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Little research has investigated professional identity in Australian clinical psychology postgraduate students. The current study examined potential predictors of professional identity for these students. Anonymous, self-report cross-sectional surveys for Australian postgraduate clinical psychology students were distributed via online survey links sent by their institution's Program Director. Respondents reported professional identity, motivation, engagement, satisfaction with program, resilience, burnout, demographics, and enrolment type. Data from 77 respondents were analysed. Students reported an average 4.25/5 for sense of professional identity as a psychologist. Age, work experience, and stage of program were not associated with professional identity. In multivariate analyses, higher student satisfaction, lower burnout, and lower engagement with "student" aspects of postgraduate study were associated with stronger professional identity. Levels of professional identity were relatively high and showed little influence of demographic variables. However, there is likely to be a reciprocal relationship between satisfaction with postgraduate study and professional identity for students, which would need to be evaluated in a different design to understand directions of association. Results also suggest that supporting postgraduate students in self-care and helping students to balance professional responsibilities and academic aspects of study are likely to assist in fostering postgraduates' professional identity. What is already known about this topic: Professional identity provides a sense of self in relation to membership of a specific profession. Students in health and social services professions, including psychology, have demonstrated emerging professional identities in their areas of study. In working professionals, professional identity has been found to be important for wellbeing and for relationships with colleagues and clients. What this paper adds: Professional identity amongst a sample of Australian postgraduate students in clinical psychology was independent of demographic variables such as age, gender, and previous work experience. Stronger professional identity in the current sample correlated with higher satisfaction with the program of study and lower level of burnout. In multivariate analysis, higher satisfaction with the program of study, lower burnout, and lower engagement with "academic" aspects of the program each independently predicted higher level of professional identity. From these cross-sectional findings, potential causal associations between predictors and professional identity remain to be clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluate the utility of brief online training for facilitating mental health professionals' perceived knowledge, confidence, and comfort in working with non-binary clients, and building positive attitudes. Baseline participants were 79 Australian registered mental health professionals, of whom 38 completed online training and a one-week follow-up assessment. Participants completed an assessment of attitudes, comfort, confidence, and perceived knowledge pertaining to non-binary people before and after completing online training. The training (30-minute average completion time) provided information on non-binary people's lives using text, images, embedded video, and links to optional resources. Follow-up measures completed one-week post-intervention indicated engagement in the training may lead to increased perceived knowledge, confidence and comfort. Attitudes were positive at baseline and were not significantly different at follow-up. Providing brief online training for working with non-binary people in mental health might improve practitioner perceived knowledge, confidence and competence at low cost and with easy access. Future research is required to account for limitations and build on current outcomes. Key Points What is already known on this topic: Little is known about the effects of brief online training regarding non-binary genders on mental health practitioner's attitudes, confidence, comfort, and perceived knowledge. Previous research has shown that brief training can increase positive attitudes for, knowledge of, behavioural intent, and cultural competence for working with sexual and gender minorities, though has not specifically focused on non-binary people. Previous literature has highlighted positive associations between practitioner knowledge and the well-being of non-binary people accessing health services. What this paper adds: This paper adds to the ongoing genesis of options for training mental health practitioners about non-binary people and relevant issues. Findings suggest beneficial outcomes from both prior professional training in this area and the brief training used in the study. The brief online training used in the study was associated with higher perceived knowledge, confidence, and comfort for working with non-binary clients, but further research is needed to understand reasons for change in these variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was developed for clinicians and researchers as a brief screening instrument for behavioural and emotional problems in children. Administered in its traditional pen‐and‐paper format, the SDQ has demonstrated sound psychometric properties. The SDQ is increasingly being administered online, despite there being little evaluation of the psychometric properties and norms of the instrument in this new administrative context, and none in an Australian (or English‐speaking) sample. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to explore the psychometric properties and present normative data for the online administration of the parent‐report version of the SDQ in an Australian sample. Methods: Participants were parents (n = 1,070) of Australian primary school‐aged children (5 to 12 years) who completed the SDQ online via a web‐based software program. Results: Results demonstrate sound psychometric properties for the SDQ in its online administrative format that are comparable to previous Australian studies utilising the traditional pen‐and‐paper format of the SDQ. Moreover, we provide normative data on the SDQ subscales, as well as the impact supplement when administered online. Conclusions: Together, the results support the use of the SDQ online, and provide emerging evidence that the psychometric properties and the norms for the parent‐report SDQ in an English‐speaking sample are similar regardless of online versus pen‐and‐paper administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Weight‐based stigma is often experienced by individuals who are overweight and obese, and is associated with a range of deleterious physical and mental health outcomes. Research is lacking on the mechanisms through which these relationships occur. This paper examines two potential mechanisms: internalised weight stigma and self‐compassion. Method: A sample of 147 overweight and obese Australian females aged between 18 and 45 years completed a series of self‐report questionnaires measuring: experienced weight stigma, internalised weight stigma, self‐compassion, psychological distress, body shame, loneliness, and life satisfaction. Results: Internalised weight stigma mediated the relationship between experienced weight stigma and body shame such that greater experienced weight stigma led to greater internalised weight stigma, which in turn led to greater body shame. Additionally, self‐compassion mediated the relationship between experienced weight stigma and several psychosocial factors such that greater experienced weight stigma led to lower self‐compassion, which led to greater psychological distress, higher perceived loneliness, and lower satisfaction with life. Conclusions: Findings support previous research indicating that internalised weight stigma plays a mediating role in the relationship between experienced weight stigma and adverse outcomes. This study extends upon prior research by investigating previously unexamined outcome variables and exploring the simultaneous mediating role of self‐compassion. The findings suggest that both internalised weight stigma and self‐compassion each play a different but important role in the way in which weight stigma impacts on overweight and obese women. Results from this study have implications in terms of psychological intervention for overweight and obese individuals in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]