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This paper performs a critical qualitative inquiry exploring supervision pedagogies utilising duoethnography as both methodology and conceptual framing. We begin the inquiry by reflecting upon our social and cultural identities and our evolving supervisor/supervisee-colleague-friend relationship. Our critical dialogue then shifts to scrutinising our supervision experiences. Topics of relationships, ethics, power effects, cultural differences, students' anxieties and self-doubt, and institutional protocols emerged during our conversations. We analyse our narratives in light of literature on supervision pedagogy, duoethnography, and some theoretical notions drawn from critical multiculturalism and the work of Foucault and Bourdieu. In the current context of neoliberal incursions into university modalities, it is our intention that our dialogue might promote a refocusing on the need for critical socially-just supervision pedagogies, and we invite you to join us in this critical dialogic inquiry.

Compulsory teaching of Aotearoa New Zealand histories has potential to change how this country's young people think and feel about themselves. However, achieving the new curriculum's vision of a more thoughtful and responsible citizenry is unlikely to be straightforward. For Pakeha secondary school students, descendants of European settlers, the emphasis on te ao Maori could challenge a sense of centredness within the nation, and learning about colonial violence and injustice may be a source of emotional discomfort. For the new teaching framework to reach its transformative potential, these moments must be harnessed rather than allowed to block learning and engagement. This paper analyses three possible emotional responses of Pakeha students when monoculturalism is confronted and conflictual local histories are remembered: anxiety, guilt, and shame. While these emotions are usually framed as unnecessary or immobilising, I argue that they signal important starting points for Pakeha in responding to the complexity of colonialism and their complicity within it. Anxiety draws Pakeha attention to the constructed nature of the 'New Zealander' identity, and thus possibilities to de- and re-construct it, guilt pinpoints injustices that Pakeha must collectively address and monitor, and shame alerts Pakeha to their moral ideals. Yet, I also propose that if such feelings are to be harnessed constructively, they must be supplemented with a sense of mutual vulnerability and critical hope. Ultimately, this paper aims to show how discomforting emotions can either thwart or enrich learning and are therefore worth working with and through.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue on poverty, schooling and research and to tease out and discuss some of the concepts that this kind of writing and research work provokes. We frame the issue, briefly introduce each paper and then discuss "keywords" in four sections: living/knowledge, justice/connection, weakness/education, and affect/anxiety.

This paper presents a compilation of personal reflections from 66 contributors on the impact of, and responses to, COVID-19 in accounting education in 45 different countries around the world. It reveals a commonality of issues, and a variability in responses, many positive outcomes, including the creation of opportunities to realign learning and teaching strategies away from the comfort of traditional formats, but many more that are negative, primarily relating to the impact on faculty and student health and well-being, and the accompanying stress. It identifies issues that need to be addressed in the recovery and redesign stages of the management of this crisis, and it sets a new research agenda for studies in accounting education.

The climate strikes of 2019 motivated millions worldwide onto the street and provided a platform for youth voices that demanded global climate action. This article explores the experiences of climate strike leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand questioning the motivational factors behind the youth action. In-depth interviews with 15 climate strike leaders identified emotions that influenced engagement and could motivate action. Climate strike leaders reported experiencing a series of turbulent emotional stages from apathy to action. Their experiences suggest that anxiety and anger are important stages in the emotional journey towards action. Using Boler's "Pedagogy of Discomfort," this paper examines these emotional stages that can disable or enable action. Considering youth perspectives increases our understanding of a suitable climate change educational framework that potentially supports both educators and students on this challenging journey.

Although a large body of literature recognises the impact of parent-teacher relationships on infant everyday experiences, less is known about the emotional experience and associated expectations of the adults themselves during earliest transitions. In the context of a multi-site international investigation across five countries -- Brazil, Finland, Scotland, New Zealand, and the United States -- the present paper examines teacher and parent interviews to reveal expectations prior to and after the transition to ECEC, highlighting the associated emotions that arise during this process. Irrespective of whether expectations are met, parents universally express insecurities and fears in relation to the transition. Parents are aware of the impact that the various aspects of the ECEC setting have on their child, and acknowledge difficulty in relinquishing control of the care of their child. Despite these concerns, parents consistently articulate their strong trust in the institution and the professional expertise of the staff. Correspondingly, teachers are keenly aware of the importance of their role in supporting families, and hold certain expectations for how the transition experience will play out accordingly. Regardless of country of context, the study shows that clear communication surrounding both centre and parental expectations establishes high levels of trust and ameliorates anxiety. Teacher-parent dialogues concerning routines, preferences, and anticipations are seen as pivotal in supporting a positive transition for all.

Christchurch-based science advisers Sabina Cleary and Carmen Kenton, from Kaha Education, talk about their experiences of supporting teachers during the COVID-19 lockdown. Insights from their experiences during a previous crisis guided them during COVID-19. They share their thoughts about useful learning to take forward as school life resumes. [This article was written with Rosemary Hipkins and Josie Roberts.]

Research into both student engagement and student emotions is increasing, with widespread agreement that both are critical determinants of student success in higher education. Less researched are the complex, reciprocal relationships between these important influences. Two theoretical frameworks inform this paper: Pekrun's taxonomy of academic emotions and Kahu's conceptual framework of student engagement. The prospective qualitative design aims to allow a rich understanding of the fluctuating and diverse emotions that students experience during the transition to university and to explore the relationships between academic emotions and student engagement. The study follows 19 mature-aged (aged 24 and over) distance students throughout their first semester at university, using video diaries to collect data on their emotional experiences and their engagement with their study. Pre and post-semester interviews were also conducted. Findings highlight that different emotions have different links to engagement: as important elements in emotional engagement, as inhibitors of engagement and as outcomes that reciprocally influence engagement. There are two key conclusions. First, student emotions are the point of intersection between the university factors such as course design and student variables such as motivation and background. Second, the flow of influence between emotions, engagement, and learning is reciprocal and complex and can spiral upwards towards ideal engagement or downwards towards disengagement and withdrawal.

Introduction. Body image dissatisfaction and its associated challenges have been related to poorer health outcomes among adolescents worldwide, including disordered eating behaviour, depression, and anxiety. However, current prevalence estimates of these issues in Aotearoa New Zealand or, relatedly, the estimates of positive attitudes and behaviours, such as intuitive eating and body appreciation are dated. Aim. The primary aim of this paper was to provide updated estimates for a variety of constructs related to eating behaviours and body image, sourced from a diverse range of early adolescent participants. Methods. For this report, a brief online survey was advertised to adolescents throughout Aotearoa New Zealand (n = 893) via school and community noticeboards. Results. Approximately one-in-three male participants and one-intwo female participants reported body image dissatisfaction. One in four participants reported clinically significant symptoms of depression and anxiety. Discussion. Given such issues, there is clearly still much progress to be made in advancing positive health among early adolescents. Identifying potentially protective constructs such as intuitive eating and body appreciation may offer guidance into the best targets for prevention and early intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crisis intervention services for people experiencing psychological distress and suicidal ideation are frequently described by the people accessing them as failing to meet their needs. This paper reports a prominent finding from a realist evaluation of Taranaki Retreat—a charitable, non‐clinical organisation in New Zealand, which offers free respite for people experiencing acute distress. Using qualitative methods, the study aimed to move beyond vague notions regarding the helpfulness of respite, to a deeper understanding of the contextual factors and mechanisms which generate outcomes for such an intervention. Participant observation, focus groups with staff, semi‐structured interviews with service users, and analysis of service users' case notes were conducted over a six‐month period in 2018. The most prominent finding from the study related to 'genuine care'—care which is interpreted by the recipient as being motivated by a genuine desire to help. We present this finding as to the central mechanism in a wider programme theory developed through the realist evaluation study. We also present five key features of the care participants were offered at Taranaki Retreat which contributed to their common interpretation regarding the motivations behind this care. Upon considering the centrality of this mechanism we conclude that, in designing crisis interventions, greater consideration should be given to how the intervention can demonstrate genuine care. Having highlighted the ways in which the structure of charitable organisations appears conducive for interpretations of genuine care, we further conclude that the provision of comprehensive crisis intervention by charitable organisations should be further explored and supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compulsory teaching of Aotearoa New Zealand histories has potential to change how this country's young people think and feel about themselves. However, achieving the new curriculum's vision of a more thoughtful and responsible citizenry is unlikely to be straightforward. For Pākehā secondary school students, descendants of European settlers, the emphasis on te ao Māori could challenge a sense of centredness within the nation, and learning about colonial violence and injustice may be a source of emotional discomfort. For the new teaching framework to reach its transformative potential, these moments must be harnessed rather than allowed to block learning and engagement. This paper analyses three possible emotional responses of Pākehā students when monoculturalism is confronted and conflictual local histories are remembered: anxiety, guilt, and shame. While these emotions are usually framed as unnecessary or immobilising, I argue that they signal important starting points for Pākehā in responding to the complexity of colonialism and their complicity within it. Anxiety draws Pākehā attention to the constructed nature of the 'New Zealander' identity, and thus possibilities to de- and re-construct it, guilt pinpoints injustices that Pākehā must collectively address and monitor, and shame alerts Pākehā to their moral ideals. Yet, I also propose that if such feelings are to be harnessed constructively, they must be supplemented with a sense of mutual vulnerability and critical hope. Ultimately, this paper aims to show how discomforting emotions can either thwart or enrich learning and are therefore worth working with and through. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic pain is common in older people. However, little is known about how pain is experienced in residents of retirement villages ('villages'), and how pain intensity and associations are experienced in relation to characteristics of residents and village living. We thus aimed to examine pain levels, prevalence and associated factors in village residents. The current paper is a cross‐sectional analysis of baseline data from the 'Older People in Retirement Villages' study in Auckland, New Zealand. Between July 2016 and August 2018, 578 village residents were interviewed face‐to‐face by gerontology nurse specialists, using interRAI Community Health Assessment (CHA) and customised survey. We used a validated pain scale and multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusted for pre‐specified confounders. Residents' median age was 82 years; 420 (73%) were female; 270 (47%) exhibited/reported daily pain, and in 11% this was severe. After controlling for confounders, daily pain was positively associated with self‐reported arthritis (OR = 3.88, 95% CI = 2.57–5.87), poor/fair self‐reported health (OR = 3.19, 95% CI = 1.29–7.93), having no health clinic on‐site (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.10–2.83), and minimal fatigue (diminished energy but completes normal day‐to‐day activities) (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.11–2.81). Similar associations were observed for levels of pain. We conclude that levels of pain and prevalence of daily pain are high in village residents. Self‐reported arthritis, self‐reported poor/fair health, no health clinic on‐site and minimal fatigue are all independently associated with a higher risk of daily pain and with levels of pain. This study suggests potential opportunities for villages to better provide on‐site support to decrease prevalence and severity of pain for their residents, and thus potentially increase wellbeing and quality‐of‐life, though as we cannot prove causality, more research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shortly after the COVID‐19 pandemic reached Aotearoa New Zealand, stringent lockdown measures lasting 7 weeks were introduced to manage community spread of the virus. This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study examining how lockdown measures impacted upon the lives of nurses, midwives and personal care assistants caring for community‐based patients during this time. The study involved nationwide surveys and in‐depth interviews with 15 registered nurses employed in community settings, two community midwives and five personal care assistants. During the lockdown, nurses, midwives and personal care assistants working in the community showed considerable courage in answering their 'call to duty' by taking on heightened care responsibilities and going 'the extra mile' to help others. They faced significant risks to personal and professional relationships when they were required to take on additional and complex responsibilities for community‐based patients. Despite the hypervigilant monitoring of their personal protective equipment (PPE), the need to safeguard family and community members generated considerable stress and anxiety. Many also faced personal isolation and loneliness as a result of lockdown restrictions. Moreover, the negative impacts of experiences during lockdown often continued to be felt once restrictions had been lifted, inflecting life during periods in which community transmission of COVID‐19 was not occurring. This article makes five core service delivery and policy recommendations for supporting community‐based nurses, midwives and personal care assistants in respiratory disease pandemics: acknowledging the crucial role played by community‐based carers and the associated stress and anxiety they endured by championing respect and compassion; demystifying the 'heroism' or 'self‐sacrifice' projected onto care workers; the timely provision of adequate protective equipment; improving remuneration, with adequate provision for time off; and regular counselling, peer support groups and education on work‐life balance delivered by support workers in recognition of stressors arising from these complex and isolated working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The neoliberal direction of social policy under New Zealand’s fifth National government (2008–) is demonstrated in its 2012White Paper for Vulnerable Children. This document advocates increased monitoring and policing of welfare populations and the downgrading of child protection policy to a technical administrative system for managing ‘risky’ families. TheWhite Paper’srelease came soon after the coroner’s report into the deaths of the ‘Kahui twins’, which were treated by the media as a shocking case of child abuse, and exemplified the media’s use of a fantasy of a ‘savage’ Maori welfare underclass in reporting cases of child abuse. Drawing on Isin’s analysis of ‘governing through neurosis’, this article explores how these media and policy discourses reinforce normative patterns of neoliberal citizen subjectivity by offering compelling pathways out of anxiety that re-route citizens’ anxiety over child abuse in support of neoliberal modes of citizen subjectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will explore the clinical application of tracking sequences in family therapy with a particular focus on Bowen family systems theory. It considers how sequences can be used to track the emotional process occurring in relationship interactions, and the similarities and differences of a Bowen theory‐informed approach compared with dialectical behaviour therapy and both classic and contemporary family therapy models. Case examples are utilised from the author's clinical practice to raise ideas about the therapist joining the client as a co‐researcher in this exercise and facilitating a process that helps assist the client develop their own self‐awareness and problem‐solving resources in the context of their relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the perceived quality of life, unmet needs and psychological distress in patients with head and neck cancer in a rural setting in New Zealand. Method: Patients presenting with head and neck cancer in Northland, New Zealand, were asked to complete questionnaires on quality of life, unmet needs, and anxiety or depression together with a free-text option. Results: About one quarter of respondents (27 per cent) scored high in the anxiety and depression scale, with corresponding diminished quality of life scores and increased needs. Over half of respondents (54 per cent) found it challenging to travel for treatment. Financial difficulties were encountered more frequently with indigenous patients. Rurality alone does not lead to significant differences in quality of life or needs. Conclusion: After treatment for head and neck cancer, it is important to monitor and manage patients' psychological distress and ease of access to health services to improve quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brad McGann's Possum has been described as a film about the primal relationship between individuals and their environment. This article draws upon Clark's work on feral ecologies in the colonial peripheries to suggest that it can also be understood as a historically specific allegory about nineteenth-century imperialism and settlement in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. The NICU experience may also lead to impaired parenting and early childhood socio-emotional problems. Psychosocial interventions can reduce NICU parent distress. Yet many are time-intensive and costly to deliver. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence-based psychological therapy, may address these needs. ACT has been shown to be effective in reducing distress of parents of children with chronic illnesses, particularly when combined with parent education. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to determine if a digital intervention that uses a brief form of ACT plus parent education will reduce the stress of primary caregivers with preterm babies in the NICU more than a digital education-only intervention or standard care control group. In a randomised controlled cluster trial design, participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: ACT plus education; education-only; or standard care control. The primary outcome will be parental/caregiver stress levels, measured on the Parental Stress Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Secondary outcomes include overall stress, anxiety, and depression. Outcome measures will be evaluated at baseline, two weeks after enrolment, discharge to home, and 3-months post-discharge. This study will explore the efficacy of a digital ACT plus education intervention on parental stress levels. While position papers have advocated for the use of ACT with NICU parents, this study will be the first to test ACT as a stand-alone intervention with this population. This trial was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry on 14 June 2023 (ACTRN12623000641695p). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) has demonstrated safety and efficacy for treatment of Binge Eating Disorder (BED). However, to date, trials have not included participants with co-occurring psychiatric disorders. This study explores how LDX affects eating disorder psychopathology, symptoms of common psychiatric comorbidities of BED (ADHD, depression, anxiety), and psychological quality of life, in people with moderate to severe BED. Methods: These are secondary analyses of an open-label LDX trial conducted in 41 adults (18–40 years) over eight-weeks. Participants received LDX titrated to 50 or 70 mg. Clinical assessments and self-report questionnaires were conducted at baseline and 8-week follow-up. Results: Eating disorder psychopathology and psychological quality of life improved after 8-weeks of LDX. No significant group-level changes in depression, anxiety or ADHD severity scores were observed. However, the majority within the small subsets with elevated depression and ADHD symptoms experienced reduced depressive and inattentive symptom severity, respectively. Conclusions: We provide proof-of-concept evidence that LDX may provide broader psychological benefits to individuals with BED, beyond reducing their BE frequency. Effects of LDX on anxiety should be monitored closely by clinicians. Early indications suggest that LDX may be effectively used in people with BED, with and without co-occurring psychiatric conditions, however tolerability may be lower in highly complex cases. Trial registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (anzctr.org.au) #ACTRN12618000623291. Plain English summary: Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) has been shown to reduce binge eating frequency among those with Binge Eating Disorder (BED). However, little is known about how LDX affects symptoms of common co-occurring conditions (ADHD, depression, anxiety) and mental health more broadly. In this study, 41 people with BED received an 8-week course of LDX and their symptoms were monitored before and after treatment. Overall, people experienced a robust improvement in eating disorder psychopathology and psychological quality of life. For those with higher levels of depression and ADHD, LDX had the additional benefit of improving depressive symptoms and inattentive symptom severity, respectively. The effect of LDX on anxiety symptoms appears to be more complex, with an equal proportion of people experiencing a decrease or an increase in anxiety over the course of treatment. Those who experienced reductions in anxiety during treatment tended to have greater concurrent reductions in binge eating frequency. This study provides preliminary evidence that for people with BED, LDX may be effective at improving co-occurring symptoms of eating disorder psychopathology and psychological well-being, and potentially ADHD and depression symptoms when present at an elevated level. More research is needed among a larger sample to verify these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Symptoms of anxiety and depression are common in patients with terminal illness and multiple challenges exist with timely and effective care in this population. Several centres have reported that one dose of the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin, combined with therapeutic support, improves these symptoms for up to 6 months in this patient group. Drawing upon related therapeutic mechanisms, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy may have the potential to achieve similar, positive mental health outcomes in this group. Preliminary evidence also supports the tolerability of MDMA-assisted therapy for anxiety and depression in advanced-stage cancer. Methods: Up to 32 participants with advanced-stage cancer and associated depression and anxiety will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio into one of two blinded parallel treatment arms. The intervention group will receive 120 mg (+ 60 mg optional supplemental dose) MDMA-assisted therapy. The psychoactive control group will receive 20 mg oral (+ 10 mg optional supplemental dose) methylphenidate-assisted therapy. For each medication-assisted therapy session, participants will undergo two 90-min therapeutic support sessions in the week preceding, and one 90-min support session the day after the experimental session. A battery of measures (mood, anxiety, quality of life, mystical experience, spiritual wellbeing, attitudes towards death, personality traits, holistic health and wellbeing, connectedness, demoralisation, expectations, qualitative data and safety measures) will be assessed at baseline and through to the end of the protocol. Participants will be followed up until either 12 months post-randomisation or death, whichever occurs first. Discussion: This study will examine the effect of MDMA-assisted therapy on symptoms of anxiety and depression in advanced-stage cancer. Potential therapeutic implications include establishing the safety and effectiveness of a novel treatment that may relieve mental suffering in patients with life-threatening illness. Trial registration: Trial registered on Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry. Registration number: ACTRN12619001334190p. Date registered: 30/09/2019. URL: https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=378153&showOriginal=true&isReview=true [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Concurrent diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus and mental disorders is associated with adverse outcomes for mother and child, but there is limited information about prevalence or which women are at risk. Material and methods: This study was a prospective cohort study of women with gestational diabetes from 10 hospitals in New Zealand who reported anxiety (6‐item Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory), depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and health‐related quality of life (36‐Item Short‐Form General Health Survey) at time of gestational diabetes diagnosis (baseline), 36 weeks' gestation, and 6 months postpartum. Potential predictors were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Among 414 respondents, 17% reported anxiety, 16% vulnerability to depression and 27% poor mental health‐related quality of life at time of gestational diabetes diagnosis. At 36 weeks' gestation, prevalence decreased for vulnerability to depression (8%) and poor mental health‐related quality of life (20%). Younger maternal age, Pacific ethnicity, previous history of gestational diabetes, and older gestational age at time of gestational diabetes diagnosis were associated with poorer mental health outcomes. At 6 months postpartum the prevalence of mental disorders did not differ from in late pregnancy and they were associated with later gestational age at time of gestational diabetes diagnosis and elevated 2‐hour postprandial glucose concentrations. Conclusions: Perinatal mental disorders are common at time of diagnosis among women with gestational diabetes in New Zealand and had decreased by late pregnancy and at 6 months after birth. These disorders are more common among women with specific risk factors who may therefore benefit from additional support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to establish the relationship between organisational culture and psychotropic medication use in residential care.Design/methodology/approach: Cross-sectional analyses of staff and resident's record survey in residential aged care facilities in Auckland, New Zealand (NZ). The competing values framework categorised organisational culture as clan, hierarchical, market driven or adhocracy and was completed by all staff. The treatment culture tool categorised facilities as having resident centred or traditional culture and was completed by registered nursing staff and general practitioners (GP). Functional and behavioural characteristics of residents were established by staff report and health characteristics and medications used were ascertained from the health record. Multiple regression was used to test for associations between measures of culture with psychotropic medication use (anxiolytics, sedatives, major tranquillisers).Findings: In total 199 staff, 27 GP and 527 residents participated from 14 facilities. On average 8.5 medications per resident were prescribed and 42 per cent of residents received psychotropic medication. Having a diagnosis of anxiety or depression (odds ratio (OR) 3.18, 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 1.71, 5.91), followed by persistent wandering (OR 2.53, 95 per cent CI 1.59, 4.01) and being in a dementia unit (OR 2.45, 95 per cent CI 1.17, 5.12) were most strongly associated with psychotropic use. Controlling for resident- and facility-level factors, health care assistants' assignation of hierarchical organisational culture type was independently associated with psychotropic medication use, (OR 1.29, CI 1.08, 1.53) and a higher treatment culture score from the GP was associated with lower use of psychotropic medication (OR 0.95, CI 0.92, 0.98).Originality/value: Psychotropic medication use remains prevalent in residential care facilities in NZ. Interventions aimed at changing organisational culture towards a less hierarchical and more resident-centred culture may be another avenue to improve prescribing in residential aged care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to report nurses' and midwives' health, vitality and well-being in relation to adherence to current health behaviour recommendations. Healthy lifestyle factors constitute a core set of parameters required if an individual wants to live a healthy life, age successfully and avoid morbidity and a premature mortality. The investigation is an observation study of Australian and New Zealand nurses and midwives. Data were generated from the e-Cohort survey and the healthy lifestyle (HL;N = 338) group categorised as those adhering to physical activity and dietary guidelines, not smoking, consuming moderate alcohol and getting between 7 and 9 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. All others were categorised as non-healthy lifestyle (NHL;N = 338) irrelevant of the number of factors present. It was found that HL group reported less work place activity but more leisure-time activity and had a lower BMI than NHL. In addition, the HL group was most likely to report improved sleep quality and least likely to report workplace and emotional barriers in day-to-day life. In contrast, those in the NHL group were less likely to report their health as excellent and were more likely to report a history of anxiety, depression and limitations in daily activities. It was concluded that collectively, the professions need to take action and members need to change lifestyle choices around physical activity, diet, smoking, alcohol and sleep. This study has important implications for workforce planners and administrators concerned about the well-being of individual members of the professions and the nursing and midwifery workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

• Computer assisted self interviewing (CASI) offers a relevant alternative to paper-and-pen administration, particularly in the context of transcultural psychiatry. • Symptom scores obtained with CASI are equivalent to those obtained with pen-and-paper administration. • CASI retains the construct validity of the paper-and-pen administration. Multimedia-based administration of questionnaires, presenting items both in writing and spoken word, offers numerous potential benefits in transcultural psychiatry, such as improved comprehension of each question, ease of administration, prevention of missing or arbitrary responses, and obviating subsequent data entry. The concept has become known as "Computer-Assisted Self Interviewing" (CASI), and while preliminary results are promising, previous studies have not directly compared CASI to paper-and-pen administration in a large and representative sample of refugees. The aim of this study was to evaluate the procedural validity of multilingual CASI in comparison to paper-based-administration. The Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 anxiety and depression subscales were administered in both modalities with a total of N = 281 participants from sites in Australia, New Zealand, and Denmark. We evaluated potential deviations in both the raw item and scale scores in each modality, while psychometric properties of each subscale were compared for an Arabic-speaking subsample (n = 125). Results showed no significant differences between raw item- or scale score across the two modalities, nor between the level of construct validity. In conclusion, this study supports a wider adaptation of multilingual CASI in the context of transcultural psychiatry, both for purposes of screening and treatment evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological evidence suggests that regular physical activity (PA) positively impacts individuals' mental health (MH). The PA-MH relationship may be critical among immigrants owing to psycho-social-cultural influences. This scoping review of 61 studies employed a holistic bio-psycho-socio-cultural framework to thoroughly investigate the complex relationship between PA (across life domains) and immigrants' MH in Western countries. A systematic search of five electronic databases (Medline, PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and Anthropology Plus) was conducted to locate relevant articles. No limitations were applied to study design, age, gender, home country, MH condition or PA type. A bio-psycho-socio-cultural-informed conceptual model guided the analysis of the multi-domain PA-MH relationship. Immigrant PA-MH studies were conducted and reported most commonly in the USA (38%), Australia (18%), and Canada (11%). Overall, PA was positively related to MH. Each domain-specific PA appeared to be associated with unique MH-promoting pathways/mechanisms. Leisure-related PA may support MH by enhancing self-agency and minimizing risky behaviors, whilst travel- and domestic-related PA may promote self-accomplishment and physical engagement. Ethnic sports appeared to enhance resilience. Occupational-related PA was associated with either positive or negative MH, depending on the type of occupation. A bio-psycho-socio-cultural-informed model is required to gain an encompassing and integrated understanding of immigrants' health. The first iteration of such a model is presented here, along with an illustration of how the model may be used to deepen analysis and understanding of the multi-domain PA-MH relationship among immigrants and inform public health planners and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy poverty in Aotearoa New Zealand is well-documented, and tertiary students have been identified as an at-risk group. However, there has been very little research on tertiary students' experiences of energy poverty in New Zealand. This paper used a nationwide online survey to investigate the extent and impact of energy poverty among tertiary students. Furthermore, it aimed to identify disparities between different demographic groups, understand the effects of COVID-19 and evaluate the effectiveness of the support policies available to students. Responses from 522 students were analysed; 85% were under 30 years old, 72% were female, 14% identified as Māori, and 14% reported having long-term disabilities or health concerns. The findings of this study are concerning. Tertiary students in New Zealand are largely living in dwelling conditions that do not meet recommended health standards and exacerbate energy poverty. Energy poverty has adverse effects on their physical and mental health; however, available support is limited or inaccessible. Most significantly, the impact of energy poverty is disproportionally affecting students with long-term disabilities or health concerns as well as students identifying as Māori. Moreover, the impact of COVID-19 further strained students experiencing energy poverty and again, disproportionally affected more vulnerable students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep is necessary for healthy development and mental wellbeing. Despite this, many children do not get the recommended duration of sleep each night, and many experience sleep problems. Although treatable, existing interventions for sleep disturbance are time-consuming, burdensome for families, and focus on providing behavioural strategies to parents rather than upskilling children directly. To address this gap, we modified Sleep Ninja®, an evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) smartphone app for adolescent sleep disturbance, to be appropriate for 10 to 12 year olds. Here, we describe the protocol for a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effect of Sleep Ninja on insomnia and other outcomes, including depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness, and explore effects on the emergence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), compared to an active control group. Methods: We aim to recruit 214 children aged 10 to 12 years old experiencing disturbed sleep. Participants will be screened for inclusion, complete the baseline assessment, and then be randomly allocated to receive Sleep Ninja, or digital psychoeducation flyers (active control) for 6-weeks. The primary outcome, insomnia symptoms, along with depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness will be assessed at 6-weeks (primary endpoint), 3-months, and 9-months post-baseline (secondary and tertiary endpoints, respectively). A mixed model repeated measures analytic approach will be used to conduct intention-to-treat analyses to determine whether reductions in insomnia and secondary outcomes are greater for those receiving Sleep Ninja relative to the control condition at the primary and secondary endpoints. The difference in relative risk for MDD onset will be explored at 9-months and compared between conditions. Discussion: This is the first clinical trial examining the effects of a CBT-I smartphone app in children experiencing sleep disturbance. Results will provide empirical evidence about the effects of Sleep Ninja on insomnia and other mental health outcomes. Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12623000587606). Universal Trial Number: U1111-1294-4167. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The study aimed to explore the perceptions of intensive care unit staff deployed to other clinical areas. It also aimed to identify challenges that the staff face during their redeployment. Design: A mixed method study. Method: 40 participants (nurses and healthcare assistants) completed an anonymous online questionnaire, and five participants (nurses) participated in one-to-one semi-structured interviews. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling from the selected ICU/HDU. Results: Content analysis of the data revealed three major themes: "Negative feelings of redeployment", "Positive feelings of redeployment" and "Visible and Structured leadership interventions". Results indicate that ICU nursing management needs to make some additional efforts and implement the study recommendations to improve the overall perception and experience of ICU/HDU staff redeployment. Public Contribution: This research will create insight into the redeployment of intensive care unit staff to other clinical areas. Furthermore, it will add value to patient safety and improve institutional healthcare policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paramedic role carries inherent risk to practitioner health, due to a combination of work characteristics and the employment practices of different organizations. Emerging evidence suggests that paramedics worldwide may face a range of negative health outcomes. The purpose of this article was to systematically review the literature of paramedic health outcomes in the Australian and New Zealand context. A systematic search of key databases and gray literature was conducted to identify all available studies reporting on quantitative health outcomes for paramedics working in Australia or New Zealand. The review was conducted using the JBI methodology for prevalence studies and uses a narrative synthesis approach to reporting. There were k = 20 studies that met inclusion criteria, and most used Australian samples. Results indicated between 57.3–66.5% of paramedics studied were classified as overweight or obese, while up to 80% reported poor sleep, and 55.6% reported fatigue. Incidence rates per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) included 26.62 for completed suicide, 5.46 for drug-caused death, and 9.3 for workplace fatalities. The most recent incidence per 1,000 FTE for injury compensation claims was 141.4. Australian and New Zealand paramedics demonstrate poor health according to several metrics. Our sample demonstrated considerably worse health than the general population or similar occupations. There is a minimal amount of trend data available; therefore, it was difficult to ascertain if rates are changing. The range of health outcomes studied was limited, and correlations between different health outcomes were rarely considered by authors. Data relating to specific rates for gender and sexuality, location of work, and First Nations status or ethnicity was often not available. CRD42021232196 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dystonia is a neurological disorder characterised by involuntary muscle contractions. Pain is the primary non-motor symptom, and limited studies have investigated how dystonic pain is experienced. This study aimed to investigate how people with isolated dystonia describe their pain and compare across subgroups of dystonia. Anonymous online survey via social media asking participants to describe their pain in their own words, complete the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), and answer demographic questions. Thematic analysis identified common themes and frequencies were calculated for demographic and MPQ data. One-hundred and sixty-five respondents were included (mean age 51 years, 85% female). Thematic analysis identified four major themes "Physical sensations", "Temporal features", "Destruction", "Impact on life" with several sub-themes. The most chosen MPQ descriptor was "exhausting" followed by "tight," "sharp," "pulling," and "aching". The most common descriptors showed similar prevalence across subgroups of dystonia. As no objective tests for pain exist, pain sufferers must use language to describe their pain experience. People with isolated dystonia used sensory words combined with metaphorical language to detail temporal features of pain, as well as destructive internal battles or feelings of external forces acting upon them, and the significant toll pain has on everyday life. Pain is a common and debilitating non-motor symptom for people living with dystonia and should be discussed in a persons treatment plan. Pain sufferers use language to discuss their pain experience with others and report they don't feel well understood by others including health professionals. People with dystonic pain commonly described physical sensations, temporal features, destructive forces, and the impact on life caused by their pain. Findings suggest the experience of pain with dystonia is varied and better pain management options for people with dystonia are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about experiences and barriers for trans and non‐binary (TGNB) people eligible for cervical screening in Aotearoa New Zealand. Aims: To identify uptake, barriers and reasons for delaying cervical cancer screening among TGNB people in Aotearoa. Materials and Methods: The 2018 Counting Ourselves data on TGNB people assigned female at birth aged 20–69 years who had ever had sex, were analysed to report on experiences of those who were eligible for cervical screening (n = 318). Participants answered questions about whether they had taken part in cervical screening and reasons behind any delays in receiving the test. Results: Trans men were more likely than non‐binary participants to report that they did not require cervical screening or were unsure if they needed it. For those who had delayed cervical screening, 30% did so due to feeling worried about how they would be treated as a trans or non‐binary person and 35% due to another reason. Other reasons for delay related to general and gender‐related discomfort, previous traumatic experiences, anxiety or fear of the test and pain. Material barriers to access included cost and lack of information. Conclusions: The current cervical screening program in Aotearoa does not consider the needs of TGNB people, leading to delayed and reduced uptake of cervical screening. Health providers require education on the reasons TGNB people delay or avoid cervical screening in order to provide appropriate information and affirmative healthcare environments. The human papillomavirus self‐swab may address some of the existing barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date there has been little explicit theorization concerning the role of risk in global migration studies. Drawing upon Beck's concept of the 'risk society,' this paper presents an investigation of the interplay between societal risk and micro-level migration decision-making. Thick historical contextualization and interview data are used to examine the process of decision-making of South Koreans' migration to New Zealand. Four risk factors were found to contribute to their 'exit' decisions: South Korea's highly competitive, work-oriented society brought about by compressed modernity; North Korea's threat of war and the South's consequent political and military culture; the home nation's obsession with education and academic performance; and the difficulties of reconciling traditional collectivist values with upward mobility. It is argued that while elements of risk may be universal, they need to be understood within specific cultural contexts and in relation to how they influence peoples' lived experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: What We Already Know? The COVID-19 pandemic has caused substantial disruption to daily life. The pandemic increased anxiety and depression in the general population of New Zealand in its first 3 months. What This Article Adds? This study found that depression and anxiety reduced over the first year of the pandemic in New Zealanders. However, even in a country with low transmission, anxiety and depression remained elevated compared to pre-pandemic norms. Younger age, being a pet owner, negative life events, and having mental health disorder increased the risk of anxiety and depression. This longitudinal study investigated changes in and risk factors for anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in a New Zealand cohort. Online surveys were distributed to 681 participants at three time-points: May 2020 (Time 1), August–September 2020 (Time 2), and March–April 2021 (Time 3). Participants completed measures of anxiety and depression, alongside measures of possible risk/protective factors. A total of 261 participants completed all three surveys and were included in analyses. Depression and anxiety reduced over time; however, levels were still significantly higher than pre-pandemic norms. Being younger, having a prior mental health disorder, experiencing negative life events due to COVID-19, and being a pet owner were risk factors for poorer depression and anxiety, whereas having higher positive mood was protective. This study demonstrates persisting negative effects of the pandemic on anxiety and depression in a context of low transmission and highlights the importance of providing psychological help to those most at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Many public health experts have claimed that elimination strategies of pandemic response allow 'normal social life' to resume. Recognizing that social connections and feelings of normality are important for public health, this study examines whether, and for whom, that goal is realized, and identifies obstacles that may inhibit its achievement. Methods Thematic analysis of narratives obtained via a qualitative cross-sectional survey of a community cohort in Aotearoa | New Zealand. Results A majority of participants reported that life after elimination was 'more or less the same' as before the pandemic. Some became more social. Nevertheless, a sizeable minority reported being less social, even many months after elimination. Key obstacles to social recovery included fears that the virus was circulating undetected and the enduring impact of lockdowns upon social relationships, personal habits and mental health. Within our sample, old age and underlying health conditions were both associated with a propensity to become less social. Conclusions Elimination strategies can successfully allow 'normal social life' to resume. However, this outcome is not guaranteed. People may encounter difficulties with re-establishing social connections in Zero-COVID settings. Measures designed to overcome such obstacles should be an integral part of elimination strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More than 2.5 million people are admitted for surgery in Australia each year, and between 40 to 80% will experience moderate to high preoperative anxiety. Elevated levels of preoperative anxiety can increase the risk of postoperative complications such as pain, delayed wound healing, infection, prolonged recovery, and longer hospitalisation. Limited previous research on Virtual Reality (VR) indicates a positive impact on surgery-related anxiety and suggests that the intervention potentially leads to reduce postoperative complications.Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of using VR technology for perioperative anxiety among adults undergoing elective surgery.Method: A two-group parallel randomised controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted, including 150 adult patients (aged 18 years and over) undergoing elective surgery and requiring an overnight stay at a major metropolitan hospital. Eligible participants will be screened for anxiety via the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information score (APAIS). Those with moderate to severe anxiety will be randomly allocated to receive the VR session or usual care, in the preoperative holding area. Intervention participants will use a head-mounted VR device to watch and listen to a nature scene for 10 minutes.Study Outcomes: The primary outcome is perioperative anxiety measured using the visual analogue scale for anxiety (VAS-A). Secondary outcomes include stress levels (measured by saliva cortisol level and heart rate), postoperative pain, patient satisfaction with perioperative care, hospital length of stay, and VR-associated adverse events.Conclusion: This study will help evaluate if a brief preoperative VR session can reduce perioperative anxiety for adult elective surgical patients.Trial Registration: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12620001350910. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is a leading cause of disability in adolescents, however few receive evidence-based treatment. Despite having the potential to overcome barriers to treatment uptake and adherence, there are very few CBT-based smartphone apps for adolescents. To address this gap, we developed ClearlyMe®, a self-guided CBT smartphone app for adolescent depression and anxiety. ClearlyMe® consists of 37 brief lessons containing core CBT elements, accessed either individually or as part of a 'collection'. Here, we describe the protocol for a randomised controlled trial aiming to evaluate the effect of ClearlyMe® on depressive symptoms and secondary outcomes, including engagement, anxiety and wellbeing, when delivered with and without guided support compared to an attention matched control. Methods: We aim to recruit 489 adolescents aged 12-17 years with mild to moderately-severe depressive symptoms. Participants will be screened for inclusion, complete the baseline assessment and are then randomly allocated to receive ClearlyMe® (self-directed use), ClearlyMe® with guided SMS support (guided use) or digital psychoeducation (attention-matched control). Depressive symptoms and secondary outcomes will be assessed at 6-weeks (primary endpoint) and 4-months post-baseline (secondary endpoint). Engagement, conceptualised as uptake, adherence and completion, will also be assessed 6-weeks post-baseline. Mixed-effects linear modelling will be used to conduct intention-to-treat analyses to determine whether reductions in depressive symptoms and secondary outcomes are greater for conditions receiving ClearlyMe® relative to control at 6-weeks and 4-months post-baseline and greater for intervention adherers relative to non-adherers. To minimise risk, participants will be encouraged to use the Get Help section of the app and can also opt to receive a call from the team clinical psychologist at baseline, and at the 6-week and 4-month post-baseline assessments when reporting suicidal ideation. Discussion: This is the first clinical trial examining a CBT smartphone app specifically designed for adolescent depression. It will provide empirical evidence on the effects of ClearlyMe® on depressive symptoms when used with and without guided support. Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622000131752). Universal trial number: U1111-1271-8519. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence-based guidelines for management of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in the emergency department (ED) are now widely available; however, clinical practice remains inconsistent with these guidelines. A targeted, theory-informed implementation intervention (Neurotrauma Evidence Translation (NET) intervention) was designed to increase the uptake of three clinical practice recommendations regarding the management of patients who present to Australian EDs with mild head injuries. The intervention involved local stakeholder meetings, identification and training of nursing and medical local opinion leaders, train-the-trainer workshops and standardised education materials and interactive workshops delivered by the opinion leaders to others within their EDs during a 3 month period. This paper reports on the effects of this intervention.Methods: EDs (clusters) were allocated to receive either access to a clinical practice guideline (control) or the implementation intervention, using minimisation, a method that allocates clusters to groups using an algorithm to minimise differences in predefined factors between the groups. We measured clinical practice outcomes at the patient level using chart audit. The primary outcome was appropriate screening for post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) using a validated tool until a perfect score was achieved (indicating absence of acute cognitive impairment) before the patient was discharged home. Secondary outcomes included appropriate CT scanning and the provision of written patient information upon discharge. Patient health outcomes (anxiety, primary outcome: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were also assessed using follow-up telephone interviews. Outcomes were assessed by independent auditors and interviewers, blinded to group allocation.Results: Fourteen EDs were allocated to the intervention and 17 to the control condition; 1943 patients were included in the chart audit. At 2 months follow-up, patients attending intervention EDs (n = 893) compared with control EDs (n = 1050) were more likely to have been appropriately assessed for PTA (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 20.1, 95%CI 6.8 to 59.3; adjusted absolute risk difference (ARD) 14%, 95%CI 8 to 19). The odds of compliance with recommendations for CT scanning and provision of written patient discharge information were small (OR 1.2, 95%CI 0.8 to 1.6; ARD 3.2, 95%CI - 3.7 to 10 and OR 1.2, 95%CI 0.8 to 1.8; ARD 3.1, 95%CI - 3.0 to 9.3 respectively). A total of 343 patients at ten interventions and 14 control sites participated in follow-up interviews at 4.3 to 10.7 months post-ED presentation. The intervention had a small effect on anxiety levels (adjusted mean difference - 0.52, 95%CI - 1.34 to 0.30; scale 0-21, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety).Conclusions: Our intervention was effective in improving the uptake of the PTA recommendation; however, it did not appreciably increase the uptake of the other two practice recommendations. Improved screening for PTA may be clinically important as it leads to appropriate periods of observation prior to safe discharge. The estimated intervention effect on anxiety was of limited clinical significance. We were not able to compare characteristics of EDs who declined trial participation with those of participating sites, which may limit the generalizability of the results.Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12612001286831), date registered 12 December 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the impact of providing care and conditions of care on psychological wellbeing among older informal caregivers following the initial period of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in Aotearoa New Zealand. Methods: Data were from population-based cohorts of older adults participating in the 2020 Health, Work and Retirement longitudinal survey (n = 3839, 17.4% informal caregivers). Changes in symptoms of depression and anxiety over 2018–2020 surveys associated with sociodemographic factors, caregiving, cohabitation with the care recipient, assistance provided with activities of daily living, support in providing care, and opportunity cost of care were assessed. Results: Increased depression, but not anxiety, was associated with providing informal care. Among caregivers, lower living standards and cohabitation were associated with increased depression. Lower living standards, unemployment, and lower help from friend/family networks were associated with increased anxiety. Discussion: Economic hardship and social capital provide targets for supporting psychological wellbeing of older caregivers during periods of pandemic restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increasing both the frequency and quality of social interactions within treatments for anxiety and depressive disorders in older adults may improve their mental health outcomes and quality of life. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and cost utility of an enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) plus social participation program in a sample of older adults with depression and/or anxiety. Methods: A total of 172 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older with an anxiety and/or depressive disorder will be randomly allocated to either an enhanced CBT plus social participation program (n = 86) or standard CBT (n = 86). Both treatments will be delivered during 12 weekly individual sessions utilising structured manuals and workbooks. Participants will be assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 12-month follow-up. The primary outcome evaluates mean change in clinician-rated diagnostic severity of anxiety and depressive disorders from baseline to post-treatment (primary endpoint) based on a semi-structured diagnostic interview. Secondary outcomes evaluate changes in symptomatology on self-report anxiety and depression measures, as well as changes in social/community participation, social network, and perceived social support, loneliness, quality of life, and use of health services. Economic benefits will be evaluated using a cost-utility analysis to derive the incremental cost utility ratios for the enhanced CBT program. Discussion: Outcomes from this study will provide support for the establishment of improved psychosocial treatment for older adults with anxiety and/or depression. Study outcomes will also provide health systems with a clear means to reduce the impact of poor emotional health in older age and its associated economic burden. In addition to the empirical validation of a novel treatment, the current study will contribute to the current understanding of the role of social participation in older adult wellbeing. Trial registration: Prospectively registered on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ID: ACTRN12619000242123; registered 19th February 2019) and the ISRCTN registry (ID: ISRCTN78951376; registered 10th July 2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the self-reported measures of concurrent disorders (stress, social anxiety, anxiety, depression and alcohol use) among electronic gaming machine (EGM) gamblers with varying levels of gambling severity and to examine its relationship to decision-making. This cross-sectional study in New Zealand involved an online survey that utilised validated questionnaires to assess self-reported measures of concurrent disorders and the Iowa gambling task (IGT) to analyse decision-making. The study comprised of active EGM gamblers (n = 153) who were divided into two groups: non-problem gambling (NPG, n = 71) and problem gambling (PG, n = 82) based on the cut-off point of the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). Multiple logistic regression models were performed to analyse co-occurring disorders separately and simultaneously, and a log‐linear model was developed to define the associations between significant variables. The first model showed a strong correlation between gambling severity and measures for depression (p < 0.01), anxiety (p < 0.05), stress (p < 0.05) and alcohol use (p < 0.01), however only depression (p < 0.05) and alcohol use (p < 0.01) remained significant in the second model. Further, no association between social anxiety scores and problem gambling was found in this sample of EGM gamblers in both models. On the IGT, EGM gamblers in the PG group performed significantly worse. Further, the presence of poor decision-making was more pronounced with higher depression scores (p < 0.01) across both NPG and PG groups and higher alcohol use scores (p < 0.05) scores in the PG group. The presence of high levels of co-occurring disorders and its link to poor decision-making are important considerations in the treatment paradigm of EGM problem gamblers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: There are mixed results from studies of COVID‐19‐related anxiety. We explored older people's perspectives on anxiety and support during lockdown. Methods: We thematically analysed 730 written comments from older community‐dwelling adults aged 55‐85 years in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Results: Despite some anxiety during lockdown, for those who were retired, working at home or receiving wage subsidies, the experience was very enjoyable. Whether living alone or in households, anxieties were largely ameliorated by a sense of support from family, fellow citizens and government. In contrast, essential workers, those who lost employment and informal carers did not feel sufficient community support to alleviate their anxiety. Conclusions: Concerns about the plight of older people focus on stereotypes of isolated elders, ignoring the needs of workers and carers. The inductive approach taken to this study provided useful information about the success of supportive measures and highlighted the need to broaden the focus of concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy Food Guide (HFG) has been a hugely successful magazine, both dominating the health magazine market and becoming deeply imbedded within the public health discourse, sanctioned and legitimated through a range of State apparatuses. Central to this has been an ability to differentiate itself from 'restrictive diet programs' and other forms of 'misleading' health advice, which they claim, unlike their magazine, are ungrounded in the latest scientific evidence. Through a qualitative analysis of the lead article in every issue of HFG from 2005 to 2017, we question its endorsement by New Zealand public health agencies, arguing that it acquires revenue through the intensification of health anxiety within its target readership. It does this through constructing its ideal reader as a health entrepreneur within the discourse of new public health, able to collect the right information to make the appropriate consumer choices, within a risk-saturated marketplace. A key contribution of this article is bringing a Lacanian psychoanalytic theory to the broad area of public health, which has been so far under-applied. By linking Lacanian theory to the health entrepreneur, we developed that concept by foregrounding the roles of desire and anxiety in healthism discourse. We argue that the consumer of HFG is bound to its libidinal economy in a relation of domination, whereby they are given the task of allaying anxiety through the collection of data on their bodies, information which only produces more anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Anxiety is commonly observed in oncology patients but infrequently screened, assessed or addressed. According to psychosocial guidelines, all healthcare professionals, including radiation therapists, are responsible for the psychosocial care of patients. Radiation therapists (RTs) interact with patients daily throughout treatment; however, little research exists to evaluate RTs' ability to identify and manage patients' psychosocial needs. This study aimed to determine if RTs can detect and manage patient anxiety. Method: A cross-sectional, mixed-methods survey containing two clinically relevant vignettes was developed. Two fictitious patients were presented to elicit responses reflective of RTs' experiences and judgements in the recognition and management of anxiety. Surveys were distributed via email in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Sydney (2016/227) and informed consent was obtained from participants. Results: Eligible and complete surveys were received from 582 respondents (240 (41.2%) from Australia; 78 (13.4%) New Zealand; 264 (45.4%) Canada). Almost all respondents endorsed a relevant descriptor of anxiety (vignette 1, 577 (99.1%); vignette 2, 579 (99.5%)). For both vignettes, the most frequently endorsed management strategy was to acknowledge the patients' feelings and encourage them to express their concerns (vignette 1, 548 (94.2%); vignette 2, 455 (78.2%)). Conclusion: RTs in Australia, New Zealand and Canada are able to detect anxiety and endorse a strategy to manage patients experiencing anxiety depicted in written vignettes. Exploring RTs' abilities to detect and manage patient anxiety whilst in the high-pressure clinical environment is an important next step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lockdown on the mental health (anxiety and depression) and quality of life (QOL) of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and public health measures instituted at a national level by the New Zealand Government. The present cohort was 104 individuals with RA (73.1%) and AS (26.9%) who had previously completed surveys for the Patient Opinion Real-Time Anonymous Liaison (PORTAL) project in 2018. Participants completed an online survey between July and September 2020 assessing their experiences over the first national COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand (March–May, 2020). Fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection, baseline anxiety, and being younger in age were all predictors of participants' current anxiety levels. Current QOL scores were significantly lower than prior to lockdown and were predicted by baseline QOL and current depression. No variables predicted current depression other than baseline levels. The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have had an impact on QOL and anxiety levels, but not depression for people with RA and AS in New Zealand. These novel findings imply that appropriate screening of mental health issues should be included in planning within the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and for future pandemics to optimise the wellbeing of people with RA and AS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of a brief tailored non-pharmacological intervention comprising breathing retraining and psychosocial support for managing dyspnea in cancer patients. Design: Multicenter, single blinded, parallel group, randomized controlled trial. Setting: Four major public hospitals, Brisbane, Australia. Participants: One hundred and forty four cancer patients, including 81 who received an 8-week tailored intervention and 63 who received standard care. Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of small or non-small cell lung cancer, mesothelioma or lung metastases; completed first line therapy for the disease; average dyspnea rating >2 on (0–10) rating scale in past week; anticipated life expectancy ≥3 months. Outcomes: The primary outcome measure was change in "worst" dyspnea at 8 weeks compared to baseline. Secondary outcomes were change in: dyspnea "at best" and "on average"; distress; perceived control over dyspnea; functional status, psychological distress; and use of non-pharmacological interventions to manage dyspnea at 8 weeks relative to baseline. Results: The mean age of participants was 67.9 (SD = 9.6) years. Compared to the control group, the intervention group demonstrated a statistically significant: (i) improvement in average dyspnea from T1(M = 4.5, SE = 0.22) to T3 (M = 3.6, SE = 0.24) vs. (M = 3.8, SE = 0.24) to (M = 4.1, SE = 0.26); (ii) greater control over dyspnea from T1 (M = 5.7, SE = 0.28) to T3 (M = 7.5, SE = 0.31) vs. (M = 6.8, SE = 0.32) to (M = 6.6, SE = 0.33); and (iii) greater reduction in anxiety from T1 (M = 5.4, SE = 0.43) to T3 (M = 4.5, SE = 0.45) vs. (M = 4.2, SE = 0.49) to (M = 4.6, SE = 0.50). This study found no intervention effect for best and worst dyspnea, distress from breathlessness, functional status, and depression over time. Conclusions: This study demonstrates efficacy of tailored non-pharmacological interventions in improving dyspnea on average, control over dyspnea, and anxiety for cancer patients. Clinical Trial Registration: The trial is registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (http://www.anzctr.org.au). The registration number is ACTRN12607000087459. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the relationship between pet ownership and health and wellbeing has received considerable attention in popular media, research on the topic shows inconsistent findings. We addressed the methodological weaknesses of previous studies by using data from a national probability survey (the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study; n = 13,347). We describe the demographic characteristics and personality of pet owners in New Zealand, examine whether pet owners cluster together by pet types, and test whether pet ownership and pet type are associated with health and wellbeing measures. The majority of participants (61.6%) reported having a pet, and we identified six clusters of ownership by pet type. Pet owners were more likely than non-owners to be younger, women, European, parents, partnered, employed, living rurally, and living in less deprived areas. Pet owners were less likely than non-owners to be of Asian ethnicity and religious and had lower mean levels of education. We found no evidence of reliable differences between pet owners and non-owners in the personality characteristics of extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, or honesty-humility. However, pet owners scored higher than non-owners in openness and lower in conscientiousness. We found no reliable differences between pet owners and non-owners in selfesteem, life satisfaction, psychological distress, physical health diagnoses, or self-reported health. However, compared with non-owners, pet owners were more likely to report diagnoses of depression and anxiety. Although the relationship between pet ownership and depression diagnoses held across the six clusters of pet ownership, results indicated that the higher rates of anxiety were most commonly associated with cat ownership. Future longitudinal research is needed to establish whether pets decrease owners' health and wellbeing or rather that people in need of comfort tend to seek pets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Our objective was to explore the intersection between mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) recovery experiences and injury understandings, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Materials and Methods: The quantitative component was a descriptive case–control study comparing participants (n = 76) who had recovered or not recovered after an MTBI, across demographic and psychological variables. A subset of participants (n = 10) participated in a semi-structured interview to explore experiences of recovery in more detail. We followed threads across the datasets to integrate findings from component methods. Results: The quantitative analyses revealed differences between the two groups in terms of injury recovery understandings and expectations. The qualitative analyses suggested that achieving consistency across information sources was important. By tracing threads back and forth between the component datasets, we identified a super-ordinate meta-theme that captured participants' experiences of wrestling with uncertainty about their recovery and the impacts in terms of heightened anxiety, confusion, and feelings of invalidation. Conclusion: The effectiveness of psychoeducation and reassurance after MTBI may be optimized when content is tailored to the individual. Clinicians are urged to attend both to the subjective interpretations patients make of information gained from formal and informal, internal and external sources, and where information across these sources conflicts and creates uncertainty. Effectiveness of psychoeducation and reassurance after injury may be optimized when content is tailored to the individual rather than being generic. Effectiveness of such interventions may also be optimized by understanding the subjective interpretations individuals make of injury knowledge gleaned from formal and informal, internal and external sources. Conflicting information from such multiple sources may create uncertainty with associated increased distress as an individual negotiates their recovery from injury. Attending to this uncertainty may be a helpful target for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive models of psychopathology suggest that negatively biased thinking styles are involved in the development and maintenance of emotional disturbances. Aims: The present study examined the relationships between negative cognitive errors and indices of mental health status (i.e. anxiety and depression) in New Zealand adolescents. Method: A community sample of 490 youth aged 16–18 years completed an anonymous online survey consisting of the Children's Negative Cognitive Error Questionnaire (CNCEQ), the Trait subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results: Negative cognitive errors correlated positively with greater levels of anxious and depressive symptoms. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that overall cognitive error score was a strong predictor of adolescents' self-reported anxious symptoms and, to a lesser extent, depressive symptoms. Moreover, cognitive errors significantly differentiated between adolescents with high scores from adolescents with low scores on both the anxiety (STAI-T) and the depression (CES-D) scales. Conclusions: These findings lend support to the generalizability of Beck's cognitive theory to a New Zealand adolescent population and highlight the importance of focusing on prevention and early intervention programmes that directly target these faulty or biased ways of thinking in adolescents with anxious and/or depressive symptoms before meeting diagnostic criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]