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Examining processes in the relationship between narrative identity and psychological functioning
No full textTheoretical perspectives and empirical evidence support a link between narrative identity and psychological functioning. When examining this relationship, psychological functioning has typically been conceptualised in terms of diagnostic symptoms. As a result, the transdiagnostic psychological processes underpinning the relationship remain largely unexplored. Additionally, recent research proposes that the relationship between narrative identity and psychological functioning may be reciprocal, but research has primarily utilised cross-sectional data or considered characteristics of narrative identity as predisposing factors. The work in this thesis addresses these gaps in the field by examining potential underlying psychological processes and exploring potential reciprocal associations in a sample of young adults. In the first study, a systematic review was conducted to identify transdiagnostic factors either associated with narrative identity or that mediated or moderated its relationship with psychological functioning. The review comprised 11 studies and revealed mixed findings for the support of rumination, overgeneral memory (OGM), emotion dysregulation, and attachment state of mind as transdiagnostic factors that may be uniquely associated with narrative identity or mediate or moderate the relationship between narrative identity and psychological functioning. In the second study, 245 university students were recruited to investigate the mediating and moderating effects of the identified transdiagnostic factors. Findings revealed that rumination and emotion dysregulation, but not OGM, mediated the relationship between lower causal coherence and psychological functioning. Surprisingly, neither attachment state of mind nor memory tone moderated any relationships between narrative identity and psychological functioning. The third study examined associations between narrative identity as measured by causal coherence and psychological processes utilising the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) systems, using the same sample of 245 participants at Time 1 and a returning 88 participants at Time 2 (6 months later). Structural equation modelling revealed concurrent and longitudinal negative associations between difficulties in the negative valence system and causal coherence. Furthermore, lower causal coherence predicted later difficulties in the arousal/regulatory system. However, difficulties in the social processes system showed no such associations. The final study investigated the relationship between identification with psychopathology in turning point narratives and psychopathology symptoms. This study utilised the 245 community young adults from studies two and three, as well as 30 in-patient clinical young adults. A novel coding scheme was developed to tap identification with psychopathology within turning point narratives. Findings revealed that higher identification with psychopathology was associated with higher symptoms of depression, anxiety, BPD, rumination and emotion dysregulation. Multinomial regression analysis revealed that identification with psychopathology predicted an individual belonging to the symptoms or diagnosis group above and beyond measures of psychopathology. Moderation analyses revealed that the interaction between identification with psychopathology and belonging to the community group predicted depression, but not for the symptoms or diagnosis nor the clinical group. Overall, this thesis provides crucial insights into the dynamic relationship between narrative identity and psychological functioning, emphasising the significance of cognitive and emotional processes such as rumination and emotion dysregulation. Furthermore, this thesis introduces identification with psychopathology as a potentially important aspect of narrative identity. Understanding these complex relationships can lead to the development of personalised and targeted interventions with greater responsivity. Future longitudinal research that incorporates a range of narrative identity, transdiagnostic, and psychological functioning variables is recommended
Giving effect to freedom of religion through the advancement of religion? A New Zealand charity law perspective
No full textTe mana o te wahine: Young mothers healthcare experiences in pregnancy, birth, and into motherhood
No full textIn Aotearoa-New Zealand being a young mother is often associated with clinical and societal ‘risks.’ Younger women have higher rates of maternal depression and suicide, complications during birth, and their babies are more likely to be born preterm, and of smaller gestational age and weight (Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee, 2012; Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand, 2023b, 2023a). Research also indicates that young mothers experience stigmatisation and discrimination that they attribute to their age and/or ethnicity (Adcock, 2016; Makowharemahihi et al., 2014; Rawiri, 2007; Ware, 2019).
In discussion with researchers, discrimination was the topic that young mothers at He Puaawai Teen Parent Centre wanted to talk about. They shared a strong desire to see change in the way that doctors, nurses, and midwives service young parents and were passionate about ensuring that future young mothers had more support. Thus, in responding to their call, 22 parents, including two fathers attending (or recent school-leavers of) He Puaawai Teen Parent Centre volunteered to participate in this study. This qualitative kaupapa Māori study employed a series of wānanga, individual kōrero, and an investigator-triangulation thematic analysis. The research questions explored both the positive and negative healthcare experiences of this cohort during pregnancy, birth, and into motherhood.
The aim of this study was to listen and learn about the experiences of these young parents and co-design informational and/or educational materials to help healthcare practitioners better understand and support young mothers/parents. To spread awareness of the experiences of these young parents, the co-design materials and findings of this study were disseminated via various healthcare seminars and meetings around the Waikato region. The findings of this study contribute to previous research that revealed over the last 20 years young parents have continued to report predominantly negative experiences in their maternity journey. Participants of this study reported experiences of unsolicited judgement and advice, a general lack of manaakitanga (care, empathy, respect), communication, and support from doctors, nurses, and midwives. The relatively small number of positive experiences shared in this study emphasises the importance of manaakitanga regardless of age. An unexpected finding was the impact that receptionists had on young parents’ healthcare experiences, as the face and entry point of healthcare services
Comparing hardness tests to estimate, evaluate, and analyse the mechanical properties of structural steel
No full textThe paper investigates the mechanical properties of structural steels, focusing on hardness and toughness, which are important indicators used in industrial applications. In total, four major hardness testing methods were analysed: Vickers, Rockwell, Brinell, and Leeb, and the Charpy impact test was used to measure toughness. The hardness tests evaluated the precision with which steel resistance to deformation can be determined under different conditions, and the Charpy test examined their energy absorption capacity in case of sudden fractures and tensile testing was estimated on them to study the range of yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. This research has conducted 288 experimental tests to evaluate the correlation between various hardness testing methods (Brinell, Vickers, Rockwell, and Leeb) and the mechanical properties of the structural steel samples. Further, 42 experimental tests were performed for the Charpy impact test to evaluate a correlation between Charpy impact values and mechanical properties of the structural steel samples. 330 samples were prepared for the respective tests, representing various structural steel grades (Grade 300, 350, and 400). Among different grades of steel samples, 350-grade steel exhibited a higher impact energy of 94.4 J. Both Charpy Impact Values and Hardness Test Values were plotted against ultimate tensile strength and yield strength to determine if there is a correlation between the properties. The results reveal a better accuracy of Vickers and Rockwell tests as they revealed only an error percentage of 2.5% and 1.9%, respectively, especially for fine-grained materials, while Leeb is characterized by good convenience in large-scale testing at the site. Although the Brinell test is very effective for coarse structures, it was not as precise as martensite in more complex microstructures. Both hardness and tensile strength showed a strong correlation, indicating that hardness may accurately predict the material strength. The study also highlights the reverse relationship between hardness and toughness. This research contributes to structural steel testing by proposing methods to predict mechanical properties using non-destructive testing techniques. It sets the stage for future improvementsin hardness testing models by incorporating factors like microstructural variations, strain hardening, and heat treatment, which can enhance the accuracy of predictions. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of portable hardness testing methods and emphasizes the need for improved calibration protocols to ensure more accurate in-situ measurements
“They’re scared to coach us Paras”: Understanding the social reproduction of ableism in disability sport coaching
No full textIn recognising the ableism disabled children and young people are exposed to through sport, this research investigated the mechanisms for the reproduction of ableism in and through coaching. Through semi-structured interviews, the learning journeys of ten disability sport coaches were explored. Drawing on a critical sociological framework, data analysis involved an abductive approach with Bourdieu’s sociology and ableism as sensitising concepts. In addition, Charlie’s story, the experiences of a young disabled person, is presented as a further sensitising concept. By applying Bourdieu’s theory and practice in conjunction with ableism, the interrelatedness of the theories was demonstrated. The research found that disability sport exists as a sub-field, kept at arm's-length from the mainstream sport field. As such, coaches’ mobility between sport and disability sport was constrained and often serendipitous. Further, disability knowledge was marginalised in coach education and positioned as optional and ‘other’. This optional othering is a manifestation of the institutionalised ableism of the coach education system. Further, the pedagogies used within coach education reinforced enlightened and benevolent forms of ableism. The analysis suggested that ableism is present in the field, habitus and distribution of capital and is, therefore, hard to challenge and is predisposed to reproduction. The field’s socialising conditions transmit certain orientations towards disability, bodies, and sport. Dispositions toward disability were informed by the field of power and its inherent compulsory able-bodiedness. The findings evidenced that ableism exists as doxa (accepted practice that goes without saying) within the field of sport and sub-field of disability sport. Ableism is woven into the fabric of coaching and forms a part of the classifying principles which are instilled in coaches’ habitus through doxa. Thus, it is ableism that guides how coaches perceive, interpret and act in the disability sport field. Furthermore, doxa (ableism) was more influential on coaches’ learning than coach education. Understanding ableism as doxa within the field of disability sport provides critical insight into how social and symbolic structures constrain coach learning. No matter how well-meaning coaches are, ableism is inscribed in habitus through doxa
Exploring school governance in the context of local values and political influences in Lalitpur, Nepal: A narrative inquiry
No full textNepal is a surreal land of stunning Himalayas, Eastern mystics, and human civilisation rich in
culture, traditions, and architecture. In the country, Hindu values have been predominant in
shaping people's lives, including respect for schooling education. People are keen to manage
schooling education through community effort by joining School Management Committees.
After the implementation of Nepal’s 2015 Constitution, public schools came under the
jurisdiction and management of local governments. As a local in Lalitpur, Nepal, a Hindu
believer, and a former public-school teacher and administrative assistant, I became
interested in researching how people’s local values and the influence of politics build public
school governance. My curiosity was further driven by the literature review related to
school governance in Nepal where I found limited research and scholarship of areas such as
the adoption of Hindu cultural values in school governance in secular Nepal, and the
exercise of power to bring about positive reforms in school management. I formulated the
research questions: What cultural and social values of groups and communities in Lalitpur
encourage working for school governance? How do political influences shape group and
community involvement in school governance in Lalitpur?
For my methodology, I choose narrative research, which lies within a social
constructionist worldview whereby social reality is conceived as the co-creation of human
relations and interactions. I used in-depth interviews and observations of participant
engagement related to school governance, during which I interviewed 43 participants
involved in school-communities and local governments in Lalitpur. These schools were
situated in three local government units in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas with diverse
geographies and socio-cultural settings. I developed a method of thematic analysis to
interpret the participants’ stories by referencing Localism-Eastern Philosophy and New
Public Management-Global Governance theories.
I found that Hinduism connected Nepali communities and schools through religious
sentiments and made the school environments sacred and peaceful. People’s culture of care
prepared the foundation for establishing and developing schools in Nepali communities.
This caring culture has been passed on as a philanthropic value to the present generation,
which aligns with the karma theory in Hinduism. Concerning the political influences in
school governance, exercise of power has brought knowledgeable people into SMCs to
contribute to the managerial reforms and has facilitated decentralised school governance
through local governments. Findings show that locals with conservative values and some
stakeholders in schools have misused political authority to take benefits and hinder the
growth of school education.
Decentralised education governance is a new practice in Nepal, and in 2025 the
country is in a federal transition stage. New education policies are being developed, and my
research findings support the establishment of policies that incorporate people’s values and
the exercise of political authority and power
Utilising risk analysis to predict post-earthquake functionality of critical healthcare facilities
No full textHospitals, particularly emergency departments, are vital to a community’s resilience and earthquake recovery by providing emergent and ongoing critical care. Building standards and codes have higher structural requirements for hospital structures to help ensure continued functionality; nevertheless, hospitals are often damaged, evacuated or closed following design-level earthquakes. While post-earthquake hospital functionality has been the focus of recent research, it remains challenging to predict hospital functionality in a relevant and meaningful manner. Existing methods to quantify functionality are based on patient wait time, bed count, or available services. This work focuses on improving existing hospital functionality frameworks to predict various levels of hospital functionality using a combination of fault and event trees to provide a probabilistic prediction of different levels of functionality based on available services and bed counts for hospital emergency departments and whole hospitals. Fault and event trees were created using published data on hospital damage, evacuations, and operations following earthquakes and combined with international guidelines on hospital requirements and local hospital emergency procedures. The fault and event trees relate physical damage, staff shortages, and equipment failures to various hospital and emergency room functionality levels. Event trees provide a sequence of events (availability of critical staff, structural damage, and non-structural damage) leading to various levels of hospital functionality (full, partial, or not functional). Each event has an associated probability of occurring determined by a developed fault tree specific to that event failure. The methodology was validated using an additional hospital dataset to hindcast the functionality of the hospital facility. The hindcasted results match the published functionality data, indicating that this method provides a way to predict levels of functionality, which can indicate what types of services and space will be available for treatment following an earthquake
Looking beyond the number of repetitions: An observational cross-sectional study on calf raise test outcomes in children aged 10–17 years
No full textAims: The calf raise test (CRT) assesses plantarflexor strength and endurance, but normative data for children are scarce. Furthermore, contradictions exist on which factors are associated with total repetitions, with repetitions being the only metric considered. We quantified three of the main CRT outcomes (repetitions, total work, and peak height) in children 10–17 years and explored their relationship with various factors. Methods: Healthy children (n = 165, 50.3% female) completed single-legged calf raises on a 10° incline, once on each leg. Test outcomes were extracted using the valid and reliable Calf Raise application. Results: CRT outcomes were not significantly different between legs (p ≥ .19). The only covariates significantly associated with outcomes based on stepwise quantile regressions were body mass index centile for repetitions, meeting physical activity recommendations for total work and peak height, and age for total work. Outcomes did not significantly differ based on sex or maturation. Median values were around 26 for repetitions, 640–1460 J for total work (age dependent), and 10.1 cm for peak height for children meeting physical activity recommendations. Conclusion: Children who were older, had lower body mass indices, and were more active exhibited superior CRT outcomes. Meeting physical activity recommendations appears beneficial for plantarflexor function and should continue to be prioritized in children
Alum dosing of Waitangi Stream: Biomonitoring of aluminium 2021-2023
No full textContinuous alum dosing of the Waitangi Stream at Lake Rotoehu commenced in 2011 to reduce concentrations of dissolved reactive phosphorus in this inflow to the lake and improve water quality. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council contracted the University of Waikato to undertake monitoring of biota in the Waitangi Stream for potential impacts due to alum dosing. Macroinvertebrate community analysis and tissue aluminium concentrations in kōura (Paranephrops planifrons) and goldfish (Carassius auratus) have been undertaken annually since 2013 to determine the impacts and bioaccumulation of aluminium
Harming oneself and harming others: Young people’s experiences coping with difficult emotions
No full textIt is well established that a key function of self-injury is managing difficult or uncomfortable
emotions. Interestingly, emotion regulation is also a key function of aggression. Despite this
and other apparent similarities in risk and protective factors, these behaviours have never
been compared at length. The current research aimed to fill this gap by exploring to what
extent self-injury and outward-directed-injury were ways of dealing with the same issues,
especially managing negative emotions. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted
with participants aged between 18 and 35 years old. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to
analyse the data and develop seven themes. Although this research initially set out to explore
injury specifically, many of the experiences described by participants did not involve
physical injury but were still harmful to themself or others. Accordingly, the findings of this
study focus more broadly on harm. The themes outline the self-harm and outward-directedharm
engaged in by the participants, as well as shared risk and protective factors. Factors that
influenced participants’ engagement in self-harm and outward-directed-harm included
adverse life challenges such as mental illness, trauma, low self-worth or nonconformity to
social norms; their friends and family; a difficulty in differentiating emotions; an indifference
for personal safety; and a lack of support services and mental health education in New
Zealand. This exploratory study gives insight into twelve young people’s experiences using
self-harm and outward-directed-harm to cope with their difficult emotions. These insights
contribute to an area of research that is lacking whilst also highlighting the need for further
research comparing these distinct but related behaviours