Digital Commons Network^™

Change In Mental Health, Physical Health, And Social Relationships During Highly Restrictive Lockdown In The Covid-19 Pandemic: Evidence From Australia, Shane Rogers, Travis Miles Cruickshank

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

A novel coronavirus first reported in Wuhan City in China in 2019 (COVID-19) developed into a global pandemic throughout 2020. Many countries around the world implemented strict social distancing policies to curb the spread of the virus. In this study we aimed to examine potential change in mental/physical health and social relationships during a highly restrictive COVID-19 lockdown period in Australia during April 2020.

Methods

Our survey (n = 1, 599) included questions about concerns, social behaviour, perceived change in relationship quality, social media use, frequency of exercise, physical health, and mental health during COVID-19 lockdown (April, 2020). …

Help-Seeking For Mental Health Problems Among Older Adults With Chronic Disease: An Application Of The Theory Of Planned Behaviour, Claire Adams, Eyal Gringart, Natalie Strobel, Paul Masterman

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objective: Despite high risk for mental health problems, older adults with chronic diseases underutilise mental health services. This study applied the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to understand mental health help-seeking intentions among this population and identified factors which influence help-seeking intentions.

Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a non-clinical sample of 108 older adults aged 65 years or over, living with cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and/or type 2 diabetes. TPB variables (attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control), intentions to seek help, and additional factors (past help-seeking behaviour, quality of life, and physical health) were assessed using standardised …

The Prospective Applicability Of The Strengths-Based Approach To Managing And Developing Employees In Small Businesses, Chamila Kumudunee Wijekuruppu, Alan Coetzer, Pattanee Susomrith

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: The strength-based approach is promulgated as a management practice that improves individual productivity and performance. This study's purpose is to explore the prospective applicability of the strengths-based approach to managing and developing employees in small businesses. The study focuses on four domains of practice: selection, training, performance evaluation and task assignment.

Design/methodology/approach: The study employed semi-structured, face-to-face interviews to obtain data. The units of analysis were managers and employees of small businesses. Eleven managers and 19 employees were interviewed. Data analysis involved thematic analysis with the NVivo 12 software program.

Findings: First, the small businesses used a strengths-based approach …

Effect Of Occupational Therapy Home Visit Discharge Planning On Participation After Stroke: Protocol For The Home Rehab Trial, Natasha A. Lannin, Lindy Clemson, Avril Drummond, Mandy Stanley, Leonid Churilov, Kate Laver, Sophie O'Keefe, Ian Cameron, Maria Crotty, Tim Usherwood, Nadine E. Andrew, Laura Jolliffe, Dominique A. Cadilhac

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction: After first stroke, the transition from rehabilitation to home can be confronting and fraught with challenges. Although stroke clinical practice guidelines recommend predischarge occupational therapy home visits to ensure safe discharge and provision of appropriate equipment, there is currently limited evidence to support this recommendation. Methods and analysis: The HOME Rehab trial is a national, multicentre, phase III randomised controlled trial with concealed allocation, blinded assessment and intention-to-treat analysis being conducted in Australia. The trial aim is to determine the effect and potential cost-effectiveness of an enhanced occupational therapy discharge planning intervention that involves pre and postdischarge home visits, …

Bridging The Research To Practice Gap: A Systematic Scoping Review Of Implementation Of Interventions For Cancer-Related Fatigue Management, Oluwaseyifunmi Andi Agbejule, Nicolas H. Hart, Stuart Ekberg, Koczwara Bogda, Rahul Ladwa, Camilla Simonsen, Elizabeth P. Pinkham, Raymond Javan Chan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common and distressing symptoms in people with cancer. Although efficacy of interventions for CRF have been extensively investigated, less has been done to ensure successful translation into routine clinical practice. The aim of this systematic scoping review was to synthesise knowledge surrounding the implementation of CRF interventions, summarise the processes and outcomes of implementation strategies used, and identify opportunities for further research. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE and CINAHL databases were searched (up to December 2020). The Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) Group taxonomy and the RE-AIM Framework …

Supervision In Initial Teacher Education: A Scoping Review, Madlen Griffiths, Mandie Shean, Denise Jackson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Supervision in initial teacher education is a pivotal component of professional experience, widely considered to be the most valued aspect of preservice teacher learning. Key to these experiences is the work of the university appointed supervisors who mentor the novices during their in-classroom learning. This is a dichotomous and often under-rated role, fraught with challenges, yet remains under-theorised and underresearched. Situated in a framework of readiness for teaching, this literature review provides a synopsis of the challenges facing the provision of quality teacher education programs and the supervision of preservice teachers and details the myriad of tasks undertaken by these …

International Business Education: What We Know And What We Have Yet To Develop, Anton Klarin, Boris Inkizhinov, Dashi Nazarov, Elena Gorenskaia

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

International business education (IBE) scholarship is extensive and is continuously growing. Nevertheless, to date there is no systems perspective overview of the literature dedicated to this topic. Using latest advancements in scientometric analysis, this study structures and visualizes the entire IBE scholarship, which allows to identify gaps in research and propose a number of future research directions. Data extracted from 894 peer-reviewed documents made available through the Scopus database allows to map the scholarship across five identified research directions in IBE – IB, political economy environment, and education; student learning and experience; the lingua franca and communication; interrelationship of IBE …

Co-Creating Visual Representations Of Safe Spaces With Mental Health Service Users Using Photovoice And Zoom, Julie Dare, Helen Seiver, Lesley Andrew, David A. Coall, Shantha Karthigesu, Moira Sim, Kathy Boxall

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This paper examines methodological issues related to an innovative online qualitative research project that explored ‘safe spaces’ with mental health service users. The project used photovoice and focus groups conducted via Zoom videoconferencing software. Eleven participants shared photographs, discussing their meaning and significance in relation to ‘safe spaces’. The photographs were then synthesised into an artist's impression of a safe space and transcripts of the online photovoice discussion analysed thematically and triangulated with the artist's impression. The paper provides a reflexive discussion of the research process and explores methodological and ethical implications of conducting sensitive qualitative research in online spaces.

Observations Of Children With Disability During Arts-Based Multisensory Story And Rhyme Activities: Is It All Just Chimes And Perfumes?, John O'Rourke, Susan Main, Christina Gray, Christine Lovering

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

It is generally acknowledged that alternative strategies are required to enable children with disability to access storytelling activities. In this study, we sought to analyse the benefits of one such strategy: an arts-based multisensory story and rhyme program delivered to children with Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. In order to determine the engagement and impact of the program on the participants, data were collected through a series of multisensory session observations, focus group interviews with parents of participants, and interviews with performing artists delivering the program. The findings of this study revealed multiple benefits of using sensory stimuli to …

Libraries As Wellbeing Supportive Spaces In Contemporary Schools, Margaret K. Merga

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Schools are increasingly concerned with the promotion of student wellbeing, and relatively little is known about school libraries as wellbeing supportive spaces in contemporary schools. This article draws on qualitative interview data from students and library managers to explore how students make use of the school library, and how this relates to the library as a safe space. It finds that school libraries can be highly valued for their capacity to foster belonging and sanctuary and allow exposure to books and opportunities for reading. Students also appreciated how libraries provided a space for relaxing and recharging, supporting lively and social …

Current Perspective On The Therapeutic Preset For Substance-Assisted Psychotherapy, Sascha B. Thal, Stephen J. Bright, Jason M. Sharbanee, Tobias Wenge, Petra M. Skeffington

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The present narrative review is the first in a series of reviews about the appropriate conduct in substance-assisted psychotherapy (SAPT). It outlines a current perspective on preconditions and theoretical knowledge that have been identified as valuable in the literature for appropriate therapeutic conduct in SAPT. In this context, considerations regarding ethics and the spiritual emphasis of the therapeutic approaches are discussed. Further, current methods, models, and concepts of psychological mechanism of action and therapeutic effects of SAPT are summarized, and similarities between models, approaches, and potential mediators for therapeutic effects are outlined. It is argued that a critical assessment of …

Parents And Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Tone And Emotional Impact Of Education News Coverage, Kathryn Shine, Shane L. Rogers

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This study examines Australian teachers (n = 268) and parents’ (n = 206) self-reported perceptions of education news coverage and how the coverage affects them. Overall, the participants reported a perception that news coverage of teachers, schools, the education system and standardised testing was generally negative in tone. Participants reported typically feeling demoralised by negative stories and inspired by positive stories. A high importance was placed upon the public perception of education by participants. However, trust in the media reporting of educational issues was low. An exception to this general pattern of findings was that participants did not place as …

Subjective Knowledge, Perceived Risk, And Information Search When Purchasing A Franchise: A Comparative Exploration From Australia, Peter Balsarini, Claire Lambert, Maria M. Ryan, Martin Maccarthy

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Franchising has long been a method by which organizations seek to expand and facilitate local market development. However, franchising as a growth strategy can often be hampered by lack of suitable franchisees. To mitigate this shortage, some franchisors have engaged in recruiting franchisees internally from the ranks of their employees in addition to the traditional approach of recruiting franchisees externally. Predominantly franchisees are individuals rather than corporations and thus purchasing a franchise should most commonly be characterized as a consumer acquisition. To explore the relationship between subjective knowledge, perceived risk, and information search behaviors when purchasing a franchise qualitative interviews …

“Just Like Breathing”: A Portrait Of An 85-Year-Old Veteran Teacher, Christina C. Gray, Geoffrey M. Lowe Dr, Peter F. Prout, Sarah Jefferson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Through a phenomenological lens of portraiture methodology, this article explores the career experiences of a veteran acting teacher who, at the age of 85 years, remains highly passionate and dedicated to his work with younger aspiring actors. The article reveals how for this veteran teacher, his strong teacher identity characterised by a quest for challenge and a commitment to career-long professional development are significant to maintaining relevance and passion for teaching. As many countries grapple with issues surrounding the retention of veteran teachers, understanding the ways in which he maintains his passion and commitment over succumbing to stress and burn …

Prevalence And Patterns Of Multimorbidity In Australian Baby Boomers: The Busselton Healthy Ageing Study, Michael L. Hunter, Matthew W. Knuiman, Bill A. W. Musk, Jennie Hui, Kevin Murray, John P. Beilby, David R. Hillman, Joseph Hung, Robert U. Newton, Romola S. Bucks, Leon Straker, John P. Walsh, Kun Zhu, David G. Bruce, Robert H. Eikelboom, Timothy M. E. Davis, David A. Mackey, Alan L. James

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background and objective: Chronic medical conditions accumulate within individuals with age. However, knowledge concerning the trends, patterns and determinants of multimorbidity remains limited. This study assessed the prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity using extensive individual phenotyping in a general population of Australian middle-aged adults. Methods: Participants (n = 5029, 55% female), born between 1946 and 1964 and attending the cross-sectional phase of the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study (BHAS) between 2010 and 2015, were studied. Prevalence of 21 chronic conditions was estimated using clinical measurement, validated instrument scores and/or self-reported doctor-diagnosis. Non-random patterns of multimorbidity were explored using observed/expected (O/E) prevalence …

Video Analysis And Verification Of Direct Head Impacts Recorded By Wearable Sensors In Junior Rugby League Players, Lauchlan Carey, Douglas P. Terry, Andrew S. Mcintosh, Peter Stanwell, Grant L. Iverson, Andrew J. Gardner

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Rugby league is a high-intensity collision sport that carries a risk of concussion. Youth athletes are considered to be more vulnerable and take longer to recover from concussion than adult athletes. Purpose: To review head impact events in elite-level junior representative rugby league and to verify and describe characteristics of X-patchTM-recorded impacts via video analysis. Study Design: Observational case series. Methods: The X-patchTM was used on twenty-one adolescent players (thirteen forwards and eight backs) during a 2017 junior representative rugby league competition. Game-day footage, recorded by a trained videographer from a single camera, was synchronised with X-patchTM-recorded timestamped events. …

Chinese International Students In The United States: The Interplay Of Students’ Acculturative Stress, Academic Standing, And Quality Of Life, Zhaohui Su, Dean Mcdonnell, Feng Shi, Bin Liang, Xiaoshan Li, Jun Wen, Yuyang Cai, Yu-Tao Xiang, Ling Yang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Acculturation could cause grave health consequences in international students. However, there is a shortage of research into how acculturative stress might affect international students’ quality of life in light of their academic standing and experience. The lack of research is particularly pronounced among Chinese international students, representing the largest body of international students studying in the United States (U.S.). Thus, to bridge the research gap, this study aims to examine the interplay between international students’ acculturative stress, academic standing, and quality of life among a nationally representative sample of Chinese international students studying in the United States. Methods: An …

Comparison Of Experiences In Two Birth Cohorts Comprising Young Families With Children Under Four Years During The Initial Covid-19 Lockdown In Australia And The Uk: A Qualitative Study, Lisa Y. Gibson, Bridget Lockyer, Josie Dickerson, Charlotte Endacott, Sally Bridges, Rosemary R. C. Mceachan, Kate E. Pickett, Sarah Whalan, Natasha L. Bear, Desiree T. Silva, Susan L. Prescott, Jacqueline A. Davis

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This study aims to understand the experience and impact of the initial COVID-19 lock-down in young families with children aged below 4 years. Free text questions were administered to participants in the ORIGINS (Australia) and Born in Bradford (UK) cohort studies to collect qualitative information on worries, concerns and enjoyable experiences during the pandemic. A total of 903 (400 for ORIGINS and 503 for BiB) participants completed the two surveys during April 2020. Despite varying in geography, levels of socio-economic disadvantage and their situational context during the pandemic, respondents from both cohorts reported similar worries and challenges during the lockdown …

A Novel Boot Camp Program To Help Guide Personalized Exercise In People With Parkinson Disease, Josefa Domingos, John Dean, Travis M. Cruickshank, Katarzyna Śmiłowska, Júlio Belo Fernandes, Catarina Godinho

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Given the variety of exercise programs available for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), such individuals may struggle to make decisions about what exercise to perform. The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness, satisfaction, and preferences regarding participation in a PD-personalized educational and exercise boot camp program. Attendees participated in a four-day program consisting of exercise sessions, workshops, and social activities. We collected demographic and clinical information. We assessed satisfaction and preferences immediately after. At one-month follow-up, participants assessed usefulness and changes in exercise habits. Eight individuals diagnosed with PD, with a mean age of 59.5 ± 6.8 …

Biometrics For Internet‐Of‐Things Security: A Review, Wencheng Yang, Song Wang, Nor Masri Sahri, Nickson M. Karie, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Craig Valli

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The large number of Internet‐of‐Things (IoT) devices that need interaction between smart devices and consumers makes security critical to an IoT environment. Biometrics offers an interesting window of opportunity to improve the usability and security of IoT and can play a significant role in securing a wide range of emerging IoT devices to address security challenges. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive survey on the current biometrics research in IoT security, especially focusing on two important aspects, authentication and encryption. Regarding authentication, contemporary biometric‐based authentication systems for IoT are discussed and classified based on different biometric …

Potential Of Sorghum Polyphenols To Prevent And Treat Alzheimer's Disease: A Review Article, Nasim Rezaee, Warnakulasuriya Mary Ann Dipika Fernando, Eugene Hone, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Stuart K. Johnson, Stuart Gunzburg, Ralph Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the excessive deposition of extracellular amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) and the build-up of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. This leads to neuronal damage, cell death and consequently results in memory and learning impairments leading to dementia. Although the exact cause of AD is not yet clear, numerous studies indicate that oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction significantly contribute to its onset and progression. There is no effective therapeutic approach to stop the progression of AD and its associated symptoms. Thus, early intervention, preferably, pre-clinically when the brain is not significantly affected, is a …

Kinematic And Neuromuscular Measures Of Intensity During Drop Jumps In Female Volleyball Players, Maximiliano Torres-Banduc, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, David Cristobal Andrade, Julio Calleja-González, Pantelis Theo Nikolaidis, John J. Mcmahon, Paul Comfort

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The aim of this study was to assess drop jump (DJ) performance variables (jump height, contact time, and reactive strength index) concomitant to surface electromyography (sEMG) of lower limb muscles during DJs from different drop heights (intensities). The eccentric and concentric phase sEMG from the gastrocnemius medialis, biceps femoris, and vastus medialis muscles were assessed during all tests, with sEMG activity normalized to maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). In a cross-sectional, study, 10 amateur female volleyball players (age 22.1 ± 1.8 years; body mass 72.9 ± 15.2 kg; height 1.70 ± 0.08 m) completed DJs from six heights [15-90 cm …

The Development Of Aboriginal Brain Injury Coordinator Positions: A Culturally Secure Rehabilitation Service Initiative As Part Of A Clinical Trial, Elizabeth Armstrong, Kathy Mccoy, Rebecca Clinch, Maureen Merritt, Renee Speedy, Meaghan Mcallister, Kym Heine, Natalie Ciccone, Melanie Robinson, Julie Coffin

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Brain injury, resulting from stroke and traumatic brain injury, is a common occurrence in Australia, with Aboriginal people affected at a significant rate and impact felt by individuals, families and communities. Access to brain injury rehabilitation services for Aboriginal people is reported to be often limited, with very little support outside the hospital environment. Our research involving Aboriginal brain injury survivors and their families to date has revealed that people often manage ‘on their own’ following such events. Following recommendations from survivors and their families, the Healing Right Way clinical trial, currently underway in Western Australia, has created the role …

Anxiety, Depression And Insomnia During Covid-19 Pandemic Among The Public In Malaysia: The Association With Knowledge, Attitude And Practice (Kap), And Social Media Addiction, Lim Kuok Quan

Student Works (2020-2029)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused severe distress to the government and the public. The community had to adapt to the movement control order, impacting social interaction, employment, and schooling. The public’s knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the pandemic and possibly frequent social media usage during sudden and prolonged social isolation might affect one’s mental health. Objectives: The study measured anxiety, depression and insomnia in the participants and its association with knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) and social media usage during the pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional online survey study was conducted between April 2020 and June 2020. The participants were from …

An Evaluation Of The Social Perceptions And Biological Efficacy Of Unmanned Aircraft Systems For Avian-Agriculture Conflict, Mallory Gyovai White

Biological Sciences

North Dakota sunflower producers face a dilemma when it comes to blackbirds (Icteridae). Migrating flocks produce localized damage to production, which results in some farmers with no bird issues, while others face total economic losses. A dynamic and humane crop protection tool is necessary to reduce blackbird damage in this broad-scale agriculture setting, as damage is actively occurring, while considering the protected status of blackbirds. This study examined a novel tool, unmanned aircraft systems (hereafter, UAS), through the lens of a social evaluation of farmers’ opinions and the biological impact on blackbird flock behavior. Farmers were very willing to allow …

The Influence Of Body Size On Metabolic Rates, Scaling, Telomere Dynamics, And Metamorphosis In Megachilid Bees, Courtney Corinne Grula

Biological Sciences

Body size is related to many aspects of a bee’s life history including foraging distance and pollination efficiency. Megachile rotundata, and Osmia lignaria are agriculturally important, solitary pollinators. Adult body size in solitary bees is variable because it is determined by the quantity of food available to the developing larva. The goal of this dissertation was to determine the effect of body size on metabolic rates, scaling, telomere dynamics, and entry into metamorphosis. Body size was manipulated under laboratory conditions by manipulating the amount of food provided during the final larval stage. First, I tested the effect of body size …

A Serious Game For Social Engineering Awareness Creation, Fabian Muhly, Philipp Leo, Stefano Caneppele

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Social engineering is a method used by offenders to deceive their targets utilizing rationales of human psychology. Offenders aim to exploit information and use them for intelligence purposes or financial gains. Generating resilience against these malicious methods is still challenging. Literature shows that serious gaming learning approaches are used more frequently to instill lasting retention effects. Serious games are interactive, experiential learning approaches that impart knowledge about rationales and concepts in a way that fosters retention. In three samples and totally 97 participants the study at hand evaluated a social engineering serious game for participants’ involvement and instruction compliance during …

Extraction And Evaluation Of Statistical Information From Social And Behavioral Science Papers, Sree Sai Teja Lanka, Sarah Rajtmajer, Jian Wu, C. Lee Giles

Computer Science Faculty Publications

With substantial and continuing increases in the number of published papers across the scientific literature, development of reliable approaches for automated discovery and assessment of published findings is increasingly urgent. Tools which can extract critical information from scientific papers and metadata can support representation and reasoning over existing findings, and offer insights into replicability, robustness and generalizability of specific claims. In this work, we present a pipeline for the extraction of statistical information (p-values, sample size, number of hypotheses tested) from full-text scientific documents. We validate our approach on 300 papers selected from the social and behavioral science literatures, and …

Improving Teacher Evaluation By Walking The Talk Of Standards-Based Grading: Communicating Educator Growth Using Proficiency Scales, Chad Lang, Matt Townsley

Faculty Publications

Teachers and school leaders frequently express a disconnect in the purpose and importance of teacher evaluation, particularly as it relates to educator growth. At the same time, some schools are beginning to communicate student growth through a standards-based grading philosophy. One way schools might “walk the talk” of their grading reform efforts designed to communicate student growth is through the use of proficiency scales to prioritize growth in teacher evaluation. This paper describes implications of simultaneously utilizing a growth model for teacher evaluation and a student growth model via standards-based grading.

A Descriptive Study Of The Accommodations, Assistive Technologies, And Supports Chosen By Students With An Intellectual Disability Attending A Post-Secondary Institution, Lori Olson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study used a mixed methods approach to investigate the perceptions of students with intellectual disabilities (ID) attending a Transition Postsecondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID). This study explored what they perceived to be the most chosen and helpful accommodations, assistive technologies, and supports and why they chose them. The researcher sent out an electronic survey to students with ID attending a Transition Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) to determine the most chosen and helpful accommodations, assistive technologies, and supports and why they found them helpful.The top ranked accommodations used and found most helpful in this …