108 research outputs found
CODEBOOK
No full textThis is the pre-registration for the Codebook of the project "Balancing Bytes and Morals: Exploring the Ethical Boundaries of AI Use in Schoolwork." The Principal Investigator is Dr. Skyler Hawk. Co-investigators include Dr. Judith Smetana, Dr. Jason Stephens, and Dr. Jaimee Stuart
Capturing Enculturation Awareness: Conscious Negotiations between Culture and the Self
No full textEnculturation (cultural acquisition during identity development) has often been conceptualised as an unconscious process of cultural internalization. However, little research has explicitly examined the degree to which people are aware of cultural influences on the self (enculturation awareness) and how varying levels of awareness may influence the development of the self-concept. Drawing from extant qualitative research (Balanovic & Ward, 2013), the current investigation addressed this paucity through the development of the Enculturation Awareness Scale (EAS), which captures the degree to which individuals have consciously considered and come to understand cultural influences on the self. Using two distinct samples drawn from English speaking, multicultural nations (sample 1, New Zealand, N = 224; sample 2, New Zealand, Australia, USA, N = 317), the results present initial evidence for the validity and reliability of the EAS by demonstrating consistent relationships between the EAS and criterion measures of identity exploration (Cultural-Identity Exploration, Exploration in Depth, Exploration in Breadth, Ruminative Exploration), identity clarity (Cultural Identity Clarity, Self-Concept Clarity, Identity Coherence), and identity commitment (Identification with Commitment, Commitment Making). Furthermore, the emergent findings situate enculturation awareness within a nomological network of theoretically related constructs such as perceived agency, empathy and positive psychological outcomes. The development of the EAS has important implications for future theorising concerning the dynamic interplay between culture and the development of the self-concept
ICT and Youth Development
No full textA series of investigations were carried out to gain a better understanding of the influence of adolescent personality and identity in predicting online disinhibition. Taking a person-centred approach, the thesis tested whether distinct youth profiles of information and communication technology usage preferences, as well as unique motives of Internet use, would emerge among two adolescent samples; and second, whether these distinct profiles were significantly associated with maladaptive outcomes of personality, identity, and offline and online behaviour. In addition, this thesis also included a specific investigation of the predictive effects of the dark personality traits of narcissism, sadism, and psychopathy on self-perceptions, online disinhibition, and cyber aggression.
Study 1 involved two major objectives, first, by using a sample of 933 adolescents, it aimed to identify groups of adolescents who share similar communication technology use habits based on their time spent interacting with various digital communication devices and associated online platforms. Results indicated four distinct profiles of technology use preferences. The second objective of Study 1 was to investigate the degree to which these distinct usage preferences predicted indicators of maladaptive identity and offline behaviours. Most notably, immoral behaviours and compromised identity outcomes were found to be highest among those adolescents who displayed a preference for elevated communication technology use. Overall, the findings illustrate that important constructs of both identity and behaviour are associated with individual communication technology usage preferences.
Employing a large sample of 709 adolescents (Mage = 15.56 years), Study 2 was constructed to explore the direct effects of narcissism, sadism, psychopathy, and false self perceptions on online disinhibition and cyber aggression. Path model results indicated that all three dark personality traits, as well as false self, were positively associated with online disinhibition. Second, potential relationships among the dark personality traits, false self perceptions, online disinhibition, and cyber aggression were also examined, and psychopathy, sadistic traits, and online disinhibition were found to be significant predictors of aggressive online behaviour chiefly through indirect effects through false self and online disinhibition. The Study 2 findings collectively provide a more nuanced understanding of how antisocial personality traits are associated with maladaptive identity formation as well as online disinhibition.
Finally, in Study 3, using latent profile analysis, distinct group differences behind adolescent motivations (as opposed to Internet habits studied in Study 1) for Internet and social media use were explored. In addition, we examined how personality, false self perceptions, and online disinhibition differed as a function of these motivation classes. Results revealed three discernable profiles of Internet and social media motives where adolescents either exhibited high, medium, or low levels of motives for engaging with the online world. Notably, self-report levels of sadism, perceptions of false self, and online disinhibition were highest among adolescents belonging to the group of youth who exhibited the highest overall motivations for Internet and social media use.
In combination, these studies illustrate the importance of considering adolescents as active and decisive consumers of various ICT outlets, as well as online content and platform selection. The thesis highlights how particularly high online engagement is associated with high levels of dysfunctional identity and behaviour, and how personality underlies unique motives to engage with particular online content. The thesis findings also highlight the important role identity construction may play in media selection and engagement, and how a breakdown in identity formation can result in an increase in poor behavioural control online. In conclusion, the study results illuminate that not all engagement with the online world is detrimental to youth, but rather individual characteristics of a developing teen (i.e., personality factors) can predispose adolescents to the online disinhibition effect
Contextual Influences on the Perception of Bullying Behaviours for Youth in New Zealand
No full textBullying has gained a lot of attention in the public and academic spheres over the past two decades (Carrera, DePalma, & Lameiras, 2011; Monks et al., 2009) and is considered to be a very serious international issue (Due et al., 2005; Mullis, Martin, Foy, & Arora, 2012). There is extensive research based on the experiences of bullying, which has examined prevalence rates (Green, Harcourt, Mattioni, & Prior, 2013), distinctions between different types of bullying (Rivers & Smith, 1994; Smokowski & Kopasz, 2005) as well as the short and long term impacts (Coggan, Bennett, Hooper, & Dickinson, 2003). Through this, a strong research based understanding of bullying has been developed and a consistent definition established (Canty, Stubbe, Steers, & Collings, 2014; Carroll-Lind, 2009). However, previous research has primarily focused on the experiences of bullying, and few studies have examined how bullying is understood from the perspectives of young people. The present study aimed to bridge this gap by exploring young people’s understanding of bullying behaviour in New Zealand. Twenty participants completed a short questionnaire and structured interview, where they discussed four hypothetical scenarios, each describing a different type of bullying in a different setting. Results demonstrated that young people maintain a much broader conception of bullying than what is currently defined by academia. The academic criteria of intention to harm, repetition and an imbalance of power were not central to young people’s definitions of bullying. Rather, factors such as, the reaction of the victim, how public the behaviour was and the role of friendship were more instrumental in shaping young people’s bullying perceptions and definitions. Furthermore, it was found that the perceived relationship between bullies, victims and bystanders as well as gender differences, also influenced participants’ understanding of bullying behaviours. These findings yield important implications for the development and efficacy of intervention programs. Limitations and avenues of future research are also discussed
Connecting with friends online: Young adults' social well-being and the role of social vulnerabilities in contemporary contexts
No full textHumans are inherently social creatures, and the internet has provided an abundance of novel opportunities for social interaction with both friends and strangers. This is particularly true for young adults (those aged 18 to 25) as they are the most pervasive users of the internet and social media. Recent estimates suggest that over 90% of Australian young adults use the internet multiple times per day (Australian Communications and Media Authority, ACMA, 2019), and between 88% and 94% of young adults report using some form of social media regularly (ACMA, 2019; Smith & Anderson, 2018). A growing literature has explored the opportunities provided by online contexts for social interaction and has demonstrated that the internet has the potential to change the ways that individuals perceive and behave within their friendships and relationships online. Despite this, research into friendships as they take place across online and offline (i.e., face-to-face) contexts, and the impacts of the internet on young adults’ friendships and social connectedness remains in its infancy.
This PhD was designed to examine how young adults connect with their friends in the digital age, as well as to investigate the interplay between social vulnerabilities and online contexts in young adults’ friendships and social well-being. Particular attention was given to social anxiety and loneliness, interaction tendencies across contexts, and perceived affordances of the internet in influencing social well-being. Furthermore, this thesis sheds light on changes to young adults’ friendships during the COVID-19 pandemic and provides insight into the implications of major changes in the ability to interact with others face-to-face.
Four studies are included in this thesis with two distinct samples. Studies 1, 2, and 3 employ a large sample of young adult university students (N = 687) who were recruited to complete an online survey (of approximately 30 minutes duration) about their friendships, social well-being, and online engagement. In Study 1, four types of friendships were derived that illustrate the distinctions between relationships across online and offline settings. Following the identification of these friendship types, differences in interaction frequency and friendship quality were examined. Further, a serial mediation model tested the effects of social anxiety on perceptions of friendship quality, through loneliness and frequency of interacting with friends, as moderated by young adults’ self-reported primary context of interaction with friends (online, offline, or equally online and offline). The findings of this study suggest that among those who primarily interact with friends online, social vulnerabilities are not significantly associated with friendship quality.
Study 2 extended the research by examining whether perceptions of digital environments as offering safe spaces to interact with others can act to increase online disinhibition (reductions in restraint in online as compared to offline settings). To study perceptions of the internet, Study 2 developed new measures examining perceptions of feeling protected and being in control online. Further, whether the associations between perceptions of the internet and online disinhibition were exacerbated for more socially anxious young adults was tested. Results demonstrated that perceptions of protection, but not control, were significantly associated with online disinhibition in young adults. Further, this relationship was moderated by social anxiety such that young adults high in both social anxiety and perceptions of protection reported the highest online disinhibition.
In Study 3, a multigroup mediation was conducted to determine whether perceptions of protection and control online were associated with social internet use and, in turn, social connectedness among young adults. Further, similar to Study 2, whether these effects were conditional on levels of social anxiety was investigated. For all young adults, social internet use was positively associated with social connectedness, but the results highlight key differences in the associations between internet perceptions and social connectedness among young adults with and without social anxiety. Specifically, perceptions of control online were associated with lower social connectedness for socially anxious youth, whereas perceptions of protection online were significantly associated with lower levels of social connectedness among youth who were not socially anxious.
Finally, the fourth study of this thesis included a distinct sample of 404 young adults from whom data were collected via a 30-minute online survey during the first widespread, nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in Australia. The key aim of this research was to examine whether social relationships had changed as a result of the pandemic and the impact this had on social well-being. Findings indicated that for young adults who primarily interacted offline with friends prior to COVID-19 (as compared to those who interacted predominantly online or equally across online and offline contexts before the pandemic), the shift away from face-to-face interactions was associated with a greater reduction in satisfaction with friendships, which, in turn, was associated with higher loneliness and lower social connectedness.
Taken together, the studies within this thesis demonstrate that social vulnerabilities, perceptions of online contexts, and social internet use (or social interaction tendencies across contexts) each play an important role in explaining young adults’ friendship experiences and social well-being. Further, in each study, novel interactions between person and context shed light on the nuanced ways in which the internet and social interaction online (or lack thereof) may have beneficial or detrimental outcomes for young adults. The findings are discussed with regard to important theoretical contributions and future research applications.Thesis (PhD Doctorate)Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)School of Applied PsychologyGriffith HealthFull Tex
Sharing the 'Self' Online: A multi-method investigation into young adults' self-disclosure motivations on social network sites
No full textThis thesis investigates self-disclosure on social network sites (SNSs), with a specific focus on what drives young adults to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences (i.e., self-disclose) online and the impacts of these disclosures on adjustment. Young adulthood is a distinct life period where young people navigate important developmental tasks such as establishing meaningful and intimate relationships and consolidating one’s sense of self. Self-disclosure is integral to navigating these tasks as it provides young adults with the means to learn about, connect with, and stay up to date with important others, as well as express and present aspects of the self. For contemporary young adults, SNSs are a popular platform for self-disclosure that offers convenient access to a network of others with whom to share their disclosures. Previous research has established that disclosing on SNSs is intrinsically rewarding for young adults (Towner et al., 2022; Van Gool et al., 2015; Varnali & Toker, 2015) and is typically driven by social validation, self-expression, and relationship development goals (Bazarova & Choi, 2014; Williamson et al., 2017). Although this research has provided insight into self-disclosure on SNSs, there is still much to learn about young adults SNS self-disclosure motivations. In this thesis, a multi-method approach across three empirical studies was employed to understand young adults’ own perceptions of what drives them to disclose on SNSs, the role of self-disclosure motivations in outcomes associated with SNS use, and whether young adults’ self-disclosure motivations are satisfied by their daily SNS use. [...]Thesis (PhD Doctorate)Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)School of Applied PsychologyGriffith HealthFull Tex
The Influence of Premigration Trauma Exposure and Early Postmigration Stressors on Changes in Mental Health Over Time Among Refugees in Australia
No full textAs a result of the precarious conditions in which they migrate, refugees are likely to have experiences that increase their risk of mental health problems. Refugees tend to be predisposed to relatively high levels of distress upon resettlement, and a key predictor of these issues is traumatic experiences that occur before their arrival. Despite high initial levels of ill-health, on average, refugees tend to experience mental health recovery over time. However, both levels of mental health upon settlement and recovery over time may be negatively influenced by stressors in the postsettlement period. The present study examined changes in psychological distress and posttraumatic stress symptoms over 5 years among 2,169 refugees from various backgrounds, predominately from Iraq and Afghanistan, who participated in the Building a New Life in Australia (BNLA) study. A multivariate latent growth curve model found mental ill-health decreased on average, β = -.21 for distress and β = -.31 for PTSD, ps < .001, and premigration trauma exposure predicted more initial PTSD symptoms and reduced recovery over time, βIntercept = .21, βSlope = -.54, p < .001. Postmigration stressors, such as loneliness, financial concerns, and cultural integration, predicted higher levels of mental health problems as well as reduced recovery over time. These findings suggest that beyond trauma exposure, the mental health of refugees upon resettlement and their recovery over time is impacted by stressors in the early resettlement period, which has important implications for interventions and services to support and encourage well-being in refugee populations.No Full Tex
Predicting risky health behaviors 35 years later: Are parents or teacher's reports of childhood behavior problems a better judge of outcomes?
No full textObjectives:
This study sought to understand (1) whether parents and teachers reports of childhood behavioral problems could predict smoking and alcohol consumption 35 years later, and (2) whether propensity for smoking and alcohol consumption differed on the basis of informant agreement in their classification of behavioral syndromes.
Methods:
Participants included those from the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s study (ACONF) with full childhood information as well as self-reports in adulthood (n = 1342). Latent Class Analysis was conducted to identify patterns of childhood problem behaviors as rated by teachers and parents. Regression models were then conducted predicting adulthood smoking and alcohol consumption. Informant agreement categories were constructed and differences across categories in both smoking and alcohol consumption were tested.
Results:
Three subtypes of childhood behavior problems were identified by both teachers and parents: “Normative,” “Externalizing,” and “Internalizing,”. Parents also identified a distinct fourth group “Mixed”. Teacher's classification of the child as externalizing significantly predicted greater likelihood of being a current smoker, and parents' classification as internalizing predicted lower likelihood of being an ex-smoker. Parents' ratings as externalizing and mixed also predicted lower levels of alcohol consumption, which was opposite to the predicted effect. Additionally, informant agreement of externalizing indicated a greater propensity of smoking in adulthood, but did not indicate differences in alcohol consumption.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that it is important to consider additive information from multiple informants when examining the life-course effects of childhood behavioral problems on risky health behaviors in adulthood.Griffith Health, School of Applied PsychologyFull Tex
Balancing Bytes and Morals: Exploring the Ethical Boundaries of AI Use in Schoolwork
No full textThis is the pre-registration for the project "Balancing Bytes and Morals: Exploring the Ethical Boundaries of AI Use in Schoolwork." The Principal Investigator is Dr. Skyler Hawk. Co-investigators include Dr. Judith Smetana, Dr. Jason Stephens, and Dr. Jaimee Stuart
The Conditional Effects of Parental Internet Supervision on Online Victimization for Early Adolescent Boys
No full textCyberbullying victimization is a key risk factor facing contemporary young men. Parental internet supervision is thought to be effective in mitigating these risks in mixed-gender samples, but the efficacy of internet supervision for young men specifically is unclear. This study examined the effects of internet supervision upon cybervictimisation among adolescent boys in an all-boys school (Mage = 13.44), moderated by internet use and availability of internet-enabled devices in the home. Both active and restrictive forms of supervision were conditionally related to increased cybervictimisation, suggesting that the efficacy of internet supervision may be highly sensitive to contextual factors.No Full Tex
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