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Abstract: The Aussie Optimism: Positive Thinking Skills Program (AOP-PTS) is an innovative curriculum-based mental health promotion program based on cognitive and behavioural strategies. The program is aimed at preventing depressive and anxiety symptoms and disorders in middle primary school children aged 9–10 years. Students from 22 low SES primary schools (N = 910) were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group and assessed at baseline, post-test, 6 months and 18 months. The intervention group received the program implemented by teachers and the control group received their regular Health Education curriculum. Students completed questionnaires on depression, anxiety, and attribution style. At risk students were further assessed with the computerised Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents. Parents reported on their children's externalising and internalising problems at home. Children in the intervention condition reported a significant pre-post reduction in depressive symptoms, and there was a significant pre-post reduction in parent-reported emotional difficulties which was maintained at 6 month follow-up; no changes were evident in the control group. Both groups showed significant improvements in child-reported anxiety and attribution style, and significant improvements in parent-reported pro-social behaviours. For both groups, there were no significant post-baseline changes in incidence and recovery rates for depression, anxiety, or internalising symptoms. These findings suggest that AOP-PTS has the potential to treat depressive symptomatology in the immediate term but the effects were not sustained. There is also evidence of improved emotional resilience up to 6 months following the program. Further follow-up to investigate longer term effects is needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of the present research was to develop a measure that assessed the level of ethnic identification of adults from diverse ethnic backgrounds, as well as individuals' level of ethnic identification with a host culture following migration. In the first study, an ethnically diverse sample of 275 people (138 males and 137 females) responded to a range of new items, as well as items drawn from related scales. Factor analysis revealed three dimensions of ethnic identity that were labelled, 'Pride in Ethnic Background and Language,''Liking for Traditional and Social Activities of my Ethnic Group,' and 'Sense of Belonging to This (host) Country.' This factor structure was evaluated in a second study with 1,007 (552 males, 455 females) adults from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. A two-factor structure provided the most parsimonious fit to the data but further investigation of the factor structure within ethnically diverse samples was recommended. The results are discussed in relation to theories of social identity as well as research on ethnic identification and adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite Australia's high standard of health care provision, Australian Aboriginal women continue to experience poor pregnancy outcomes in terms of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. In an attempt to improve these outcomes, health care providers have developed targeted antenatal programmes that aim to address identified health behaviours that are known to contribute to poor health during pregnancy. While some areas of improvement have been noted in rates of engagement with health services, the rates of premature births and low birth weight babies continue to be significantly higher than in the non-Aboriginal population. It appears that Australian researchers have been focused on the behaviour of the individual and have failed to fully consider the impact that social and emotional well-being has on both health behaviours and pregnancy outcomes. This review has highlighted the need for an approach to both research and clinical practice that acknowledges the Aboriginal view of health which encompasses mental, physical, cultural and spiritual health. Until clinicians and Aboriginal women have a shared understanding of how social and emotional well-being is experienced by Aboriginal women, in other words their explanatory model, it is unlikely that any meaningful improvements will be seen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current research was to explore the nature and type of support required in a postnatal support group intervention for Iraqi women in Australia. A further aim was to understand Iraqi Arabic speaking mothers' explanatory models surrounding motherhood, relevant to the appropriate design of a culturally sensitive postpartum/postnatal support group. The qualitative research involved semi structured interviewing from which data was extracted and categorised into relevant themes using an interpretative phenomenological approach (Smith, 1995). In depth interviews were conducted with 7 Iraqi Arabic speaking mothers. A number of major themes emerged, suggesting key aspects to include in a postnatal social support group for Iraqi women based on their explanatory model of their mental health. Themes included: significance of motherhood; physical and emotional difficulties confronted; postnatal health care experiences and negotiating motherhood in a new country; and receptivity to the provision of a support group intervention. Findings will be used to design and evaluate a postnatal social support group for Iraqi women and, potentially, provide a generic family model of intervention for mothers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in the year following the birth of their baby. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses a critical knowledge gap by exploring the intricate relationship between low birth weight (LBW) and the heightened risk of suboptimal academic achievement during adolescence through a comprehensive retrospective cohort design. In this registry-based cohort study, meticulously linked health and curriculum-based test data for individuals born in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, between 2003 and 2005 were employed. Birth weight data were carefully sourced from the NSW perinatal data collection (PDC). The educational performance of offspring was thoroughly evaluated using the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) during grade 9, approximately at 14 years of age. After rigorous adjustments for potential confounders, findings revealed a compelling narrative: LBW adolescents demonstrated an elevated susceptibility to not meeting national minimum standards across all domains, encompassing spelling [OR, 1.59 (95%CI 1.48–1.69)], writing [OR, 1.51 (95%CI 1.41–1.61)], reading [OR, 1.38 (95%CI 1.29–1.48)], and numeracy [OR, 1.52 (95%CI 1.40–1.63)]. Notably, LBW boys exhibited a more pronounced inclination towards diminished academic performance compared to their female counterparts. This comprehensive retrospective cohort study, based on linked data, unequivocally establishes LBW as significantly associated with an increased vulnerability to substandard educational achievement during adolescence. Particularly robust effects were observed in females across all outcomes. Aimed at investigating whether LBW serves as a predictive factor for later academic difficulties, this study underscores the imperative for the adoption and fortification of preventative and early intervention strategies to curtail the prevalence of LBW-associated academic underachievement in later adolescence. • Limited information exists on LBWs influence on adolescent academic performance. • LBW linked to heightened risk of decreased academic achievements during adolescence. • LBW impact on the academic performance varies, more pronounced in boys. • Vital to implement early intervention strategies to improve educational performance in LBW-exposed offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of valid and reliable instruments for research and clinical purposes is needed to increase our understanding of the role that expectations of motherhood have in early identification and treatment of perinatal mental health difficulties. We aimed to identify and assess the psychometric properties of self-report measures of expectations of motherhood. A systematic review was conducted and articles describing the development or validation of quantitative self-report measures of expectations of motherhood were included. The developmental quality (risk of bias) and psychometric properties of each measure were assessed according to the 2018 COSMIN guidelines. Twenty-five articles describing 16 measures were identified and included. Eleven measures were designed to assess a broad range of expectations, while the remaining measures mainly assessed expectations of childbirth. The quality of measure development was mostly poor and rated as adequate or better for only three measures. The most suitable measures with the strongest evidence of good psychometric properties are the Slade-Pais Expectations About Childbirth Scale and the Rigidity of Maternal Beliefs Scale. This systematic review of measures of expectations has identified relatively few measures with adequate psychometric properties. Further development of existing measures is needed for use in both research and clinical settings. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: Maternal mental health difficulties can have significant and long-term adverse consequences on mothers, their children, and families. Previous evidence suggests that holding unrealistic maternal expectations may contribute to postpartum mental health difficulties. Early identification of the potentially modifiable risk factor of maternal expectations may contribute to improving postpartum mental health outcomes. What this topic adds: This is the first systematic review to assess the developmental quality and psychometric properties of 16 measures of expectations of motherhood. The Slade-Pais Expectations About Childbirth Scale had the strongest evidence for good psychometric properties. For the majority of the measures, adequate methods for ensuring good content validity during measure development and validation were not used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The provision of peer mentoring may improve tertiary education outcomes of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study evaluated the pilot year of the Curtin Specialist Mentoring Program (CSMP), a specialised peer mentoring program for university students with ASD aimed at improving self-reported well-being, academic success and retention in university studies. Methods: A single group pre-test, post-test design was employed. Quantitative and qualitative evaluations were undertaken with 10 young adults with ASD to explore the effectiveness and acceptability of the CSMP program. Students completed a battery of questionnaires focused on general anxiety, state communication apprehension, perceived communication competence, and communication apprehension both prior to, and five months after commencing enrolment in the CSMP. Information regarding academic success and retention was also obtained. Interviews with participants provided further insight into their experience of the program. Results: Students enrolled in the CSMP showed significant improvement in social support and general communication apprehension assessment scores. Interviews revealed key features of the CSMP that may have contributed to these positive outcomes. Conclusions: The current study provides preliminary evidence that a specialised peer mentoring program can improve the well-being of students with ASD, and highlights the importance of interventions which are individualised, flexible, based on a social model, and target environmental factors such as social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postpartum women's recovery from birth can be assisted through increased physical activity (PA). However, women face substantial barriers to participating in exercise and require support to enable them to benefit from increased PA.Methods: This study sought to explore women's beliefs about and experiences of PA and exercise during the 6 weeks to 12 months postpartum period. A cohort of 14 postpartum women from a survey study of the barriers and enablers to exercise participation agreed to take part in interview sessions to provide an in-depth understanding of the women's perceptions of the postpartum period and their physical activity during this time.Results: Findings are presented with reference to the social ecological framework and indicate postpartum women face substantial personal and environmental barriers to PA and exercise participation: fatigue, a lack of motivation and confidence, substantial time constraints, lack of access to affordable and appropriate activities and poor access to public transport. In contrast, enablers such as possessing greater social support, in particular partner support, improved PA and exercise participation.Conclusions: The findings encourage facilitation of exercise through mothers' groups, mothers' exercise clubs or postnatal classes suggesting behavioral and social change is needed. Interaction between individuals, community, organizations and policy makers is required. In addition, the provision of specifically tailored and appropriate exercise programs could potentially enable increased PA in postpartum women, thereby improving their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to quantify the relative contributions of extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors to the probability of an injury event. A case–control design was used with data collected from injured patients at an emergency department (n=797) and a community sample matched on area of residence and time of injury (n=797). Principal components analysis was used to develop scales for the measurement of ‘intrinsic’ risk taking tendencies that were slightly modified versions of previously published measures. Two principal components were identified: ‘health risk taking’ (HRT) and ‘adventurous risk taking’ (ART). Logistic regression analysis identified variables that significantly predicted membership of the group of injured cases. The main hypothesis was supported by the results: that ‘extrinsic’ factors such as location, activity, drug and alcohol use and the type of people present at the time of the injury were related to a greater risk of injury than ‘intrinsic’ variables (health and adventurous risk taking tendencies). The results suggest that injury research and prevention efforts should continue to focus on the identification and modification of situational risk factors for injury rather developing programs that focus on high-risk individuals. High-risk alcohol use, use of prescribed drugs and aspects of work and recreational environments were identified as warranting particular attention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of the present study was to document clinicians' and community members' perspectives on the cultural adaptation of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to Chinese migrants with depression. Thirty-four participants, recruited using snowballing and purposive sampling, participated in 12 individual semistructured interviews and 5 focus groups. Thematic analysis and a modified consensual qualitative research approach were used for data analysis. Five major themes were identified: mixed attitudes and perspectives toward CBT, improving the cultural sensitivity of cognitive restructuring, applications of behavioral strategies, attitudes toward mindfulness meditation, and the importance of incorporating core culturally sensitive strategies. The findings suggest that a client's interdependent self needs to be considered in future versions of CBT for Chinese migrants. In terms of therapy, this would involve an equal emphasis on adopting a culturally sensitive approach in using cognitive, behavioral, and focus techniques and cultivating cultural humility. As such, a key challenge for clinicians is to shift their clinical perspective from one of cultural competency (i.e., developing culture-specific expertise) to cultural humility (i.e., learning from clients about their culture and worldviews instead of assuming expertise). An emphasis on cultural sensitivity has the potential to improve clinical engagement and treatment outcomes of psychological interventions in an underrepresented population in counseling services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The Animal Fun program, a universal early intervention program that aims to promote the motor skills and social-emotional development of young children, has shown to improve overall motor proficiency and social and behavioural outcomes. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the program's impact on children's aiming and catching, and balance skills.Methods: A cluster randomised control trial was employed, with six intervention and six control (following normal curriculum) schools. A total sample of 511 children (257 boys and 254 girls), aged 4-6 years presented at pre-test. Children were tested across three time points, pre-test, post intervention (six months later) and follow-up (18 months after pre-test), using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 Aiming and Catching, and Balance tasks. The study also tested for potential moderators including pre-test motor proficiency, age, gender, and cognitive performance.Results: Participation in Animal Fun improved children's one leg balance at post-test and follow-up compared to control children, regardless of pre-test motor proficiency, age, gender, or pre-test cognitive performance. Participation in Animal Fun also improved throwing skills for those children with poorer motor proficiency compared to the controls with poorer motor performance. Interestingly, it was found that the control group's catching skills improved more than the intervention group at follow up.Conclusions: The study provides some promising results regarding the efficacy of the Animal Fun program in improving one-leg balance for all children, and throwing skills for those children with poorer motor proficiency, while also suggesting potential confounding factors, such as maturational issues and other individual factors (e.g., a child's participation in extracurricular activity). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared effectiveness of additive, interactive, and quadratic statistical models in detecting the combined effects of achievement goals on academic achievement. In a prospective study that aimed to predict college students' grades in an English course, we found that the quadratic model was more effective in detecting the combined effects of achievement goals on course grades than the additive and interactive models. In addition, a response surface analysis showed that the combined effects of achievement goals on course grades corresponded to a goal profile that involved tendencies to endorse mastery goals at high levels and performance goals at moderate levels. Findings suggest that the quadratic model is a viable data analytic technique that assists researchers in detecting combined effects of achievement goals on academic achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal Fun was designed to enhance motor and social development in young children. Its efficacy in improving motor skills was presented previously using a randomised controlled trial and a multivariate nested cohort design. Based on the Environmental Stress Hypothesis, it was argued that the program would also result in positive mental health outcomes, investigated in the current study. Pre-intervention scores were recorded for 511 children aged 4.83-6.17 years (M=5.42, SD=.30). Intervention and control groups were compared 6 months following intervention, and again in their first school year. Changes in teacher-rated prosocial behaviour and total difficulties were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and data analysed using Generalised Linear Mixed Models. There was a significant improvement in prosocial behaviour of children in the intervention group six months after initial testing, which remained at 18-month follow-up. Total difficulties decreased at 6 months for the intervention group, with no change at 18 months. This effect was present only for the hyperactivity/inattention subscale. The only significant change for the control group was an increase in hyperactivity/inattention scores from pre-intervention to 18-month follow-up. The Animal Fun program appears to be effective in improving social and behavioural outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although attention deficit — hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has a distinct developmental progression and a substantial genetic component, very little is known about the genetic contribution to its development and the question of whether the same genes contribute to ADHD throughout childhood and into adolescence. Data from one of the most extensive twin databases, the Australian Twin ADHD Project (ATAP) have shown that ADHD is inherited as a behavioural dimension rather than as a discrete disorder. Behavioural genetic analysis is used in this study with both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of inattention and hyperactivity — impulsivity symptoms of ADHD to demonstrate that much of the consistency in behaviour during childhood and early adolescence is due to genetic influences. Genetic analyses help identify environmental influences that impact upon symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity - impulsivity. It is emphasised that the main function of genetic analysis does not lie in simply estimating the heritability of a trait, but rather in contributing to the understanding of developmental progression and environmental factors that may impinge upon this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]