ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
N/A – research complete

STUDY DESCRIPTION
This study examined the stressors experienced by individuals in non-heteronormative intercultural romantic relationships and investigated how they navigate these challenges to foster relationship satisfaction. Guided by a qualitative methodology rooted in interpretivist epistemology and constructionist ontology, we explored the lived experiences of 11 participants engaged in such relationships. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to elicit participants’ reflections on relational dynamics, including cultural differences, minority stress, conflict, relational benefits, and resilience strategies within their unique social and cultural contexts. Through thematic analysis, we identified complex and intersectional stressors, such as systemic oppression, cultural value conflict, and identity invalidation, which were often exacerbated by environments lacking identity affirmation. Participants described employing protective strategies, including culturally attuned conflict negotiation, selective identity management, and engagement with identity-affirming communities. Despite these challenges, participants also reported relational strengths, such as the freedom to redefine inherited values and a deepened sense of authenticity. These findings highlight the importance of culturally responsive and identity-affirming support systems in psychological practice and relationship research. Such frameworks should account for the layered nature of minority stress while recognising the strengths and adaptive strategies individuals contribute to self-expansion, belonging, and love within non-heteronormative intercultural relationships.

Keywords: non-heteronormative relationships, intercultural relationships, minority stress, intersectionality, identity

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Elizabeth Georgopoulos and Michael Weston

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 910171224). For concerns about ethical aspects of this research, please contact the ACAP HREC: [email protected].

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
https://qr.me-qr.com/XHi5HiV6

PROJECT END DATE
26th June 2025

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To complete this survey, participants must be:

• 18 years old
• Self-assessed as proficient in English
• Employed in a Queensland Secondary School with at least six months experience with restorative practice

STUDY DESCRIPTION
With increases in reports of maladaptive behaviours inside school environments, the need to find alternative approaches to discipline is significant. ‘Restorative Practice’ is a concept encouraging a reconciliation approach to discipline, shifting the paradigm from traditional punishments. As facilitators of change, teachers can shed light on factors that constitute a successful adoption of the approach. Queensland was the first State in Australia to trial the approach. However, there is a lack of research on their lived experiences of implementing restorative practice. This qualitative study aims to explore the experience of Queensland teachers adopting the restorative approach in High School. Thematic analysis via semi-structured interviews will examine patterns and themes that may help to reduce the known gap between research and practice.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Natalie Kile & Dr Christopher Holt

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 876310524). For concerns about ethical aspects of this research, please contact the ACAP HREC: [email protected].

PROJECT END DATE
30th May, 2025

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To complete this survey, we ask that you are:

• 18 years or older.
• Residing in Australia.
• A higher education student.
• Currently enrolled in at least one unit delivered online.
• Able to read and understand proficient enough in English, by your own assessment, to complete an online survey in English.
• Not in a personal relationship with any of the researchers.

STUDY RESULT
This study examined how emotional engagement and expressive suppression relate to procrastination among online higher education students in Australia. The results showed that students who frequently suppressed their emotions did not procrastinate more than others, which was unexpected given past research. Interestingly, students who felt emotionally engaged in their online learning, such as enjoying their classes or feeling connected to the content, were more likely to procrastinate. The study also found that emotional engagement did not change (or moderate) the relationship between suppression and procrastination. These findings suggest that while emotional engagement can enhance the learning experience, it might not help students stay on track with self-directed tasks such as assignments and readings unless it also supports deeper motivation and self-regulation. The research highlights the need to look beyond enjoyment and consider how students develop the inner psychological resources required to manage their time and responsibilities effectively in online learning environments.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Rabab Shahen, Dr. Andrew Chapman

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 908171224). For concerns about ethical aspects of this research, please contact the ACAP HREC: [email protected].

PROJECT END DATE
This research has now been completed.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
We are looking for participants who:

• Are 18 years or older
• Reside in Australia
• Can read and understand English well enough, by your own assessment, to complete an online survey in English.
• Don’t have a personal relationship with the researchers

STUDY DESCRIPTION
This study aims to investigate the impact of savouring positive experiences on the relationship between death anxiety and meaning in life among Australian adults. Specifically, we will explore how the practice of savouring—focusing on and appreciating life’s positive moments—may mitigate the negative effects of death anxiety on individuals’ overall wellbeing and sense of meaning.

Additionally, we will examine whether the effects of savouring differ depending on whether individuals reflect on past, present, or future experiences. Our findings could inform the development of coping strategies and interventions to reduce death anxiety and enhance wellbeing in the Australian adult population. By understanding these relationships, we hope to contribute to more effective approaches for managing existential concerns in everyday life.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Robyn Gray, Assoc. Prof. Christina Samios

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 896020924). For concerns about ethical aspects of this research, please contact the ACAP HREC: [email protected].

PROJECT END DATE
May 4, 2025

SURVEY LINK
https://bit.ly/DeathAnxietyStudy

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
You must:

• Identify as male
• Be aged between 18-29 years
• Be a resident of Australia
• Be an active user of Social Media

STUDY DESCRIPTION
Are you a man between the ages of 18-29? Are you interested in sharing your thoughts and experiences of being a man?

If so, you are invited to participate in a study exploring young men’s experiences of being a man in Australia and their perceptions of ‘manfluencers’ on social media.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Louisa Biviano & Dr. Jessica Sipes (supervisor)

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 904191024).

PROJECT END DATE
May 05, 2025

SURVEY LINK
https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bqGjPwL7oFKRMSa

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
N/A – this is a completed study

STUDY DESCRIPTION
Understanding the joy, euphoria, and affirming experiences of trans and gender-diverse people helps shift the focus away from traditional psychology and psychiatry’s ways of doing that often highlight struggle and distress. By exploring what allows trans and gender-diverse people to thrive, we moved towards more inclusive, transformative, and intersectional ways of thinking about gender and well-being for more people.

This study explores the contexts that create feelings of safety, joy, and gender affirmation. A survey invited trans and gender-diverse people to share their experiences of feeling safe, affirmed, or euphoric in their gender. Sixty-two people with diverse, intersectional backgrounds shared their stories. Using a reflective, community-informed approach to the stories, we listened carefully to what was said.

The study is grounded in decolonial, anti-capitalist, and queer perspectives, shaping the way we approached both the research and the sharing of stories. We identified key themes, including that feeling safe is a necessary foundation for gender affirmation, joy, and euphoria. People spoke about how individual, relational, community, and systemic factors shape these experiences, revealing the deeper connections between identity, safety, and well-being.

This research highlights opportunities for communities, organisations, and institutions to make their spaces safer and more affirming for trans and gender-diverse people, allowing more people to thrive, rather than just survive.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Imogen Brackin

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 858191023).

PROJECT END DATE
N/A – this is a completed study

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Clients at the service and were aged between 14-24.
• Experiencing eating disorder (ED) symptoms.

STUDY DESCRIPTION
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a group intervention based on CBT-E in reducing eating disorder (ED) symptoms and psychological distress for young people with disordered eating. It was hypothesised that the group interventions will result in significant pre- to post-treatment reductions in ED symptoms and psychological distress. A sample of 19 individuals experiencing disordered eating between the ages of 14 to 24 years participated in an eight-week CBT-E group therapy program conducted at two headspace centres. Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) were measured at the beginning and end of the group program. Results showed a significant reduction in K10 scores and in concern about body shape from pre- to post-treatment. No significant changes were observed for other EDE-Q subscales, including global EDE-Q scores, dietary restraint, eating concerns, or weight concerns. These findings suggest group CBT-E can be effective in reducing psychological distress and body shape concerns in young people with disordered eating but has limited impact on other aspects of disordered eating symptomatology.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Lesley Yip, Nidhi Jayant and Dr Amy Talbot

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 894270824).

PROJECT END DATE
November 10, 2024

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Participants were required to be aged 18 and over, proficient in English, currently registered as a psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), actively see clients (minimum 5 per week), and were engaged in personal therapy.

STUDY DESCRIPTION
This study explored how personal therapy helped Australian psychologists manage their unrelenting standards and self-sacrificing schemas. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 psychologists who had undergone personal therapy. Thematic analysis revealed that therapy helped them identify and understand the origins and impacts of these early maladaptive schemas (EMS) in their careers. It also allowed them to challenge these schemas by setting boundaries and reducing self-sacrifice. Psychologists reported improved well-being by applying these strategies in both their personal and professional lives.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Cristian Pinto-Hayes, Nidhi Jayant, and Dr Simone Mohi

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 822100523).

PROJECT END DATE
November 10, 2024

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Participant inclusion criteria are:

(a) undergraduate students;
(b) 18 years of age and over;
(c) currently residing in Australia;
(d) self-assessed reading comprehension sufficient enough to complete an online survey in English; and
(e) no personal relationship with any research team members.

STUDY DESCRIPTION
Stress is experienced at elevated levels and rates by Australian university students. Prolonged exposure to stress can have profound implications for overall life satisfaction. The holistic model of stress offers a theoretical framework of stress and its consequences, where stress-related outcomes emerge from stressors as mediated by distress. Furthermore, it suggests the relationship between stressors and distress is moderated by individual differences (e.g., optimism) and between distress and outcomes is moderated by coping mechanisms (e.g., socialisation). Two factors yet to be investigated in the holistic model of stress are excellencism, as an individual difference factor, and extracurricular engagement, as a coping mechanism. The proposed research uses a quantitative framework, correlational design, and online survey methodology with a minimum of 395 undergraduate students to test this model. Findings may have implications for the development of accessible, informed and effective programs promoting life satisfaction for students.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Mr Mendy Kinstlinger, Assoc. Prof. Fiona Ann Papps

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 880070624).

PROJECT END DATE
December 31, 2024

SURVEY LINK
https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aW4u4Auw3vFKlBs

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
You can take part in this research if you:

• Self-identify gender or sexuality diverse
• A person of colour (i.e., not white)
• Reside in Australia.
• Are 18 years and older.
• Proficient enough in spoken English to complete a verbal interview conducted in English
• Have no personal relationship with any of the researchers

STUDY DESCRIPTION
Coming out is the disclosure of one’s sexual orientation used by sexuality and gender diverse people. However, these individuals may encounter difficulties because of social stressors such as discrimination, stigmatisation, and prejudice. While coming-out is commonly viewed as a necessity in Western context, they overlook intersectional factors such as race, culture, gender, and privileges that necessitate sexual identity concealment. Therefore, coming-out may not be the linear process represented in the literature, nor solely a positive and liberative experience for sexuality and gender diverse people of colour (POC)—a term for individuals who self-identify as non-white. A qualitative study bridges this gap by providing rich data on experiences of coming-out, the complexities, and challenges distinct to sexuality and gender diverse POC. This research therefore explores the lived experiences of POC in the coming-out context and examines the role of intersectionality in their decision-making process.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Mr Tidus Artorius, Associate Prof. Fiona Ann Papps, Dr Arnie Collison

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 866140524)
For concerns about ethical aspects of this research, please contact the ACAP HREC: [email protected].

PROJECT END DATE
31/12/2024

SURVEY LINK
https://www.facebook.com/ThePsychologyResearch

This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 866140524). For concerns about ethical aspects of this research, please contact the ACAP HREC: [email protected].

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

You can take part in this research if you:

• Are 18 years or older
• Reside in Australia.
• Read and understand English well enough (by self assessment) to complete a survey in English.

STUDY DESCRIPTION
An online research study investigating peoples’ levels of attention toward online video content. The study involves watching videos, reading a short passage of text, and answering simple questions. Videos may be about climate change, housework, mental health conditions, or personal vlogs. Some questions will assess your attention to the video content, other questions may ask about your thoughts and opinions on other subjects, e.g. astrology, technology and psychology. This study will take approximately 20 minutes to complete (previous responses times have ranged from 15 to 40 minutes).

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Gabriella Tiernan, Dr Rachel Maunder

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 869180524)
For concerns about ethical aspects of this research, please contact the ACAP HREC: [email protected].

PROJECT END DATE
16/12/2024

SURVEY LINK
https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dhvRh2MdbV2r6ke

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Are between the ages of 18 and 29 years
• Identify as men, women, or gender non-binary
• Reside in Australia
• Be proficient in English

PROJECT SUMMARY
Social media promotes unrealistic beauty standards, while the body positive movement celebrates diverse body types. This study investigated whether body positive short-form videos could improve body satisfaction in young adults. We predicted that viewing these videos would increase body satisfaction, with potential differences between genders and varying effects based on individuals’ tendency to engage in appearance comparisons. The study included 135 participants (44 men and 91 women, aged 18-29) who viewed 7.5 minutes of body positive content. We measured body satisfaction before and after exposure, along with trait appearance comparison tendencies. Results demonstrated a significant improvement in body satisfaction across all participants, with equivalent benefits across genders. Notably, the effectiveness of these videos remained consistent regardless of participants’ tendency to engage in appearance comparisons. These findings indicate that body positive short-form videos represent a potentially effective intervention for improving body satisfaction, while challenging the tripartite influence model’s traditional understanding of media effects on body image.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Asher Hjek Salom, Dr Celeste Tipples

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 877310524).
For concerns about ethical aspects of this research, please contact the ACAP HREC: [email protected].

PROJECT END DATE
Project is now complete

SURVEY LINK
acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_54GzJyHEBXJVipE

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Participants must be 18 years of age or older.

PROJECT SUMMARY
This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between war-related media exposure, emotional regulation, psychological distress, and collective action engagement intentions.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Dr Rachel Maunder; Ms Sevim Baranli

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 879060624)
For concerns about ethical aspects of this research, please contact the ACAP HREC: [email protected].

PROJECT END DATE
Project is now complete

SURVEY LINK
https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_brSSogQBwroiuwK

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Participants must:

• Be 18 years or older
• Reside in Australia
• Be able to read and understand English well enough by self-assessment to complete a survey in English
• Have no personal relationship with the researchers

PROJECT SUMMARY
This study investigated what may motivate people to consume meaningful or pleasurable media. It was predicted that people shown media related to death would consume more meaningful media, while people shown media on negative topics would consume more pleasurable media.

An experiment was conducted using three groups: one group was shown media related to death, one group was shown negative media, and another group was shown neutral media as a control. After being shown this media for 12 minutes, participants were asked to choose a YouTube video to watch, which was either meaningful or pleasurable.

Participants who saw death-related media did not choose significantly more meaningful media than the other two groups. Participants shown negative media did choose significantly more pleasurable media compared to the other two groups when combined. These results suggest that effects from seeing death in media may have less of an effect than it did a decade ago, potentially due to desensitisation. The results also give evidence that people may choose more pleasurable social media to alleviate negative moods. These findings may help give direction to further study on healthy media use.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Brandon Crotty, Micheal Weston

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 873290524)
For concerns about ethical aspects of this research, please contact the ACAP HREC: [email protected].

PROJECT END DATE
Project is now complete

SURVEY LINK
https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1zyCsePtXgkQSvI

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Project is complete

PROJECT SUMMARY

Suicide rates are three times higher for Australian males than females. Males are also less likely to seek professional help for mental health. Problematic attitudes toward suicide and suicide literacy are barriers to help-seeking. Recent research has also demonstrated conformity to traditional masculine norms predicts negative attitudes towards help-seeking. The present study aimed to explore the correlations between these variables and whether problematic attitudes toward suicide, suicide literacy, and conformity to traditional masculine norms predict professional psychological help-seeking attitudes in Australian males aged over 18 recruited via social media, emails and a first-year psychology student pool. Participants were 164 Australian males aged between 18 and 82 years (M = 47.30, SD = 15.84). Most participants were heterosexual (n = 126, 76.8%) and had no suicide prevention training (n = 126, 76.8%). A correlational cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous online self-report survey. A significant negative correlation was found between conformity to traditional masculine norms and attitudes toward professional psychological help-seeking. A significant positive correlation was found between suicide literacy and attitudes toward professional psychological help-seeking. The results of this study demonstrate a need for suicide prevention strategies and interventions to have differentiated approaches for men who conform to traditional masculine norms. Furthermore, the study results support suicide prevention and intervention strategies targeting suicide literacy as a means of improving attitudes toward professional psychological help-seeking.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Jaclyn Folpp and Timea Partos

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 883130624)
For concerns about ethical aspects of this research, please contact the ACAP HREC: [email protected].

PROJECT END DATE
Project is now complete

SURVEY LINK
https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e9cTxMZXyfGgO5E

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To complete this survey, we ask that you are:

• Self- or professionally diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
• A woman, a female-identified person, or a person assigned female at birth.
• 18 years and older.
• Residing in Australia.
• Able to read and understand English well enough by your own assessment to complete an online survey in English.
• Not in a personal relationship with any of the researchers.

PROJECT SUMMARY
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive-endocrinological-metabolic condition in people assigned female at birth, causing bodies to diverge from cis-heteronormative femininity. Embodied well-being may be impaired in people with polycystic ovary syndrome, and the developmental theory of embodiment is a novel framework allowing exploration of contributing sociocultural factors. This correlational study examined relationships among embodied well-being, as measured by the Experience of Embodiment Scale, severity of PCOS symptoms, body mass index (BMI), mental freedom (a critical stance toward oppressive femininity discourses on appearance and comportment), as measured by the Mental Freedom Scale-adulthood, and perceived body acceptance by others, as measured by the Body Acceptance by Others Scale-2, in a sample of 140 women with PCOS, 18 years and over, living in Australia. Using two hierarchical regression analyses using bootstrapped resamples, after controlling for the effect of PCOS severity and BMI, greater embodied well-being scores were associated with increased mental freedom and an increased perceived acceptance of one’s body and its physical characteristics by important others. Exploratory mediation analyses using bootstrapped resamples revealed that after controlling for BMI, mental freedom mediated the relationship between PCOS severity and embodied well-being, and after controlling for PCOS severity, body acceptance by others mediated the relationship between BMI and embodied well-being. Results have implications for developing holistic weight-neutral lifestyle interventions and health promotions to support embodied well-being in people with PCOS, as well as broader institutional and societal-level approaches to propagating understanding about PCOS, gender-related and weight-related stigma.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Ms. Erika Moelle (ACAP student) and Associate Professor Fiona Ann Papps (Research Supervisor)

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 867140524).

PROJECT END DATE
The research project will be completed by the end of December 2024

SURVEY LINK
https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Wtr2roDVtgdYrQ

If you decide that you’d like to take part in this research, you’ll complete an online survey comprising 140 questions, including questions about your sex, gender, self-identified sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, current relationship status, occupation, fertility and childbearing, height and weight, eating disorders, and PCOS. The survey should take no more than 45 minutes to complete.

If you are a first-year student in Psychological Sciences at the Australian College of Applied Professions, you’ll receive one credit point for taking part.

This research is being conducted by Ms. Erika Moelle toward her Bachelor of Psychological Science (Hons) degree in the Discipline of Psychological Sciences at the Australian College of Applied Professions (ACAP). Erika is supervised by Ass. Prof. Fiona Ann Papps.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
You are invited to participate in this study if you:

1. Are aged 18+.
2. Reside in Australia.
3. Can read and speak in English
4. Have a diagnosis or awaiting diagnosis (via lapascopic surgery) for Endometriosis
5. Do not have a personal relationship with the researchers

PROJECT SUMMARY
This research project investigates the impact of endometriosis on women’s sense of self and identity. Endometriosis, a chronic and often debilitating condition, is known to cause significant physical pain, but its effects extend far beyond the physical realm. This study explores how the disease disrupts various aspects of women’s lives, including their professional careers, personal relationships, and future aspirations.

Through a qualitative approach, this study delves into the lived experiences of women with endometriosis, highlighting the challenges they face in maintaining their sense of self amid chronic pain and societal expectations. Key themes emerging from the data include the disruption of identity, the strain on intimate relationships, fertility concerns and motherhood impacts, career and future plans, and the newfound sense of purpose and advocacy among participants.

The findings underscore the importance of addressing the psychosocial aspects of endometriosis, which are often overlooked in medical treatment. This research aims to amplify the voices of women living with endometriosis, advocating for a more comprehensive understanding of the disease that includes both its physical and emotional tolls. By shedding light on these experiences, the study seeks to contribute to improved support systems and healthcare practices that better address the multifaceted impact of endometriosis on women’s lives.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Kaitlyn Grace and Dr. Timea Partos

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 861190224).

PROJECT END DATE
Data Collection will end on June 1st, 2024

SURVEY LINK
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553269119633

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Facebook research page link – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553269119633

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
You can take part in this research if you:

• Are an English-speaking primary school teacher
• Are currently employed in a government or non-government primary school in Australia
• Are over 18 years of age
• Have no personal relationship with any member of the research team

PROJECT SUMMARY
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition that is often underdiagnosed in young, school-aged females. These delays can result in late treatment and adverse outcomes. Teachers play a crucial role in identifying ADHD symptoms, yet research indicates many lack the specific training needed to recognize ADHD in female students. This research aims to evaluate a sex-specific psychoeducation resource and its potential to enhance primary school teachers’ ability to identify and refer female students with ADHD. If successful, this study could provide a practical solution to address knowledge gaps surrounding ADHD and potentially inform systemic changes to promote more equitable ADHD diagnoses across sexes.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Dr Christopher Holt & Samantha Perkins

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 844240723).

PROJECT END DATE
July 24 2024

SURVEY LINK
https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6EZCoBdF1UzebUa

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS
[email protected]

RESULTS AND FINDINGS
Click here

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The study evaluated the effectiveness of a brief psychoeducation video in improving teachers’ ability to identify ADHD symptoms in female students and their willingness to refer for assessment. 77 teachers participated, divided into intervention and control groups. Results showed that the psychoeducation intervention significantly improved teachers’ ability to identify ADHD symptoms in young female students, with a medium effect size. This is an important step toward addressing the sex disparity in ADHD diagnosis and management. However, despite this increase in symptom recognition, there was no significant change in teachers’ willingness to refer students for further assessment. This suggests that while the intervention successfully enhanced knowledge, it did not impact referral behaviors. The findings highlight the complexity of referral processes and indicate that improving knowledge alone may not be sufficient to change referral practices. Further research is needed to understand and address the factors influencing teachers’ referral decisions.

PROJECT SUMMARY
Inclusive education ensures fairness and equal opportunities for all students, especially those disadvantaged due to ethnicity, disability, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, or faith, and benefits both students and teachers. Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) social-ecological theory allows classification of enablers for inclusive practices as teacher (personal), classroom, school, and community-related. Environments that support development of all categories of enablers might reduce stress and burnout among teachers. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design and an online survey, this study explored the associations between enablers of inclusive education, stress, and burnout among 74 teachers in Australia. Most frequently reported inclusive education trainings were disability and socio-economic status-based, with fewer in faith and for Indigenous Australian students, including in areas with prominent Indigenous populations. Contrary to prediction, only teacher-related enablers, including self-efficacy, were related to stress and burnout. However, teacher, school, and community-related enablers were all positively associated with positive attitudes toward inclusive education, teacher self-efficacy, number of inclusive education trainings, and perceived usefulness of trainings in inclusive education. Finally, there was no significant difference between teachers who had received training in inclusive practice and those who had not on any variables, but teachers who worked in public and non-religious schools reported fewer teacher-related enablers of inclusive practice. Findings can be used to shape creation and maintenance of inclusive education in Australian classrooms.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Caity Falcon and Fiona Ann Papps

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 865020424).

PROJECT END DATE
Project is now complete

SURVEY LINK
https://facebook.com/ACAPTeacherResearch

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS
[email protected]

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<p dir=”auto”>This study aims to investigate what qualities individuals with certain dark personality traits seek in new acquaintances.</p>
<p dir=”auto”><strong style=”font-size: 1.125rem;”>ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
</strong>You are invited to participate in this study if you:
1) Are aged 18+.
2) Reside in Australia.
3) Understand written instructions and survey questions in English, by your own assessment.
4) Do not have a personal relationship with the researchers.</p>
<p dir=”auto”></p>

</div>
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<div dir=”auto”>

<strong>STUDY DESCRIPTION</strong>
The ‘Dark Tetrad’ (Machiavellianism, grandiose narcissism, primary psychopathy, sadism) and the ‘Vulnerable Dark Triad’ (borderline personality, secondary psychopathy, vulnerable narcissism) are sets of interrelated personality traits that exist in the general population and share malevolent or neurotic tendencies, respectively. While research exists on how these traits present in intimate and familial relationships, little is currently known about how these traits manifest in other important social relationships like friendships. This study, therefore, aims to investigate what qualities individuals with these dark personality traits seek in new acquaintances.

<strong>NAME OF INVESTIGATOR</strong>
Ms Amber Cohen, Dr Haruka Kitamura (supervisor/CI)

<strong>HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
</strong>This study has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval Number: 833190623).

<strong>PROJECT END DATE</strong>
Data collection will end October 31, 2023

<strong>SURVEY LINK</strong>
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”><a href=”https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3dCaGIGkk8eueFM?Source=Research”>https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3dCaGIGkk8eueFM?Source=Research</a></span>

<span style=”color: #f8f8f8;”><a id=”A816250423″></a>816250423</span>

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<p dir=”auto”>This research uses a quantitative survey design to explore the contributions of the uptake of feminine ideologies, differentiation of self, and sexual subjectivity to the relationships between embodiment and sexual well-being in women, 18 years and over, living in Australia.</p>
<p dir=”auto”><strong style=”font-size: 1.125rem;”>ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
</strong><span style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.125rem;”>To complete this survey, we ask that you are: a woman or female identified person; 18 years and older; residing in Australia; able to read and understand proficient enough in English, by your own assessment, to complete an online survey in English; and not in a personal relationship with any of the researchers.</span></p>
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<strong>STUDY DESCRIPTION</strong>
Although sexuality is central to happiness in general and satisfaction in human relationships, there is limited research that has been directed toward identification of the factors that contribute to sexual well-being among adult women. In their Developmental Theory of Embodiment, Piran and Teall (2012) suggest that the experience of being connected to the body promotes an understanding of the body as worthy of respect, care, and protection. Disruption to this connection is influenced by the uptake of feminine ideologies that encourage inauthenticity in relationships, objectification of the body, dependence, deference, and modesty. Potential negative effects on differentiation of self, sexual subjectivity, and sexual well-being may result.

<strong>NAME OF INVESTIGATOR</strong>
Natasha Krajovski, Mimi Van Wyk, and A/Prof Fiona Ann Papps (supervisor/CI)

<strong>HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
</strong>This study has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval Number: 816250423).

<strong>PROJECT END DATE</strong>
Data collection will end August 30, 2023

<strong>CONTACT AND NEXT STEPS</strong>
The Facebook page for the research is here: <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”><a href=”https://www.facebook.com/people/An-exploration-into-female-sexual-well-being/100090736434445/”>https://www.facebook.com/people/An-exploration-into-female-sexual-well-being/100090736434445/</a></span>

<strong>SURVEY LINK</strong>
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”><a href=”https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ehbA3GkXuZA9FOK”>https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ehbA3GkXuZA9FOK</a></span>

<span style=”color: #ffffff;”><a id=”A818250423″></a>818250423</span>

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ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To complete this survey you must:
• I am 18 years or older
• I reside in Australia
• I read and understand English well enough by my own assessment to complete a survey in English.
• I do not have a personal relationship with any of the researchers.

STUDY DESCRIPTION
This study examines how people learn when multiple events of information are presented for a very short time. When we complete daily tasks, we find that some take more mental effort than others. For example, doing a mathematical task in your head demands more mental effort than brushing your teeth. Another thing that takes mental effort is in situations where we conduct concurrent tasks. For example, trying to learn and understand what the teacher is saying, taking notes and talking to the student next to us. Each individual task is simple enough, but when we are trying to do two things at once, it requires a much greater mental effort to stay focused. What you feel when you are trying to do multiple mental tasks concurrently is an example of working under a high cognitive load.

The present study has been designed to look at how people learn when they complete an online browser-based task where they need to make choices while placed under non-stressful situations that might demand a greater mental effort.

NAME OF INVESTIGATOR
How Hong Sii, Seung Hwa Song.

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This study has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval Number: 826010623).

PROJECT END DATE
Data collection will end 31st October 2023.

SURVEY LINK
https://www.psytoolkit.org/c/3.4.0/survey?s=6SKR4

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To complete this survey you must:
• 18 years or older
• Self-identify as having experienced depressive symptoms and having used at least one Nootropic for treatment.

STUDY DESCRIPTION
Despite the availability of conventional pharmacological treatments, some individuals find them ineffective or struggle with their side effects, prompting a search for alternative methods. Nootropics have been suggested as a potential solution, but the individual experiences and outcomes remain unexplored. This qualitative project aims to explore the experiences of individuals who have used nootropics for the management of depressive symptoms. The findings of this research project will provide valuable information that can lead to more effective and personalised treatment options for those struggling with debilitating mental health conditions.

NAME OF INVESTIGATORS
Mr. Alejandro Safranchik and Mr. Micheal Weston.

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This study has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval Number: 829050623).

PROJECT END DATE
Data collection will end September 2023.

SURVEY LINK
https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9NSo3XhjeA3Fo22

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To complete this survey you must:
• be 18 to 25 years of age (including 18 and 25 years)
• be an Australian resident/citizen (or currently reside in Australia)
• be proficient enough in English to complete an online survey in English.
• not have a personal relationship with any of the researchers.

STUDY DESCRIPTION
Young people between 18-25 years of age can find it difficult to navigate their career pathways and make confident career decisions once they have left adolescence which can affect their professional growth. Developmentally, young people are expected to take on an adult role and become independent, yet get influenced by people around them, including their caregivers. Thus, this study will investigate the relationship between parental attachment and career development among young adults, and will assess the role of personal and social resources.

NAME OF INVESTIGATORS
Rachael Lee and Dr. Anna Praskova.

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This study has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval Number: 827010623).

PROJECT END DATE
Data collection will end 31st August 2023.

SURVEY LINK
https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3lbEE1gM6g2Uclw

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To complete this survey you must:
• Are over 18 years of age
• Live in Australia
• English proficiency by self-assessment
• Have a current mental health condition as diagnosed by a professional.
• Do not have a personal relationship with any of the researchers.

STUDY DESCRIPTION
The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between faith and spirituality, shame, and the self-stigma of mental health conditions. The aim is to discover if people with different religious/spiritual affiliations, different levels of religious/spiritual participation, and differing degrees of religiosity/spirituality may have different levels of shame and self-stigma.

NAME OF INVESTIGATORS
Dr Rachel Maunder and Amanda Fletcher.

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This study has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval Number: 832140623).

PROJECT END DATE
Data collection will end 30th August 2023.

SURVEY LINK
https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eIDl3vpyznJMyLI

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
N/A

STUDY DESCRIPTION
Australia is experiencing a teacher shortage crisis because of high teachers’ turnover and low attraction and intake into the profession. This worrying trend became more pronounced during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, exaggerated further with increased demands on teachers who were tasked to modify education under the strict COVID-19 restrictions with limited time and resources, with many experiencing increased work-life conflict. Thus, the aim of this mixed method study was to firstly (a) identify the key stressors primary school teachers faced during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and then (b) quantitatively investigate theory-driven relationships between teachers’ work-life conflict, career calling, burnout, and intention to leave.

A survey study using retrospective-prospective design (capturing how past events affect present outcomes and intentions) was completed by a sample of primary school teachers recruited via teacher Facebook groups such as Australian Teachers who worked in Australian primary schools between January 2020 and May 2023. The survey included demographic questions (e.g., age, gender, teaching context), an open-ended question capturing the key stressors for the teachers during COVID-19, and a series of brief psychological scales (e.g., teachers’ burnout, intention to leave). Those who completed the anonymous survey had an average 12 years of teaching experience (SD = 10.02). At the peak of the pandemic, most teachers (90%) worked in public institutions, 5% in catholic institutions, and 5% in independent institutions.

Content analysis of 59 usable responses (M age = 38.2 years, SD = 11.50; 70% female) to the open-ended question showed that, during the peak of the pandemic, teachers noted substantial increase in work demands that interfered with their other life commitments and reported a strain on resources and strain on their health and wellbeing. Furthermore, teachers expressed increased dissatisfaction with their job as a teacher and heightened concern for their students’ wellbeing as well as concern about the quality of education that they were providing.

A moderated mediation analysis was conducted in PROCESS for SPSS on the numerical responses of 79 teachers (M age = 37.5, SD = 10.41 years; 55% female). As expected, results showed that as teachers’ work-life conflict at the peak of COVID-19 increased, so did their burnout, and, in turn, their intention to leave teaching profession. Notably, this effect was the strongest for teachers with low career calling (less passion for teaching), indicating that having a passion for teaching served as a key personal resource that reduced teachers’ intention to leave.

This study gave voice to primary school teachers who were working tirelessly during the pandemic to ensure the quality of education was maintained despite all the adversaries. By identifying the key stressors and impacts of the pandemic on the primary school teachers work and life, as well as the key personal resource (having a calling for teaching) that reduced the negative effects of burnout on intention to leave, the findings provide the much-needed context to better understand and manage the current teacher shortage crisis.

NAME OF INVESTIGATORS
Dr Anna Praskova and Marissa Kotsaris.

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This study has been approved by the ACAP HREC (Approval Number: 808200223).

PROJECT END DATE
N/A

SURVEY LINK
https://www.acap.edu.au/applied-psychology/student-research-initiatives/

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
N/A

STUDY DESCRIPTION
“Coming out” is the process by which lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people disclose their sexual minority status to others. Prominent identity models for sexual minorities and popular belief represent coming out as generally positive, liberating, and a necessity. However, these models do not account for contextual factors, such as minority stress, heteronormativity, and implicit media bias towards universal positivity, meaning some LGB people may accept their identity yet conceal their sexual minority status. Coming out, then, may be a process associated with loss for some LGB people, which has not been recognised in the extant models. Therefore, in this research, we explored how, during the coming out process, was grief experienced for eight LGB adults living in Australia. Tidus collected data using semi-structured interviews and analysed the verbatim transcripts using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. From the data, we developed a provisional three-stage model of coming out: (a) person before the crisis, (b) the crisis of coming out, and (c) person after the crisis. The findings did not support the linearly positive portrayals of extant sexual identity theories, instead showing the coming out process to be shaped by contextual factors and marked by losses that required active and continual coping, despite the positive experiences attached to living an authentic self. This provisional model may be used to assist sexual minorities better understand, conceptualise, and process negative emotions associated with coming out and to aid in designing contextually sensitive interventions and inclusivity programs that champion equity and action.

NAME OF INVESTIGATORS
Mr Tidus Artorius and Associate Prof. Fiona Ann Papps.

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This study has been approved by the ACAP HREC (Approval Number: 820090523).

PROJECT END DATE
N/A

SURVEY RESULTS
https://www.facebook.com/ThePsychologyResearch 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To participate in this study you must be aged 18 years or over with self-assessed proficiency in English at a level that allows the completion of an online survey.

STUDY DESCRIPTION
Hostile attribution bias is a cognitive bias where individuals interpret the behaviours of other people as threatening across a range of social settings. Existing research shows that people with hostile attribution bias react more aggressively in both experimental and real-world scenarios. However, research is limited when exploring the connections between personality and hostile attribution bias. Therefore, this study aims to examine how emotional intelligence, personality, and attachment-style relate to hostile attribution bias. These findings may assist in understanding the various factors that influence aggressive behaviour and highlight potential intervention options.

NAME OF INVESTIGATORS
Prof. John Reece; Miss. Marisa Mackdacy.

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This study has been approved by the ACAP HREC (Approval Number: 853250923).

PROJECT END DATE
04/03/2024.

SURVEY LINK
https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eu1PFp8syPhdYmW

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Participants must be Australian citizens who are at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and not affiliated with Han Du or Dr. Rachel Maunder.

STUDY DESCRIPTION
The project explored whether an individual’s age is a component that may influence the relationship between the amount of contact they have had with sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals and the level of prejudice and discrimination towards them. Currently, research shows that intergroup contact is strongly associated with reduced prejudice and discrimination if the person holding the prejudice possesses an attribute that is associated with increased prejudice. However, there has yet to be research around whether this also applies to an individual’s age because that is an attribute which has been found to be associated with increased SGM prejudice. Within this study, participants completed measures of their quantity of contact with SGM individuals as well as their attitudes and avoidance towards SGM individuals.

RESULTS
Quantity of contact with SGM individuals was found to be significantly negatively associated with negative attitudes and avoidant behaviours towards SGM individuals. This means that increases in contact quantity with SGM individuals are related to decreases in negative attitudes and avoidance towards that social group. However, the age of the individual participant was not significantly related to their degree of negative attitudes and avoidance towards SGM people. In turn, the analyses found that an individual’s age did not significantly influence the association between their quantity of contact and their extent of negative attitudes and avoidance towards SGM individuals.

NAME OF INVESTIGATORS
Han Du, Dr. Rachel Maunder

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This study has been approved by the ACAP HREC (Approval Number: 856121023).

PROJECT END DATE
17/01/2024

SURVEY LINK
https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eu1PFp8syPhdYmW

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Gay male or male-identified non-white person.
• Currently in an open relationship.
• 18 years or older.
• Reside in Australia.
• Read and understand English well enough by own assessment to complete an interview in English.
• Does not have a personal relationship with either of the researchers.

PROJECT SUMMARY
Research on sexuality and gender diverse people has focused largely on experiences of people from a single minority group. According to the minority stress theory, people who belong to multiple minority groups may experience accumulated stress from multiple microaggressions and systemic discrimination, which may lead to different experiences of key milestones, such as “coming out”. These experiences may be intensified for those who also have non-normative relationship structures, such as open relationships. This qualitative study explored how a sample of five non-white gay men living in Australia navigated the disclosure of their open relationships. Using thematic analysis of verbatim transcripts, four superordinate themes were identified: concern with others’ judgement, self-stigma, open relationship concealment, and social support. Open relationships were revealed to limited audiences, while intimate support for a decision believed outside normative and socially acceptable boundaries was still sought. Disclosure decisions were associated with distal stressors (others’ judgments) and proximal stressors (self-stigma), influenced by religious and cultural considerations and the dominance of mononormativity in shaping relational expectations. Findings support the continued utility of the minority stress theory, and may raise awareness about alternative relationship structures, challenge misconceptions related to them and encourage cultural literacy and cultural competence in clinical psychologists.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Elvis Centeno Gallegos and Fiona Ann Papps

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 881110624).

PROJECT END DATE
August 1, 2024

SURVEY LINK
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557436509823

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
We are seeking full-time, part-time, or casual relief teachers who:

• Have worked in a face-to-face teaching role (permanent, part-time, or casual) in an Australian primary, middle, or secondary school (but not as teacher’s aide)
• Have a minimum of one year of teaching experience
• Have taught in the last 12 months
• Have no personal relationship with either of the researchers

STUDY DESCRIPTION
Inclusive education emphasises justice, equity, and quality education for all students, particularly those who have been excluded from education because of ethnicity, disability, gender and sexuality, socioeconomic disadvantage, and faith/spirituality. Inclusive education is associated with positive outcomes for both teachers and students and enablers of the implementation of inclusive practices are both personal (e.g., sense of self-efficacy and positive attitudes toward inclusion) and structural (e.g., training opportunities). Working in an environment that encourages both personal and structural enablers of inclusive practice may be associated with lower levels of stress and burnout among teachers. No research to date has explored the relationships among personal attitudes and perceived structural enablers of inclusive education, stress, and teacher burnout, especially in an Australian context. This exploratory study will use a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational design and an online survey to examine these relationships in a minimum sample of 74 teachers living in Australia.

NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS
Associate Professor Fiona Ann Papps, Miss Caity Falcon

HREC APPROVAL NUMBER
This research has been approved by the ACAP Human Research Ethics Committee (EC00447) (Approval Number: 865020424).

PROJECT END DATE
August 2024

SURVEY LINK
https://acap.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_82eEPxSzvxLrrIa