5107 research outputs found
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Reading Differently: Exploring The Power of the Real in Literary Journalism
No full textThis paper contends that previous research on the experience of reading literary journalism has predominantly been focused on the experience of the ideal, implied and/or interpellated reader. Scholarly discussions about the qualitative differences between reading fiction and non-fiction are usually theoretical or based on close readings where the analyses are projected on to a generalised readership. However, recent developments in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive narratology are opening avenues for qualitative and quantitative research into the experience of reading literary journalism. This article takes some tentative steps towards exploring the nature of experientiality for readers by asking questions of emerging research in order to further articulate the power of narrative non-fiction
Davis, Clarence Henry (1895-1978 and Elsie Mary Morgan (1893-1915); later Beatrice (Amy) Collins (1911-1975)
No full textClarence Davis was an Australian pioneer in Asia and did much to establish the colporteur ministry in China, as well as planting numerous churches and establishing schools in that country. He worked in the Far East for all but two of his 50 years of service
Revisiting the Pressure-Volume law in History-What can it teach us about the Emergence of Mathematical Relationships in Science?
No full textIn this article the pressure-volume law is reviewed from the point of view of its historical emergence from 1644-1662 and its application in the science classroom. It is contended that mathematical laws in science have value as rich conceptual tools in addition to their role in computation. A classification scheme for algebraic mathematical expressions, based on their historical context, is proposed as a means of assigning significance to the mathematical expressions commonly used in science. © 1995 Kluwer Academic Publishers
The Influence of Human Support on Adherence to, and Outcomes of an Online Interdisciplinary Mental Health Promotion Intervention for a Healthy Adult Cohort
No full textEscalating mental health distress has prompted the call for mental health promotion initiatives to improve the mental resilience of the general population and provide a buffer against common mental health disorders. Digital delivery modes offer accessible and scalable opportunities to implement lifestyle-based interventions to enhance mental well-being. However, digital interventions are hampered by sub-optimal adherence, which negatively impacts outcomes. Little is known about the effectiveness of human support to improve adherence to and outcomes of digital interventions amongst general population cohorts.
This dissertation documents the rationale for and findings of a randomised comparative study that assessed the influence of adding different types of human support to an online, interdisciplinary mental health promotion intervention. Participants were randomised into three intervention groups: standard intervention with automated emails only (S); standard intervention plus personalised text messages (S+pSMS); and standard intervention plus videoconferencing support (S+VCS). A questionnaire was administered pre- and post-intervention to assess changes in depression, anxiety, stress, mental health, vitality, life satisfaction, and flourishing. Adherence was measured by the number of video lessons viewed, points scored for experiential activities, and the number of weeks that participants logged activity. Inductive, thematic analysis of free-text responses in the post-intervention questionnaire elicited participant perceptions about facilitators and barriers impacting adherence. The study results led to a series of three publications, which addressed the three research questions presented in the dissertation and a fourth publication that consolidated the findings and reviewed them in the context of the current literature.
The first publication addressed Research Question 1—What is the influence of different modes of human support on the outcomes of a web and mobile app, lifestyle-based mental health intervention for a healthy adult cohort? This publication found that human support had little influence on the outcomes of the intervention. Significant improvements were recorded from baseline to post-intervention in every outcome measure, irrespective of the types of human support offered (P≤0.001). Between-group differences were not observed for any of the outcome measures: depression (P=0.93), anxiety (P=0.25), stress (P=0.57), mental health (P=0.77), vitality (P=0.65), life satisfaction (P=0.65), and flourishing (P=0.99).
The second publication addressed Research Question 2—What is the influence of different modes of human support on attrition and adherence to a web and mobile app, lifestyle-based mental health intervention for a healthy adult cohort, including the influence of participant preference? Early dropout attrition differed between the groups (P=.009), being disproportionally higher in the videoconferencing support group. However, there was no difference in adherence behaviour between the groups (i.e., number of videos viewed, P=0.42; mean challenge points scored, P=0.71; and the number of weeks challenge points were logged, P=0.66), indicating that human support had little effect.
The third publication addressed the final research question—What do healthy adult participants perceive as the facilitators of, and barriers to, adherence to a web and mobile app, lifestyle-based mental health intervention? Qualitative thematic analysis revealed that human support did not feature strongly as a facilitator or barrier to intervention adherence. Perceived adherence facilitators included engaging content, time availability, accessibility, enjoyable challenges, valuing the program, and personal motivation. Time scarcity was overwhelmingly perceived as the most dominant adherence barrier. Other barriers included completing and logging experiential activity, content length, technical difficulties, and interindividual personal factors.
The study’s findings provided novel insights into an exposed research gap, as little was known about the influence of human support on adherence to and outcomes of a digital mental health promotion intervention when delivered to a general population group. The fourth publication, a review, synthesised the overall findings of this dissertation in conjunction with other recent literature and provided recommendations for future studies
An Interdisciplinary Mental Wellbeing Intervention for Increasing Flourishing: Two Experimental Studies
No full textPositive Psychology Interventions (PPIs) have been shown to improve mental health, but little is known about their impact on the quantifiable experience of flourishing. Two experimental studies investigated whether the proportion of participants flourishing, assessed using the Huppert and So conceptual framework, could be increased through a 10-week online interdisciplinary intervention that combined strategies from positive psychology and lifestyle medicine. In Study 1 (n = 421), flourishing was significantly increased (p \u3c 0.001) in the intervention but not the control group and was sustained at 12 weeks post-intervention. Study 2 (n = 458) showed that the addition of human support to the online intervention did not further improve its effectiveness at increasing flourishing. These studies demonstrate that online interdisciplinary interventions that incorporate positive psychology and lifestyle medicine strategies can increase human flourishing, irrespective of the addition of human support
The Effectiveness of an Online Interdisciplinary Intervention for Mental Health Promotion: A Randomized Controlled Trial
No full textBackground
There is an urgent need for efficacious interventions to combat the global mental health crisis, and mental health promotion and primary prevention approaches are paramount. The aim of this study is to examine whether an online interdisciplinary intervention that incorporates evidence-based strategies from the disciplines of Lifestyle Medicine and Positive Psychology improves measures of mental health and emotional wellness. Methods
A randomized controlled trial with a wait-list control (N = 425, aged 46.97 ± 14.5, 69.9% females) was conducted in Australia and New Zealand. The intervention group participated in a 10-week online interdisciplinary intervention. Primary outcome measures of mental health and emotional wellness were taken at baseline (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 12), and 12 weeks post-intervention (Week 24). The wait-list control completed the same assessments. Results
General Linear Modelling analyses indicated that the intervention group experienced significantly greater improvements than the wait-list control group over time in all outcome measures: mental health (F(319) = 7.326, p = 0.007) and vitality (F(319) = 9.445, p = 0.002) subscales of the Short Form Survey (SF-36); depression (F(319) = 7.841, p = 0.005), anxiety (F(319) = 4.440, p = 0.36) and stress (F(319) = 12.494, p \u3c 0.001) scales of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21); and life satisfaction (F(319) = 8.731, p = 0.003) as measured by the Satisfaction With Life Scale. Within the intervention group, significant improvements were observed from Week 1 to 12 in all outcome measures: mental health (10%, t(167) = − 6.423), p \u3c 0.001, dz = 0.50), vitality (22%, t(167) = − 7.043, p \u3c 0.001, dz = 0.54), depression (− 41%, t(167) = 6.189, p \u3c 0.001, dz = 0.48), anxiety (− 38%, t(167) = 5.030, p \u3c 0.001, dz = 0.39), stress (− 31%, t(167) = 6.702, p \u3c 0.001, dz = 0.52) and life satisfaction (8%, t(167) = − 6.199, p \u3c 0.001, dz = 0.48). Improvements in the outcome measures remained significant in the intervention group at 12 weeks post-intervention. Conclusion
The online interdisciplinary intervention improved measures of mental health and emotional wellness suggesting that such interventions may be useful for mental health promotion and prevention
Grass Tree
No full textGrass Tree is two-dimensional assemblage which was short listed for inclusion in the 2020 Gosford Art Prize held at Gosford City Art Gallery between September 25 and November 28, 2020. The dimensions of the work are approximately 100cm x 90cm x 5cm
Christian Early Childhood Leaders: Management Challenges and Responses
No full textThis study investigated the management challenges that Christian early childhood leaders, from four different Christian denominations, encountered in their responsibilities, and in particular, the approaches they used in resolving them. A research design of grounded theory using data collected from survey questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and document analysis enabled themes to emerge. A Christian worldview underpinned and framed the leaders’ thoughts, actions, communication and relationships with students, staff, parents and the community. For these leaders, their close, reciprocal connection with God sustained, guided and even at times impelled their approach to their daily practice and especially in managing challenges
The Question Cube Re-imagined – A 5-Dimensional Model for Cultivating Coaches’ Capacity for Curious Inquiry in Health Behavior Change
No full textIn a lifestyle medicine context, masterful health coaching requires the development of skills in inquiry. While open inquiry is emphasised, there is a broad range of inquiry types which can elicit narrative responses from a patient. In the 1990s, the ‘Question Cube’1 was conceptualised as a means of teaching therapy students ways to ask insightful questions. The elements of this model were: type of inquiry, subject and orientation. This article updates the Question Cube model to include the original three parameters with the addition of tense and mood. By learning the concepts of inquiry formation, students of health coaching are more able to propose thoughtful and insightful inquiries to their patients
August 2020 Vol 40 No 1
No full textHomecoming is the magazine for the Alumni and Friends of Avondale University College