ORCID Profile
0000-0002-2518-6097
Current Organisation
Edith Cowan University
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-05-2022
DOI: 10.1002/HPJA.613
Abstract: Mental health disorders (MHDs) are prevalent amongst university students with detrimental impacts on in idual students, universities and the wider community. There is an urgent need for proactive and preventative strategies to address the mental health crisis in the university population. This study evaluated the efficacy of a 13‐week unit developed to directly educate university students about ways to improve and maintain well‐being. Fifty‐eight university students from five disciplines participated in a 13‐week elective undergraduate unit “Well‐Being Fundamentals for Success” as part of their degree. The Act Belong Commit mental health promotion c aign framework formed the basis of teaching materials. Outcome well‐being measures were self‐assessed at weeks 1, 6 and 12 using four scales: (1) Warwick‐Edinburgh Mental Well‐being Scale (WEMWBS) (2) Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) (3) Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and (4) Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Post‐unit group interviews (n = 11) were analysed for key themes. Linear mixed models demonstrated a significant improvement in BRS over the semester well‐being (WEMBS) and mindful attention (MAAS) did increase but not significantly. There was a significant increase in stress (PSS) over the semester. Key themes that emerged from the group interviews were that (1) University life contributes to well‐being (2) University life contributes to stress (3) The well‐being unit helped students see and do things differently (4) An overall endorsement of the unit. University students’ resilience increased over the semester following participation in a curriculum focused on well‐being which featured a combination of theoretical content and experiential workshops. So what? Incorporating mental well‐being curriculum into tertiary education is proactive preventive health strategy which may assist with the increasing prevalence of MHD in Australia.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-07-2019
DOI: 10.1002/HPJA.180
Abstract: University students generally make independent decisions regarding food choices. Current research about knowledge of Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADG), sources of nutrition information and influences on food choices for this group is scarce. Qualitative data were collected from gender-separated focus groups comprising four female (n = 31) and four male (n = 18) to identify: knowledge of ADG sources of nutrition information factors that influence food choices perceived relevant nutrition messages and how best to deliver them. Gaps in knowledge were identified particularly regarding number of serves and serving size for food groups. Social media was the most commonly reported source of knowledge. Social media was also a major influence on food choice due to its impact on body ideals. Current health promotion nutrition messages were perceived irrelevant given the focus on long-term health risks. Health and adhering to the ADG were not identified as important. The desire to look a particular way was the major influence on food choices. SO WHAT?: While there is an awareness of ADG, our participants made a deliberate decision not to follow them. This provides a challenge for developing relevant preventive health messages for this target audience.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 26-10-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-021-11971-7
Abstract: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Western Australian government imposed multiple restrictions that impacted daily life activities and the social life. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on the community’s physical, mental and psychosocial health. Approximately 2 months after a three-month lockdown, a cross-sectional study was opened to Western Australian adults for an 8-week period (25th August – 21 October 2020). Participants competed a 25-min questionnaire adapted from the Western Australia Health and Wellbeing Surveillance system. Participants provided information on their socio-demographic status, lifestyle behaviours, mental health, and psychosocial health during and post-lockdown. Open-ended questions explored key issues in greater detail. Changes between the lockdown and post-lockdown period were assessed using Wilcoxon signed rank test and One-S le Kolmogorov-Smirnov Normal tests as appropriate. Sex differences were examined using the Mann-Whitney U test. A content analysis approach examined responses to the open-ended questions with frequencies and variations in responses determined using Chi-Square tests. A total of 547 complete responses were obtained. Compared to post-lockdown period, lockdown was associated with a significantly lower levels of physical activity, poorer mental well-being and sense of control over one’s life, and a higher level of loneliness. Similarly, during lockdown, there was a significantly higher consumption of junk food, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks but no change in fruit and vegetable intake. Participants recalled health c aigns on hand washing and social distancing and there was a retrospective view that more timely and informative c aigns on physical activity, nutrition and mental well-being should have been available during lockdown. While advice on infection control measures were appropriately provided, there is a need for concurrent health promotional information to help combat the changes in physical, mental and psychosocial well-being observed during quarantine to prevent negative health consequences in the community even if there are minimal effects of the pandemic itself.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 14-04-2023
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-023-15440-1
Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine physical activity and sedentary behaviours during Western Australia’s COVID-19 lockdown and their association with mental well-being. Participants completed activity related questions approximately two months after a three-month lockdown (which formed part of a larger cross-sectional study from August to October 2020) as part of a 25-minute questionnaire adapted from the Western Australia Health and Well-being Surveillance system. Open-ended questions explored key issues relating to physical activity behaviours. During the lockdown period, 463 participants (female, n = 347 75.3%) reported lower number of active days (W = 4.47 p .001), higher non-work-related screen hours per week (W = 11.8 p .001), and higher levels of sitting time (χ 2 =28.4 p .001). Post lockdown body mass index was higher (U = 3.0 p = .003), with obese in iduals reporting the highest non-work-related screen hours per week (Wald χ 2 = 8.9 p = .012). Inverse associations were found for mental well-being where higher lockdown scores of Kessler-10 (p = .011), Dass-21 anxiety (p = .027) and Dass-21 depression (p = .011) were associated with lower physical activity levels. A key qualitative message from participants was wanting to know how to stay healthy during lockdown. Lockdown was associated with lower physical activity, higher non-work-related screen time and more sitting time compared to post lockdown which also reported higher body mass index. Lower levels of mental well-being were associated with lower physical activity levels during lockdown. Given the known positive affect of physical activity on mental well-being and obesity, and the detrimental associations shown in this study, a key public health message should be considered in an attempt to maintain healthy activity behaviours in future lockdowns and similar emergency situations to promote and maintain positive well-being. Furthermore, consideration should be given to the isolation of a community due to infectious disease outbreaks and to recognise the important role physical activity plays in maintaining weight and supporting good mental health.
No related grants have been discovered for Michelle Lambert.