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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]

Objective: Family violence causes brain injury and trauma for many victim survivors. Neuropsychologists play a central role in helping with these issues. We aimed to evaluate rates of family violence training, knowledge and clinical skills in Australian neuropsychologists. Method: An online, brief, self-report survey of psychologists practicing clinically in the area of neuropsychology Australia wide. The survey assessed prior training, knowledge and confidence together with awareness of specific family violence clinical skills, and barriers to competent practice. Results: Responses were received from every state and territory and represented more than 10% of the total registered endorsed clinical neuropsychology workforce (N = 92). Over 90% of respondents had undertaken family violence training, however 57% reported having little or no knowledge and 67% little or no confidence working clinically in the area. Knowledge of specific family violence skills was reduced, with only 20% indicating that they knew how to respond, when clients disclosed experiencing family violence. Conclusions: Further work is needed to improve the ability of the Australian neuropsychology workforce to respond to this important health issue. Response of neuropsychologists may be sub-optimal, particularly in regard to the provision of psychological support following disclosures a central tenant of World Health Organization guidelines. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: Family violence is a significant public health issue in Australia. Family violence can cause both brain injuries and psychological trauma and attenuated cognitive functioning has been associated with both of these conditions. Clinical neuropsychologists commonly work with clients who experience cognitive attenuation. What this paper adds: This paper is the first, to our knowledge, to survey training, knowledge, confidence levels and specific family violence clinical skills in Australian neuropsychologists. Over 10% of the endorsed clinical neuropsychology Australian workforce participated in this self-report online survey. Results indicated that most had received some family violence training, however, self-rated knowledge, confidence and awareness of specific family violence skills were relatively low and further training and professional development in this area is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is a paucity of quantitative measures of resilience specifically validated for young Aboriginal people in Australia. We undertook the first investigation of validity and reliability of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) in a sample of Australian Aboriginal people, with a focus on youth. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study of resilience among a sample of 122 Aboriginal youth (15–25 years old) in New South Wales and Western Australia, featuring self-completes of the 10-item CD-RISC in online (N = 22) and face-to-face (N = 100) settings. A Rasch analysis using the 122 CD-RISC responses determined item independence, response category adequacy, differential item functioning, unidimensional measurement, person and item reliability, and item fit. Confirmatory factor analysis was also conducted, complementary to the Rasch analysis. Results: Four problematic items from the original instrument were removed, due to item dependence (items 2, 6 and 9; Q3,* > 0.30) and differential item functioning (item 4; > 0.43 logits between males and females). The final 6-item instrument exhibited improved item separation (ISI = 2.14) and reliability index values (IRI =.82) – suggesting an improved structure – however several limitations such as a prominent ceiling effect were evident (i.e., positive measure targeting coefficient of 0.99 logits). Conclusion: Findings suggest the CD-RISC instrument should be applied in Aboriginal contexts with caution. Further psychometric examination of the CD-RISC with Aboriginal youth is warranted before it can be used with confidence by researchers and clinicians. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: Resilience is generally thought of as positive outcomes despite exposure to risk. This can be a particularly important concept to consider in the period of youth and adolescence, when young people are experiencing wide ranging physical, emotional, and social changes and challenges. Aboriginal youth face unique circumstances that are necessary to consider when considering resilience relevant to an Aboriginal perspective. There is currently a lack in the literature in regards to defining and conceptualising resilience from an Aboriginal perspective, particularly relevant to young people. There is a dearth of instruments available that have been rigorously examined for their appropriateness and psychometric properties relating to resilience in Aboriginal youth. What this paper adds: This paper provides not only a first investigation of this version of the CD-RISC using Rasch analysis, but also the first time the CD-RISC's validity and reliability has been assessed for an Aboriginal sample in Australia. Analyses results illustrated a ceiling effect, highlighting the fact that for the instrument to be accessing the full range of resilience in the sample, new items need to be developed to tap into higher levels of resilience. With the findings of this paper as a foundation, further investigation and adaptation of the CD-RISC could potentially lead to a useful screening tool for assessing resilience and identifying Aboriginal youth who may require further support. [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]