, we surveyed 50 audience members before and after a public concert and found that watching the recovery choir sing increased positive emotions and attitudes toward mental health recovery. In a randomized experiment, Study 2a ( n = 322) and 2b ( n = 403) found that watching a short film of both a recovery choir and an amateur community choir singing increased positive emotions toward the choristers in comparison with a control activity condition. There was mixed evidence for effects on social connectedness, acceptance, and belief in mental health recovery. The effects of watching the choirs singing on social connectedness and acceptance of the choristers were mediated by positive emotions. Our results provide new evidence of the audience’s responses to amateur choir performances, by demonstrating that witnessing both community and recovery choir performances can foster admiration, respect, and positive regard toward choristers regardless of their mental health status.
Choir singing and creative writing enhance emotion regulation in adults with chronic mental health conditions
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-07-2017
DOI: 10.1111/BJC.12149
The Mini Alcohol Craving Experience Questionnaire: Development and Clinical Application
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-12-2017
DOI: 10.1111/ACER.13278
Sharper Minds 2022 Report.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 14-02-2023
Abstract: This report describes a pilot non-randomised controlled evaluation of the full Sharper Minds package in 2022. In total, 365 undergraduate students from across the university opted in to one of three conditions: Control (n=112) 1 Intervention (used the weekly tracker or completed a short course, n=158), or 2 Interventions (weekly tracker plus a short course, n=95). Results showed that on average, students who used the weekly tracker and completed one of the online courses experienced significant improvements in mental health symptoms and loneliness. Furthermore, using the app tracker or completing one of the online courses protected students from a reduction in academic motivation experienced in the control group. These benefits occurred even though participants’ number of academic and general stressors remained consistent across the semester. A preliminary economic analysis revealed a net benefit of $305 per participant. These findings demonstrated the helpfulness of the Sharper Minds model for improving mental health in undergraduate university students.
Young people's uses of music for well-being
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 13-03-2015
Associations Between Unintended Pregnancy, Domestic Violence, and Sexual Assault in a population of Queensland Women
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 19-07-2018
Abstract: This study aimed to establish the proportion of women seeking information regarding unintended pregnancy in the context of domestic violence (DV) and/or sexual assault (SA) experiences in Queensland. Mental health, sociodemographic variables, and gestation at first and repeated contacts were examined for 6249 women primarily seeking information regarding abortion options during an unintended pregnancy over the five-year period from July 2012 to June 2017. Reports of DV and SA and associations with mental health issues increased significantly across the five years. First contact rates of disclosure were 12.2% for DV and 3% for SA, and higher among repeat contacts (38.1% for DV and 14.1% for SA), with recurring contact facilitating violence disclosure. Restricting access to abortions in the context of violence impedes a woman’s agency in attempts to separate from violence and highlights the need for safe, supportive, and accessible services, to assist in screening and assisting with violence.
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