ORCID Profile
0000-0003-3734-4571
Current Organisations
University of Sydney
,
Universidade Nova de Lisboa
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-04-2020
DOI: 10.1007/S10508-020-01702-1
Abstract: Recent literature has described the phenomenon of "straight-acting" gay men: gay men who identify with traditional heteronormative masculinity. The current study examined predictors of "straight-acting" identification in gay men and how identifying as straight-acting relates to well-being. A s le of Australian gay men (N = 966) provided self-report data on two potential predictors of straight-acting identity: self-perceived masculinity and internalized homophobia. A path analysis assessed how these variables related to straight-acting identification. While masculine self-presentation positively predicted well-being and internalized homophobia negatively predicted well-being, straight-acting identification, which positively correlated with both, did not independently predict either psychological distress or physical well-being. Analyses further suggested that internalized homophobia had particularly deleterious effects among gay men who were more feminine. Implications for clinical and public health interventions among gay men are discussed.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-2016
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 05-01-2018
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 07-2015
DOI: 10.1037/COU0000072
Abstract: The present study examined essentialist beliefs about sexual orientation and their implications for sexual identity uncertainty, internalized homonegativity and psychological wellbeing in a s le of gay men. A combination of targeted s ling and snowball strategies were used to recruit 639 gay identifying men for a cross-sectional online survey. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing sexual orientation beliefs, sexual identity uncertainty, internalized homonegativity, and psychological wellbeing outcomes. Structural equation modeling was used to test whether essentialist beliefs were associated with psychological wellbeing indirectly via their effect on sexual identity uncertainty and internalized homonegativity. A unique pattern of direct and indirect effects was observed in which facets of essentialism predicted sexual identity uncertainty, internalized homonegativity and psychological wellbeing. Of note, viewing sexual orientation as immutable/biologically based and as existing in discrete categories, were associated with less sexual identity uncertainty. On the other hand, these beliefs had ergent relationships with internalized homonegativity, with immutability/biological beliefs associated with lower, and discreteness beliefs associated with greater internalized homonegativity. Of interest, although sexual identity uncertainty was associated with poorer psychological wellbeing via its contribution to internalized homophobia, there was no direct relationship between identity uncertainty and psychological wellbeing. Findings indicate that essentializing sexual orientation has mixed implications for sexual identity uncertainty and internalized homonegativity and wellbeing in gay men. Those undertaking educational and clinical interventions with gay men should be aware of the benefits and of caveats of essentialist theories of homosexuality for this population.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2015
Abstract: To determine whether lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) Australians residing in rural-remote and other non-inner metropolitan localities experience increased levels of minority stress and reduced social support relative to their inner metropolitan counterparts. A convenience s le of (n=1306) LGB Australians completed an online survey that assessed minority stressors, level of connection with other LGB in iduals and social isolation. Postcodes provided were coded into three metropolitan and two rural zones. A series of hierarchical regression analyses were undertaken to examine the effect of locality on minority stress and social support independent of sex, age, ethnicity, education and income. Those residing in rural-remote localities reported significantly increased concealment of sexuality from friends, more concern regarding disclosure of sexuality, less LGB community involvement, fewer friendships with other LGB people and, among men, higher levels of internalised homophobia than those residing in inner metropolitan areas. Unexpectedly, those residing in outer metropolitan areas of major cities experienced comparable levels of minority stress and LGB disconnection to those in rural and remote Australia. LGB in iduals in rural-remote and outer metropolitan areas of major cities face increased exposure to a number of minority stressors and less LGB community connectedness. These are risk factors associated with psychiatric morbidity in LGB populations. Health promotion targeted at reducing homophobia and discrimination in rural-remote and outer metropolitan communities and additional services to assist LGB Australians struggling with stigma and isolation in non-inner city areas may help mitigate the disadvantages faced by these LGB populations.
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 07-09-2012
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-2023
DOI: 10.1007/S10508-023-02588-5
Abstract: Social gender transition is an increasingly accepted intervention for gender variant children and adolescents. To date, there is scant literature comparing the mental health of children and adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria who have socially transitioned versus those who are still living in their birth-assigned gender. We examined the mental health of children and adolescents referred to the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), a specialist clinic in London, UK, who had socially transitioned (i.e., were living in their affirmed gender and/or had changed their name) versus those who had not socially transitioned. Referrals to the GIDS were aged 4–17 years. We assessed mental health correlates of living in one’s affirmed gender among 288 children and adolescents (208 birth-assigned female 210 socially transitioned) and of name change in 357 children and adolescents (253 birth-assigned female 214 name change). The presence or absence of mood and anxiety difficulties and past suicide attempts were clinician rated. Living in role and name change were more prevalent in birth-assigned females versus birth-assigned males. Overall, there were no significant effects of social transition or name change on mental health status. These findings identify the need for more research to understand how social transition influences mental health, including longitudinal studies that allow for more confident inferences to be made regarding the relationship between social transition and mental health in young people with gender dysphoria.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 11-2022
DOI: 10.1101/2022.10.31.22281782
Abstract: Knowledge of the genetic basis of health conditions can influence how the public perceives their own and others’ health. When there are known genetic associations for such conditions, genetic essentialist biases facilitate deterministic thinking and an over-emphasis of genetic causality. This study investigates the role that genetic essentialist biases play in medical decision making. Third- and fourth- year medical students (N = 102) read a scenario in which a patient presents with gastroenterological symptoms. Half of the students were told that the patient tested positive for HLADQ2 – a gene implicated in, but not deterministic of, coeliac disease. The other half received no genetic information. Students were assessed on their recommendations for investigation and management using a multiple-choice questionnaire. Twenty-two of these students participated in a qualitative follow-up which used semi-structured interviews to explore the reasoning behind students’ responses. Management recommendations differed between the two groups, with those receiving genetic information more likely to recommend a gluten free diet. Recommendations for further investigation did not differ significantly between groups. Interviews suggested that these findings arose despite the students’ good understanding of the common non-deterministic nature of genes, such as HLADQ2. Differences in management recommendations suggest that the inclusion of genetic information unduly biased students towards a premature diagnosis of a serious health condition–coeliac disease. Follow-up interviews introduce the possibility that observed manipulation-based differences may have been based on anticipated expectations of examiners. Thus, research in clinical settings is needed to ascertain whether genetic essentialist biases are implicitly influencing medical students under examination conditions or whether they react to the assumptive genetic biases of examiners. The present findings indicate that genetic essentialist biases may affect clinical decision making of senior medical students. While the findings may also arise as an artifact of a conscious exam-taking strategy, there are substantial arguments against this interpretation.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-2022
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 15-06-2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-08-2021
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-021-94479-9
Abstract: We examined whether heterosexual in iduals’ self-reported sexual orientation could be influenced experimentally by manipulating their knowledge of the nature of sexual orientation. In Study 1 (180 university students, 66% female) participants read summaries describing evidence for sexual orientation existing on a continuum versus discrete categories or a control manipulation, and in Study 2 (460 participants in a nationally representative Qualtrics panel, 50% female) additionally read summaries describing sexual orientation as fluid versus stable across the life-course. After reading summaries, participants answered various questions about their sexual orientation. In Study 1, political moderates and progressives (but not conservatives) who read the continuous manipulation subsequently reported being less exclusively heterosexual, and regardless of political alignment, participants reported less certainty about their sexual orientation, relative to controls. In Study 2, after exposure to fluid or continuous manipulations heterosexual participants were up to five times more likely than controls to rate themselves as non-exclusively heterosexual. Additionally, those in the continuous condition reported less certainty about their sexual orientation and were more willing to engage in future same-sex sexual experiences, than those in the control condition. These results suggest that non-traditional theories of sexual orientation can lead heterosexuals to embrace less exclusive heterosexual orientations.
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 05-11-2012
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-03-2023
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 16-09-2012
DOI: 10.3109/09553002.2011.624151
Abstract: To incorporate the effects of low energy electrons and positrons into radiation interaction models. The simulation method proposed here was based on experimental and theoretical cross section data and energy loss spectra we have previously derived. After a summary of the main techniques used to obtain reliable input data, the basis of a Low Energy Particle Track Simulation (LEPTS) procedure was established. The programme is specifically designed to describe electron and positron interactions below 10 keV, down to thermal energies. Single electron and positron tracks in water are presented and the possibility of using these results to develop tools for nanodosimetry is discussed. Standard approximations based on high incident energies, such as the Born-Bethe theory, are not suitable to simulate electron and positron tracks below 10 keV. Prior to the inclusion of low-energy effects in a radiation model, an appropriate study is required to determine both the interaction cross sections and the energy loss spectra.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-11-2020
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 10-2017
DOI: 10.1037/COU0000209
Abstract: In this study, we examined how beliefs about the nature and origin of sexual orientation were associated with sexual identity outcomes, namely internalized sexual stigma and sexual orientation uncertainty, and in turn, psychological well-being in sexual minority women. A community s le of 393 lesbian and 205 bisexual women were recruited for a cross-sectional online survey. Using multigroup structural equation modeling, we examined whether believing sexual orientation to be inborn/immutable (i.e., natural) and/or as existing in discrete categories (i.e., discrete) was indirectly associated with psychological well-being via internalized stigma and sexual orientation uncertainty and whether some of these relationships were moderated by nonprototypical attractions (nonexclusive same-sex attractions in lesbian women and straight- or lesbian-leaning attractions in bisexual women) and age. Overall, similar patterns of direct effects were observed in lesbian and bisexual women. In both groups, naturalness beliefs were associated with lower internalized-stigma, whereas discreteness beliefs were associated with greater internalized stigma. In bisexual women, nonprototypical sexual attraction patterns moderated the relationship between discreteness beliefs and sexual orientation uncertainty. Younger age was associated with increased sexual orientation uncertainty in both lesbian and bisexual women. Specific to lesbian women, nonprototypical attraction predicted less endorsement of immutability and binary/discrete beliefs about sexual orientation, and unexpectedly, greater internalized stigma. The present study identifies potential implications of common lay theories of sexual orientation for lesbian versus bisexual women. (PsycINFO Database Record
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-11-2022
DOI: 10.1007/S10508-022-02465-7
Abstract: Research has found that sexual orientation beliefs predict heterosexuals’ attitudes toward sexual minorities, and important sexual identity outcomes in sexual minority populations. To this point, no studies have systematically examined how sexual orientation beliefs may be associated with sexual identity self-labeling among sexual minority in iduals. The present study examined this question in a s le of 1840 same-gender attracted in iduals recruited for a cross-sectional online survey. Beliefs in the naturalness and discreteness of sexual orientation categories were highest in gay/lesbian in iduals, intermediate in bisexual people, and lower in queer and pansexual in iduals. Beliefs in the importance of sexual orientation were highest in gay/lesbian and queer identified in iduals and lower in bisexual people. Within-group analysis demonstrated that gay/lesbian in iduals who reported more exclusive same-gender attraction reported higher naturalness, discreteness, and importance beliefs than those with less-exclusive same-gender attraction. However, naturalness, discreteness, and importance beliefs were not associated with sexual attraction patterns in bisexual in iduals. Finally, among predominately same-gender attracted populations, the adoption of a queer identity (over a gay/lesbian identity) was predicted by lower naturalness and discreteness beliefs, and increased perceived importance in females. Among non-monosexual populations, adoption of a pansexual identity over a bisexual identity was predicted by lower naturalness beliefs in females, but not predicted by sexual orientation beliefs in males. Collectively, these findings suggest that sexual orientation beliefs differ between sexual identity groups and may partly explain the adoption of particular sexual identity labels among contemporary sexual minority populations.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-05-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S10508-019-1419-4
Abstract: In iduals who report mostly heterosexual orientations (i.e., mostly sexually attracted to the opposite sex, but occasionally attracted to the same sex) outnumber all other non-heterosexual in iduals combined. The present study examined whether mostly heterosexual men and women view same- and other-sex sexual stimuli differently than exclusively heterosexual men and women. A novel eye-tracking paradigm was used with 162 mostly and exclusively heterosexual men and women. Compared to exclusively heterosexual men, mostly heterosexual men demonstrated greater attention to sexually explicit features (i.e., genital regions and genital contact regions) of solo male and male-male erotic stimuli, while demonstrating equivalent attention to sexually explicit features of solo female and female-female erotic stimuli. Mediation analyses suggested that differences between mostly and exclusively heterosexual profiles in men could be explained by mostly heterosexual men's increased sexual attraction to solo male erotica, and their increased sexual attraction and reduced disgust to the male-male erotica. No comparable differences in attention were observed between mostly and exclusively heterosexual women-although mostly heterosexual women did demonstrate greater fixation on visual erotica overall-a pattern of response that was found to be mediated by reduced disgust.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 23-10-2021
DOI: 10.1177/13591045211046813
Abstract: Past research has identified shifts in the demographics and co-occurring mental health issues of youth referred to certain gender dysphoria services. The present study examined shifts in demographics (age, sex and social transition status), social adversity (bullying experiences and abuse) and psychological functioning (mood, anxiety, suicidality and autism spectrum disorder) at time of referral (of both children and adolescents) to the Gender Identity Development Service, London between the years of 2012 and 2015. Patients were 782 children and adolescents (M = 13.94, SD = 2.94, range 4–17 63.8% assigned female at birth). Little change in sex ratio or age was observed between these two time points. However, we observed greater rates of depression and anxiety of birth-assigned females (but not birth-assigned males) in the more recent cohort, at the same time that reported social adversity (bullying and abuse) was falling. Also, of interest, the proportion of young people who had partially or fully socially transitioned prior to contact with the service had increased overtime. We discuss potential factors driving these shifts and their implications for supporting recent cohorts of gender erse young people.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.APRADISO.2013.01.017
Abstract: The Low Energy Particle Track Simulation code is a radiation interaction simulation tool specifically designed to describe electron and positron interactions below 10 keV at a molecular level. Relying on carefully selected, preferentially experimental input parameters that account for all expected scattering processes, it provides detailed results about all collisional events undergone by an incident radiation particle during its slowdown until thermalisation. Here, we give an up-to-date description of its input data sources and selection procedure and summarise the current contents of the resulting database.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 30-08-2011
Abstract: Psychological stress contributes to the development of clinical depression. This has prompted many preclinical studies to investigate the neurobiology of this relationship, however, the effects of stress on glia remain unclear. In this study, we wished to determine, first, how exposure to chronic psychological stress affects microglial activity within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and, second, whether the observed changes were meaningfully related to corresponding changes in local neuronal activity and PFC-regulated behavior. Therefore, we examined markers of microglial activation, antigen presentation, apoptosis, and persistent neuronal activation within the PFC after exposure to repeated restraint stress. We also examined the effect of stress on spatial working memory, a PFC-dependent function. Finally, we tested the ability of a microglial activation inhibitor (minocycline) to alter the impact of chronic stress on all of these endpoints. Stressor exposure produced positively correlated increases in microglial and long-term neuronal activation in the PFC but not antigen presentation or apoptosis. As expected, it also impaired spatial working memory. Importantly, minocycline reduced the impact of stress on neuronal activation and working memory, as well as microglial activation. These results suggest a role for microglia in mediating the effects of stress on PFC neuronal function and PFC-regulated behavior.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-06-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S10519-018-9909-Z
Abstract: When explaining the causes of human behavior, genes are often given a special status. They are thought to relate to an intrinsic human 'essence', and essentialist biases have been shown to skew the way in which causation is assessed. Causal reasoning in general is subject to other pre-existing biases, including beliefs about normativity and morality. In this synthesis we show how factors which influence causal reasoning can be mapped to a framework of genetic essentialism, which reveals both the shared and unique factors underpinning biases in causal reasoning and genetic essentialism. This comparison identifies overlooked areas of research which could provide fruitful investigation, such as whether normative assessments of behaviors influence the way that genetic causes are ascribed or endorsed. We also outline the importance of distinguishing reasoning processes regarding genetic causal influences on one's self versus others, as different cognitive processes and biases are likely to be at play.
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 07-02-2012
Publisher: S. Karger AG
Date: 2018
DOI: 10.1159/000496381
Abstract: b i Background: /i /b Genetic knowledge, which plays important functions in our understanding of science, health, social groupings, and even behaviour, has been evaluated in past studies with various populations. This wide reach of genetics means that different types of items are used to assess genetic knowledge, which restricts meaningful comparisons across time- and locale-based studies. b i Aim: /i /b The present study addresses this limitation by recruiting an Australia-wide s le and evaluating their genetic knowledge using items sourced from four erse s les. b i Method: /i /b Seven hundred and eighty Australians completed a variety of items assessing their genetic knowledge as well as several demographic indicators. b i Results: /i /b The results show superior overall genetic knowledge in the current s le compared with previous s les. Additionally, the study finds that genetic knowledge about health and illness seems to be the most accurate, whereas such knowledge about social categorisations and behaviours seems to be the most error-prone. In the current s le, being a female and having interest in genetics were positive predictors of genetic knowledge surprisingly educational attainment was not a significant predictor. b i Conclusion: /i /b Compared with previous surveys, the current s le showed significantly better genetic knowledge. However, certain areas that relate to public understating still indicate r ant misperceptions.
Publisher: AIP Publishing LLC
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1063/1.4866925
No related grants have been discovered for James Morandini.