Current Projects

 

Title: Behavioural pathways to obesity: Understanding the role of physical activity and nutrition in weight gain among Australian adults

Researchers: Kylie Ball (supervised by David Crawford), Deakin University

Period: 2001-2005

Funding Source: NHMRC Public Health Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (ID 136925)

Funding: $221,515

Brief project description: This project involves a series of inter-related research studies investigating the behavioural and sociodemographic predictors of weight gain and obesity among Australian adults. Specifically, the studies will investigate and quantify the relationships between weight gain and physical activity, sedentariness, and diet. The relationship between socioeconomic status and obesity will also be examined. Finally, the feasibility of an intervention program designed to prevent weight gain will be evaluated. The studies are designed to provide an evidence-base from which to develop intervention strategies to prevent weight gain and obesity in the population.

Title: Palliative Care practices in high intensive transplant care units.

Researcher: Cecelia Boyd

orford@ozemail.com.au

Postal address: PO Box 287, Kallangur, 4503

Project commencement and anticipated completion dates: 2002-2006

Nature of the project: PhD research thesis research. NHMRC student Scholarship.

Brief project description: The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of the person and the adequacy of current models of care for the person awaiting transplantation and identify service care needs.

More specifically the objectives are to
(1) describe the physical, spiritual and psychological and social needs for people during the time of waiting for a transplant and how these change over time;
(2) identify predictors of physical and psychological wellbeing using the variables of patient demographics, personal and professional resources, length of time on the waiting list and transplant type; and
(3) explore the experiences of people waiting for a transplant within the health care service system.

References to the Personal Wellbeing Index

Cummins, R.A., Eckersley, R. Pallant, J. Van Vugt, J, & Misajon, R. (2003). Developing a national index of subjective wellbeing: The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index. Social Indicators Research, 64, 159-190.

Cummins, R. A., Hunter, B, Davern, M., Eckersley, R., Lo, S. K., and Okerstrom.,E (2003). The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index: An Overview. Social Indicators Network News, 76, 1-4.

Title: Learning Improves in Networking Communities (LINC)

Researcher: Dr Joanne Deppeler (Monash University)

joanne.deppeler@education.monash.edu.au

Postal address: Faculty of Education Monash University PO Box 6 VIC 3800, Australia

Project commencement and anticipated completion dates:
1) Initial LINC project 2001- 2003
2) Current LINC project 2004 - 2005

Learning Improves in Networking Communities (LINC) is a teacher professional development research project developed in partnership between the Catholic Education Commission, Victoria (CECV) and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. The project involved eight schools and 45 teachers in two years of fully funded university accredited post-graduate study and was fully funded through the Australian Research Council of Research Strategic Partnership Industry Research Training (ARC-SPIRT) scheme and the CECV from 2001 - 2003. The 2004 - 2005 LINC project involves four secondary schools and 47 teachers in one year of post-graduate study at Monash university and is fully funded by the Catholic Education Office Melbourne.

Brief project description: Improving inclusive practice in schools continues to be a high priority in school improvement, in Australia. The LINC project employs a model of collaborative inquiry to promote teachers' use of evidence-based inclusive practices. Our objectives are to increase a school's capacity to respond to diversity, to improve student engagement and achievement in areas identified as important by the schools themselves and to increase collaboration among professionals and the wider community. A combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed 2001-2003 results highlight a shift away from a categorical approach to disabilities toward one emphasising critical reflection and evidence gathering for the purpose of informing instructional or organisational practices. Improvements in student outcomes have taken place in all schools but value-added analysis indicates that conditions in the school context contributed to the better than expected improvement in two of the schools. The impact of professional development on student learning is dependent on school level factors including leadership support, opportunities for collaboration and belief in the efficacy of the advocated approach. Improvements in teacher efficacy and professional growth provide support for the model for school university partnerships. July, 2004 began the involvement of four secondary schools and 47 teachers in the LINC project.

Title: The role of control in determining subjective well-being among obese women and women self-reporting disturbed eating behaviour

Researcher: Sasha Gardiner-Crossley (Deakin University)

sashagc@alphalink.com.au

Postal address: School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, 3125.

Project commencement and anticipated completion dates:Commenced in January 2000, this project is scheduled for completion in October 2002.

Nature of the project: Thesis component of Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology.

Brief project description: Can women maintain a positive sense of life satisfaction despite a compromised physical state? If so, how is this achieved? In order to address these issues, I am investigating the role of various control strategies in determining the subjective well-being of obese women as compared to women self-reporting eating disturbances. A preliminary qualitative study is being employed to investigate women's life experiences of 'control' using a 'photo voice' technique which requires participants to take 5 - 10 photographs of things that represent aspects of their life 'in control' and / or 'out of control,' as the case may be. Photographs are being used as the starting point for individual semi-structured interviews with 15 obese women and 15 women reporting sub-clinical eating disturbances. Open ended questions facilitate the exploration of control strategies used to organise various aspects of their lives, including the coping strategies employed when things 'go wrong' or not 'according to plan.' Data gathered from the interviews will be used to adapt an existing primary and secondary control scale for use in a quantitative study designed to investigate the relationship between disordered eating behaviours, control strategies, and subjective well-being. Participants for this study will include approximately 300 women aged 18-65 years.

Title of project: Quality of life within the community – A focus on Neighbourhood Watch

Nature of the project: The thesis research is part of the requirements to be submitted for 4th year Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology at La Trobe University.

Brief project description: The aim of the current study is the investigate quality of life within the community with regards to control, safety and the mediating effect of sense of community.
There appears to be a lack of research in regards to quality of life and the Neighbourhood Watch scheme, which will also be investigated with respect to how much control and how safe residents feel in their community.
Primary householders aged 18 years and above will be randomly selected from the neighbourood in which they reside. Selection of households will be chosen based on their suburban location within Bendigo. This will include the Eaglehawk, Bendigo CBD and Kangaroo Flat regions.
Questionnaires will contain demographic measures such as age, gender, time spent living in neighbourhood, awareness and involvement in the Neighbourhood Watch scheme. The Personal Wellbeing Index, Locus of Control and Sense of Community scales will also be included.
It is hypothesised that those with a high sense of quality of life will have a high sense of community, a high sense of internal locus of control and high sense of safety. It is also hypothesised that those with a high sense of quality of life will most likely be more aware of the Neighbourhood Watch scheme.

Title: Impact of the Limbs of Hope Prosthetic Program on the Physical and Psychosocial Function of Victims of Uppere Extremity Amputation in Sierra Leone, West Africa

Researchers: Jeffrey Johnson MS, Kim Kargbo RN, Matthew Oakes MS, Stephanie Oakes MS

jeffjohnson@worldhope.net

Postal Address: World Hope International, 90 W 29th Street, Holland, Michigan 49423, USA

Funding: The Heather Mills Foundation along with various corporate, private and religious donations to World Hope International.

Nature of the project: An impact evaluation study of the development activities conducted in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

Brief project description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a comprehensive prosthetic program aimed at restoring physical and psychosocial function to internally displaced amputees of Sierra Leone, West Africa.
Intervention: Thirty seven amputees fitted with the Socketless Mounting Platform (Innovative Prosthetic Designs, Inc.) below elbow prosthetic were randomly selected from the Amputee Care Center (ACC) rehabilitation program in Freetown, Sierra Leone to participate in the study. The ACC program consisted of technical prosthetic evaluation, physical and occupational therapy, psychosocial counseling and/or pastoral care. All amputees received these services at 3 days, 7 days and 1 month post fitting. Additional care was provided on a random basis over a 6 month period.
Study design: A mixed method qualitative/quantitative evaluation was conducted 6 months post fitting. Specific psychosocial measures included: qualitative group interviews, the Culture Free Self-esteem Index and the Duke Health Profile. A control group of non amputees was utilized for group comparison. Functional assessment included: range of motion (ROM) and manual muscle testing (MMT), functional activity test battery for men (don and doff, banana peel, lift and carry, hammer and chisel) and women (don and doff, orange peel with knife, carry and pour, rice husking, donning head dress).
Results: Group compliance to the ACC program was 80%, 66% and 51% respectively for the 3 day, 7 day and 1 month follow-up. Functional assessment of the amputees demonstrated 100% acceptable ROM and 69% acceptable limits with regard to MMT. All subjects were independent with don and doff with mean times of 25 + 17 seconds and 1:25 + 35 seconds for don and doff respectively. The remainder of the functional test battery was successfully accomplished by 100% of the males and 72% of the females. Limb assessment revealed the following issues: loose screws and bolts (50%), damaged rubber bands (50%), worn edges and surfaces (37%), maladjusted cables and straps (25%) and terminal device problems (25%). Survey data reveals low self esteem with a mean score of 14.3 + 3.5 compared to a score of 23.0 + 6.6 from a healthy reference population. Data from the Duke profile demonstrates minimal anxiety and depression with a mean of 35.4 + 11.2 out of a 100 point scale. There were no significant differences between the amputee and control groups for either survey data. Analysis of group interview data revealed strong themes in the area of limb cosmetics, lessened hostility, hope for a brighter future and a willingness toward reconciliation.
Conclusions: The Limbs of Hope program has provided the amputee with an acceptably functioning prosthetic, improved physical function and a level of psychological function that is similar to other members of Sierra Leone society.
Limitations: Lack of baseline data for pre-post comparison which has partially been corrected by inclusion of a non-amputee control group.

Limbs of Hope Evalution Technical Report (doc ~ 222k)

Title: Quality of life for people with multiple sclerosis

Researchers: Professor Marita McCabe (Deakin University)

Period of Grant: 2000-2002

Funding Source: Deakin University and the MS Society

Funding: $130,000

Brief project description: This research involves a joint appointment, between the MS Society and Deakin University, of a Research Fellow, Margaret Dejudicibus. The project involves an investigation into the quality of life of people with multiple sclerosis and their families.

Title:Children of chronically ill parents

Researchers: David Morley (Institute of Neurology, University College London), supervised by Dr Marjan Jahanshahi

D.Morley@ion.ucl.ac.uk

Postal Address: Sobell Dept of Motor Neuroscience & Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG

Project commencement and anticipated completion dates: November 2001-October 2004

Nature of the project: Doctoral thesis funded by the UK Parkinson's Disease Society.

Brief project description: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive and potentially disabling illness that can have a serious impact on patient quality of life (QoL). The onset of PD, however, affects not just the patient, but also the family unit as a whole, and can lead to changing roles and altered behaviours of individual members. Little is currently known about how the onset of chronic illness such as PD impacts on the QoL and psychosocial well-being of children across varying developmental stages.

The aims of this research are to i) develop an instrument to measure the QoL of children whose parent is chronically ill, ii) identify key demographic, illness-related and psychosocial factors that contribute to good versus poor QoL of PD patients, their spouse and children, iii) compare the QoL of children whose parent has PD with the QoL of children whose parent has other forms of chronic illness such as multiple sclerosis, and also acute illness episodes such as stroke. It is anticipated that results should be of value in identifying how parental chronic illness influences the QoL of children, which factors are generic and which are disease specific, and what steps can be taken to promote good QoL for these children.

Title: Seeking a Good Life: Goals, Goods, and Sexual Offending

Researchers: Mayumi Purvis (University of Melbourne), supervised by Professor Tony Ward

mayumipurvis@bigpond.com

Postal Address: C/O Department of Criminology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010.

Project commencement and anticipated completion dates: March 2002 - March 2005

Nature of the project: PhD Thesis (Criminology)

Brief project description: This project is concerned with the aetiology of child sexual offending and in doing so, is also concerned with the rehabilitation of child sexual offenders. Aetiology informs rehabilitation in the sense that it directs treatment to target what we (as a research community) perceive to be the causes of sexual offending. In terms of our current approach to sex offender rehabilitation, the risk-needs model has produced extremely modest treatment outcomes with regard to reducing recidivism. In particular, the focus on risk management has led to a conceptualisation of offenders' needs as dynamic risk factors that can be identified, measured, targeted and diminished.

Within the risk management approach there is no genuine regard for the importance of offenders' psychological needs, which if met could increase an offender's self-esteem, well-being and happiness. Therefore the purpose of this study is to use the Good Lives Model of Offender Rehabilitation to contribute to a broader understanding of aetiology, which in turn would lead to a broadening of treatment goals in our rehabilitative efforts. The Good Lives Model is a more holistic, strength-based approach, which is concerned with improving the offender's quality of life rather than just teaching offenders how to avoid incarceration. Although the Good Lives Model is an alternative approach to offender rehabilitation, improving in many respects upon the dominant risk management approach, it does agree that the primary aim of rehabilitation should be to reduce offending.

However, it argues that this is best achieved by taking a more holistic and constructive approach to rehabilitation through enabling offenders to live better lives (i.e. good lives) as opposed to merely targeting specific factors believed to lead to offending and not making any truly positive changes to the offender's life. The GLM is a theory of rehabilitation, not of aetiology, however, it does make aetiological assumptions about why men sexually offend, so it is the purpose of this study to test those aetiological assumptions and see if they do apply. The end result, I hope, is an improved conceptualisation of the causes of sexual offending, which can then be used to improve our rehabilitative approach and subsequently, our treatment outcomes.

Title: Social, cultural and environmental determinants of the burden of disease

Researchers: Dr Daniel Reidpath (Deakin University), Dr Aka Kouamé (IFORD, Cameroon),
Dr Pascale Allotey (University of Melbourne), Professor Robert Cummins (Deakin University)

Period of Grant: 2000-2001

Funding Source: Global Forum for Health research

Funding: $60,000

Brief project description:This exploratory research will investigate the socio-cultural, environmental, and individual determinants of the burden of disease for two conditions in a developing and a developed country. The countries in which the research will be conducted are Cameroon (specifically Yaounde and its hinterland) and Australia (specifically Melbourne and its hinterland).

Title: Daily Hassles & fear of crime : Its impact on the quality of life among adult population of Karachi City

psyhope2001@hotmail.com

Postal Address: Dept. of Psychology,University of Karachi,Karachi-75270 PAKISTAN

Project commencements and anticipated Completion dates: Ph.D.work (at least three years)

Funding Source: NIL (If provided by any American University/Organization shall be highly appreciated

Brief project description: Daily Hassles: will be measured by developing ,standardizing the Daily Stresses/Hassles onto the Pakistani Adult population of Karachi City.
Fear of Crime( Perceived Crime risk factor): will also be evaluated through open-ended questionnare/interviews from the Pakistani Adult population. CRIME-RISK MAPPING of the city will also be done on the basis of the obtained data of the sample.
Profile of Mood States (POMS): by McNair,D.M.,Lorr,M. & Droppleman,L.F. (1981) shall be used to evaluate the mood of the respondents during the past week including the day of testing.POMS measures six identifiable mood or affective states which may correlate with the daily hassles & fear of crime both.
Quality of Life: A well -standardized and valid scale will be used (Com QoL-A5 by Cummins,R.A. 1997) to measure the Physical & mental health of the sample. More Information (word doc)

Title: The quality of life of Mental Disability Patients

sos@inmark.es

Postal Address: Student of the UBA Universidad de Buenos Aires, School of Social Work Gral. N Uriburu 5707 - 7º B. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, CP 1439 Argentina

Brief project description: For the analysis of Quality of Life of the persons with some mental illness and that are under the intervention of the Official Guardianship I have taken since indexes an instrument of evaluation with empirical base named "Comprehensive Quality of Life Scale" in it's version for persons with mental problems named ComQol - ID. This instrument has been developed by R.A. Cummins (1997) to measure the quality of life of the adult persons with mental problems from it's different dimensions and it's complexity.

For the particular characteristics of my professional pre-practice, it is necessary an adjustment of the ComQol - ID. Persons' universe with some mental illness that they are under the intervention of the Official Guardianship and to whom I can accede from my assistant's condition in the institution is limited. My investigation will be delimited to "types cases" (between 5 and 10). For the enrichment of the experience, the interviews will tend to gather qualitative information of type more than it to measuring the qualities levels of life.

Title: To characterise the influences of a wilderness experience on the individual health and wellbeing among tour guests on Fraser Island

Researcher(s): Miss Belinda Warren, Honours Research Student at University of the Sunshine Coast. Supervised by Dr Anne Neller and Dr Ron Neller

Completed Bachelor of Science (Public Health) in 2004.

belindawarren@hotmail.com

Project commencement and anticipated completion dates: February 2005 – November 2005

Nature of the project: Thesis component of Honours Degree – Bachelor of Science (Honours).

Brief project description:

The research questions are:
1. What are the direct and indirect influences of a wilderness experience on the health and wellbeing of tour guests on Fraser Island?
2. Is the degree of health benefit derived from a wilderness experience on Fraser Island associated with:
a) Level of pre-existing health status
b) The length of the wilderness experience
c) Level of social capital/interaction experienced among group members

The aim of the study is to characterise the influences to individual health and wellbeing among tour guests after being exposed to a wilderness experience. The study population will consist of guests on 1 and 3-day tour groups traveling on Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia. This study will utilise survey methodology to collect data on self-reported measures of health and perceptions of health and wellbeing influences, and take the form of a self-administered questionnaire. The Personal Wellbeing Scale is just one of the instruments that are included in the questionnaire. Following on from the survey, participants will have the opportunity to engage in a discussion with the researcher, if they wish to do so.

This study will yield valuable information about how tour guests perceive their experiences and their own health, of which very little information previously exists. This may then be used to guide management decisions regarding activities on the island and may also be used to inform park management strategies. This study will aid in a clearer understanding of the influential factors that are impacting on our health and wellbeing when in natural environments.

Title of project: Improving the Contribution of Protected Areas to Quality of Life in Rural and Regional Communities

Researcher: Matthew Wolnicki, principal supervisor Robyn Bushell

warrego.nebine@southwestnrm.org.au

Postal address: PO Box 142 Cunnamulla Qld 4490

Project commencement and anticipated completion dates: Commenced August 2004, anticipated completion August 2007

Nature of the project: This is an Australian Postgraduate Award Doctoral thesis funded through the Australian Research Council and conducted by the University of Western Sydney in collaboration with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NSW Department of Environment and Conservation).

Study Area: Far West (outback) NSW, Australia

Brief project description: The project is undertaking a study into how National Parks and other protected areas in the Western Division of NSW are valued by local communities and how these values may be better reflected within park management.

The research is interested in how local communities relate to National Parks, and the views of local people. What relationships do local people have with the country and the way it is changing?

The purpose of this research is to find how western NSW communities perceive national parks and reserves and how these places can play a greater role in contributing to the quality of life of such communities.

The University of Western Sydney is asking members of community groups, associations and committees to take part in the project by providing information about their relationship with national parks and reserves, and how these places play either a positive or negative role within your sense of quality of life.

If you can help in any way, would like more information or would like to provide feedback, please call UWS Research student Matt Wolnicki on 0427 492 855
e-mail warrego.nebine@southwestnrm.org.au
or by mail PO Box 142 Cunnamulla Qld 4490

More information on Matthew's project (doc ~ 49k) Voluntary Questionnaire (doc ~ 24k)

The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey is a household-based panel study which began in 2001. Its primary objective is to support research around three inter-related objectives:

• Income dynamics
• Labour market dynamics
• Family dynamics

The wave 1 panel consisted of 7682 households and 19,914 individuals. Members from all responding households (together with any new household members) are then re-interviewed each year. The funding has been guaranteed for eight waves. Unit record data are made available for a nominal fee to all bona fide researchers.

The survey is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Family and Community Services, but managed by a consortium headed by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, University of Melbourne. Extensive information about the survey, including all survey questionnaires and documentation, as well as information about how to order the data, is available from the HILDA web page.

The Principal Investigator for HILDA is Professor Mark Wooden of the Melbourne Institute

Mark Wooden
Professorial Fellow
Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research
University of Melbourne
MELBOURNE VIC 3010.
Tel: (03) 8344 8882 Fax: (03) 8344 5630
m.wooden@unimelb.edu.au
http://www.melbourneinstitute.com/hilda/

Talking to The Animals: matters of affect, attachment and bonding

This is part of a larger research project concerned with whether the emotional comfort derived from an affectionate animal friend enhances immunity and reduces suseptibility to infective illnesses such as influenza. The aim of the current study is to establish whether or not the way in which individuals talk to their pets (petese, or Pet Directed Speech - PDS), especially the degree of emotion, is correlated with scores on a Pet Attachment Scale. In addition, mood states, quality of life and self-reports of health will be recorded, and relationships between these and PDS will be investigated.

Graduate Diploma Project, 2001(doc ~ 32k)

Denis Burnham
Professor of Psychology
Director, Maccarthur Auditory Research Centre Sydney
Building 24, Bankstown Campus
University of Western Sydney
LOCKED BAG 1797
PENRITH SOUTH DC NSW 1797
d.burnham@uws.edu.au