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Pregnancy loss and neonatal death are recognized as distressing experiences for parents and other family members. However, no research has specifically addressed the experiences of grandfathers. This study aimed to understand grandfathers’ grief experiences, and to identify supports they provide, receive, and desire following the loss of a grandchild in pregnancy or the neonatal period. Semi-structured interviews with 10 Australian grandfathers were analyzed, applying principles of thematic analysis. Three themes related to grief and three themes related to support were identified. Findings indicated that grandfathers expressed grief in a range of ways, and emotional expressiveness did not reflect the extent of their grief. Grandfathers typically provided extensive support to their child and family; however, few supports were available to help grandfathers. Recognition and validation of grandfathers’ grief, early access to information, and guidance to a variety of supports including written materials, peer and professional support, is required.

Although anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental health disorder in Australia, little is known about men’s anxiety help-seeking practices. This study investigates how male users of an online discussion forum accounted for engaging in troubles-telling in an online community. Posts on an online discussion forum written by men who identify as experiencing anxiety were analysed using discursive psychology, through the identification of four interpretative repertoires: (1) orienting to troubles-telling as their purpose for posting, (2) troubles-talk as a necessary form of self-help, (3) the online community as a last resort and (4) anxiety as a hidden, secret experience. Findings demonstrate how men reproduced hegemonic masculine ideals of strength, self-reliance and emotional stoicism, while also sharing their experiences of anxiety online. This research highlights the relevance of masculine social norms in understanding anxiety help-seeking practices, and also illustrates the value of online communities in offering support to men in need.

To examine undergraduate psychology and dental students’ perceptions of their self-perceived ability, value and comfort in working with others in an interprofessional context.Students participated ...

Despite its prevalence, men's anxiety is arguably under-researched and poorly understood. The present study explores the reasoning provided by male posters to an online discussion forum about the source of their anxiety. Posts were collected from an Australian anxiety online discussion forum. This study utilises discursive psychology, informed by principles of membership categorisation analysis, to describe how age, occupation and family-related identities can be invoked within common sense reasoning about the source of male anxiety. References to various identity categories were routinely employed by male forum posters in their representations of themselves, in order to describe the source of their anxiety in terms of a contrast between how they are, and how they should be. In examining accounts of anxiety and responses to those accounts, we can trace cultural knowledge about issues regarding men, masculinity and anxiety that those accounts make relevant. Findings illustrate how men's descriptions of the source of their anxiety should be understood as culturally bound and related to expectations and obligations associated with their social context and category memberships. By enhancing understandings of how men describe the source of their anxiety, this study offers insight into improving the identification and engagement of men experiencing anxiety in health services.

Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) involving simulated patients (SPs) are being incorporated into professional psychology training to teach and assess competencies. However, student...

Part of preparing future health professionals for multidisciplinary work environments involves interprofessional education (IPE). We explore students’ perceptions of confidence during IPE and how t...

In training to become a registered psychologist in Australia, as with many other countries, there is a requirement for students to attend placements, where they work with clients in an apprenticeship model under the guidance of qualified supervisors. In the context of COVID-19, tertiary sector psychology educators responsible for facilitating these placements, which typically require face-to-face client work, have been challenged to arrange or maintain practica. During the pandemic, across Australia, most placements have been affected through cancellation, postponement, or modification (e.g., using telehealth, supported by the Australian Federal Government). In this paper we describe a collaborative initiative by members of the psychology profession across 15 providers of Australian postgraduate professional training programs. The initiative aimed to identify ways in which to develop and innovate psychological placement offerings, specifically using simulation-based learning. Although simulation-based learning in psychology training programs in Australia is a widely employed pedagogy for the scaffolding of theory into psychological practice, there is paucity of clear and comprehensive guidelines for the use of simulation to both optimize competency-based training and ensure public and student safety. The overarching aim of the group, and the focus of this paper, is to provide standardized guidelines for the inclusion of simulation-based learning in psychology training in Australia both during and post-COVID 19. Such guidelines may be equally valuable for psychology training programs globally.

Aims and objectives To explore men's experiences of termination of pregnancy for life-limiting foetal anomaly, including how healthcare providers, systems and policies can best support men and their families. Background While there is a sizable body of research and recommendations relating to women's experiences of grief and support needs following a termination of pregnancy for foetal anomaly, very few studies specifically examine men's experiences. Methods Semi-structured interviews were completed with ten Australian men who had experienced termination of pregnancy for life-limiting foetal anomalies with a female partner between six months and 11 years ago. Interviews were completed over the telephone, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. COREQ guidelines were followed. Results Thematic analysis resulted in the identification of three over-arching themes, each with two sub-themes. First, participants described the decision to terminate their pregnancy as The most difficult choice, with two sub-themes detailing 'Challenges of decision-making' and 'Stigma surrounding TOPFA'. Second, participants described that they were Neither patient, nor visitor in the hospital setting, with sub-themes 'Where do men fit?' and 'Dual need to support and be supported'. Finally, Meet me where I am described men's need for specific supports, including the sub-themes 'Contact men directly' and 'Tailor support and services'. Conclusions Findings indicated that termination of pregnancy for life-limiting foetal anomaly (TOPFA) is an extremely difficult experience for men, characterised by challenges in decision-making and perceived stigma. Men felt overlooked by current services and indicated that they need specific support to assist with their grief. Expansion of existing infrastructure and future research should acknowledge the central role of fathers and support them in addressing their grief following TOPFA. Relevance to clinical practice Nursing/midwifery professionals are well situated to provide men with tailored information and to promote genuine inclusion, acknowledgement of their grief, and facilitate referrals to community supports.

Men’s experiences with anxiety are under-researched and poorly understood. Existing research gives little indication of how men talk about anxiety in situ, and little is known about how men describe their experiences of anxiety. Online discussion forums provide an opportunity to conduct naturalistic observations of how men describe their experiences with anxiety without the influence of a researcher. Thematic analysis, informed by principles of discursive psychology, was used to examine 130 opening posts to an online anxiety discussion forum. One superordinate theme, where anxiety is constructed as a loss of control, was identified. Analysis of this overarching theme generated three themes relating to how posters described a loss of control: (a) anxiety as an immobilizing force, (b) anxiety as an independent entity, and (c) anxiety as a dualist construction of the self. Our analysis has clear implications for developing and improving interventions for men experiencing anxiety.

This content analysis explored associations between the framing of cancer-related health news stories on Facebook and their corresponding comments. It was found that regardless of story framing the majority of responses involved users engaging in debate and discussion rather than sharing personal experiences. Furthermore, stories framed episodically had a greater proportion of both supportive and unsupportive comments than stories framed thematically. As predicted, episodic stories were associated with more attributions of responsibility directed towards the individual whereas thematic stories lead to more societal-level attributions of blame. Contrary to predictions, responses did not contribute towards the stigmatisation of lung cancer, instead more responses were aimed at reducing stigma for this illness. Within the findings strong beliefs about cancer treatment and management were also identified, which raises concern over the spread of misinformation. Overall, this research provided insight into the framing of cancer news and highlighted potential implications of Facebook comments.

Psychology regulation bodies increasingly recognise interprofessional education (IPE) as important in equipping students for modern practice. In this article we report the first comprehensive systematic review of IPE among psychology students. We appraise and summarise the literature about the use of IPE in undergraduate and postgraduate psychology programs in the last 10 years. PRISMA methods were used in a systematic review of 10 electronic databases from May 2009 to May 2019. We included 19 studies comprising a sample of approximately 3447 participants with most studies conducted in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Australia. Programs varied in scope ranging from interactions between psychology and one other discipline to up to 25 different degrees. All quantitative studies reported at least some positive results in areas such as attitudes towards interprofessional team work. Four of the five qualitative studies reported positive outcomes, and findings from the mixed-methods studies were similarly positive. Problems identified included challenges with remaining in scope of practice and issues with team dynamics. Overall, the review demonstrated that promising research exists regarding the impact of IPE on psychology students’ knowledge and attitudes and that the use and evaluation of IPE should be encouraged The evidence base requires improvement however via the inclusion of higher-level study designs, larger psychology cohorts and investigation of the effects of IPE on professional competencies and behaviour.

This study, using conventional content analysis, examined a corpus of #MeToo tweets from the first day the hashtag went viral, October 16th 2017. Of the 10,546 #MeToo tweets collected, three major categories were identified: these included #MeToo Facilitated Self-Disclosure, Messages of Support, and Calling Out Poor Behaviour with 5,243, 1,556, and 1207 tweets, respectively. The majority of disclosure tweets detailed experiences of sexual assault (44%) and experiences that occurred during childhood (29.4%). The results of this study offer valuable insights regarding the information users chose to share during the first day of the #MeToo movement and the nature of sexual harassment and assault experienced by these individuals. This information may be used by policymakers to identify and implement means to reduce the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault.

Objectives In Australia, 15-20% of pregnancies result in miscarriage, and 0.69% in stillbirth. Pregnancy loss is a distressing experience for parents, with many turning to their own parents for support. Pregnancy loss has been identified as an ambiguous loss, leading to disenfranchised grief. However little research has been conducted regarding grandparents’ experiences following pregnancy loss. Much of what is known comes indirectly from family studies of grief and loss. This study aimed to explore grandparents’ experiences of loss and grief, following a child’s pregnancy loss. Design A grounded theory approach using a qualitative inductive thematic analysis research design was employed. Individual participant interviews provided the data for analysis which was conducted using a six-step approach. Methods Interviews were conducted with 14 grandmothers. Interviews were semi-structured, with open-ended questions. Thematic Analysis was applied using Braun and Clarkes’ (2013) approach to analysis. Results Five themes were identified: Pregnancy loss is a grief like no other, Excited anticipation - then nothing, Ambiguity following pregnancy loss exacerbates grief, Grief is isolating, Multiple losses, changed family relationships, and Ceremonies and mementoes: Tangible, with lasting benefits for grandparents. Conclusions Early access to information and guidance, ongoing peer support with flexible delivery options, and involvement in memory making activities could reduce ambiguity and disenfranchisement. Increasing community education and participation in raising awareness was identified as a way for grandparents to honour their loss and support others. Further research could explore grandfathers’ experiences, the longer-term outcomes for grandparents and families, and the impact of support strategies.

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. In Australia and internationally, entry into many professional psychology training programs is highly competitive, and as a duty of care to the public, training institutions must seek to offer places to those best-suited to training to become a psychologist. Typically, part of this selection process involves an interview. While panel interviews have been widely utilised, recently, in a range of health disciplines, these have been substituted for multiple mini interviews (MMIs) with evidence for their acceptability, validity and reliability. There is limited research on the use of MMIs in psychology professional training selection processes. We have used this approach for three years to select approximately 100 trainees for Clinical, Health and Organisational and Human Factors postgraduate psychology training programs. Based on our experience and feedback from applicants, we provide information that suggests this selection method is well-received by applicants. We also provide ten tips on how to effectively implement this approach to determine those most suitable for further training.

Skin cancer incidence continues to rise as a tanned appearance remains desirable, particularly among young women. Fake tanning provides a tanned appearance without exposure to ultraviolet radiation. In order to advance our understanding of the factors that contribute to long-term behavior change, this study explores determinants associated with different types of tanning.The sample included 162 female students from the University of Adelaide, Australia, aged 18-26 years. Data were collected in July 2010.The current study measured differences in skin type, skin cancer knowledge, unrealistic optimism, appearance motivation, and sun-protective and sun exposure behaviors amongst outdoor tanners, fake tanners, and tan avoiders through an online survey.Differences were observed for skin type, skin cancer knowledge, unrealistic optimism, sun protection, and sun exposure.A "one-size-fits-all" approach to skin cancer prevention may not be appropriate; type of tanning behavior may need to be considered in health promotion work.

Psychological research and popular discussion around domestic violence/intimate partner abuse have focussed on broad features of descriptive accounts such as victim precipitation, excusing of aggressors, and minimizing or denying the violence. Few studies have examined the finer detail of how such matters are routinely invoked in talk, and how they are regularly built in ways that make their authors appear credible and warranted. This study uses a discursive psychological approach to examine the talk of men recruited from domestic violence counselling groups who participated in one-on-one interviews about their violent/abusive behaviour. The analytic focus is on instances of situated identity categorization in these men’s accounts that involved the consequential moral assessment of self and partner in ways that justify or warrant violence/abuse. Routinely, in these men’s talk about their abused partner, subtle and particular categorizations associated with being a woman were worked up sequentially to depict her as having breached the normative moral order. These warranting practices were evident in the talk of both men who denied, and who overtly acknowledged, the wrongness of their violent/abusive actions. The findings raise important issues for understanding how commonsense reasoning around the causes of domestic violence and its justifiability is sustained, as well as having practical implications for theory, prevention and treatment.

This research aimed to identify modifiable risk factors for poor psychological functioning six months post-operatively, using a chronic illness model to explain the relationships between risk factors. Consecutive elective CABG patients ( N = 119) completed self-report measures including optimism, illness representations, self-rated health, social support, coping methods, depression, anxiety and PTSD symptomatology in a repeated measures design. Poor pre-operative psychological functioning was the strongest psychological risk factor for adverse psychological functioning six months post-operatively. Longitudinal support for the chronic illness model examined was limited. Further research to identify modifiable risk factors and pre-operative psychopathology screening to determine individuals at-risk of poor psychological outcome is recommended.

Objective The primary aim of the study was to investigate the factor structure and psychometric properties of the modified Coping Checklist. Methods Self-report questionnaires asking about coping responses and mental health were administered to 515 undergraduate university students and to 119 patients awaiting elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Confirmatory (CFA) and exploratory factor analyses (PCA) were used to summarize and describe coping responses. Results CFA indicated that the subscale structure originally proposed for the Coping Checklist did not adequately fit the data. Subsequent PCA resulted in four factors: (1) Positive reappraisal; (2) Seeking support; (3) Avoidance; and (4) Information seeking. Internal consistencies ranged between .41 and .62 and 12-week test–retest reliability ranged between .59 and .71. Evidence for the concurrent validity of the solution generated by PCA was demonstrated by low to moderate correlations between the four factors identified and demographic and psychosocial measures. Conclusion Even with modifications to the Coping Checklist, it is recommended that researchers investigate alternative methods of assessing coping responses in health psychology settings.

A multiple case sampling framework was used to produce a review and meta-analysis of the published cases of ECT administration with minors. An extensive search of the published literature located 217 minors who had been given ECT treatment between 1947 and 1996. These cases were analysed via demographic data ie gender, age and clinical data ie diagnostic criteria, presenting behaviours, mode of ECT administration, consent, index behaviours, drug therapies, outcomes and side-effects. Three behavioural predictors PB3 were identified which were associated with an increased likelihood of a minor receiving ECT. Interpretations of the analysis revealed that the data are at variance with psychiatrists' claims that ECT is given as a ' life saving' sic treatment for minors. Suicide was mentioned in only 5 of cases. Some speculative comments are also provided.

Foster carers have typically been found to play a key role in meeting the needs of foster children, yet little research has investigated their well-being, satisfaction and intention to continue providing out-of-home care. The current study investigated the relationships of child behavioural and emotional problems, parenting self-efficacy and the foster carer–child relationship, to foster carer well-being, satisfaction with fostering and intention to continue providing out-of-home care. Foster carers completed self-report measures of the above factors, as well as, foster carer and child demographics and placement factors. Univariately, foster carer well-being was predicted by foster care training, parenting self-efficacy and the foster carer–child relationship. Similarly, parenting self-efficacy and the foster carer–child relationship were also significantly related to foster carer satisfaction. Intention to continue providing out-of-home care was predicted by parenting self-efficacy. No significant associations were identified when multi-variate analyses were conducted, however. Clinical implications of the results are discussed, including the importance of continuing to refine and evaluate foster care training and interventions aimed to improve the self-efficacy of foster carers. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are also discussed.