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Background: Feelings of shame are linked to increased risk for depression. Little is known about protective factors that may buffer this effect, particularly in men. Using prospective data from a community sample of Australian men, we examine the extent to which shame is associated with depressive symptoms, and the protective role of psychological wellbeing, specifically environmental mastery and purpose in life. Methods: Participants (n = 448) were from the longitudinal Men and Parenting Pathways (MAPP) Study. Measures were the Event Related Shame and Guilt Scale for shame, the DASS-21 for depressive symptoms and Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being for environmental mastery and purpose in life. Linear regressions were used to test associations between shame and depressive symptoms concurrently and 1-year later, and the moderating effects of mastery and purpose in life. Results: Shame was strongly associated with concurrent depressive symptoms (βunadj =.76, p <.001; βadj =.63, p <.001). This effect was weaker in men with high compared to low environmental mastery (β+1 SD =.46, p <.001; β−1 SD =.55, p <.001) and purpose in life (β+1 SD =.48, p <.001; β−1 SD =.62, p <.001). Shame also predicted subsequent depressive symptoms after adjustment for prior depressive symptoms (βunadj =.59, p =.001; βadj =.34, p =.004), although environmental mastery or purpose in life did not moderate these associations. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that promoting a sense of psychological wellbeing in men may confer protective proximal effects in the context of shame, potentially attenuating depression severity. The current study aligns with calls for strength-based approaches to reducing mental health problems in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ostomates are required to find a "new normal" following their surgery which often requires adjustments, none more so than when traveling; there can be fear of leakage and soiling clothes, a fear of running out of bags and becoming unwell in a foreign country without a good health care system. In addition to these worries, ostomates are frequently reporting mistreatment at airports' screening points by the security staff, causing embarrassment and humiliation. To address this, the staff at WAOA have been working with Perth Airport security with some promising progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are key members of the community who have specific roles within their families that may result in lower levels of physical activity (PA) undertaken. Clearly identifying barriers for women to engage with PA, and exploring culturally based activities (i.e. Traditional Indigenous Games), may help to improve long-term health benefits. Subsequently, the aim of this study was to identify the barriers and facilitators for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women engaging in PA, and their interest in participating in Traditional Indigenous Games. Seventeen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women (34.3 ± 10.2 years) participated in focus groups. Through thematic analysis, participants experienced a range of common barriers such as lack of time due to family commitments, limited finances, ageing and poor physical and/or mental health. Common facilitators were also identified such as fun, access and improving mental and/or physical health. Importantly, unique themes were identified for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women including barriers (e.g. racism, shame) and facilitators (e.g. culture, interactions with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women) that influenced PA participation. Notably, Traditional Indigenous Games were considered as an appealing PA mode to engage with their culture, experience nostalgia and be around other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. These key findings will guide future PA programs including Traditional Indigenous Games to improve health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, vital members of the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warning: This article contains terms, descriptions and opinions that may be culturally sensitive for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Background: Pelvic health conditions among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and men are under-recognised and under-reported despite indication of the significant burden of these conditions. Access to effective management provided in a culturally safe manner appears lacking. The study aims were to: (1) summarise the burden of pelvic health conditions among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; (2) explore barriers and enablers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples accessing pelvic healthcare services; and (3) provide considerations on how to implement culturally safe pelvic healthcare services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Methods: This study involved a systematic literature search informing a narrative review. Results: Fourteen specific articles were identified. Burden related to pelvic health conditions was identified for both women and men, noting high likelihood of under-reporting. Barriers to effective culturally safe treatment included racism, shame and stigma associated with women's and men's business, lack of culturally safe services and geographical distance. Enablers included building trust with local communities, using yarning principles and codesign of pelvic health services with Aboriginal health workers and services. Strategies to improve pelvic health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were described at the systems, health service and clinician levels. Conclusion: Efforts are needed to improve the diagnosis and management of pelvic health conditions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Actions are required to engage with local Aboriginal Community Controlled Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, professionals overseeing service provision and healthcare providers to address the burden of these conditions among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Warning: This article contains terms, descriptions and opinions that may be culturally sensitive for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Pelvic health conditions are under-recognised and under-reported by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Access to effective conservative (non-surgical) management options provided in a culturally safe manner appear to be lacking. We provide strategies to improve pelvic health care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and men by highlighting considerations that facilitate culturally safe pelvic health care at the systems, health service and clinician levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we evaluate micro-history as a method for investigating the meaning of stigma, shame and family secrets through generations. We present micro-histories of two Australian soldiers who developed mental illness years after serving in World War 1 and were committed to a psychiatric hospital where they died. Data were drawn from publicly available records and interviews with family members. The contrasting stories held by the families of each man illustrate the transmission of stigma and secrets through families. We explore possible reasons for the differences between the families related to the wider literature on stigma and mental health and show why the family stories people present should be considered social constructions rather than facts. We also address ethical issues that arose during the research, and which have relevance for researchers investigating sensitive or potentially stigmatising topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual violence (SV) against women is common in higher education settings, causing serious harm to the health, well-being, and academic outcomes of victim/survivors. There have been numerous systematic reviews of the quantitative evidence on this topic, highlighting the prevalence, health impacts, and barriers and facilitators to help-seeking after SV. To date, however, qualitative research exploring the lived experience of women higher education students has not been synthesized. This scoping review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies aims to map the global evidence on women higher education students' experiences of SV and explore how they understand and make sense of their experiences. We searched five databases (CinAHL, Academic Search Complete, Medline, PsychInfo, and SocIndex) in January 2023 for relevant articles. Eligible articles needed to be published in English and describe qualitative or mixed-methods primary research on the lived experiences of women higher education students who were victim/survivors of SV. In all, 34 articles describing 32 studies met these inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis of data extracted from the included studies suggests that, for women higher education students, the experience of SV is characterized by profound shame, with often-irreversible impacts on hopes and plans for the future. Yet, at the same time, SV is normalized and expected as a part of the "student experience." Furthermore, an imagined "specter" of "real violence" is held up as a constant comparison that serves to minimize and trivialize their experiences. These findings have important implications for higher education providers seeking to improve programs to address SV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Racialised and culturally distinct refugee groups increasingly face hostilities and negative representations in countries of resettlment. The experience of African refugee youth in Australia illustrates this general trend. This paper explores how racial Othering discourse seriously undermines the group's wellbeing. The article concentrates in particular on two aspects of relational wellbeing, the capacity to move in public without fear or shame and the ability to feel a sense of belonging to the place where one lives in. Theoretically, the paper draws together work on wellbeing from a capability approach and relational perspective with interdisciplinary literature on racial Othering. Empirically, the paper demonstrates the pervasive culture of racial Othering through media identifications of African youth with criminality and gang violence and illustrates impacts on young people's wellbeing through data from interviews with African refugee youth. The youth's accounts show how it feels to be a problem and what it means not to belong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotionality is increasingly given prominence in the field of language acquisition and socialization in migration contexts. This cross-sectional study explores the emotional experiences of Chinese and African immigrant families in their practices of maintaining their children’s heritage languages. We used openended interviews, field notes from informal conversations and observations, photographic evidence of children’s literacy practices, and language portrait (LP) descriptions, to collect data. Results from an ethnographic analysis of the data revealed a whole range of negative and positive parental emotions (e.g., anxiety, loss, shame vs. enjoyment, accomplishment, and pride), in the discourse of maintaining heritage and minority languages. We discuss the language emotions, whether positive or negative, in light of language ideologies, which specifically points to the significance of profit discourse in the formation of family language policies (FLPs). This materialistic valorization reveals the complexities of power relations between English and minority languages, between Chinese and African languages, and within various Chinese and African languages. Consequently, the distinct hierarchies between English and minority languages and the hidden layers within minority languages further legitimate diasporic ideologies of Chinese and African parents in terms of the emotionality associated with prioritizing, maintaining, and forgoing languages. These findings suggests that language emotionality is of vital importance to the psycho-social wellbeing of immigrant families and has practical implications for policymakers and heritage language research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Persistent enteral tube feeding beyond the point of medical and/or physical necessity provides important nutrition to a child but may have implications for their development, gastrointestinal tract and quality of life. Tube dependency can affect parent–child relationships and sibling and family dynamics and place additional medical demands upon parents. It is therefore important to transition children from tube to oral eating and drinking as soon as is medically safe to do so. Tube weaning requires a skilled team to support the transition to oral intake; however, access to experienced teams is inconsistent. Without transparent discussions with their treating teams, many parents are left to navigate tube weaning options independently. Methods: Fourteen parents were interviewed using semi‐structured interviews. We explored the experiences of parents across their child's progression towards oral feeding, from the decision‐making process to undertaking an intensive multi‐disciplinary tube weaning programme. Thematic analysis of the parents' stories shaped the development of seven themes. Results: Parents were unaware that tube weaning would be required and how that would be facilitated. They expressed a strong belief that their child could learn to eat—if afforded an opportunity. Furthermore, parents are prepared to disengage from current services if they feel they are not respected members of their child's therapeutic team. Three key learnings were identified relating to the need for tube exit plans, parents as key team members and parents as change agents. Conclusions: Parenting a tube‐fed child, initiating and engaging in tube weaning, is a stressful and emotional journey. However, by establishing care partnerships, parents are willing to put trust in a process if provided with options and afforded autonomy, empowerment, acknowledgement and relevant support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant issue for a substantial proportion of Australian ex‐service personnel. In addition to the functional impact on individuals, PTSD can have a significant impact on intimate partner relationships. Research has demonstrated that practicing compassion and self‐compassion may be an important component of psychological therapy for survivors of trauma, while also demonstrating benefits to intimate relationships. This pilot study aimed to investigate the utility of a Compassionate Mind Training intervention for ex‐service personnel with PTSD and their partners. An uncontrolled, within‐subjects, longitudinal design was utilized with assessment at pre‐intervention, post‐intervention and 3‐month follow‐up. Twenty‐four participants attended 12 biweekly group sessions. Self‐report measures of compassion, quality of life and psychological symptoms were administered at each time point. Findings demonstrated a significant reduction in fears of compassion and PTSD symptoms for ex‐service personnel at 3‐month follow‐up and a reduction in depressive symptoms and increase in quality‐of‐life and social safeness at post‐intervention. Additionally, significant reductions in anxiety, stress, external shame and self‐criticism at 3‐month follow‐up were found, and couples reported significant increases in relationship satisfaction. Findings from this pilot study demonstrate promising outcomes, warranting further investigation in a larger randomized controlled trial of Compassionate Mind Training for ex‐service personnel and their partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent need to generate deeper understandings of how suicidality manifests and evolves during pregnancy and the following year. Several perinatal studies have examined the incidence of suicidal thoughts and behaviours and associated social and obstetric risk factors; however, there is very limited research offering insights into women's experiences of suicidality at this time in their lives. This study aimed to generate a theory to explain how suicidality evolves in the perinatal period. A grounded theory design was used with data generated using anonymous online surveys (119 participants) and in-depth interviews (20 participants) with women who received pregnancy care in the past 5 years in Australia. The developed theory holds shame as a core concept. Origins and contexts of shame reflect current epidemiological understandings of risk for perinatal suicide, including experiences of gender-based violence, adverse childhood experiences, and a history of mental health difficulties. When women feel that they are defective, are unworthy of love and belonging, and do not possess what it takes to be a good mother, they can conclude that their family is better off without them. Pathways beyond shame were facilitated by compassionate and rehumanising care from family, friends, and care providers. Findings demonstrate that perinatal suicidality is a complex multidimensional phenomenon, influenced by socio-cultural expectations of motherhood and interpersonal, systemic, and intergenerational experiences of trauma. Increasing the prominence of perinatal suicide prevention within health professional education and practice, and addressing systemic barriers to compassionate health care are critical first steps to addressing perinatal suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: This study aims to explore parental emotions in heritage language maintenance and to examine ways in which parents' emotions interplay with their language ideologies, maintenance practices, and children's language proficiencies. Methodology: I conducted an ethnographic qualitative study of 12 Chinese immigrant families including 13 parents and 13 children. The study focuses on parents who brought their children into Australia when they were between ages 3 and 9. Data and analysis: Data were collected through open-ended interviews, informal conversations, observations, evidence of literacy practices and postings on WeChat.1 Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach. The generated themes relate to emotions, ideologies, practices, and proficiencies in heritage language. Findings/conclusions: Findings show that maintaining heritage language in immigrant and minority contexts is fraught with negative emotions such as irritation, regret, guilt, anguish, loss, insecurity, and shame, but this is complemented by a sense of accomplishment, fulfilment, and pride. Parental emotions, whether positive or negative, which are shaped by language ideologies of Chinese as identity, family tie, and profit, are often elicited by children's language behaviours and their proficiency outcomes. The study suggests that children's heritage language proficiencies are significant for the wellbeing of immigrant families. Originality: Emotion-relevant studies in heritage language research have largely focused on children and other learners in classroom settings, with heavy reliance on survey data and statistical analysis. Few studies have explored parental emotions regarding heritage language maintenance in the home domain or documented the relevant nuanced experiences. This study makes an in-depth ethnographic investigation of various types of emotions of family language policy (FLP) in parental discourses and situates parents' emotions in their own language ideologies and their children's language practices. Significance/implications: This ethnography fills a gap by providing a realistic understanding of the link between parental emotions, their language ideologies and maintenance practices, and their children's language behaviours and proficiencies in transnational contexts. Children's use of, and proficiency in, their heritage language is significant for the socio-emotional wellbeing of immigrant/minority parents and their families and has implications for language policy makers and heritage language education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Research suggests that embarrassment and shame are significant barriers to young people's access to sexual health information. In this article, we analyse the relationship between emotion and young people's engagement with online sexual health information. Methods: Drawing on the work of Ahmed on the performativity of emotion and Probyn's theorisation of shame, we analyse interviews conducted in 2020 with 37 young people in Australia on sources of sexual health information. Results: Based on themes emerging from the data, our analysis considers the role of embarrassment and shame in shaping young people's access to sexual health information, the sources they seek, and the forms of information provision they prefer. Overall, we find that shame, embarrassment, and judgement shape our participants' access to sexual health information in four key ways: (1) by enacting suitable sources of information; (2) by propelling curiosity in different directions; (3) by constituting 'normal' bodies, sexuality, and sexual health; and (4) by constituting desired forms of communication. Conclusions: As part of these dynamics, our participants use a range of strategies to avoid potential embarrassment or judgement when seeking sexual health information. The article concludes by exploring the implications of these practices and dynamics. Policy Implications: Our analysis suggests the need for research, policy, and public health initiatives that are open to the multiple effects of emotion, including those traditionally thought of as negative, and their role in materialising encounters with sexual health information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the impact of the #MeToo movement on women's personal narratives of sexual trauma in Australia. It highlights several books that explore topics such as failed justice, online grooming, girlhood, and the compounding effects of race and gender. The author emphasizes the importance of using personal storytelling to draw attention to the issue of sexual violence and sustain public interest. The article also discusses the need for systemic accountability and intersectionality in addressing sexual violence. It concludes by highlighting the power of collective storytelling in breaking the silence and combating shame and secrecy. [Extracted from the article]

The internet can deliver scalable and accessible treatments for addiction and sexual health. This study investigated reasons for changing pornography use and the feasibility and impact of a brief internet-delivered intervention. The intervention delivered goal setting and goal review, action and coping planning, self-monitoring, social support and shaping knowledge through the provision of information on how others have reduced their pornography use. Participants (n = 84) were predominantly from Australia or New Zealand and spent an average of 6.9 (SD = 6.6) hours per week viewing pornography. Reasons to reduce were addiction related (i.e., tolerance, repeated attempts to change, mood modification and negative affect such as guilt, shame, hiding) and decrements to mental health, relationships, achievement, and sexual satisfaction. Participants who enrolled in the intervention (n = 25) selected an abstinence goal (76%) and developed plans associated with avoidance of sites, people or devices and urge management. Barriers to action plans were related to temptation, triggers, and sub-optimal plan implementation. Post-treatment evaluation (n = 14) indicated reduced frequency (d = 1.04) and days spent viewing pornography (d = 0.83) as well as improved self-efficacy, mental well-being, and psychological distress. The study indicates that a brief intervention may be feasible for addressing problematic pornography use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence is a major problem in Australia, impacting many families that are on the cusp of disruption and intervention by the child protection system. Using an innovative method of inquiry, the article explores the role of dedicated men's workers in a South Australian non‐government organisation's intensive family service that works towards keeping families safe and together. The dedicated men's worker positions are integrated into a multidisciplinary model that works with fathers who have been a part of situational violence within the family. The men's workers' (and co‐authors') reflections offer insight into systemic barriers, practical therapeutic interventions, engagement work with fathers, how this is approached, and the various outcomes experienced. Blending auto‐ethnography reflections, elements of rapid ethnographic assessment, and the use of rigorous and accelerated data reduction, we demonstrate the need for increased supports for some fathers. These should include therapeutic engagement and working with the underlying trauma of fathers to ensure the whole family is supported and offered opportunity for healing and sustainable preservation. We also consider the more encompassing lifeworlds of the men and the need to drive and support broader sociocultural shifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital hostility poses a grave risk to the health and wellbeing of its targets. This study addresses digital hostility levelled at public figures, and does so through the case study of Wilson Gavin. Gavin had cultivated a minor public profile in Australia through his conservative activism. In January 2020, after protesting at a drag storytelling event in Brisbane, Gavin was subject to significant online abuse; a day after the protest, he died by suicide. This study examines the forms, themes and frameworks of that abuse as it played out across a small sample of publicly available Twitter posts. The study also addresses Twitter responses to the death. These responses are significant in that they individualise Gavin's suicide and portray him as unable to protect himself and thus inherently vulnerable to taking his own life. Conversely, the study suggests that Gavin's death points to the need for an understanding of how digital hostility harms those who are subject to it and how public figures can become resilient to that hostility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports of a study on 19 Australian community interpreters and their experience in facilitating mediated communication in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which was introduced in Australia in 2016. These interpreters were among those who attended a training workshop comprising of a pedagogical segment explaining this new scheme in detail, and a hands-on segment to translate a selection of NDIS terms into their target language to highlight possible linguistic and cultural challenges they may encounter. The training aimed to enable the interpreters to facilitate NDIS communication with clients from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds in ways that make sense to their culture and experience. The purpose of the current study is to understand the extent the participant interpreters applied their learning in NDIS communication, and their perspective about specific challenges in this new contextual area, where certain concepts and terms may be hard to translate, and the understanding of disability may be culturally bound. The aim of the study is to deepen the understanding of multicultural communication in disability services, and to inform similar future professional development during major changes to systems in the disability sector, and more broadly in health and welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gay and bisexual migrants from low‐ and middle‐income countries living in high‐income countries are disproportionately diagnosed with HIV. Most research focuses on preventing HIV acquisition among HIV‐negative migrant gay and bisexual men (GBM). This study is uniquely positioned to report on migrant GBM's experiences and needs at and after an HIV diagnosis. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 24 migrant GBM diagnosed at sexual health clinics in Australia from 2017 onwards. Interviews were analysed using a codebook thematic analysis. Due to the stigma of HIV and homosexuality in their countries of origin, about half of participants had poor HIV knowledge prior to diagnosis. Absorbing diagnosis information was consequently difficult, and feelings of shame, hopelessness, lost sexual opportunities and infectiousness were common. However, many were thankful for the comprehensive clinical support they received and believed that over time life would 'normalise' with sustained undetectable viral load. None reported that their clinician stigmatised them, but the anticipation of stigma nonetheless infused their experiences after diagnosis. Many were selective about HIV disclosure, and some mentioned that clinic systems posed a risk to confidentiality. Non‐permanent residents were concerned about the impacts of HIV status on future visa applications. We recommend that newly HIV‐diagnosed migrant GBM receive referral to legal and culturally appropriate migration services to help absorb what a diagnosis might mean for their health and visa status. We also recommend sexual health clinics continue to assess confidentiality in their systems. Health promotion initiatives should highlight to migrant GBM that high‐HIV caseload sexual health clinicians provide confidential and comprehensive care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines how Indigenous and non‐Indigenous people in cities navigate welfare and the mutual obligation regime in Australia. Since the introduction of the mutual obligation requirements (MORs) and the accompanying "Work for the Dole" program, initially for Indigenous and later for non‐Indigenous welfare beneficiaries, welfare recipients from both groups are perceived as morally deficient people and are stigmatized by paternalistic state surveillance. Drawing on the idea of shame as a cultural boundary‐making process, this article shows that although welfare recipients from both groups have reinterpreted the concept of "mutual obligation" based on their cultural values and practices, contesting interpretations of the concept within each group have hindered them from fully deflecting shame by disrupting and replacing normative scripts of conduct. This article argues that such variations occurred first because the interpretations that both groups adopted to cope with government surveillance are already mobilized by the state to justify intervening in citizens' lives, and second because the sociospatiality of a city such as Adelaide, where a broad range of neoliberal policy experiments have been implemented, facilitates the internalization of neoliberal values among citizens, regardless of whether they are Indigenous or not. [mutual obligation, "work for the dole" program, Indigenous, welfare recipients, shame] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is emerging research demonstrating relationships between specific Early Maladaptive Schemas and self-injurious behaviour (SIB) in young people. Evidence also highlights the importance of conceptualising SIB in terms of its motivating function, differentiating between intrapersonal and interpersonal functions of the behaviour. Despite this, there is a relative absence of evidence linking schemas and functions of SIB. The current study sought to explore the relationship between schemas and motivations for self-injury in a community sample of young people with a history of self-injury. Method: 125 Australian secondary and university students aged between 16 and 25 years who reported SIB history completed the Young Schema Questionnaire and the Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury. Results: Multiple regression analyses found that the schemas of Abandonment/Instability and Entitlement significantly predicted intrapersonal functions of self-injury. In contrast, Insufficient Self-Control significantly predicted interpersonal functions. Defectiveness/Shame and Entitlement predicted self-injury with suicidal intent. Conclusions: We discuss the findings regarding distinct patterns in the associations between schemas and the functions of self-injurious behaviour among youth with self-injury history. The present study also highlights how schemas may help to understand the motivations behind self-injury and assist clinicians in the assessment of risk for self-injury and suicide among youth, as well as to formulate plans for treatment and early intervention. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: Young people are motivated to self-injure for a variety of reasons, including to manage internal distress (intrapersonal) and influence their external environment (interpersonal). Alongside these motivating functions, vulnerability factors, such as childhood maltreatment and intense negative emotions, predispose a young person to self-injury when confronted with stress. Early maladaptive schemas are also increasingly being identified as vulnerability factors for self-injury, particularly Defectiveness/Shame and Abandonment/Instability. What this topic adds: Young people's motivations to self-injure are influenced by their early maladaptive schemas. Young people who self-injure for intrapersonal motivations report schemas of Abandonment/Instability, those who self-injure for interpersonal motivations report an Insufficient self-control schema, and those who self-injure with some suicidal intent report schemas of Defectiveness/Shame. This highlights that the importance of understanding both the function and the schema when working with young people who self-injure. Youth whose self-injurious behaviour is interpersonally motivated may require interpersonal skill-building. For youth who self-injure for intrapersonal or suicidal motivations, a treatment such as schema therapy may be warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study sought to identify how diabetes organisations conceptualize the problem of diabetes‐related stigma and how this shapes the selection of stigma‐reduction interventions. Methods: A qualitative deliberative democratic methodology was used to access an informed dialogue about what should be done by diabetes organisations to address diabetes‐related stigma, drawing from the perspectives of board members, healthcare services staff, and communications and marketing staff from a single state‐wide diabetes organisation in Australia (n = 25). Results: Participants navigated the stigma concept along two axes: one that drew attention to either disease attributes or personal moral attributes as the object of stigmatisation, and one that positioned stigma as an individual or structural problem. This shaped the selection of stigma‐reduction interventions, which included interventions to: (i) reduce the prevalence of stigmatized attributes, (ii) correct misunderstandings about diabetes, (iii) modify representations of persons with diabetes, (iii) enhance coping amongst persons with diabetes and (iv) make healthcare more person‐centred and democratic. Conclusion: This study identified several grievances with 'diabetes‐related stigma', which are grievances that can be conceptualized and addressed at both individual and structural levels, and involve correcting misinformation about diabetes or challenging and communicating alternative representations of persons living with diabetes. Patient or Public Contribution: The organisation's management and board were consulted throughout all stages of research development, analysis and reporting. The information and vignettes presented to participants drew from illness narratives obtained from earlier research involving adults with type 2 diabetes. Research participants included adults with various diabetes types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Housing services in Australia have a foundation of a system developed by English Invaders and, as a result, have limited governing documentation and recommended practice, particularly in Queensland, to operate in a culturally sensitive manner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional owners. This article focuses on a social housing service and the analysis of legislation and social policy, policies and procedures, staff approaches and client perceptions to examine indirect discrimination towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians involved with housing services. Reflective analysis featuring a critical theory lens indicated a disconnect between legislation and social policy with experiences of clients and organisational approaches resulting in shame, feelings of unworthiness and disengagement from these services. Although Queensland housing legislation provides some governing principles protecting the cultural rights of consumers, organisational practice may not always meet this expectation due to ambiguity from industry leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-harm remains a major health issue, particularly for adolescents. This qualitative study explored the reflections of adults who had self-harmed during adolescence. Foci included reasons for commencing and ceasing self-harm, as well as the perceived meaning of the self-harm and advice they would provide to adolescents currently engaging in self-harm. Participants included 185 adults aged 18 to 61 years, who had self-harmed at least once in adolescence. Participants responded to four qualitative questions that were part of a larger survey. Participants' responses were analyzed using either directed or conventional content analysis. Participants reported ambivalence about their self-harm with coexisting feelings of shame along with a recognition of the functions served by the behavior. The most frequently reported reasons for cessation included changes in personal relationships, frustration with shame, and receiving professional treatment. Most participants encouraged adolescents currently self-harming to seek help and to develop alternative coping mechanisms, although harm minimization also emerged as a theme. These findings are compared to international findings on reasons for initiation and cessation of self-harm as well as the advice for others. These insights may guide clinicians' understanding of motivations for adolescent self-harm and effective management of this behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst drinking to reduce negative affect (e.g., anxiety and depression) is a commonly reported motivation for consuming alcohol, minimal research has explored associations between shame-proneness and self-reported outcome expectancies from alcohol use. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between guilt, shame and alcohol use-related expectancies in a predominately undergraduate, community sample. Self-report data was collected for measures of these constructs in addition to overall alcohol use from a sample of 281 individuals, mean age 22.22 years (SD = 7.83). Overall alcohol consumption was associated with both positive and negative alcohol use outcome expectancies. Contrary to hypotheses, shame-prone individuals did not appear to have a particularly strong belief that alcohol is actually effective in reducing tension. However, shame-prone individuals may believe that alcohol helps serve to reduce physiological arousal and other anxiety-related phenomena experienced in social contexts, and possibly also in the lead up to and during intimate encounters. In contrast, guilt-prone individuals expect and believe that they are successfully able to avoid negative emotional experiences after having consumed alcohol. Findings are broadly congruent with research indicating that shame-proneness is associated with general emotion regulation difficulties, while guilt-proneness tends to be unrelated to such problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across rich nations with welfare states, charity continues as a dominant force in the lives of people who are poor. Inadequate state welfare and high housing costs drive people in poverty to seek daily support from charities. Based on in-depth interviews with 24 volunteers providing charity and 57 people receiving charity in Australia, as well as on observations of the provision and receipt of charity in practice, this article examines the experiences and meaning of charity from those who provide and receive it. The analysis shows that people receiving charity feel shame, and this shame derives from the judgements of volunteers and the position of recipients as passively receiving what is given. The findings also show that some volunteers actively engage with recipients to mitigate shame, and the dynamic interaction between provider and receiver of charity can reduce the shame people experience. Despite these successes in mitigating shame, the unidirectional provision of charity to people in poverty fails to take account of the value people place – and society expects – on reciprocity. Prioritizing the interests of those in poverty who receive charity, the article argues for the necessity of transforming charity to create conditions for reciprocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insecure adult attachment, shame, self-blame, and isolation following perinatal loss place bereaved women at risk of adverse psychological outcomes, which can impact child and family outcomes. To date, no research has considered how these variables continue to influence women's psychological health in pregnancy subsequent to loss., Objective: This study explored associations between prenatal psychological adjustment (less grief and distress) and adult attachment, shame, and social connectedness, in women pregnant after loss., Method: Twenty-nine pregnant Australian women accessing a Pregnancy After Loss Clinic (PALC) completed measures of attachment styles, shame, self-blame, social connectedness, perinatal grief, and psychological distress., Results: Four 2-step hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed adult attachment (secure/avoidant/anxious; Step 1), shame, self-blame, and social connectedness (Step 2) explained 74% difficulty coping, 74% total grief, 65% despair, and 57% active grief. Avoidant attachment predicted more difficulty coping and higher levels of despair. Self-blame predicted more active grief, difficulty coping, and despair. Social connectedness predicted lower active grief, and significantly mediated relationships between perinatal grief and all three attachment patterns (secure/avoidant/anxious)., Conclusions: Although avoidant attachment and self-blame can heighten grief in pregnancy after loss, focusing on social connectedness may be a helpful way for prenatal clinicians to support pregnant women during their subsequent pregnancy - and in grief.

The Uluru Climb, located within Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia, was permanently closed to tourists on the 26 October 2019 after decades of controversy. Determined by a unanimous vote of the Anangu majority Board of Management, news of the Climb's closure quickly captured popular, political and media attention, not all of which was positive. Drawing on two periods of fieldwork – the first in November 2012 (n = 68 interviewees) and the second in May 2019 (n = 62 interviewees) – this paper discusses visitor responses to the Climb both in terms of the ongoing coloniality evident in discourses of nationalism and individual rights and the possibility of the transformation of such views via a range of emotional and affective engagements. We highlight the prevalence of feelings of ownership, empathy and shame in the deployment of a range of views on the Climb and other cultural restrictions, as well as their political implications in the context of contemporary Australian settler-colonialism. In so doing, we position an ethic of relationality as key to the mobilisation of feelings, emotions and affects necessary to transform the outlook of visitors in the context of ongoing reconciliation debates between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Indigenous peoples are more likely than non-Indigenous peoples to experience family violence (FV), with wide-reaching impacts on individuals, families, and communities. Despite this, service providers indicate that Indigenous peoples are less likely to seek support than non-Indigenous peoples. Little is known about the reasons for this, particularly from the perspective of Indigenous people themselves. In this scoping review, we explore the views Indigenous peoples have on help seeking for FV. Online databases, Google Scholar, and reference lists were searched for relevant studies. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied so that only original studies where the Indigenous voice was specifically sought were chosen. Fifteen studies met our inclusion criteria including qualitative and mixed-methods research. Studies were conducted in the Americas, New Zealand, Australia, and India. Overall, findings suggest that Indigenous peoples are reluctant to engage in help-seeking behaviors for FV. Data were inductively organized into three main themes reflecting this reluctance: tendency to avoid help seeking (acknowledging the barriers of shame, tight-knit communities, and inappropriate service responses causing mistrust and fear), turning to informal support networks, and help is sought when crisis point is reached. We conclude that to overcome barriers for Indigenous peoples seeking help for FV, improving service providers response to FV through training and more research about what works is required; these activities need to be informed by both male and female Indigenous voices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The self-focused emotion of shame has been implicated in risk for psychopathology. However, this risk might be reduced by using emotion regulation strategies. To better understand the factors influencing emotion regulation and well-being in Australian university students, the current study investigated the relationships between external shame, a perception of judgement and negative evaluation from others, and core symptoms associated with psychopathology. The current study also explored whether self-compassion moderated these relationships. Methods: Australian university students (N = 392) ranging in age from 18 to 55 years old (M = 23.60) completed questionnaires assessing trait external shame, self-compassion, and the psychopathology dimensions of depression, anxiety, and stress. Results: There were strong positive associations between external shame and the core dimensions of psychopathology, along with strong negative associations between these variables and self-compassion. Self-compassion moderated the relationship between external shame and psychopathology in relation to depression and anxiety symptoms, but these findings were not replicated for stress. Conclusions: The results have advanced our understanding of the experience of self-relevant emotional distress and core symptoms of psychopathology among Australian university students and have revealed that self-compassion may provide a way to regulate the negative affectivity associated with external shame in this context. Key Points What is already known about this topic: (1)Shame follows evaluations of perceived failure and is associated with avoidant emotion regulation techniques and psychopathology. (2)Self-compassion activates the soothing emotion regulation system which can encourage more measured processing of negative self-relevant events. (3)External shame is emerging as a higher risk for psychopathology than internal shame or shame-proneness; both of which have been the predominant focus of enquiry to date. What this topic adds: (1)Higher self-compassion reduced the strength of the external shame-anxiety and external shame-depression relationships in Australian university students. (2)Self-compassion may be an effective emotion regulation strategy to reduce the aversive effects of external shame on the severity of depression and anxiety symptomatology. (3)Self-compassion could be a way to regulate the negative affectivity associated with perceptions of external shame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food insecurity is a significant problem in many countries, including Australia. Consequently, food hubs, through which food is distributed using a supermarket style layout, have become an important new source of charity food provision. However, little is known about users' experiences. We draw on ethnographic research to understand the everyday experiences of people using South Australian food hubs. We suggest that attempts to produce a more dignified experience by creating a normalizing experience of shopping is not being achieved, because of the shame and stigma surrounding poverty, confusing operational processes, poor food quality, staff attitudes, and the disciplinary capacity of food hubs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migrant and ethnic minority groups are underrepresented in alcohol and other drug (AOD) research. This qualitative study explored AOD use among young people from migrant and ethnic minority backgrounds in Melbourne, Australia. We conducted one focus group and 16 interviews and thematically analyzed data drawing on the social-ecological model of health. Theme one showed AOD use was considered a "normal" part of youth identity, particularly for participants who had grown up with peer groups in Australia. Theme two highlighted participant's sense of responsibility to meet expectations and make informed decisions about AOD use to protect themselves and their friends. Theme three highlighted participant's risk of experiencing AOD-related stigma through negative stereotypes and fear of consequences within families and communities, particularly among female participants. Participants' perceptions and experiences differed by individual factors, interpersonal relationships, AOD accessibility across settings and broader gender, cultural and religious norms. Interventions developed with young people from migrant and ethnic minority backgrounds are needed to target the social-ecological factors underpinning AOD use, particularly stigma.

Elder abuse often goes unreported. Perpetrators of elder abuse are frequently the adult children of the victim and this relationship may contribute to the reluctance of older adults to seek help. This study aimed to understand older people's experiences of elder abuse and the barriers to reporting it. Twenty-eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with clients of Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) who had a case opened and closed between 2012 and 2015, or had made two or more calls to SRV between this period. Thematic analysis was undertaken of the qualitative data. Older people who are being abused by their adult children may be reticent to seek help due to fear of adverse consequences for their adult child. The parental bond frequently prevented participants from speaking to others, asking for help, or enacting the advice provided to them. Shame and stigma surrounding the reporting of elder abuse committed by adult children needs to be addressed. Older people need to be supported to take action earlier when there is less likelihood of adverse consequences. Policy and services need to recognize the unique characteristics of the parent-child relationship and the way they can affect an older person's ability to seek help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have examined the more nuanced experiential facets of self-conscious emotion from a cross-cultural perspective. The present study's aim was to investigate shame and embarrassment experiences in relation to shame logics (or appraisals), shame antecedents and intensity across cultures in Australia and Japan, drawing on Fessler's Dual Logics Model of Shame (Fessler, 2004), and applying a new instrument (The Self-Conscious Emotion Questionnaire). There were 157 participants from two cultures, Japan (75) and Australia (82) who completed both paper-based and web-based questionnaires. Previous findings showing a higher experienced shame intensity found in Japan were corroborated across all shame and embarrassment logics. While the logic of 'norm non-conformity' was the strongest logic in both cultures, the logic of 'status lowness' was prominent in Japan but not Australia, and the novel logic of 'broken positive assumptions about the self' was prominent in both cultures. Shame in Japan appeared to be stronger with an introspective 'eyes of self' but explicitly described trigger, whereas in Australia, it was more publicly 'eyes of other' and implicitly induced counter to some expectations. Findings support the Self-Conscious Emotion Questionnaire as an instrument for exploring nuanced aspects of self-conscious emotion in cross-cultural research and lend support to a novel third logic of 'broken positive assumptions about the self' in both Australian and Japanese samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homeless young people are at risk for a range of negative health and behavioral outcomes, and they commonly report exposure to physical violence, as both perpetrators and victims. Semi-structured interviews focusing on exposure to physical violence were conducted with 18 homeless young people in Victoria, Australia. Results showed perpetration of physical violence occurred as a form of self-protection. Painful experiences of physical victimization were also described. Injuries were sustained as a result of both physical violence perpetration and victimization. Results suggest an important duality exists between homeless young people's acceptance of exposure to physical violence as normal and requiring emotional detachment at the time of its occurrence, and later reflection about exposure to physical violence with emotional engagement and problematizing the necessity of normalization and detachment. Shame, stigma, and unequal power relationships were described in relation to interactions with health professionals. Future research exploring violence as a response to vulnerability and subsequent feelings of shame and stigma in homeless young people is especially warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary justifies the need for the Australian government to address stigma and shame in its effort to increase help-seeking by individuals with eating disorders from the intersectional perspective of a health consumer with a history of anorexia nervosa and a public health researcher. It does so in response to the government's planned 2019 investment of $110 million to subsidise eating disorders treatment services. The commentary identifies stigma and shame as the leading barrier to help-seeking among individuals with eating disorders. It then uses peer-reviewed evidence and analyses of popular press articles to show how media create stigma and shame through labelling and stereotyping individuals with eating disorders in a way that incites status loss and discrimination. The commentary justifies why Australia provides an interesting test case to trial the use of media regulations to address this international problem. It is recommended that the Australian government work with individuals with eating disorders to co-design a Mandatory Code of Conduct to guide media towards a more medicalised approach to representing the diverse spectrum of real individuals who experience eating disorders. This commentary is relevant to an international audience as it provides solutions to common challenges with media representations of individuals with eating disorders found in Western and Eastern contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gambling is embedded in Australian cultural history, and perceived as a normal, legitimate leisure activity. Despite this normalisation, people who experience gambling problems are heavily stigmatised which can lead to a variety of harms that extend beyond the individual. The stigma from the general public appears to be based on a stereotype of a typical "problem gambler"-selfish, greedy, impulsive and irresponsible. However, research suggests that people experiencing gambling problems have widely varying characteristics and do not conform to this stereotype. Regardless of whether the stigma is justified, it is both present and problematic. Gamblers experiencing problems delay help-seeking due to feelings of shame and, not unwarranted, expectations of negative judgement because of the heavy stigma associated with the stereotype. As stigma is a primary barrier to treatment and a reason why gambling problems can take longer to acknowledge, it is important to understand and address how stigma can be reduced to minimise the negative consequences of gambling on individuals, their families and friends and the wider community. There is little research on reducing gambling-related stigma, so there is a need to examine strategies used in other stigmatised conditions, such as mental health, to understand the general principles of effective stigma reduction measures. Because gambling disorder is unique, well-hidden and consequently not well understood, there is a need to recognise that techniques used in other domains may differ in their effectiveness within the context of gambling stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mental health of gay and bisexual men in mixed-orientation marriages is poorly understood. In this article, the authors explore the development of anxiety and depression among gay and bisexual men in heterosexual marriages. Sixteen men, living in the Australian states of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania were interviewed throughout 2016 and 2017. An analysis of interviews identified four main themes, namely, compulsory heterosexuality, existential distress, compartmentalization, and integration and resolution. Participants reported experiencing anxiety and depression, which were exacerbated by the stigmatization of same-sex attraction and by an overwhelming distress from feelings of shame and guilt regarding their marital infidelity. Findings indicate that gay and bisexual men in mixed-orientation marriages develop anxiety and depression in response to the exigencies of compulsory heterosexuality and the compartmentalizing of same-sex attraction and identity during heterosexual marriage. Coming-out as same-sex attracted resolved men's distress by facilitating an integrative self-structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In remote Aboriginal communities in East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory of Australia, the Yolŋu people, traditional owners of this remote and isolated region, have a long tradition of ŋarali' [tobacco] use, which is commemorated within funeral ceremony, as manikay [songlines] and buŋgul [dancing]. Today, smoking is very prevalent and a highly normalised social activity among Yolŋu. There are concerns that tobacco control activities aiming to denormalise smoking may lead to stigma in already disadvantaged communities with high smoking prevalence. Interviews were conducted from August 2014 until December 2015 to ascertain whether smokers may have experienced smoking-related stigma through their interactions and engagement with health services and regional tobacco control activities including denormalisation strategy. Informants described their experiences, observations and perceptions of smokefree environments, television and media advertising, and smoking cessation support. We found that while tobacco control denormalisation is not leading to stigma in these communities, some clinical consultations and interactions may have led to feelings of smoking-related shame among Yolŋu health workers who smoked. However, we found that caring, trusting relationships and having the right people communicating the right messages respectfully enabled raising the issue of smoking in clinical consultations without causing shame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The Engaging Men project aimed to identify facilitators, societal approaches to and support for domestic violence, and barriers to men's participation in domestic violence research, assessing the importance of each factor. Participatory concept mapping was used with a convenience sample of men (n = 142) in person and online across Australia, Canada and the United States of America. Engaging Men identified 43 facilitators, societal approaches to and support for domestic violence, and/or barriers to men's participation in domestic violence research. The strongest facilitators related to external connections, such as concern for women around them. Men also recognized societal approaches to and support for domestic violence and the strongest barriers centered on internal feelings, including fear, shame and guilt about being linked to domestic violence. This study suggests that providing a safe environment for men to express genuine thoughts, feeling and views about domestic violence is vital, yet rarely available in domestic violence research. Therefore, research opportunities need to be more effectively designed and incentivized to address challenging issues identified by men, such as fear, shame and guilt and offer meaningful opportunities to demonstrate positive change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary governments employ a range of policy tools to 'activate' the unemployed to look for work. Framing unemployment as a consequence of personal shortcoming, these policies incentivise the unemployed to become 'productive' members of society. While Foucault's governmentality framework has been used to foreground the operation of power within these policies, 'job-seeker' resistance has received less attention. In particular, forms of emotional resistance have rarely been studied. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 80 unemployed welfare recipients in Australia, this article shows that many unemployed people internalise activation's discourses of personal failure, experiencing shame and worthlessness as a result. It also reveals, however, that a significant minority reject this framing and the 'feeling rules' it implies, expressing not shame but anger regarding their circumstances. Bringing together insights from resistance studies and the sociology of emotions, this article argues that 'job-seeker' anger should be recognised as an important form of 'everyday resistance'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship of two distinct variants of dispositional shame (internal and external shame) with collaborative, purpose-driven aspects of the patient–provider relationship (working alliance) and patient satisfaction. The aim of this research was to conduct a preliminary investigation into the relevance of dispositional shame in a general healthcare population. Design/methodology/approach: In total, 127 community members (mean age 25.9 years) who reported that they had regularly seen a GP over the past year were recruited at an Australian university. Participants were asked to reflect on their relationship with their GP, and completed instruments assessing various domains of shame, as well as working alliance and patient satisfaction. Findings: Non-parametric correlations were examined to determine the direction and strength of relationships, as well as conducting mediation analyses where applicable. Small, negative correlations were evident between external shame and working alliance. Both external and internal shame measures were also negatively correlated with patient satisfaction. Finally, the relationship of external shame to patient satisfaction was partially mediated by working alliance. Practical implications: Both the reported quality of patient–provider working alliance, and level of patient satisfaction are related to levels of dispositional shame in patients, and working alliance may act as a mediator for this relationship. Originality/value: The findings from this preliminary study suggest that internal and external shame are important factors to consider in the provision of medical care to maximise the quality of patient experience and working alliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is particularly prevalent during adolescence and emerging adulthood. The salience of shame during these developmental periods suggests that shame may be inherently linked to NSSI, and at least partially explain the high rates of NSSI observed among youth. In this article, a theoretical developmental model relating shame and NSSI is proposed, and results from a preliminary test of a sub-set of cross-sectional relationships in this model is presented. In the model tested, it was hypothesized that adverse caregiving experiences in prior development (i.e., childhood to late adolescence) like parental invalidation and child maltreatment, established predictors of NSSI, would be linked to proximal episodes of NSSI (i.e., past year) through current shame-proneness (i.e., experiencing shame in a trait-like manner) and internalizing shame-coping (i.e., responding to shame through attacking one's self and withdrawing). It was also hypothesized that some key proximal predictors of NSSI during youth development, such as low body esteem, increased loneliness and heightened psychological distress, would be linked to proximal NSSI via shame-proneness and internalizing shame-coping. Using structural equation modelling, it was observed that data, obtained via self-reports completed by 573 emerging adults (age in years: M = 20.7, SD= 2.20, 69.1% female, NSSI history: n = 220, where most recent NSSI episode was within a year of study participation) recruited throughout Australia between June 2013 and June 2014, fit the hypothesized model well. Tests of indirect effects indicated that current shame-proneness and internalizing shame-coping significantly linked perceived parental invalidation and prior experiences of child maltreatment to proximal NSSI, though this relationship was, unexpectedly, an inverse one in relation to child maltreatment. Current shame-proneness was also linked to proximal NSSI via internalizing shame-coping, current loneliness, and current psychological distress, but not through current body esteem. Finally, proximal self-evaluations of body esteem, loneliness and increased psychological distress were linked to recent NSSI through internalizing shame-coping. The theory and findings presented in this article contribute to a deeper developmental understanding of NSSI among youth, highlight crucial pathways between adverse caregiving experiences and NSSI, and illuminate important shame-based mechanisms that potentially warrant clinical attention for at-risk individuals. Future research directions and clinical recommendations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]