Student Work Completed
Completed 2010
Gallaty, Karen
Dating and Psychological Maltreatment: Daily and Prospective Associations with Late Adolescents' Emotional Well-Being, Self-Esteem and Romantic Competence
Despite the fact that romantic relationships have been recognised as important for adolescent identity and intimacy development for sometime (Erickson, 1963; Sullivan, 1953), it has only been in the past decade that empirical studies have flourished in this area bringing to attention that romantic relationships are an important context for adolescent development and well-being. For many if not most adolescents and emerging adults, romantic relationships become the primary focus of their social worlds (Collins, 2003; Furman, Brown & Feiring, 1999; Furman & Shaffer, 2003; Collins et al., 2009). By late adolescence, approximately 71% of males and females age 17 to 18 reported having experienced a romantic relationship in the past 18 months (Carver et al., 2003) and those with romantic partners report spending the most time with partners, over and above time spent with friends and parents (Laursen & Williams, 1997; Richards, Crowe, Larson, & Swarr, 1998). A great deal of emotional energy is devoted to their romantic lives, and adolescent romantic relationships are characterised by strong emotional highs and lows, making romance, for some adolescents and emerging adults, the single largest source of stress (Larson & Asmussen, 1991). Moreover, adolescents perceive their romantic relationships to be one of the most influential, supportive, and closest relationships that they have (Furman & Buhrmester, 1992; Furman & Shomaker, 2008; Laursen & Williams, 1997). Given the pivotal role of romantic relationships within the social worlds of most adolescents and emerging adults, it is no surprise that they have proven to play a significant role in adolescent development and well-being (Collins, 2003, Collins, Welsh, & Furman, 2009; Furman & Shaffer, 2003).
McGregor, Leanne
Children's Optimistic and Pessimistic Relationships Expectations: Associations with Family Structure and Processes.
The primary purpose of the current studies was to test whether family dissolution and family processes, including interparental conflict and parenting, were correlates of children’s optimistic and pessimistic views of their future relationships with others. Hence, the focus was on children's models of their relationships with others as one aspect of their adjustment to divorce and family conflict. Children in late childhood and early adolescence (ages 9 to 12) were the participants because this is an age period when children show major advances in social cognitive processes and are beginning to understand that behaviours are influenced by a variety of needs, emotions, relationships and motives (Berger, 2000). For example, children have been found to think in more abstract, multidimensional and relativistic ways as they transition into early adolescence (Steinberg, 2008). Moreover, children are developing close relationships outside of the family making their optimism and pessimism about relationships more salient than previously (Steinberg).
Wright, Michalle
Negative Mood in Adolescence: Testing the Competence-Contengency-Control Model and Changes from a School-Based Intervention
Although there have been many theories to describe adolescent depression, most are based on downward extensions of adult based theories such as Beck's (1976) cognitive triad model and Seligman's (1975) learned helplessness theory. Additionally, many of the current theories overlap in the constructs they focus on. Dumas and Nilsen (2003) suggest that a comprehensive theory that incorporates the important elements of the leading theories on depression was needed. The competence-contingency-control (CCC) model (Weisz & Stipek 1982) shows promise as a comprehensive yet succinct cognitive theory that explains a moderate amount of variance in adolescent depression. The CCC Model proposes that perceived control is directly related to depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. Additionally, it proposes that perceived control mediates the relationship between perceived competence and depressive symptoms and perceived contingency and depressive symptoms. Negative life events and coping are also thought to contribute significantly to adolescent depressive symptoms. The current study will examine the CCC Model in a sample of Grade 9 students from southeast Queensland. The CCC Model will be utilized to better understand the stress-coping-adjustment relationship. The CCC Model will also be tested longitudinally utilizing a mechanisms of change methodology following a school-based intervention designed to increase children's perception of control and improve coping skills. This will allow the researchers to rest whether changes in the constructs of the CCC Model will result in changes in depressive symptoms over time. The data will primarily be analysed using structural equation modeling and ANOVA or MANOVA
Completed 2009
Ducat, Wendy
Self and Partner Qualities in Emerging Adults’ Heterosexual Romantic Relationships: A Self-Determination Approach to Individual Well-Being
Extensive research has shown that psychological well-being is associated with high quality romantic relationships (see reviews by Myers, 1999; Reis, Collins & Berscheid, 2000). However, there are many potential reasons for this association. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 2000), the focus of the current thesis was on fulfillment of individual needs as one psychological mechanism accounting for the link between positive relationships and psychological well-being. An integrated model was tested investigating associations between multiple aspects of romantic relationship quality and well-being while also accounting for other close relationship (friend, family) contributions. It was hypothesised that fulfillment of psychological needs for relatedness, competence and autonomy would mediate associations between romantic relationship quality and well-being. Steady romantic relationships sampled during late adolescence and emerging adulthood (17-30 years) were the focus of this study and developmental differences were expected based on maturity comparisons (i.e. age, relationship length and commitment).
Prior to testing this Romantic Relationship Quality and Well-Being Model, a new measure to assess partner contributions to relationship quality was developed in two studies (Study 1 N = 215, Study 2 N = 316). The Partner Behaviours as Social Context (PBSC) measure was founded on SDT and, as expected, had three positive dimensions of warmth, structure, and autonomy support. It also had three negative dimensions of rejection, chaos, and coercion.
Joyce, Jessica
A Longitudinal Investigation of Bidirectional Associations between Children’s Disinhibited Eating Behaviour and Parenting
Child overweight and obesity are significant public health concerns. Most would agreee that the problem must be addressed by implementing interventions at multiple levels from the broader macrosystem down to the individual. These interventions depend on basic knowledge of the correlates and causes of eating and weight problems at each level. When focused on young children, the family is one significant source of influence, but only a few studies have focused on how parenting is associated with young children’s eating and weight problems, and how children also may play a role in these processes. The current research was focused on identifying some of the processes involved in the associations between parenting behaviours and young children’s (age 4 to 8) eating and weight problems. Three studies were conducted. In particular, a new measure of parent interactions with children in the eating/feeding domain was developed, and the parent feeding behaviour of restriction also was investigated. In addition, constructs examined as correlates, mediators or moderators of parenting and children’s eating included child temperamental characteristics and gender, parent’s own eating behaviour and concern about their weight , and parents’ perception and concern their children’s weight.
Pronk, Rhiarne
Relational Aggression and Victimisation: Perspectives of Boys and Girls, and Associations with Depression and Anxiety
Three studies were conducted to investigate how socioemotional functioning (depression, social worries, and social anxiety) and peer group processes are associated with adolescents’ relational aggression and victimisation, defined as behaviours that are intended to damage others’ peer group belonging and relationships. Studies 1 and 3 were investigations of aggression and socioemotional functioning among 297 10- to 13-years-olds and 335 9- to 15-year-olds, respectively. Participants with particular profiles of aggression and victimisation (N = 33) were selected from Study 1 to complete a semi-structured interview in Study 2. Drawing from these interviews, new measures of aggression/victimisation were developed in Study 3. In both Studies 1 and 3, associations between aggression, victimisation and socioemotional functioning were expected to be mediated via perception of peer relationships, and associations were expected to be stronger for girls than boys. Furthermore, in Study 3, dominance and affiliation motivations, peer acceptance and rejection, social prominence (a composite of popularity, leadership, and being well-known, influential and admired), and unpopularity were expected to explain aggression and victimisation.
Completed 2008
Locke, Elizabeth
Executive Functioning, Temperament and Parental Coping Behaviors as Correlates of Early Adolescents’ Coping and Regulatory Outcomes
Previous affect-cognition research recognises that anxiety and emotional stress can negatively impact on cognitive performance (e.g., Bacon, 1974; Fuerst, Fisk, & Rouke, 1990; Mandler, 1984). Many instances of emotional distress are in response to stressful life events. Coping behaviours are the behavioural and emotional regulatory responses used to decrease or alter stressful experiences and associated emotions. Integrative models have been proposed to explain the various ways that emotions can have an ongoing impact on cognitive functioning (e.g., Margalit, 2000). Emotion regulation studies have further expanded on our understanding of developmental considerations with children’s ‘emotionality’ and the role emotions play in other psychological processes such as problem solving and attention focus (e.g., Cole, Martin, & Dennis, 2004). These approaches generally emphasis the interaction between cognitive functioning and emotional state. Studies have also focused on the association of relatively stable characteristics, such as temperament, with coping and regulation behaviours (e.g., Lengua & Long, 2002). However, to date there has been little empirical research on the extent to which individual differences in higher order cognitive functioning may impact on the range of coping strategies available to children when they need to respond to stressful events. This study will investigate whether the types of coping strategies available to children responding to stress and adversity are associated with their executive level functioning. In addition, this investigation will include the examination of (1) the combined association of temperament and executive level functioning with coping behaviours, and (2) whether parents’ coping styles accounts for variance in children’s coping over and above higher level cognitive processing and children’s temperament. In the proposed study, the executive functioning of a convenience sample of 70 students (Year 7) will be assessed through a combination of both non-verbal and verbal fluency tasks. It is predicted that those children with relatively poorer executive functioning will have a reduced range of strategies to effectively cope with stressful events, whilst those children who performed better on the cognitive tasks are likely to be less limited in the types of coping used. It is also expected that children’s executive functioning will be positive correlated with active coping and children’s temperament and parental coping behaviours will also predict certain coping patterns. Planned analyses include correlations and regressions.
Thomas, Rae Louise - PhD in Psychology
Parenting Research to Guide Policy: Evidence from a Comparative Meta-Analysis and Trial of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with Families at Child Maltreatment Risk
A series of two studies were conducted with the purpose of adding to the knowledge of evidence-based child and family practice. It was expected this knowledge inform and assist policy-makers and practitioners to make decisions about implementing interventions most likely to improve the lives of parents and their young children. In the first study, meta-analyses of 24 studies were conducted to evaluate and compare the outcomes of two widely disseminated parenting interventions - Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Triple P-Positive Parenting Program (Triple P). In the second study, a randomised controlled trial of PCIT was conducted with families at risk of maltreatment.
Ludlow, Tracy
The causal explanations or explanatory style that individuals use to explain events in their lives have long been of interest to researchers. Although the dimensions of these explanations may vary from theory to theory, most often explanatory style has been described as explanations for events across three key dimensions: internal-external, stable-unstable, and global-specific. Internal, stable, global explanations for negative events represent a pessimistic style, whereas these same explanations for positive events are considered optimistic. Explanations for negative events that are stable and global, regardless of whether explanations are internal or external, are considered to reflect hopelessness.
The influence of explanations for negative and positive events and their influence on mental health is one reason for the interest in explanatory style theories. There is a large body of literature showing associations between pessimism, hopelessness and depressive symptoms, and some researchers have reported that a pessimistic explanatory style is associated with mental health problems. However, an issue of major concern in the literature is the poor psychometric properties of the most commonly used measure of explanatory style for children, the Children Attributional Style Questionnaire (CASQ). This has been recognised as a limitation to research and theoretical advancement.
Completed 2007
Bocquee, Alison L.
- PhD. in Clinical Psychology
Testing a Process Model of Self-Injury: Stress, Affect Regulation, and Coping
Key propositions of the Traumagenic Model of Self-Injury (Yates, 2004) and the affect regulation model of self-injury in adolescents (Briere & Gil, 1998; Yates, 2004) were investigated within the wider developmental psychopathology perspective. Drawing from these theories and the relevant empirical evidence, a series of hypotheses were proposed that focused on self-injury as a correlate of affect regulation, coping and stress processes (daily hassles and life events), a history of maltreatment, neuroticism, and symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents. The research involved a large cross-sectional study (Study 1A) of young university students aged 16 to 18 years (N = 537), a smaller cross-sectional study (Study 2) of adolescent seeking clinical services aged 13 to 17 years (N = 55), and a diary study with those same adolescents seeking clinical services. All studies were designed to examine covariation between some or all of the constructs mentioned above, and to examine and compare patterns of affect, coping and stress over a short period of time. Only one aspect of affect regulation, that being clarity of feelings, and the personality characteristic of neuroticism were associated with self-injurious behaviour among both the university students and the clinical adolescents. However there were a number of correlates of self-injury that were found within one sample and not the other. The clinical and university studies differed in terms of which aspects of maltreatment, daily hassles, and coping were associated with self-injury. In addition to these quantitative comparisons of self-injurers to other young people, a phenomenological analysis was completed to provide a greater depth of understanding about adolescents’ perceptions of their self-injurious behaviours. The accounts from adolescents gathered and summarised were generally consistent with some of the quantitative findings, but added depth and meaning.
Sutton, Danielle
An Empirical Investigation of the Motivational Theory of Coping in Middle and Late Childhood
Core propositions of the Motivational Theory of Coping (Skinner & Wellborn, 1994) rest on the expectation that human behaviour is motivated by strivings to fulfil the three basic psychological needs of relatedness, competence and autonomy. Events are stressful when they threaten or challenge these psychological needs and particular emotional reactions and coping responses are expected to be more likely depending on levels of threat and challenge to the needs. In addition, children’s behavioural tendencies (e.g., temperament) and parental socialisation practices are expected to account for individual differences in children’s appraisals and responses to stressful events. Two studies were conducted with children in grades 3, 5 and 7 to examine aspects of the Motivational Theory of Coping. Age and sex differences were examined in both studies, and, in Study 2 only, children’s coping responses, temperament and parents’ ways of coping were examined as correlates of children’s distress reactions (sadness, fear and anger) and appraisals of stressful events.
Completed 2006
McCarthy, Kate
- DPsych in Clinical Psychology
An Observational Study of High-Risk Mothers and Children during a Frustrating Task
After observing 15 mothers and child pairs completing standardised in-home problem solving tasks that increased in complexity, behaviours and emotions were described and compared. Mothers were identified as either high or average in child abuse potential. Children (age 5 to 7 years) were identified as either high or average in externalising behaviour problems. Behaviours and emotion were coded with a modified version of the Living in Family Environments (Hops, Biglan, Longoria, Tolman, & Arthur, 2003). The five general aims were to (1) describe patterns of behaviour and emotion of all mother and child participants, (2) describe and compare behaviour and emotion of mothers identified as average or high in abuse potential and children identified as average or high in externalising behaviour problems, (3) describe and compare behaviour and emotion of mothers and children based on dyadic characteristics, (4) examine patterns across three time periods during the problem solving tasks, and (5) investigate behaviour and emotion preceding and following negative and coercive behaviours. Findings provided evidence of the importance of examining dyads based on both mother and child characteristics, rather than those based on mother or child characteristics only. Contrary to hypotheses, results from eight dyads suggested that those containing two-high risk members did not interact more negatively and less positively compared to other mother-child dyads during the task. Additionally, behavioural sequences contingent on the presence of negative behaviour were somewhat different to that proposed in theory (Granic & Patterson, 2006; Patterson, 1982). Implications for early intervention efforts targeted at parenting practices are discussed.
White, Karen
- Masters in Clinical Psychology
Well-being, Internalised Homonegativity, Stress, and Coping among Men who Have Sex with Men attending a Health Clinic
The current study expanded the study of internalised homonegativity and MSM’s well-being by examining additional stressors. Two types of stressors -- general life stress and sexuality concealment -- were expected to mediate the association between homonegativity and well-being. In addition, social support and coping were investigated as factors that could buffer the associations between stressors and well-being. Finally, HIV status was examined by including 54 MSM who were HIV-seropositive and 55 who were HIV-seronegative. All 109 participants (age M = 43, SD = 12) were attending a sexual health care clinic. As expected, Pearson’s correlations showed that men had worse well-being (including more depressive affect, more anxiety, lower positive well-being, lower self control and lower vitality) when they reported relatively more internalised homonegativity, general stress and sexuality concealment. Compared to HIV- men, those who were HIV+ had lower internalised homonegativity, higher anxiety, concealed their sexual orientation less often, used accepting responsibility coping more often, and used problem solving coping less often. Multiple regression analyses showed that the association between internalised homonegativity and well-being was partially mediated by general life stress, although sexuality concealment did not mediate the association between homonegativity and well-being. Associations between well-being and internalised homonegativity or general life stress were moderated by social support from gay/lesbian/bisexual persons and one of eight measured coping behaviours (i.e., using distancing to cope with stress). Clinical implications and future research areas are considered.
Completed 2005
Hunter, Tracey A.
- PhD. in Clinical Psychology
A Longitudinal Path Model of Children’s Depression and Externalising Problems as Outcomes of Behaviours, Peer Rejection, and Peer-Related Attributions and Perceptions.
A model of social behaviours, peer rejection, social cognitions and psychosocial outcomes in children aged 9 to 12 was investigated. Two studies, including one pilot study (Study 1) and a longitudinal study with two waves and a 6-month lag between assessments (Study 2A and Study 2B), were conducted to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships pertaining to the antecedents and consequences of peer rejection as children approach adolescence. In Study 1, perceptions of relationships, peer-related attributions, and depressive symptoms were examined as consequences of peer rejection among 208 Grade 5 and 6 children aged 9 to 11 from one primary school. The findings from this study indicated that social cognitions play a partial mediating role linking peer rejection to depressive symptoms. The interaction between peer rejection and social cognitions did not contribute to the prediction of depressive symptoms, therefore a diathesis-stress model of depression was not supported. Study 2A and 2B were cross-sectional and longitudinal examinations of Study 1. A model of social behaviours, peer rejection, social cognitions and children’s functioning was proposed and tested.
Anthonysamy, Angela
- DPsych in Clinical Psychology
The Peer Relationships and Social Behaviors of Maltreated Children and Their Classmates: A Multi-method Study
Understanding the peer relationships of young children with a history of maltreatment at home will progress the understanding of the link between early troubled family relationships and the mental health of young people. The major aim of the present study was to determine whether young children with a known history of maltreatment at home have more problematic peer relationships when compared with their classmates without any known history of maltreatment. The secondary aims of this study were to investigate how the social behaviours of all children impact upon peer acceptance and rejection, and whether maltreatment is associated with peer problems even after accounting for children’s behaviours with peers. Finally, multiple methods and reporters were utilised to obtain information on children’s peer relationships, and the results based on these different methods were compared. Participants included 25 children (age 4 to 8) with a history of maltreatment and their 375 classmates. Participants came from 24 classrooms in 22 preschools and primary schools.
Vickers, Carolyn T.
- Masters in Clinical Psychology
A Longitudinal Study of Depressive Symptoms, Rejection Sensitivity and Relationship Satisfaction in Late Adolescent Romantic Relationships
In this longitudinal study, associations between romantic relationship satisfaction, rejection sensitivity and depressive symptoms over five months were investigated. The participants were 271 unmarried, undergraduate university students with steady romantic relationships, aged 17 to 22 years. Based upon two previous longitudinal investigations (Ayduk, Downey & Kim, 2001; Remen & Chambless, 2001), it was hypothesised that initial higher levels of rejection sensitivity and lower levels of romantic relationship satisfaction would be associated with later higher levels of depressive symptoms. Additionally, it was predicted that higher rejection sensitivity, lower romantic relationship satisfaction and more depressive symptoms would independently predict later relationship dissolution. Hypotheses were tested using logistic regression and multiple linear regression. The major findings were that romantic relationship satisfaction was negatively associated, and rejection sensitivity was positively associated, with concurrent depressive symptoms; earlier rejection sensitivity was positively associated with later depressive symptoms; depressive symptoms at Time 1 was negatively associated with romantic relationship satisfaction at Time 2; and romantic relationship satisfaction was negatively associated with break-up by Time 2, with this association being stronger for females than males. Future research studies are suggested, such as (a) examining whether there are high levels of rejection sensitivity and/or depressive symptoms in adolescents not in romantic relationships and whether this is due to them using strategies of avoidance to prevent possible rejection and (b) whether the link between rejection sensitivity and depressive symptoms can be altered through cognitive reappraisal and effective self-control strategies.
Petherick, Jillian
- Masters in Clinical Psychology
Change and stability in attachment style during Year 12: Associations with life events, psychological health, and representations of self and others
The three aims of this 6-month longitudinal study were to (1) assess the stability of adolescent attachment style, (2) determine associations between attachment style stability and change, and changes in psychological symptoms, perceptions of self and others (loneliness, rejection sensitivity, social support, social competence), and (3) investigate whether attachment style changes occur in response to experiences of stressful life events. Participants were 130 Year 12 students. All students completed assessments early in Year 12 and approximately 6 months later. Attachment style (e.g., secure, dismissing, fearful, or preoccupied) was measured by the adolescent Relationship Questionnaire (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991). Roughly two-thirds (64%) of adolescents endorsed the same attachment style at both time points, supporting the theoretical expectation that attachment style should be moderately stable. As expected, stably secure individuals had discernibly more positive and stable perceptions of self and others, and fewer psychological symptoms compared with stably insecure individuals. In addition, there was some support for the hypothesis that changes in dichotomous attachment style would be associated with corresponding changes in perceptions of self and others, and psychological symptoms. Dichotomous attachment style (e.g., insecure-to-secure or secure-to-insecure) did not change in response to the occurrence or stress of life events (e.g., relationship dissolution, parents divorcing). This is the first study of stability, change and correlates of adolescent self-report attachment style. Hence, replication is needed. Regardless, the findings fill an existing gap between studies of childhood attachment and adult attachment by adding to the body of literature concerning attachment processes in middle adolescence.
Horne, Sharon
- PhD. in Psychology by Research
Female Adolescent Healthy Sexuality: A Five Element Psychosocial Model
Sexuality is an integral part of health and well-being. Despite a 30-year history of adolescent sexuality research, there has been little that has focused on more than risky sexual behaviour. For example, there has been little research on conceptions of sexuality and pathways to sexual health. In part, this is because sexual health has been often defined as the lack of risky behaviour and health problems. In the studies reported here, components of female sexual health were identified and tested, including behaviours and cognitions, among groups of girls in their late teens and early 20s. After a review of the literature, four sets of factors appeared central to identifying female sexual health. These factors included sexual subjectivity, sexual agency, psychosocial well-being and sexual exploration. The first factor, sexual subjectivity, had previously been described as important to female sexual well-being, but had been developed within feminist theories and studied with qualitative methodologies.
Scholes, Mark
- DPsych in Clinical Psychology
Female Caregiver Depression in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: Identification, Change, and Moderation of Treatment Outcomes
Two studies were conducted in order to (1) identify female caregiver depression, and (2) investigate depression and parent-child interactions within a randomized controlled trial of a parenting program. More specifically, in the first study, a valid system for identifying clinically depressed female caregivers was developed. In the second study, this classification was used to compare parent-child interactions of depressed and nondepressed caregivers, and to determine whether depression status moderated treatment outcomes in a parenting program, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), as compared to a supported waitlist condition. In total, 95 families at risk of, or with a history of child maltreatment, participated in the PCIT (68 families in treatment, 27 families on supported waitlist). This population was recruited due to the high prevalence of depression in maltreated families (Chaffin, Kelleher, & Hollenberg, 1996). In Study 1, depression was measured with a clinical interview based on DSM-IV criteria, a self-report measure (BDI-II) and a new observational measure of depressive symptoms (MOODS).