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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]

Socially anxious individuals may prefer social media platforms over in-person interactions. For those with high social anxiety (SA), Facebook-related tasks have been associated with anxiety, negative thoughts, and safety behaviours. However, Instagram-related research remains limited. The present study aimed to assess Instagram use alongside cognitive and behavioural processes among participants with low, medium, and high SA. We hypothesised that when using Instagram, individuals with higher SA would (1) experience more negative social cognitions, (2) report higher body image concerns, (3) endorse more safety behaviours when posting pictures, and (4) engage in more photo manipulation. A sample of 213 Instagram users completed an online survey and were divided into groups based on SA severity. The high SA group reported comparing themselves to others and being more anxious on Instagram than the low and medium SA groups. Four 3 (SA groups) x 2 (gender) ANOVAs revealed support for the first three hypotheses and that there was no interaction effect between SA and gender for all outcomes. Results expand our understanding of how specific social media platforms may be aversive for individuals with high SA, which has important implications for conceptualising the role of safety behaviours in online interactions. KEY POINTS What is already known on this topic: Individuals with high social anxiety may prefer online social interactions. Clark and Wells' cognitive model of social anxiety can be extended to the online social media platforms. Social anxiety may be underpinned by body image concerns. What this paper adds: Instagram users with social anxiety experienced more negative social media cognitions and reported more safety behaviours. Instagram users with social anxiety also experienced more body image concerns. Despite gender differences in photo manipulation, an associated relationship with social anxiety was not supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]