50716 research outputs found
Sort by
The complete mental health of Australia's adolescents and emerging adults:Distress and wellbeing across 3 nationally representative community samples
Get PDFAims The high level of psychological distress in young people is a growing concern. However, there are few national surveys that describe the trajectories of mental health and wellbeing through adolescence into early adulthood. Further, existing research has largely focused exclusively on mental ill-health, with little focus on positive mental health. This study provides the first national profile of the mental health and wellbeing of Australians aged 12-25 years. Methods Participants completed the National Youth Mental Health survey in 2018 (n1 = 3832), 2020 (n2 = 974) or 2022 (n3 = 961). We applied Keyes' Complete Mental Health (CMH) framework to derive categories of mental health and wellbeing, and examine rates of CMH over time, by age and gender. Results While approximately half of those surveyed reported flourishing (high wellbeing without mental illness), rates of flourishing declined between 2018 and 2022. Rates of flourishing generally decreased with age, and flourishing was more prevalent amongst males than females. Conclusions The findings provide a unique contrast of youth mental health pre-, during and post- the COVID-19 pandemic. While rates of psychological distress are consistently high, the proportion of youth reporting flourishing highlights the need to consider all aspects of psychological functioning to accurately understand and respond to the mental health needs of young people.</p
Women as researchers in raising multi-vegetable gardens in Malwah, Sindh, Pakistan and the potential to build and scale out knowledge.
No full textCo-inquiry research led by women farmers assessed the difference in yields between mulched and non-mulched kitchen gardening plots used for growing multiple types of vegetable crops in Malwah, Sindh, Pakistan. This farmer-led research was part of a broader ‘Adapting to Salinity in the Southern Indus Basin’ (ASSIB) project, which used co-inquiry between researchers and farmers as part of a strategy for building and scaling out knowledge on how to ‘live with salinity’. An impact assessment of the ASSIB project found, among other things, that our approach of Stakeholder Engagement for Research and Learning (SERL) enhanced the knowledge and capacity of rural women farmers, led to changes in their vegetable cultivation practices, and built confidence for them to share their knowledge with women within and beyond their villages. Here we present an example from the ASSIB project where the co-inquiry research was led by women farmers living in a salinity-affected area at the tail end of the Malwah distributary. The women found that the highest production of vegetables was obtained from plots that had been mulched while minimum yields were obtained from non-mulched plots. Bed mulching was beneficial in controlling weeds and conserving soil moisture. These benefits combined to enhance vegetable plant growth and development. The women’s use of mulching and production of organic food that is free from pests and diseases is part of a much-needed shift towards sustainable agriculture. The strategy of growing multiple types of vegetables encouraged and enabled their families to eat a range of fresh vegetables daily for a healthier life. The families also saved money by not having to buy vegetables and by saving seeds from their crops for use in future cropping seasons. The results we present here demonstrate that farmers can indeed become researchers. We assert that enabling farmers to take a leading role in research can be an effective way to co-create knowledge for living more productively with salinity and has the potential to build and scale out knowledge
Exploring the Role of a Dietitian in an Early Intervention Program for People With Dementia and Their Care Partners: A Composite Case Series
No full textSymptoms of dementia can impact the nutritional status and quality of life of people with dementia, but there is limited research exploring the dietitian’s role in post-diagnostic care. This study aims to explore the role of a dietitian in a multidisciplinary dementia program for people living in the community. Participants in a twelve-week multicomponent, multidisciplinary post-diagnostic intervention for people with dementia and care partners were offered three consultations with a dietitian to receive dietary assessment, education and advice. Key clinical findings from dietetics case notes of 40 people with dementia were analyzed using a composite case series approach. Of these, 39 required ongoing nutrition support and intervention. Common issues identified include insufficient energy and/or nutrient intake, unintentional weight loss, poor management of comorbidities and difficulties with coordination of care. Dietitians are an integral part of a multicomponent intervention for dementia. Future work is needed to optimize dietetic care models. Running headline. Dietetics in an early intervention for dementia.</p
GLOBal river SALiniTy and associated ions (GlobSalt)
No full textFreshwater salinization (FS) is a threat to freshwater ecosystems, but its impact remains relativelypoorly understood compared to other stressors (e.g. nutrient pollution), with some regions (e.g.Asia, Africa) remaining poorly explored. To assess how pervasive this issue is globally and identifysalinization hotspots, we compiled global data on river salinity and associated ions. We retrievedinformation from different sources, harmonized it and merged it with HydroATLAS watersheds. Ourglobal data set (GlobSalt) features 13 parameters, including electrical conductivity (EC), major ions,and nutrients. GlobSalt contains approximately fifteen million records on a monthly scale for riverstations from 1980 to 2023 from all continents except Antarctica. The global median EC was 509 ± 205μS cm−1, with 60% of rivers falling in the range of 50 to 500 μS cm−1, which is within the salinity niche of most freshwater organisms. We found a large spatial variability in EC, with some regions such asthe Mediterranean, the Midwest of the US, arid regions of Argentina and Chile and SouthwesternAustralia having high mean salinity values. Temporally, EC was fairly stable. GlobSalt represents acritical resource for improving our understanding of FS dynamics, identifying regions at high risk and informing management strategies
Exploring the impact of neighbourhood social fragmentation on early childhood developmental vulnerability
No full textBackground: The role of the neighbourhood social context in early childhood development is less understood despite the apparent disparities in early childhood developmental vulnerability in Australia. This research investigated the influence of neighbourhood social fragmentation on developmental vulnerability in young children. Method: Data were from the 2021 Australian Early Development Census. We applied logistic multilevel models to investigate the relationship between the area-level social fragmentation index and children's developmental vulnerability. The outcome variable was developmental vulnerability on one or more domains (physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills (school-based), and communication skills and general knowledge). The predictor was the Australian Neighbourhood Social Fragmentation Index, constructed using the principal component analysis. Results: The sample was 287,135 children in their first year of full-time schooling in 2330 Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2). Our analyses showed a 4% increased risk of developmental vulnerability on one or more domains (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.00–1.08) if children lived in high compared with low socially fragmented neighbourhoods after adjusting for child, family, and neighbourhood characteristics. Conclusion: Maintaining social cohesion in the community decreases the chance of developmental vulnerability in children during their first year of full-time schooling. Social initiatives, such as horticulture classes, volunteering programs, and Neighbour Day events, may foster social cohesion in socially fragmented neighbourhoods, supporting children's development during their early years. Additionally, certain physical aspects of the neighbourhood (e.g., availability and walkability to public amenities and services) encourage accidental social interactions between neighbours.</p
Thermoregulation and dehydration in children and youth exercising in extreme heat compared with adults
No full textOBJECTIVE: To compare hyperthermia and physiological dehydration risk during exercise heat stress between children of different ages and adults and evaluate an existing adult sweat rate calculator in children.METHODS: 68 fit and recreationally active children aged 10-16 years (31 girls), and 24 adults aged 18-40 years (11 females) completed three separate 45 min treadmill walking/running trials at different intensities on different days at 30°C, 40% relative humidity (RH) (WARM) or 40°C, 30% RH (HOT). Exposures were randomised to elicit intensities scaled to (1) fitness, (2) mass and (3) surface area. Core (gastrointestinal (T gi)) temperature was measured continuously and dehydration determined using body mass changes. RESULTS: Except for 60% V̇O 2peak in WARM, in which adults exhibited a greater T gi rise compared with 10-13 years, there was no effect of age on T gi during exercise (p≥0.176). Physiological rates of dehydration were not affected by age in WARM (p≥0.08) or HOT (p≥0.08). Mean predicted sweat rate error was +0.08 kg/hour (95% CIs: -0.10, +0.25) across WARM and HOT, and 80.5% of variability in sweating was explained by the adult sweat rate calculator. CONCLUSIONS: Using the most comprehensive paediatric exercise heat stress dataset from a single study to date, we show that children aged 10-16 years are at a similar risk of hyperthermia and dehydration as adults during exercise up to 40°C. This supports recent changes to paediatric sport heat policies that were based on limited data. Practitioners can potentially reduce behavioural dehydration risks from inadequate fluid consumption using an existing adult sweat rate calculator for children.</p
Targeting Metabolic Syndrome with a Pre-Conception True-Couples-Based Lifestyle Intervention:A Pre-Post Mixed-Methods Evaluation
No full textBackground/Objectives: Metabolic syndrome (Mets) risk is influenced by both parents’ preconception lifestyle, yet most interventions target individuals rather than couples. True couples-based interventions that engage both partners equally remain rare. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and adherence of a 10-week lifestyle intervention delivered to heterosexual couples in the preconception period. Methods: This was a pre-post mixed-methods study involving eight nulliparous, cohabiting couples (N = 16 participants) planning a pregnancy within three years. Couples received tailored dietary and physical activity advice via remote sessions. Qualitative data were collected through post-intervention dyadic interviews and thematically analysed to explore participants’ experiences and perspectives on feasibility and adherence. Quantitative data on anthropometry, dietary intake (serves from five food groups), and sedentary behaviour were descriptively analysed. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to assess changes in paired outcomes. Results: qualitative findings highlighted shared motivation, mutual accountability, cultural barriers, and the practicality of the intervention structure. All couples completed the intervention (100% retention). Among participants who required change, improvements were observed in all eight individuals for body mass index and in five out of seven individuals for waist-to-hip ratio. Statistically significant improvements were found in BMI (p = 0.027) and grain intake (p = 0.002), while other dietary and anthropometric changes were not significant. Dietary improvements were noted in 43 out of 80 observations across vegetables, fruits, grains, protein, and dairy intake. Sedentary hours were reduced in 12 of 16 participants, though increases in physical activity intensity were limited. Conclusions: A true-couples-based lifestyle intervention is feasible and acceptable in the preconception period. The approach shows potential for improving diet and reducing sedentary behaviour. Future research with a larger sample and longer duration is recommended to assess long-term effectiveness and broader applicability.</p
Regional conservation genomics:insights and opportunities from northern Australia
No full textBiodiversity conservation in northern Australia is characterised by high endemism, data deficiency, and high Indigenous land tenure and population. The Northern Australia Conservation Genomics Forum brought together experts to explore current genetic research with particular emphasis on integration of genomics within conservation practices. We discuss the regional biodiversity of northern Australia, highlighting the unique biogeographic patterns, known and unknown species diversity, and ongoing threats such as habitat degradation, altered fire regimes, invasive species, and climate change. This article synthesises key themes from the forum, including the current application of genomics in conservation, gaps and areas of need and opportunity to advance species conservation in this sparsely populated, yet iconic region of Australia. We highlight the need to expand collaborative research partnerships across land tenures with Indigenous organisations, pastoralists, government and non-government organisations, which is crucial for the effective study and conservation of the region’s biodiversity. The paper identifies the challenges and opportunities in applying genomic data to conservation strategies and applied management, including species translocations and habitat management, while acknowledging the limitations and gaps in current research and collections. The insights from this forum emphasise the advantages in using genomics to inform conservation decisions, and the need for continued research and collaboration to protect northern Australia’s unique biodiversity.</p
Designing a Digital Health Intervention using Protection Motivation Theory: A Design Science Research
No full textDigital health plays a vital role in addressing the needs of communities through health interventions. In recent years, one of the ways to promote positive health outcomes was through mobile health applications (i.e., mHealth apps). The development of mHealth apps was further intensified by the recent pandemic, and the digital health support services offered by these apps to chronic patients are immense even after the pandemic. However, little research provides theoretical guidance on how to design and develop the functionalities of mHealth apps based on existing theories and their constructs. Theory-driven design and development of applications are necessary to guide researchers and practitioners on the process of building health behavior interventions which will also help to understand research challenges across fields. To address this research gap, we designed and developed an mHealth app through the lens of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and tested it with general users and an industry partner in Australia. We followed the design science methodology, and our findings suggest five functionalities (i.e., secure login, awareness and updates, learning resources, recording test results, and social networking and analytics) supported by four user themes (i.e., Mobile App Characteristics, Design and Privacy Issues, Information Archiving, and Information Authentication). From a theoretical perspective, this study extends the PMT by introducing positive and negative aspects to the theoretical constructs of Response Efficacy and Response Cost which is a coping appraisal construct. The study also recommends three design principles to follow for future mHealth apps and present the practical implications of this study using the National Digital Health Strategy
Engagement of Indigenous peoples in commercial tobacco reform strategies:a scoping review protocol
No full textINTRODUCTION: The tobacco and nicotine industry fuels tobacco-related addiction, disease and death. Indigenous peoples experience a disproportionate burden of commercial tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. Over the past two decades, significant progress has been made in reducing smoking prevalence among Indigenous peoples; however, smoking remains a leading contributor to the burden of death and disease. This review will summarise evidence on commercial tobacco resistance and/or eradication strategies, including policy reforms, in relation to Indigenous peoples across Oceania, the Pacific Islands and North America.METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This review will follow guidelines from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews and will be conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews. This review will consider academic and grey literature published since 1 January 2000. The following electronic databases will be searched for relevant primary research articles and commentaries: PubMed, Scopus, Informit, Web of Science and PsycINFO. Additional searches will be conducted in ProQuest to identify relevant grey literature. Papers will be screened by two reviewers to determine eligibility, followed by full-text data extraction. Findings will be synthesised descriptively for each review question and by region. Studies included in the review will be assessed against criteria for Indigenous engagement in research.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This protocol was led by Indigenous interests, needs and rights of Indigenous peoples, consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and ethical practice. This review was conceptualised with Indigenous leadership and through engagement, including but not limited to the Indigenous lived experience of the authors (MK, E-ST, HC, PNH, PH, SAM, AW, SW and RM). This review supports the global goal of eradicating commercial tobacco-related harms - reframing commercial tobacco use as a structurally imposed harm sustained by colonial and commercial forces rather than personal choice. Findings from this review will be shared with Indigenous partners and communities who requested this work and will be submitted for peer-reviewed publication.REVIEW REGISTRATION: Open Science Framework https://osf.io/wxqcb.</p