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The Impact Of Events In The Immediate Aftermath Of Suicide On Family Members' Bereavement Experiences, Kelly J. Botha
The Impact Of Events In The Immediate Aftermath Of Suicide On Family Members' Bereavement Experiences, Kelly J. Botha
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Suicide remains a leading cause of death in Australia. Consequently, a considerable proportion of the population is, or will be, bereaved due to suicide. These individuals are referred to as survivors of suicide. Literature suggests bereavement is a significant risk factor for adverse health outcomes. The question of whether or not bereavement after suicide, as opposed to other modes of death, renders individuals more susceptible to enduring and complicated grief reactions remains unclear. Numerous key variables have been found to influence the nature, intensity and duration of the grief process. Variables that are likely to be associated with poor bereavement …
A Public Survey On Electroconvulsive Therapy, Serene P. Teh
A Public Survey On Electroconvulsive Therapy, Serene P. Teh
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Health care professionals have debated the use and effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for more than 65 years. Yet, the attitudes towards, and knowledge about, ECT have not been thoroughly researched within the Australian community. There is also little empirical research documenting ECT recipient characteristics, the number of ECT administrations and the number of patients treated. This study aimed to develop an Australian perspective on: (1) the level of Public knowledge about and attitudes towards ECT and (2) the practice of ECT. The objectives were achieved through the development of questionnaires, and the distribution of these questionnaires to the public …
An Examination Of Fathers' Satisfaction With The Legal System: Exploring The Concept In Relation To Fathers' Experience With The Family Law Court Of Western Australia, Janelle M. Hawes
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Although the importance of fathers' post divorce contact with their children has been linked with a better outcome for the children and is valued by society, studies in the United States and Australia have suggested that up to 30 percent of fathers do not maintain regular contact with their children post divorce. To date, the literature has focused mainly on demographic variables and some personal characteristics of the father. An area, which has been neglected, is the influence of fathers' perception of legal proceedings and rules on their contact with their children post divorce. This study aimed to explore the …
An Exploratory Examination Of The Relationship Between Substance Use And Suicidal Ideation, David Felton
An Exploratory Examination Of The Relationship Between Substance Use And Suicidal Ideation, David Felton
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Drug use has long been considered a risk factor when assessing the likelihood of an individual committing suicide (Weiss & Hufford, 1999). The research to date is primarily correlative and provides little guidance to the clinician when assessing the role that drug use plays in influencing the risk of suicide for a given individual. Clinical observations within the literature (Downey, 1991; Motto, 1999) report that alcohol or other drug (AOD) use may provide the means to regulate emotional distress. No published studies were found that examined the proposition that AOD use may have a range of positive as well as …
Cognitive Processes Involved In The Onset And Course Of Postnatal Distress From The Antenatal Period To Six Months Postpartum: New Findings, And Implications For Future Research, Anne Pratt
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Although studies have explored the epidemiology of Postnatal Depression (PND) and other mood disorders occurring in the postnatal period, there is some evidence to support the argument that there may be different subsets of women suffering from low mood, around the time of childbirth (Warner, Appleby, Whitton, & Faragher, 1997). Some new mothers may be responding to the inherent, but often understated, stressors of the childbirth experience itself and the period that follows it, linked to dysfunctional maternal attitudes. Others may have pre-existing dysfunctional cognitions before the birth arising from other factors, and therefore already be vulnerable to a mood …
Body Perceptions Of Western Australian Female Group Fitness Instructors And The Influence Of The Workplace, Lana Leslie
Body Perceptions Of Western Australian Female Group Fitness Instructors And The Influence Of The Workplace, Lana Leslie
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Group fitness instructors work in an environment that promotes the often unattainable pursuit of an ideal body shape. The fitness centre often displays pictures of slim body shapes on the walls and sells goods and services that relate to weight loss and the improvement of the appearance. The instructors are part of this environment that promotes ideal body shapes, and they arc often seen as role models of health, fitness and slimness. It is possible that instructors arc under pressure to attain or maintain an ideal body shape, to be consistent with what their work environment represents. The purpose of …
The Role Of Lorikeet Clubhouse In Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Michelle Smith
The Role Of Lorikeet Clubhouse In Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Michelle Smith
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Previous studies have suggested that participation in psychosocial support groups such as the Foundation House (Clubhouse) model have psychological benefits for patients with major mental disorders. In this research, 47 members of the Lorikeet Clubhouse in Shenton Park, WA completed the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Level of Expressed Emotion Scale and the Coping Scale for Adults to investigate whether differences existed between active and inactive Clubhouse members. Analyses of variance found no group differences on these measures, although trends in the data suggest that Clubhouse participation have a protective effect for members who report high levels of expressed emotion (EE) …
Principles In Public Reasoning About Criminal Justice : Victim Vulnerability, Trust, And Offender Status, Dianne R. Mckillop
Principles In Public Reasoning About Criminal Justice : Victim Vulnerability, Trust, And Offender Status, Dianne R. Mckillop
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
It is popularly assumed that the public is highly punitive toward criminal offenders and that its reasoning about criminal offences is emotionally and morally based. This assumption has been challenged by social scientists who cite influences of news media and methodological flaws in empirical studies as contributing causes. Public sentiment is a basis for law and the increasing responsiveness of legislator to what is perceived to be public opinion on crime means that accurate information on enduring principles in the public's intuitive reasoning about criminal justice is vital. An initial exploratory study (N = 34) presented members of the public …
Causal Attributions For Crime Involving Aboriginal And Non-Aboriginal Juvenile Offenders, Elke K. Graf
Causal Attributions For Crime Involving Aboriginal And Non-Aboriginal Juvenile Offenders, Elke K. Graf
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of crime-specific racial stereotypes upon the Jay person's judgement about the cause of and appropriate punishment for juvenile crime. A pilot investigation (n= 30) revealed that the crimes of motor vehicle theft and possession of an illegal drug were perceived to be more strongly associated with the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal offender respectively. This information formed the basis for the type of crime and offender's race experimental manipulations of the main study. Attribution theory variables and the revised version of a previously validated questionnaire (Furnham & Henderson, 1983) were the two …
An Exploration Of Work Dimensions In The Western Australian Public Service: A Factor Analysis Of Job Skills And Their Contexts, Don Pugh
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
The dimensions underlying the structure of work in the Western Australian Public sector were analysed and compared with the structure of work as ascertained by Functional Job Analysis and the Position Analysis Questionnaire. A questionnaire was developed by the Skills Resource Management Unit to determine the importance attached to work skills in a variety of public sector occupations. One hundred and ninety four subjects of mixed gender were randomly selected from public sector agencies and were surveyed through workshops. Results were subjected to exploratory factor analyses. Confirmatory factor analysis then investigated the fit of the data to the following contradictory …