16 - Southern Cross University · 2020-03-10 · 16th Annual Psychology Honours Research Conference...

16th Annual Psychology Honours Research Conference Abstracts

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Publishing Information Published by Southern Cross University Psychology Press MMXIX 2019

With Thanks to the 2019 Editorial Team Erin Sullivan Brett Cocker Dayanna Grageda' Naomi May Tharushini Anandam A special thank you to Duncan Blair for his help with compilation of the abstracts.

The Supervisor Team for 2019 Dr. Gail Moloney ([email protected]) Dr. Mitchell Longstaff ([email protected]) Dr. Steve Provost ([email protected]) Dr. Alison Bowling ([email protected]) Dr. Christian Swann ([email protected]) Dr. Chris Stevens ([email protected]) Dr. James Donnelly ([email protected]) Dr. Heather Winskel ([email protected]) Dr. Basia Radlinska ([email protected]) Dr. Desirée Kozlowski ([email protected]) Dr. Christina Samios ([email protected]) Dr. Anna Praskova ([email protected]) Professor Peter Hassman ([email protected]) Dr. Kyle Bennett ([email protected]) Dr. Emily Hindman ([email protected]) (Abcare, Australia) Professor Steven Myers ([email protected]) Leigh Grant ([email protected]) Alexander Lawrence ([email protected]) Duncan Blair ([email protected]) Dr. Robert Brockman ([email protected]) Dr. Kate Amos ([email protected]) Dr. Kylie Radford (Neuroscience Research Australia, Australia) Professor Tony Broe (Neuroscience Research Australia, Australia)


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Table of Contents Publishing Information ........................................................................................................................... 2

With Thanks to the 2019 Editorial Team ............................................................................................... 2

The Supervisor Team for 2019 ............................................................................................................... 2

In Pursuit of Discovering the Right Goal to Promote Physical Activity .................................................. 7

Kerrie Adair, Dr. Christian Swann and Alexander Lawrence .................................................................. 7

Making you happier and smarter: does a brief mindfulness intervention increase subjective well-

being and metacognitive sensitivity? .................................................................................................... 8

Roslyn Adam and Dr. Mitchell Longstaff ................................................................................................ 8

Life satisfaction in cultural deviants: the challenges associated with straying from your script. ......... 9

Priyanka Aggarwala and Dr. Christina Samios ....................................................................................... 9

How does setting various goal types influence healthy adults’ autonomy to physical activity? ........ 10

Tharushini D/O Anandam and Dr. Christian Swann ............................................................................. 10

Stress and savouring: does peoples’ perceived ability to savour protect them from the negative

effects of stress on meaning in life? .................................................................................................... 11

Melinda Banditt and Dr. Christina Samios ........................................................................................... 11

University burnout: What keeps some students cool while others are cooked? ................................ 12

Rhiannon Brophy and Dr. James Donnelly ........................................................................................... 12

The seductive allure of neuroscience: how core beliefs impact judgments of scientific explanations13

Shady Chapple and Dr. Steve Provost .................................................................................................. 13

The whimsical effects of music on attention and working memory performance in an academic

setting .................................................................................................................................................. 14

Kelvin Chong, Prof. Peter Hassmen, Dr. Christopher Stevens and Leigh Grant ................................... 14

Beeps, bops, and brainwaves; does omission MMN vary with prediction violation magnitude? ....... 15

Brett Cocker and Dr. Stephen Provost ................................................................................................. 15

Please like my photograph or I may not remember it! The impact of social media posts and

interaction on memory for shared photographs ................................................................................. 16

Tanya Cone and Dr. Mitchell Longstaff ................................................................................................ 16

To give or not to give - that is the organ donation question ............................................................... 17

Rachel Cook and Dr. Gail Moloney ...................................................................................................... 17

Do mothers have a stronger connection with their children? The influence of gender on self-

processing biases ................................................................................................................................. 18

Maddison Dallow and Dr. Heather Winskel ......................................................................................... 18

Feeling flow: developing a new scale to measure flow in sport and exercise ..................................... 19


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Janelle Driscoll and Dr. Christian Swann .............................................................................................. 19

Cultural life script deviations and psychological adjustment: What role does meaning-making play?

............................................................................................................................................................. 20

Nao Dupre-Virtamo and Dr. Christina Samios ..................................................................................... 20

Blood donation: are our understandings of it related to our identification to social groups?............ 21

Brianna Eadie and Dr. Gail Moloney .................................................................................................... 21

Cross-cultural differences in colour-emotion associations: Are they a pigment of our imagination? 22

Declan Forrester and Dr. Heather Winskel .......................................................................................... 22

Coming up clutch! A new measurement for the psychological state of clutch performance in sport 23

Matthew Anthony Gatt and Dr. Christian Swann ................................................................................ 23

The Healthy Healer: Understanding the Relationships amongst Positive Schemas, Well-being, and

Burnout in Therapists ........................................................................................................................... 24

Dayanna Grageda, Dr. James Donnelly and Dr. Robert Brockman ...................................................... 24

At face value: are younger adults less accurate than older adults at facial emotion processing? ...... 25

Tayla Harrington and Dr. Heather Winskel .......................................................................................... 25

School teacher well-being: The moderating role of self-compassion ................................................. 26

Jessica Hellyar and Dr. Christina Samios .............................................................................................. 26

Dental perceptions: Getting to the "root" of it all ............................................................................... 27

Sharon Hibbert, Dr. Gail Moloney and Dr. Kate Amos ......................................................................... 27

Do social perceptions of gender impact on dementia caregiving?...................................................... 28

Rory Hude and Dr. Gail Moloney ......................................................................................................... 28

Place matters: Gender role attitudes in city and country .................................................................... 29

Hannah Jeffers and Dr. Desirée Kozlowski ........................................................................................... 29

Is future orientated thinking associated with career agency and career success in Australian adults?

Testing indirect and interaction effects ............................................................................................... 30

Lena Johnston and Dr. Anna Praskova ................................................................................................. 30

Don’t think too hard: Developing a cognitive screening tool for executive functioning ..................... 31

Tamara Keiller, Dr. Emily Hindman and Duncan Blair .......................................................................... 31

Over the edge in E-Sports? A New Survey of Player Definitions and Risk Factors for Tilt ................... 32

Claire Korte, Dr. James Donnelly and Dr. Kyle Bennett ....................................................................... 32

Frontal lobe alpha asymmetry and selective memory: an investigation into the neurological and

cognitive indices of emotional resilience ............................................................................................. 33

Caitlin Laycox, Dr. Basia Radlinska and Dr. James Donnelly ................................................................ 33


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The mediating role of schemas and self-compassion in interoceptive awareness and emotional

regulation ............................................................................................................................................. 34

Jessica Lihou and Dr. Basia Radlinska .................................................................................................. 34

Are the eyes a window to the goal? Does BIS/BAS/FFFS sensitivity influence the processing of

feedback? ............................................................................................................................................. 35

Ronny Lindsay and Dr. Steve Provost .................................................................................................. 35

Learning and the fragmented mind: latent inhibition, negative priming and schizotypy. .................. 36

Yuvthi Lutchman and Dr. Steve Provost .............................................................................................. 36

Cultural self-bias: do Italians prioritise the self less than Aussies? ..................................................... 37

Sarah Manuele and Dr. Heather Winskel ............................................................................................ 37

Can you run from depression? ............................................................................................................. 38

Natalie Marton, Prof. Peter Hassmen and Dr. Kyle Bennett ............................................................... 38

Sex, crime, and rock & roll: the influence of sex differences and priming on eyewitness recall ........ 39

Savanah Mason and Dr. Mitchell Longstaff ......................................................................................... 39

Craving sugar when we’re sad. How does mood affect attentional bias towards high sugar foods? . 40

Naomi May and Dr. Alison Bowling ..................................................................................................... 40

How do we Adjust our Goals when we Realise that Things are Not Going Right in our Careers? ...... 41

Lisa McPeake and Dr. Anna Praskova .................................................................................................. 41

To Write or Not to Write- That is the Question: Handwriting, Encoding Conditions and Word Recall.

............................................................................................................................................................. 42

Kate McRae and Dr. Mitchell Longstaff ............................................................................................... 42

Heart, Mind and Music: What is the Role of Emotional Intelligence in Anticipation and Pleasure from

Music? .................................................................................................................................................. 43

Alana Nunan and Dr. Desirée Kozlowski .............................................................................................. 43

Where is true North on our moral compass?: Investigating the effects of culture and religion on

moral decision making ......................................................................................................................... 44

Maejoy Obach and Dr. Heather Winskel ............................................................................................. 44

The ppmp project: can ‘duo celloid minerals’ reduce the symptoms of anxiety?............................... 45

Donna Ogston, Dr. Steve Provost and Prof. Stephen Myers ............................................................... 45

Current Practice for the Assessment of Cognitive Abilities in Indigenous Australians ........................ 46

Abbey Orchard, Dr. Emily Hindman, Prof. Peter Hassmen and Dr. Kylie Radford ............................... 46

Are you who you think you are? Links to life satisfaction ................................................................... 47

Emily Patch and Dr. James Donnelley .................................................................................................. 47


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Examining the effect of goal types and perfectionism on performance and commitment in a

cognitive task ....................................................................................................................................... 48

Samantha Pilcher and Dr. Christian Swann .......................................................................................... 48

Girls don’t do that! Gender non-conformity and its social consequences .......................................... 49

Isabella Power and Dr. Desirée Kozlowski ........................................................................................... 49

All in the mind? Can mindfulness improve learning & memory? ........................................................ 50

Edwina J. Ritchie and Dr. Emily Hindman ............................................................................................ 50

Who Cares? Development of the attitudes towards residential aged care questionnaire (ATRACQ) 51

Katie Rose and Dr. Desirée Kozlowski .................................................................................................. 51

Childhood trauma, depression and physical activity in older indigenous Australians ........................ 52

Georgia Rowland, Dr. Emily Hindman, Prof. Peter Hassmen, Dr. Kylie Radford, and Prof. Tony Broe 52

Manage your emotions if you want to comprehend me: Emotional Intelligence and performance on

hot and cold tasks. ............................................................................................................................... 53

Carolyn Ryan and Dr. Mitchell Longstaff ............................................................................................. 53

Organ Donation Beliefs: Does the Emotional Context Matter? .......................................................... 54

Tahnee Serone and Dr. Gail Moloney .................................................................................................. 54

Parenting an entitled child: Did baby boomers do it best? ................................................................. 55

Nadia Smith and Dr. James Donnelly ................................................................................................... 55

Thinking and feeling: Emotional intelligence and body satisfaction. .................................................. 56

Diana Stojiljkovic and Dr. Desirée Kozlowski. ...................................................................................... 56

Do you have a sweet tooth? Creation of a scale to measure sugar craving ........................................ 57

Erin Sullivan and Dr. Alison Bowling .................................................................................................... 57

Does the golf handicap system influence anxiety and performance levels in amateur golfers? ........ 58

Gavin Tierney, Prof. Peter Hassmen and Dr. Kyle Bennett .................................................................. 58

Perfectionism and Burnout in Subjectively and Objectively Marked Sports ....................................... 59

Kyra Webb, Prof. Peter Hassmen and Dr. Christopher Stevens .......................................................... 59

School teacher wellbeing: does self-compassion and psychological flexibility reduce burnout levels?

............................................................................................................................................................. 60

Leshay Wells and Dr. Christina Samios ................................................................................................ 60

What do you fear you’ll miss? Social networking sites and sense of belonging ................................. 61

Isabella Whyte and Dr. Heather Winskel ............................................................................................. 61

Who's paying attention? The effect of Instagram on body satisfaction and attention bias. .............. 62

Charlotte Zorro and Dr. Alison Bowling ............................................................................................... 62

Conference Sponsors ........................................................................................................................... 63


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In Pursuit of Discovering the Right Goal to Promote Physical Activity

Kerrie Adair, Dr. Christian Swann and Alexander Lawrence

Aim: Goal-setting is a common strategy for promoting regular physical activity. Conventional goal-

setting practice is based on setting SMART goals (e.g., specific, measurable, achievable, realistic,

time-bound). Recently, however, there have been calls to reconsider best practice in goal-setting

for physical activity promotion based on findings of a meta-analysis and apparent misapplication of

theory. This study aims to investigate the current goal-setting practice of exercise and physical

activity practitioners.

Method: 100 health professionals (male = 24, female = 76, M age = 37.3, SD age = 11.9) participated

in this study. The sample primarily comprised of allied health practitioners (83.2%) and fitness

practitioners (16.8%). Participants were asked to complete an online survey about their current

goal-setting practice. The survey explored the level of importance health professionals rated goal-

setting and how confident they were using goal-setting theory as part of their strategy to promote

physical activity.

Results: The findings indicated that these practitioners agreed goal-setting is an important strategy

in their practice, and that they had high confidence in setting goals. Most practitioners reported

using differing goal types with each patient, however prefer to set specific and easy

performance/outcome goals, and more than 90% report using SMART goals. Most practitioners

were unsure of existing professional body guidelines, although they did expect such guidelines to

exist. However, no significant differences in goal-setting practices were found between practitioners

who promote physical activity and those who prescribe clinical exercise interventions.

Conclusion: This study provides a preliminary examination into current practice in goal-setting for

physical activity promotion, and a basis for future research.

Keywords: goal-setting, clinical exercise intervention, health and fitness, practitioners, SMART


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Making you happier and smarter: does a brief mindfulness intervention increase subjective well-being and metacognitive sensitivity?

Roslyn Adam and Dr. Mitchell Longstaff

Despite the popularity surrounding Mindfulness, there is conflicting evidence for the efficacy of

Mindfulness interventions.

Aim: The current study sought to explore the effectiveness of Mindfulness by expanding on previous

research by addressing the question of whether a brief Mindfulness (10 minute) intervention can

make you happier and smarter. The current study predicted that Satisfaction with Life, Low Arousal

Positive Affect and Metacognitive Sensitivity would increase, whilst negative affect would decrease,

after a brief mindfulness intervention.

Method: Thirty university students were randomised to receive either a Detached Mindfulness (n =

15) or a guided silence (n = 15) 10-minute audio intervention. Participants completed self-report

measures of affect and Satisfaction with Life and a Confidence Rating Task at baseline and post

treatment.

Results: Significant main effects for time were found for negative affect, suggesting there was a

decrease in negative affect post intervention. However, there was no significant interaction

between group and time, suggesting that this decrease of negative affect cannot be attributed to

the Mindfulness intervention. No other significant main or interaction effects were found for the

other self-report measures. The raw data of the Metacognitive Sensitivity scores pre and post

intervention illustrated a possible trend of Metacognitive Sensitivity post intervention.

Conclusion: These results suggested that a brief, 10-minute Mindfulness intervention, compared to

the control condition, did not significantly increase Satisfaction with life, Low Arousal Positive Affect

or Metacognitive Sensitivity or decreased negative affect. Further studies are required to explore

the efficacy of Mindfulness in order to further understand the parameters of the intervention for

safe and effective application.

Keywords: Mindfulness, metacognition, subjective wellbeing, affect


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Life satisfaction in cultural deviants: the challenges associated with straying from your script.

Priyanka Aggarwala and Dr. Christina Samios

Aim: When a person’s life story (i.e., the life events one perceives as important in their life) deviates

in one or more ways from the cultural life script (i.e., the prescribed timing and order of important

life events in one’s culture), that person could potentially appraise that deviation as stressful.

Although it has been widely acknowledged that the stress appraisal of life events relates to poorer

psychological adjustment outcomes, no study has yet examined how stress appraisal of cultural life

script deviation(s) relates to life satisfaction. Similarly, no study has examined the moderating role

of self-compassion in this relationship. In order to address these gaps in the literature, the current

study encompassed two main aims, which were (1) to examine the relationship between stress

appraisals of cultural life script deviations and life satisfaction, and (2) to determine whether self-

compassion plays a moderating role in this relationship.

Method: Participants (N = 208; female = 167; male = 39; age: M = 34.28, SD = 13.26) completed

measures of stress appraisal in relation to cultural life script deviation, self-compassion, and life

satisfaction.

Results: Moderated multiple regression analysis showed that greater stress appraisal significantly

predicted less life satisfaction and that self-compassion did not moderate the relationship between

stress appraisal of cultural life script deviation and life satisfaction.

Conclusion: The current research suggests that stress appraisals of the discrepancy between

personal life story and cultural life script may influence life satisfaction. Further, as self-compassion

did not significantly moderate this relationship, additional studies are required to identify factors

that might buffer the negative effects of stress appraisal of cultural life script deviation on life

satisfaction.

Keywords: stress, appraisal, cultural life script, deviation, life story, life satisfaction, self-compassion.


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How does setting various goal types influence healthy adults’ autonomy to physical activity?

Tharushini D/O Anandam and Dr. Christian Swann

Background: Goal setting is a commonly-used strategy to increase physical activity. However,

questions have been raised over current practice which is based on the popular SMART acronym.

Recent research suggests that specific/SMART goals are only as effective as vague goals (e.g., to “do

your best”) at increasing physical activity. Psychological variables (e.g., autonomy) could be a

possible explanation for the efficacy of vague goals. The objective of this study is to experimentally

compare the effect of assigned SMART goals, self-set SMART goals, process goals, do-your-best

goals and open goals against a control group, on psychological variables relevant to physical activity

in a walking task.

Method: 102 participants (M age = 41.68, SD age = 17.78) were randomly allocated to one of the

six-goal conditions. Participants completed a baseline attempt (“walk at your normal pace for 6

minutes”) of the six-minute walking test, followed by two manipulated attempts. Data were

analysed using repeated measure ANCOVAs (mixed model).

Results: There was a statistically significant difference found between goal conditions and attempt

on distance walked, F(7.04, 129.5) = 10.83, p < .001, η2 = 0.37. Open, assigned SMART, do-your-best

walked significantly greater distance than the control group across both experimental attempts.

However, self-set SMART and process goals walked significantly greater distance than the control

group at attempt 3. In addition, the self-set SMART goal had significantly greater autonomy than the

process goal group across both experimental attempts.

Conclusions: These findings were consistent with the previous studies and suggest that vague goals

are effective at increasing physical activity. The results also suggest that greater autonomy was

achieved by providing participants with an increased choice of goal (i.e., through self-set SMART

goals). Implications and recommendations for future research on goal setting in physical activity are

discussed.

Keywords: Goal setting, psychological variables, SMART goal, open goal, choice


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Stress and savouring: does peoples’ perceived ability to savour protect them from the negative effects of stress on meaning in life?

Melinda Banditt and Dr. Christina Samios

Aim: In the face of stress one’s subjective sense of meaning could be negatively impacted, which is

detrimental to physical and psychological health. Recently, there has been increasing attention on

the role of savouring in the stress process. Savouring is a way to upregulate positive emotions and

refers to generating, maintaining, or prolonging positive emotional experience. This study aims to

examine the moderating role of savouring capacity in the relationship between perceived stress and

subjective meaning in life.

Method: This cross-sectional, correlational study included 151 participants who completed an online

survey, which included measures of savouring, stress, and meaning-in-life.

Results: Bivariate correlations identified that greater stress related to less meaning-in-life and less

savouring, and that greater savouring related to greater subjective meaning-in-life. Preliminary

moderation analysis found that savouring buffered the negative relationship between stress and

meaning-in-life.

Conclusions: These findings indicate that savouring relates to greater meaning-in-life and that it

protects meaning-in-life in the face of stress. Future longitudinal research is needed to examine the

role of savouring in protecting meaning-in-life from the negative impacts of stress over time.

Therapists might listen for and support themes of savouring in persons coping with stress.

Keywords: Savouring, stress, meaning in life, positive affect, negative affect.


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University burnout: What keeps some students cool while others are cooked?

Rhiannon Brophy and Dr. James Donnelly

Aim: Post-secondary education can be quite demanding, with students needing to adapt and

manage life’s competing demands. Given that these demands can increase risk for dysphoria, it is

important to address the issue of student burnout and help promote psychological and physical

health. The current research sought to identify the links among potential risk and protective factors

and students’ reported symptoms of burnout. We also explored differences across university

disciplines, with the goal of better understanding contributors to burnout risk, and possibly

highlighting ways to help students cope effectively.

Method: An online survey was distributed to participants that measured burnout (MBI-SS), student

engagement (UWES-S), perceived social support (MSPSS), coping styles (Ways of Coping Scale) and

demographics. Participants included university students (n = 291) over the age of 18 (M = 30.94, SD

= 12.79).

Results: Coping Style and the number of work hours reported were not significantly correlated with

burnout, academic engagement or social support. However, participants who reported working

more than 31 hours a week reported higher burnout than other work categories (no employment, 1-

10 hours, 11-20 hours or 21-30 hours). The PANAS difference scores were highly positively

correlated with burnout, suggesting participants affective state influenced the way they responded

to the questions. Age was also found to be positively correlated with engagement and affective

state, and negatively correlated with burnout. Social support was not found to be protective for any

age category. Additionally, there were no differences in burnout across course categories.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that older students appear to be at lower risk for burnout, and

that perceived social support is not related to risk. It also suggests that unless students are working

more than 31 hours a week, working while attending university is not a risk factor for experiencing

symptoms of burnout.

Keywords: Burnout (MBI-SS), student engagement (UWES-S), perceived social support (MSPSS),

coping styles (Ways of Coping Scale).


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The seductive allure of neuroscience: how core beliefs impact judgments of scientific explanations

Shady Chapple and Dr. Steve Provost

Aim: People tend to rate explanations of psychological phenomena to be of higher quality when

they contain superfluous neuroscientific terminology, a phenomenon known as the “seductive

allure” of neuroscience. Seductive allure may impair our ability to critically evaluate information,

and is capitalised upon in neuromarketing strategies. However, factors underpinning its occurrence

are not well understood. This study was designed to evaluate whether an individual’s philosophical

beliefs and the perceived characteristics of science influenced neuroscience’s seductive allure.

Method: A 2 x 3 repeated measure design was employed in which explanation quality (good vs

circular) and type (no neuroscience vs simple neuroscience vs jargon neuroscience) were

manipulated. Core beliefs and perceived characteristics of science were assessed via questions rated

on a 7-point Likert Scale.

Results: Participants were able to identify the difference between good and bad explanations, and

neuroscientific terminology was found to improve quality ratings for circular explanations. Core

beliefs, including dualism, reductionism and critical analysis of science were not found to impact on

the seductive allure of neuroscience. Evidence supporting the hierarchy of perceived characteristics

of science theory was identified, with neuroscience rating more highly than other fields on

characteristics including prestige, credibility, precision, intrigue and allure. The perceived precision

of psychology was found to be correlated with ratings of quality of circular neuroscientific

explanations.

Conclusion: The fact that neuroscience is perceived to be a more precise scientific field of inquiry

than psychology may play some role in the seductive allure of neuroscience. Results suggesting that

seductive allure impacted only circular explanations may be explained by a ceiling effect limiting

quality ratings of good explanations. Investigation into the perceived prestige, credibility and

intrigue afforded neuroscience may increase understandings of factors underpinning seductive

allure.

Keywords: Seductive allure, neuroscience, psychology, neuro-marketing, science characteristics


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The whimsical effects of music on attention and working memory performance in an academic setting

Kelvin Chong, Prof. Peter Hassmen, Dr. Christopher Stevens and Leigh Grant

Aims: Research has shown that music encompasses many merits in effecting positive changes in our

psychological, behavioural, and emotional functions. However, it is rather controversial on the

cognitive end, particularly on the theories circulating around the “Mozart effect”, wherein

participants had a significantly better spatial IQ score after having listened to a passage of Mozart’s

Sonata for 10 min. Several studies were unable to replicate the findings; other studies were able to

replicate the findings but attributed this effect to the results of “enjoyment arousal” due to an

appreciation of this particular music. Considering these conflicting results, this study aimed to

examine the effects of music (preferred, classical and no music) on cognitive tasks while

simultaneously exploring how different personalities could potentially play a role in these

conditions.

Methods: Participants (n = 28) completed an Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) prior to completing

two tasks, inspection time and digit-span task in three different conditions: preferred music

condition (PM), classical music condition (CM), and no music condition (NM) in a randomised order.

Inspection time and digit span tasks were used to measure participant’s visual-perceptual processing

speed and working memory performance respectively.

Results: A mixed-design analysis of variance revealed that only preferred music increased visual-

perceptual speed and attentional capacity based on participants’ accurate responses in inspection

time when compared to CM (p = .03) but not NM (p = .28). Conclusions: The preferred music

condition increased inspection time. More specifically, participants had a significantly better visual-

perceptual processing speed and attentional capacity (inspection time) while listening to their

preferred music but not on working memory performance (digit span) in complex cognitive tasks.

However, in spite of having no improvements in working memory performance, music does not

impair or lessen this cognitive skill in comparison to complete silence.

Keywords: Genres, Music, Personalities, Cognitive performance, Attention


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Beeps, bops, and brainwaves; does omission MMN vary with prediction violation magnitude?

Brett Cocker and Dr. Stephen Provost

Aims: Using electro-encephalography (EEG), the mis-match negativity (MMN) event-related

potential (ERP) is used to investigate sensory perception. The theoretical mechanisms proposed to

underly the MMN are heavily debated. Adaption theory suggests MMN is a stimulus-driven

response, while memory-trace theory suggests MMN results from a comparison between previous

memory traces of stimuli and current incoming stimuli. It is well established that larger differences

between present and past stimuli generate larger MMN responses. Assuming MMN reflects

prediction errors, and omission responses reflect top-down predictions, this implies that

establishing the expectation of large/small deviations may equate to large/small omission

responses. We hypothesised the degree of change expected would be reflected in omission

magnitude.

Methods: EEG was recorded while participants were presented with an auditory oddball paradigm

as they viewed a silent video of nature scenes. Sequences of standard tones and pitch deviations of

5% and 20% were presented with occasional omissions of the final tone.

Results: Data are still being collected, however, preliminary analysis revealed larger deviants had

smaller MMN responses than the smaller deviants. The largest MMNs were elicited in the omission

conditions. Peak magnitudes did not differ between large/small omissions, however, the latency of

omission MMN onset was earlier for the small deviant condition.

Conclusions: A tentative explanation for the indifference between peak omission magnitudes, and

the difference between omissions and deviants, may simply be the probability of presentation

(standards: 70%, deviants:20%, omissions: 10%). The contrary MMN magnitudes for large/small

deviants (large deviant = small MMN), and omission latency differences, may be attributable to the

ease of discriminability between standards and deviants (peak shift). This suggests the anticipation

of large or small change may be reflected in omission MMN latency. Preliminary results align with

previous research supporting the memory-trace hypothesis, however, they do not rule out adaption.

Keywords: adaption, memory-trace, omission, MMN, sensory perception.


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Please like my photograph or I may not remember it! The impact of social media posts and interaction on memory for shared photographs

Tanya Cone and Dr. Mitchell Longstaff

Aim: This study investigated whether sharing images to social media affects memory accuracy.

Memory for images shared to social media may be stronger than images not shared, perhaps due to

the additional time and thought directed towards images in this context as well as expected or

actual social interaction associated with the images. The effect of social media image interaction on

memory has remained mostly unexplored. Our aim is therefore to explore the effect of sharing

images to social media on memory, as well as assess any additional impact from interacting with the

images.

Method: 38 participants were provided 9 images and asked to “share” them under 3 conditions: to

their personal Facebook page which allows interaction, a closed gallery with no interaction, or not

shared. Participants were assessed on their ability to describe and recall the location of the images

after a distractor task.

Results: Significantly better recall was found for images shared to social media compared to not

shared. More specifically, significantly better recall was found for images shared to Facebook

compared to the gallery or not shared, and significantly better recall for images shared to the gallery

compared with images not shared.

Conclusion: Sharing images appears to strengthen associated memories, particularly when shared to

social media platforms with the potential for interaction, but also to some extent when merely

sharing to a closed gallery. The participants’ experience of using social media may explain this, as

images which gain interaction typically remain easily visible to the person posting and their

friends/followers, generating the potential for further viewing and interaction, which thereby

increases recall for that image. Interactions with images on social media may play a key role in

enhancing bonds and relationships in social groups which could lead to remembering images

differently under various social media sharing conditions.

Keywords: social media, recall, interaction, memory, images


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To give or not to give - that is the organ donation question

Rachel Cook and Dr. Gail Moloney

Aim: Organ donation rates in Australia do not meet the current needs. Body integrity, or the belief

that the body needs to remain whole, has been identified as one of barriers to donation and hence

the registration of donation decisions on the Australian Organ Donor Register. Various factors have

been suggested to underpin beliefs about body integrity such as, the mind body relationship and a

desire to protect the body. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether these factors

predicted body integrity and beliefs about organ donation.

Method: Two hundred and seventeen University staff and students (M = 45, F =164, M age = 42.45)

completed an online questionnaire comprised of a 5-item body integrity scale, 4 mind body

relationship questions, 4 protecting the body questions as well as a12-item Organ Donation Belief

scale.

Results: Contrary to expectations, analyses revealed 83.3% of participants reported they had no or

very low concerns about body integrity, so no further analysis was conducted on these items. A

Principal Components Analysis of the Organ Donation Belief scale revealed four factors identified as

Gift of life, Benefits to Self, Negative Consequences and Concerns over Medical Care. Linear

Regression was used to investigate whether the two questions relating to Protecting the Body

predicted the four Organ Donation Beliefs scales. The Protecting the Body questions significantly

positively predicted scores on Negative Consequence and Concerns over Medical Care (p < .001).

Likewise, linear regression revealed that Protecting the Body items significantly (p < .001) negatively

predicted scores on Gift of life (R2 = .347) and Benefits to self (R2 = .142).

Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest that beliefs about protecting the body are important

to understand in relation to the barriers about organ donation.

Keywords: organ donation, mind body relationship, bodily integrity.


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Do mothers have a stronger connection with their children? The influence of gender on self-processing biases

Maddison Dallow and Dr. Heather Winskel

Aim: Self-processing bias occurs when information related to oneself is preferentially responded to

or remembered in comparison to information related to others. There is a distinct lack of research

investigating the relationship between gender and self-processing biases. Due to the nature of

parent-child relationships and parental differences, it is likely that self-processing biases will occur

between mothers and fathers. The current study investigated gender differences in self-processing

bias between mothers and fathers with young children.

Method: 60 Australian parents (30 fathers) completed demographic information containing

questions relating to themselves or their youngest or only child, including rating their level of

closeness with their child. Using a modified version of a perceptual association matching paradigm,

coloured cups and ownership labels were used instead of neutral geometric shapes (e.g., red cup –

mine, blue cup – child’s, green cup – stranger’s). Participants were then instructed to memorise the

three cup-label pairings and then judge, as quickly and accurately as possible, whether the stimuli

displayed matched or mismatched the previously learned associations.

Results: For both matched and mismatched trials, fathers showed a greater self-processing bias than

mothers, responding significantly faster to their own cup compared to their child’s cup. In contrast,

mothers showed no significant difference in response times between their own cup and their child’s

cup. Correlations showed a significant, negative relationship between child age and parental self-

processing bias, and self-reported closeness and parental self-processing bias.

Conclusions: The results suggest that there are parental and gender differences in self-processing

biases, with fathers showing a greater bias towards self-relevant stimuli than mothers. From the

correlations, it is evident that both the age of the child and the closeness of the parent-child

relationship may influence these biases in self-processing.

Keywords: self-processing bias, ownership, association, gender differences, parental closeness


19

Feeling flow: developing a new scale to measure flow in sport and exercise

Janelle Driscoll and Dr. Christian Swann

Aim: Flow is an intrinsically rewarding psychological state, associated with enjoyable and rewarding

experiences. In sport and exercise the Flow State Scale-2 (FSS-2) is the primary tool used to measure

flow. Recent research has raised questions over the construct and discriminant validity of the FSS-2,

while evidence for a refined conceptualisation of flow has also emerged. A New Flow Scale (NFS) has

been developed to test the new conceptualisation and address the limitations of the FSS-2. The aim

of this study is to identify the factor structure of the NFS and examine its convergent validity in

comparison to the FSS-2.

Method: A community sample of 262 participants completed the FSS-2 and the NFS as soon as

possible after engaging in sport or exercise.

Results: Exploratory factor analysis indicated a two-factor 28-item structure. This structure

accounted for 50.83% of the variance and produced a ‘marvellous’ Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin (KMO = .936).

Both factors demonstrated strong internal consistency, factor-one, new flow conceptualisation (α =

.955) accounted for 42.40% of the variance; factor-two, altered perceptions (α = .852) accounted for

8.43% of the variance. Convergent validity of the NFS was assessed using Pearson product-moment

correlation coefficient, which assess the relationship between the NFS and the FSS-2. There was a

strong significant correlation between the total scores of both scales, r(258) = .685, p = <.001.

Factor-one correlated significantly with all FSS-2 subscales, with medium to high correlations (.411 -

.586) except the transformation of time subscale, r(259) = .205, p = .001. Factor-two produced weak

correlations with all FSS-2 subscales except transformation of time, r(258) = .668, p <.001. These

findings could indicate that items on factor-two do not fit the overall flow construct and, through

further research, could be revised or omitted.

Conclusion: This study provides evidence for the factor structure and convergent validity of a new

scale to measure flow in sport and exercise.

Keywords: factor analysis, psychometric evaluation, flow research, correlation, new

conceptualisation


20

Cultural life script deviations and psychological adjustment: What role does meaning-making play?

Nao Dupre-Virtamo and Dr. Christina Samios

Aims: It is possible that when a person’s life story (i.e., the important events in their life) deviates

from the culturally prescribed order and timing of important life events (i.e., the life script) distress

will ensue. This distress might propel a search for meaning, and possibly, the person will grow from

their experience. No research to date has examined meaning making and growth in this context,

which is the aim of this study. Further, this study aims to examine the role of self-compassion (i.e.,

being kind to oneself in times of suffering) in promoting growth.

Method: An online survey was distributed to 207 participants over the age of 18 (M age = 34.30, SD

= 13.22). The survey took approximately 20 minutes to complete and included measures of meaning

making (in particular positive reframing and acceptance), self-compassion, and posttraumatic

growth.

Results: Preliminary correlations found that acceptance and positive reframing were both positively

and significantly correlated with posttraumatic growth and that self-compassion was also positively

and significantly correlated with posttraumatic growth.

Conclusions: In the context of life story deviation from the life-script, meaning-making processes

(such as acceptance and positive reframing) and self-compassion relate to greater posttraumatic

growth. Therapists might listen for themes of meaning making and promote self-compassion in

persons who are distressed by the way(s) their life deviates from the life script.

Keywords: cultural life scripts, stress, meaning making, self-compassion, posttraumatic growth.


21

Blood donation: are our understandings of it related to our identification to social groups?

Brianna Eadie and Dr. Gail Moloney

Aim: One in three Australians need donated blood during their lifetime. With an increasing

population, agencies are encountering huge demand for donated blood. Approximately 5% of

eligible participants donate blood and just 50% return to make a second donation. This study

investigated whether social understandings of blood donation (BD) were differentiated by social

identity (SI) through membership of a sporting/exercise group. Research investigating stress and

performance has identified primary appraisal (perceiving environmental stressors as threatening)

and secondary appraisal (beliefs about support to cope with that stress) as constituents of stress.

Both types of appraisals are linked to social identity. The extent that external stimuli are perceived

as threatening is argued to depend, in part, on the person’s social identification. This study

investigated whether strength of identification with a sporting group was related to the perceptions

associated with BD, particularly negative perceptions.

Method: 298 participants (M = 64, F = 217, mean age = 37.5) completed a self-report questionnaire

comprising of 17 Likert style questions about blood donation, a four-item social identity scale and

questions about membership to sporting/exercise or other social groups.

Results: Principal Axis Factoring of the 17 BD items revealed three factors (identified as positive,

negative and descriptive). A mixed ANOVA revealed no significant differences between groups and

BD perceptions. Linear Regression investigated whether strength of social identity predicted BD

perceptions. A moderate positive correlation between SI and positive perceptions of donation was

found, with stronger identity to a sporting/exercise group associated with greater positive

perceptions of BD. There was no association between negative perceptions and SI.

Conclusions: Participants who reported stronger identification with a sporting/exercise group

reported more positive views of BD than those who identified less strongly. Although not

investigated in this study, this could be related to levels of self-efficacy which have been identified

as a psychological barrier to blood donation.

Keywords: blood donation, social identity, sporting and exercise, social representations, blood

donation attitudes


22

Cross-cultural differences in colour-emotion associations: Are they a pigment of our imagination?

Declan Forrester and Dr. Heather Winskel

Aims: There is an acknowledged need to investigate the influence of culture on colour-emotion

associations. Colour-emotion associations have primarily been studied from a universal perspective,

which assumes that all cultures have similar associations, e.g. red with anger and black with fear.

More recently, studies have focused on culture-specific associations, which undermines this

assumption of universality. The current study compared colour-emotion associations of Australians

and Thais to investigate universal and culture-specific colour-emotion associations. It was predicted

that there would be evidence of universal associations and specific differences influenced by

culture-specific differences due to language and environmental factors.

Method: Data was collected from Australians (n = 278) and Thais (n = 92). A self-report measure of

colour-emotion associations was collected using the Geneva Emotion Wheel (GEW). Participants

were asked to rate the intensity of their association of eight colour words (blue, pink, red, black,

white, yellow, orange, green) with 20 emotion words presented on the GEW. Additional free

response questions were asked regarding participant’s general colour associations and their

associations of particular groups with colours.

Results: A series of Mann-Whitney U tests were conducted. Both Australians and Thais were found

to have significant associations of red with love and red with anger. In addition, culture-specific

differences were found; Australians associated joy more strongly with yellow than Thais whereas

Thais associated amusement with yellow and orange more strongly than Australians. A language-

based association of blue with sadness was found to be specific to Australians. Associations of pink

with love was found to be stronger in Thais than Australians, potentially due to the Thai linguistic

expression of “a pink world” indicating romance/love.

Conclusion: These findings, limitations and future directions of the research are discussed. A key

recommendation is that colour-emotion associations are investigated from both a universal and

culture-specific perspective.

Keywords: colour, emotion, colour-emotion associations, universal, culture-specific


23

Coming up clutch! A new measurement for the psychological state of clutch performance in sport

Matthew Anthony Gatt and Dr. Christian Swann

Aim: A clutch performance is a superior performance that occurs under pressure during sports or

exercise. Until now, research investigating the psychological state underlying clutch performance

has focused on qualitative studies that have used interviews to understand athletes’ experiences

during competition. However, there are currently no validated questionnaires that quantitatively

measure whether a clutch state is experienced. This study aims to provide preliminary assessment

of a new measure to explore the psychological state underlying clutch performance in sport and

exercise.

Method: This initial study included one hundred and twenty-four participants (Male = 59, Female =

65 and Unknown = 2), aged 18 - 69 (M age = 35.53, SD = 12.87). Types of activities included running,

soccer, hockey, netball, yoga, and cycling. Participants were invited to complete a pen-and-paper

questionnaire relating to their subjective experiences soon after completing a sport or exercise

activity.

Results: An exploratory factor analysis found a five-factor structure, with a ‘Meritorious’ KMO of .88

and a 66% variance accounted for by the model. The total item pool of 36 was reduced to 27 items,

with a Cronbach’s alpha of α = .92, showing that the overall scale has good internal consistency.

Conclusion: This factor analysis provides tentative supporting evidence for the validity of a new

measure of the psychological state underlying clutch performance in sport and exercise. The

retained items within the factor structure relate to the characteristics of a psychological state of

clutch performance which was hypothesised by previous research. This study provides a basis for

further testing of this measure in order to establish its validity and reliability.

Keywords: Exploratory Factor Analysis, Quantitative Measure, Performance, Pressure.


24

The Healthy Healer: Understanding the Relationships amongst Positive Schemas, Well-being, and Burnout in Therapists

Dayanna Grageda, Dr. James Donnelly and Dr. Robert Brockman

Aims: Psychologists are at high risk of burnout due to emotionally taxing job demands. Researchers

using Schema Therapy models found that therapists with negative schemas are experiencing high to

moderate levels of burnout and consequently may compromise their well-being, competence tent

and ethical care for clients. Conversely, positive schemas reportedly have protective qualities

against mental ill-health and form the necessary foundation for a healthy adult mode of being

characterised by good judgment, maturity, and psychological health. This study was the first to

measure positive schemas in therapists using the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ). The

study aimed to investigate therapists’ positive schemas and ways of being, as well as their

relationship to well-being and burnout while controlling for current job demands.

Methods: Psychologists, psychotherapists, and counsellors (N = 130; 88% female; M age = 42)

completed an online questionnaire. The YPSQ estimated 14 positive schemas while the Healthy

Adult (HAM) and Demanding Parent (Dpa) modes were measured using the Schema Mode

Inventory. The PERMA-profiler was used to measure well-being. The abbreviated Maslach Burnout

Inventory measured perceived occupational burnout. Job demands were measured using the

QEEW2.0.

Results: As expected, positive schema scores positively correlated with HAM and well-being but

negatively correlated with burnout and Dpa mode scores. Exploratory Factor Analysis indicated that

positive schema subscales cluster into a three-factor structure representing (1) Emotional Health

and Connection, (2) Self-Directed Emotions, and (3) being Goal Driven and Disciplined. Therapists

who reported low burnout had more of factors 1 and 3 than those reporting high burnout. High Job

Demands were actually related to positive schemas and well-being.

Conclusion: These preliminary findings contribute to our understanding of the newly developed

positive schemas, and support the schema therapy model that variance in positive schemas is

associated with HAM, well-being and possible risk for burnout among therapists.

Keywords: positive schemas, burnout, well-being, healthy adult mode, psychologist


25

At face value: are younger adults less accurate than older adults at facial emotion processing?

Tayla Harrington and Dr. Heather Winskel

Aim: The current study expands on past research into whether younger or older adults are better at

emotion recognition tasks. This study investigated the relationship between age and emotion

recognition abilities through the use of a face-word emotional Stroop task. It was hypothesised that

the younger age group would have longer response times and lower accuracy when responding to

incongruent face-word emotions than the older age group.

Method: Participants were sourced from Southern Cross University campus and social networking

and were sorted into two age groups: a younger group aged 18-29 and an older age group of over

30 years. Participants completed 240 trials of the Stroop task via laptop computer, with both

accuracy and response times being recorded. The participants were required to respond according

to whether the word superimposed over faces in the task were fearful or happy (fast and accurately)

with response time measured in milliseconds. The happy and fearful words were counterbalanced

with the face emotions they were superimposed over to create both congruent and incongruent

conditions.

Results: The results will be analysed by way of factorial ANOVA using the factors of age, emotion

and congruency. The findings from this study will provide further understanding into whether

emotion recognition is less developed in young adults than older adults.

Keywords: age, emotion recognition, emotion processing, face-word Stroop task, facial emotion

processing


26

School teacher well-being: The moderating role of self-compassion

Jessica Hellyar and Dr. Christina Samios

Aim: Emerging evidence suggests that work-related stress among school teachers is a serious and

widespread problem. Such stress could be due to workload, lack of support, lack of collaborative

time with colleagues, and management of difficult student behaviour. However, it is also important

to understand the impact of a highly stressful event in the workplace on teacher psychological

adjustment as well as factors that might protect school teachers’ psychological adjustment. One

such factor could be self-compassion, which refers to being kind to oneself in times of suffering.

Therefore, we sought to determine if the impact of the stressful event in the workplace relates to

poorer psychological adjustment and whether self-compassion moderates this relationship.

Method: One hundred and nine school teachers (95.4% female, 4.6% male) participated in an

anonymous online survey. Their ages ranged from 23 to 65 (M age = 39.79, SD = 11.32). Participants

nominated the most stressful event that had occurred for them in the workplace in the past year

and then completed the measures of the impact of the event, self-compassion, and psychological

adjustment (measured by depression and life satisfaction).

Results: Preliminary analyses found that greater impact of the stressful event is significantly

correlated with greater depression and less life satisfaction. It was also found that greater self-

compassion related to less impact of the stressful event.

Conclusion: The preliminary results suggest that a highly stressful event in the workplace relates to

poorer psychological adjustment outcomes for teachers and that self-compassion relates to less

impact of the event. Thus, self-compassion might be important to bolster in school teachers, and

future research should examine the role of self-compassion over time in teachers’ adjustment to a

stressful event in the workplace.

Keywords: impact of event, self-compassion, psychological adjustment, depression, life satisfaction


27

Dental perceptions: Getting to the "root" of it all

Sharon Hibbert, Dr. Gail Moloney and Dr. Kate Amos

Aim: Inadequate oral health care for children aged 2-17 is an increasing health concern. Parents and

caregivers are responsible for establishing oral hygiene and preventative care routines for their

children. Drawing from Social Representation theory, this study investigated how dentists are

socially understood (the associated beliefs, values and practices) and whether these understandings

are differentiated by the gender of the dentist. The study also investigated whether parent’s

perceptions of the dentist were associated with the uptake of the Government-funded free dental

scheme for children.

Method: A total of 347 participants (M age = 39.20, 79% Female; 13.3% Male) completed 1 of 3

conditions of an online survey comprising of a word association task. This task was preceded by a

scenario describing the dentist as female, male or neutral and 20 Likert-style questions drawn from

the Revised Dental Belief Survey and the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear scale.

Results: Perceptions of the dentist from the word association were both positive (convenient,

gentle, nice) and negative (anxiety, nervous and pain) - irrespective of gender. Similarly, exploratory

factor analysis of the scales revealed a positive and negative factor and overall agreement with

both perceptions. Further analyses demonstrated a significantly stronger agreement with the

negative perceptions for the female condition compared to the neutral condition. A total of 55.4%

participants were eligible to access the free dental scheme, 54% of whom had already used this

scheme. Of those who had not yet used the scheme, 92% indicated they would do so. Perceptions of

the dentist were not differentiated by previous access to the dental scheme.

Conclusions: Dentist gender did not differentiate the contradictory socially-held understandings

associated with the dentist. Parental perceptions of the dentist did not appear to influence either

previous or intended access to a Government-funded child dental scheme.


28

Do social perceptions of gender impact on dementia caregiving?

Rory Hude and Dr. Gail Moloney

Aim: Rates of dementia diagnosis are ever increasing within an aging global population. Providing

the best means of optimal care for people with dementia is of vital importance for economic,

psychological and personal wellbeing. The gender of the caregiver has been identified as a possibly

significant, yet largely unexplored factor in providing optimal care. Currently most caregivers for

people with dementia are female, despite the fact that male caregivers have been identified as

being able to contribute in equal ways. The aim of this study was to draw from social

representations theory to investigate how caregiving for people with dementia is socially

understood in terms of the associated values, beliefs and practices, and if this social understanding

is differentiated by gender.

Method: A randomly assigned online survey with three conditions (Female, Male and Non-gendered

caregivers for people with dementia) comprised of a word association task (completed by 209

participants) and 7-point Likert scale questions was completed by 192 participants (161 Female, 31

Male).

Results: Word association data revealed that although all conditions were strongly associated with

positive perceptions of caregiving, such as ‘caring’ and ‘kind’, males were also highly associated with

physical capacities such as ‘strong’ and ‘firm’, and negative adjectives such as ‘uncompassionate’.

Non-gendered caregivers were associated with the difficult nature of the work. Mixed ANOVA

analyses found that males were as receptive to the concept of being cared for by male caregivers as

female caregivers, if they themselves were to develop dementia. Females, though highly receptive

to female caregivers, strongly disfavoured the concept of being cared for by a male caregiver should

they themselves develop dementia. Participants’ culture and prior experience working with

dementia caregivers was also related to perceptions.

Conclusion: Strategies around dementia caregiving need to be understood within the socially

constructed knowledge about caregiving and dementia.

Keywords: Dementia, Dementia Caregiver, Caregiving, Gender, Perceptions


29

Place matters: Gender role attitudes in city and country

Hannah Jeffers and Dr. Desirée Kozlowski

Aim: Negative effects of gender non-conformity and gender role strain are well established in the

literature, as are differences in attitudes between urban and rural populations. This study aimed to

examine whether and to what extent differences exist in gender-role adherence and attitudes

toward gender non-conformity in an Australian sample and to understand better how population

density relates to these attitudes and awareness of inequality.

Method: 178 students of Southern Cross University (39 male, 139 female) aged 18- 68 (mean = 37,

SD = 14) completed an online questionnaire comprising a number of scales asking questions

regarding personal and perceived attitudes toward gender. The WHO5 was included to measure

psychological wellbeing. Data were analysed using a 2 x 3 mixed between-within-subjects ANOVA.

Results: Significant differences between genders were: threat to manhood, (F (1, 176) = 4.39, p =

.04), Awareness of Gender Inequality, (F (1, 176) = 20.63, p < .001), and Collective Action Intentions,

(F (1, 176) = 13.31, p < .001). Those who grew up in a city (n = 59) scored lower on feminine traits

than those who grew up in a town (n = 78), F (2, 175) = 3.57, p = .03). There was also a significant

negative correlation between feminine traits and psychological wellbeing, r = -.27, p < .001, and a

positive correlation between masculine traits and psychological wellbeing, r = .22, p = .003.

Conclusion: Women in this sample were more aware of inequality and more willing to protest

against it. Men felt greater gender equality threatened their own position in society. Gender traits

predicted psychological wellbeing. Further, as desirability for a man to have feminine traits goes up,

desirability for a woman to have feminine traits goes down, a pattern consistent with more

androgynous gender roles.

Keywords: gender, non-conformity, urban, rural, difference in attitudes, androgyny


30

Is future orientated thinking associated with career agency and career success in Australian adults? Testing indirect and interaction effects

Lena Johnston and Dr. Anna Praskova

Aim: Future orientation, or the ability to think about, plan for, and anticipate, the future (Steinberg

et al., 2009), is a relatively stable personal attribute that drives human agency and affects life

outcomes. It is crucial for people when making career decisions, setting and progressing their career

goals, and managing career transitions. To date, little research examined the role of, and the

complexities surrounding future orientation in achieving important career outcomes in adults. In a

cross-sectional study driven by the conceptual framework of Johnson et al. (2014), we tested (a) the

direct effects of future orientation on career agency (career strategies and work effort) and career

success (self-perceived employability and career adaptability), (b) the indirect effects of future

orientation on career success via the career agency variables, and (c) the interaction effects of

negative career feedback in the future orientation–outcome relationships.

Method: We surveyed 284 adults (71% females; M = 38.3 years) online and conducted a series of

multiple mediation and simple moderation analyses (OLS regression) using the PROCESS tool (Hayes,

2018).

Results: Future orientation was associated with more work effort, use of career strategies, career

adaptability, and positive perceptions of employability. Work effort and career strategies positively

mediated the future orientation-self-perceived employability/career adaptability relationships. The

relationships between future orientation and the career outcomes of strategies, self-perceived

employability, and career adaptability (but not work effort) were conditional upon the level of

negative career feedback. The simple slopes analyses indicated that the positive effect of future

orientation on career outcomes was significant only for those who received low levels of negative

career feedback.

Conclusion: Future orientation contributes to successful career engagement and more positive and

adaptable career perceptions but depends on the feedback one receives. We discuss the

implications for career guidance and training in providing effective career feedback.

Keywords: Future Orientation, Career Success, Career Adaptability, Self-perceived Employability,

Career Strategies, Career Feedback


31

Don’t think too hard: Developing a cognitive screening tool for executive functioning

Tamara Keiller, Dr. Emily Hindman and Duncan Blair

Executive functioning (EF) describes a collection of cognitive processes responsible for goal-

orientated behaviour, attributed to daily tasks including organisation, time management and being

able to plan and adapt behaviour to successfully complete a task. Even minor deficits in EF can

reduce functional capacity and limit educational attainment and career outcomes. Accurate

assessment of EF is vital to inform cognitive intervention and support strategies. Despite this

importance, a brief, widely available screening tool (ST) for EF is yet to be validated.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the validity of a brief computerised ST designed to assess

EF in a non-clinical sample.

Method: Participants (N = 55, 39 female, M age = 29.27, SD = 11.46) completed the ST along with a

battery of standardised neuropsychological tasks (D-KEFS sub-tests; Tower Test, Verbal Fluency Test

and the Colour-Word Interference Test) and a self-report measure of EF (Behaviour Rating Inventory

of Executive Functioning, BRIEF) to determine predictive ability of the ST.

Results: Multiple Regression Analyses indicated that in combination the ST predicted 6%, 4%, 2%

and 3% of the variance on the D-KEFS Tower Test, Verbal Fluency Test (Switch condition), Colour-

Word Interference Test and the BRIEF, respectively (all p >.05). The ST predicted 16% of the variance

on the Verbal Fluency Test (Letter and Category Fluency), p = .032. Subsequent Discriminate

Functional Analysis (DFA) was performed to assess whether the ST correctly classifies individuals

according to normative clinical ranges (1 = Borderline Impairment/Below Average, 2 =

Average/Above Average/Superior) on the Verbal Fluency Task (Letter and Category Fluency).

Conclusion: DFA indicated the ST correctly classified 87% of participants (n = 48) according to

normative clinical ranges. Considerations for future research are discussed.

Keywords: executive functioning, cognitive screening tool, validation study, neuropsychological

assessment, cognition


32

Over the edge in E-Sports? A New Survey of Player Definitions and Risk Factors for Tilt

Claire Korte, Dr. James Donnelly and Dr. Kyle Bennett

Aim: currently only a colloquial definition of tilt exists in the e-gaming community. A formal tilt

definition is necessary to isolate its unique role and relationship to potentially game-losing

behaviors e.g. risky, impulsive plays.

Method: four players and two coaches answered semi-structured interview questions. A league of

legends consultant reviewed the validity of these tilt questions. Items representing related

constructs like choking were included as a discriminant validity check. Then content analysis was

used to categorize these utterances into first-person definition and risk Likert items. Expectation

violation, loss of control and anger were core definitional themes drawn from these utterances. N =

18, participants rated their level of agreement from 0-6 on these items. In open comment boxes,

they also wrote their definition and risk factors to ensure future tilt instruments had a sufficiently

wide range of tilt experiences. Both high and low risk items were included to check consistency of

responding.

Results: factor analysis identified four unique factors: blaming others players, loss of decision

making and control, self-blame and self-doubt. An inadequate sample severely limits the reliability

of these factors. Conclusion: Future tilt screens may use these items as a basis for detecting tilt and

possible tilt profiles in e-gamers. Given this study’s lack of power, these factors only describe and

don’t sufficiently define tilt.

Keywords: tilt, tilt profiles, league of legends, semi-structured interview, survey


33

Frontal lobe alpha asymmetry and selective memory: an investigation into the neurological and cognitive indices of emotional resilience

Caitlin Laycox, Dr. Basia Radlinska and Dr. James Donnelly

Aim: Electroencephalography frontal lobe alpha asymmetry, or differential hemispheric activity of

the prefrontal cortex, is associated with emotional resilience. In the context of behavioural

motivation models, this relationship underpins affective style and cognitive biases in emotional

processing. However, there is a paucity of research specifically examining the nature of the

relationship between frontal asymmetry and resilience, as well as the role of cognitive biases such

as selective memory. To better conceptualise the psychological, cognitive and neurological indices of

emotional resilience, the present study aimed to directly measure the relationship between frontal

asymmetry and resilience, while also assessing the influence of state affect and performance on a

selective memory task to assess what accounts for the most variability in resilience.

Methods: Thirty Southern Cross University students (63% Female) with a mean age of 35.7

completed two self-reported measures, namely the Positive and Negative Affective Schedule

(Watson & Clarke, 1998), as well as the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (2007). Baseline EEG

measures of frontal and parietal lobe alpha activity were collected, and participants completed a

memory recognition task of differentially valanced emotional images to assess selective memory

performance using the International Affective Picture System (Lange, 2008).

Results: State affect was the only significant predictor of emotional resilience F(3,26) = 2.23 p < .05,

effect size = .20. Frontal asymmetry and memory performance did not significantly account for

variance in resilience. In a multivariate analysis of variance, positive affect was significantly higher in

the left asymmetry group F(2,27) = 3.26 p < .05, effect size = .19, compared to the middle

asymmetry group.

Conclusions: These results highlight a possible discontinuity in frontal asymmetry research.

Although state affect significantly predicted emotional resilience, there was no evidence to support

the association between frontal asymmetry and emotional resilience, nor was there evidence to

support a cognitive bias in memory performance. This highlights the need for future research to

further elucidate the relationship between frontal asymmetry and resilience, as this relationship is

often an unexamined assumption throughout the asymmetry literature.

Keywords: Frontal Asymmetry, Emotional Resilience, Affective Style, Emotional Processing, Selective

Memory


34

The mediating role of schemas and self-compassion in interoceptive awareness and emotional regulation

Jessica Lihou and Dr. Basia Radlinska

Aim: A strong body of evidence supports the interconnection between physiological arousal and

emotional states. Interoceptive awareness - the degree to which one notices and tolerates internal

body sensations - has increasingly been investigated for the role it plays in the regulation of

emotion. Nonetheless, little research has explored factors that mediate this relationship. Theories of

early maladaptive schemas emphasise the importance of affective sensations in the body that

accompany cognitions and emotional states. Furthermore, self-compassion, built on principles of

self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness, may be a protective mediator to emotional

regulation. The researcher hypothesised that there would be an inverse relationship between self-

compassion and emotional dysregulation, and that early maladaptive schema domains would

mediate the relationship between interoceptive awareness and emotional dysregulation.

Methods: Participants were 146 adults (74% female), aged 18-81 years, (M = 39.37, SD = 16.1)

conveniently sampled using social media and university staff and student databases. Participants

completed an anonymous online survey, which included the Multidimensional Assessment of

Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-II), Self-compassion Scale (SCS), Difficulties in Emotional Regulation

Scale (DERS-18), Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3), and demographics. A parallel mediation

model was examined via Hayes’ procedure (PROCESS) for multiple mediation.

Results: Findings revealed the model to be significant, F(3, 142) 23.2, p < 0.01, R2= .33,

demonstrating MAIA positively predicted scores of impaired autonomy and self-compassion, and

negatively predicted scores on over-vigilance and emotion dysregulation. Further, self-compassion

demonstrated a complete mediating effect on the association between MAIA and emotion

dysregulation (a3b3 = -.39, SE = .06, BCa CI [-.5, -.27]).

Conclusion: These findings support existing research that demonstrates the important role of self-

compassion in mental health and emotional wellbeing. The present study also provides tentative

support for the role early maladaptive schemas play in accounting for individual difference in

interoceptive awareness. Further longitudinal research is recommended

Keywords: multidimensional assessment of interoceptive awareness; early maladaptive schemas,

self-compassion, difficulties in emotion regulation, somatic psychology.


35

Are the eyes a window to the goal? Does BIS/BAS/FFFS sensitivity influence the processing of feedback?

Ronny Lindsay and Dr. Steve Provost

Aim: According to Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, there are three brain systems [the Behavioural

Inhibition System (BIS), the Behavioural Approach System (BAS) and the Fight-Flight-Freeze System

(FFFS)] mediating responses to positive and negative stimuli. Individual differences in the level of

engagement of these systems have been shown to influence attentional processes. We sought to

explore whether sensitivity towards punishment or reward influences students’ response to

academic feedback. We also wanted to gauge whether emotional regulation style mediates these

effects. In particular, it was expected that individuals with a sensitive FFFS would avoid negative

feedback, potentially discounting valuable information that could improve growth and performance.

Method: Thirty- two participants completed the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Personality

Questionnaire (RST-PQ) and Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Participants then undertook

a computerised covert orienting task which measured their degree of attentional hold towards

examples of positive and negative academic feedback.

Results: Data are still being collected but the analysis will compare Reaction Time (RT) toward

negative invalid, positive invalid, negative valid and positive valid trials. A regression analysis will

then be run to assess whether there is a correlation between RT associated with the different trial

types and RST-PQ scores. We expect to find a positive relationship between high FFFS and negative

invalid trials, indicating avoidance of negative feedback. We also expect to discover a negative

relationship between high BIS scores and RT toward negative invalid trials, indicating a higher

degree of attentional hold toward negative stimuli. Participants who utilise a reappraisal approach

to emotional regulation are expected to display less attentional hold toward negative feedback

examples.

Conclusions: Previous research suggests that negative feedback is most effective in improving

student performance. It is predicted that students with a highly engaged FFFS may avoid negative

feedback and miss out on valuable opportunities to improve performance.

Keywords: Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, BIS, BAS, FFFS, academic feedback, visual attentional

processes, covert orienting, education, emotional regulation strategies.


36

Learning and the fragmented mind: latent inhibition, negative priming and schizotypy.

Yuvthi Lutchman and Dr. Steve Provost

Aim: Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder that affects the lives of millions of people

worldwide. There is some evidence to suggest that schizophrenia may be associated with deficits in

inhibitory processes. This effect has not only been shown in those who are suffering from

schizophrenia, but also in healthy individuals who have higher scores on measures of schizotypy.

Two procedures employed to investigate inhibitory processes are latent inhibition and negative

priming. The latent inhibition task measures the influence of stimulus preexposure in a symbolic

matching-to-sample task. Negative priming refers to the fact speed of responding to a colour in

Stroop colour-word interference task is slower if that colour was the word which was suppressed on

the previous trial. The aim of this study was to determine whether latent inhibition and negative

priming could be demonstrated in an online paradigm and whether they were influenced by

participants’ level of schizotypy.

Method: Participants included university students and volunteers from the general public.

Participants were required to complete an online survey consisting of questions from the

Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale (MSS). They were then asked to complete an online symbolic

matching-to-sample task measuring latent inhibition and a Stroop colour-word interference task

measuring negative priming.

Results: Data are still being collected but the analysis will focus on correlations between schizotypy

scores and reaction times in the latent inhibition and negative priming task. If a significant

correlation is found between the variables, it may suggest that individuals who are prone to

schizophrenia have differences in learning compared to the general population.

Conclusion: An online paradigm of latent inhibition and negative priming would be highly beneficial

to increasing understanding of inhibitory processes and suppressed learning. Such knowledge may

be the key to developing appropriate interventions for both schizophrenically diagnosed and prone

individuals. Future research may expand by assessing the specific domains of schizotypy that

influence types of suppressed learning.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, Schizotypy, Latent Inhibition, Negative Priming, Inhibitory Processes


37

Cultural self-bias: do Italians prioritise the self less than Aussies?

Sarah Manuele and Dr. Heather Winskel

Aim: Previous research has found that Eastern collectivist cultures typically exemplify an

interdependent self-perception, while Western individualist cultures typically exemplify an

independent self-perception. As such, cross-cultural studies have suggested that culture moderates

processing and self-prioritisation.

The current research investigated the phenomenon of self-prioritisation, known as the self-bias

effect, in mothers of Italian-Australian and Anglo-Australian heritage. Further, it aimed to explore

the effect of self-construal; a construct designed to measure cultural variance in self-other

perception.

Method: 24 Italian-Australian and 33 Anglo-Australian mothers completed a demographic

questionnaire addressing their self, child, and cultural heritage, followed by a Self-Construal

Assessment scale, and a perceptual-association matching task. Coloured cups (red, blue, green)

were associated with a personal label (mine, child, stranger). Participants were first required to

memorise matched cup-label pairs. Subsequently, participants responded whether the presented

stimuli matched or mismatched the previously learned associations. Emphasis was placed on speed

and accuracy of responses.

Results: A 2 (Group: Italian, Australian) x 3 (Person: mine, child, stranger) mixed repeated measures

ANOVA was conducted. There were no significant differences in Italian-Australian and Anglo-

Australian mothers for either matched or mismatched trials. Both cultures recorded faster response

times for self-owned cup pairs, than that of child, or stranger. While reported age of child was

significantly higher for Italian-Australians than Anglo-Australians, results indicated no significant

effect of child age on self-bias. Further, there were no significant cultural differences for self-

construal. Conclusions: Italian-Australian and Anglo-Australian mothers both experienced self-bias,

suggesting culture did not have a moderating effect. In addition, the self-construal scores indicated

that Italian-Australians and Anglo-Australians hold similar self-other perceptions.

Keywords: self-bias effect, independent and interdependent self-construal, self-other perception,

individualist, collectivist


38

Can you run from depression?

Natalie Marton, Prof. Peter Hassmen and Dr. Kyle Bennett

Aim: In Australia, 1 in 7 people will experience depression within their lifetime. When considering

Australia’s geographical layout, remoteness can become a major risk factor for depression and even

suicide. People living in outer regional, remote, and very remote areas of Australia also face greater

barriers to accessing health care services in comparison to citizens living in major cities. This makes

maintenance of good mental health a greater challenge. The aim of this study is to examine the

impact of geographical location on the prevalence of depressive symptoms and participation in

physical activity.

Method: For this study, a total of 129 participants completed the research survey. The mean age

was 34.7 (SD = 12.1) and 78% of participants were female, with 21% male and 1% other. Participants

answered questions on both geographical location and demographic variables, then completed

questionnaires [(the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 3 (BREQ-3); the International

Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)-short version; the Stage of readiness to change: Patient-

Centred Assessment and Counselling for Exercise (PACE) questionnaire; the Beck Depression

Inventory Short Form (BDI-SF)].

Results: These results will be correlational rather than experimental; however, previous research

supports the hypothesis that participants who score higher in depressive symptoms will engage in

physical activity less and have less identified and intrinsic motivations. It can also be hypothesised

that a rural and male-identifying participant will display higher scores in depressive symptoms, will

engage in physical activity less, and with have less identified and intrinsic motivations.

Conclusions: These findings will hopefully suggest that future research needs to investigate the

practical implementation of physical activity in depressive participants.

Keywords: Depressive Symptoms, Physical Activity, Engagement, Australia.


39

Sex, crime, and rock & roll: the influence of sex differences and priming on eyewitness recall

Savanah Mason and Dr. Mitchell Longstaff

Aim: Eyewitness testimony is regularly used as evidence in our criminal justice system, despite

substantial evidence that many factors can impact the accuracy and reliability of memory. Errors of

memory have been known to contribute to wrongful convictions. This study is aimed at investigating

if the direction of witness attention is impacted by manipulating the salience of crime through

priming measures, whether this affects memory, and if the sex of the participant also influences

attention and recall.

Method: Participants (n = 75) were randomly allocated to either a crime-primed (n = 33) or injury-

primed condition. Participants were primed by answering questions and reading a priming

paragraph relevant to their condition before watching a short video. This depicted two ladies at a

table (front-center of scene) chatting and referring to a child playing off screen, while other people

sat or moved mainly in the background. Participants then answered an identical set of questions

about the video.

Results: There was significantly better recall for front-center details compared to potential thief or

general details. People in the crime primed condition reported focusing attention more broadly

while those in the injury primed condition focused more front-center. No other significant effects of

sex or condition on recall were found. Both groups reported a similar level of anxiety pre and post

video. Females tended to be more worried about being a victim of crime than males, but this was

not significant. However, females reported thinking about crime significantly more than males.

Conclusion: Priming participants influenced what they focused on, but did not significantly increase

the accuracy of recall. Females think more about crime, but this did not influence recall under these

conditions.

Keywords: eyewitness, fear of crime, attending, memory recall, sex differences


40

Craving sugar when we’re sad. How does mood affect attentional bias towards high sugar foods?

Naomi May and Dr. Alison Bowling

Aim: High-sugar diets are detrimental to health. However little research has been done so far

looking at the cognitive mechanisms behind excess sugar consumption. The current research seeks

to determine whether mood affects sugar craving by examining attentional bias to high-sugar foods.

Method: Thirty-nine women aged 18-32 underwent a neutral mood induction. They were then

instructed to do a visual dot probe task in which they were shown pairs of images (high-sugar vs

low-sugar, high-sugar vs non-food and low-sugar vs non-food) on a screen. While they completed

this task their eye movements were recorded using the EyeLink 1000 eye-tracking system. The

direction of the initial saccade (direction bias) and fixation time (duration bias) for each of the

stimuli were extracted from the recordings. Participants then underwent the sad mood induction

before completing the task again.

Results: There was a statistically significant two-way interaction between stimuli and mood for

duration bias, F(2, 74) = 4.24, p = .018. There was also a significant main effect of stimulus on

duration bias F(1.16, 43.05) = 12.57, p = .001. Subsequent Bonferroni post hoc tests showed that

people looked at high-sugar items more than low-sugar items and low-sugar items more than non-

food items. Mood significantly increased duration bias towards high-sugar foods after the sad mood

induction, but there was no significant difference in duration bias towards the low-sugar or non-

food items.

Conclusion: Given that a duration bias towards high-sugar foods was found, it can be concluded that

people are more drawn to high-sugar foods overall with this effect being further heightened when

they are in a sad mood. This suggests that sugar may be used by some as an emotion coping

mechanism as people show increased attention to high-sugar foods in a sad mood.

Keywords: sugar, attentional bias, mood, sad, eye-tracking.


41

How do we Adjust our Goals when we Realise that Things are Not Going Right in our Careers?

Lisa McPeake and Dr. Anna Praskova

When people identify a gap in their career goal progress, they minimise this discrepancy by

increasing goal-pursuit effort (goal assimilation) or reducing/adjusting the goal itself (goal

accommodation). While being an integral part of goal-setting and goal-pursuit processes (Bandura,

2001; Carver & Scheier, 1990), perceiving a large career goal discrepancy can lead to significant

distress and poor career outcomes. We aimed to assess the underlying processes surrounding these

important career-regulatory constructs in a young adult population who are likely to work towards

their future careers. In a theory-driven model, we assessed the direct effects of career goal

discrepancy on career adjustment strategies (assimilation and accommodation) and tested the

indirect effects via career distress. Using a cross-sectional design, we recruited 287 young adults

(77% female) with age range of 18-29 years (M = 23.79, SD = 3.35) to complete an online survey

using convenience sampling, and tested simple mediation models (OLS regression) using the

PROCESS tool (Hayes, 2018). We found significant indirect effects of career goal discrepancy on

career adjustment strategies via career distress. As expected, greater goal discrepancy was

associated with higher career distress, which, in turn, was associated with more accommodative and

less assimilative strategies. The direct effects between career goal discrepancy and each adjustment

strategy became non-significant. Our results highlighted the role of career goal appraisal and

evaluation as related to affective and regulatory outcomes. The results also helped to untangle the

relationship between distress and adjustment strategies, suggesting that people are more likely to

adjust their goal downwards (rather than putting in extra goal-pursuit effort) when they perceive a

high level of distress due to identified goal discrepancy. Career guidance advisors and educators can

tailor their interventions to focus on minimising the consequences of identified gaps in career

progress by providing appropriate feedback and drawing on personal resources.

Keywords: career goal assimilation, career goal accommodation, career goal discrepancy, career

distress, career goal regulation


42

To Write or Not to Write- That is the Question: Handwriting, Encoding Conditions and Word Recall.

Kate McRae and Dr. Mitchell Longstaff

Aim: Research has indicated that when performing simultaneous tasks, performance on the primary

task often declines. However, a number of factors can occur during encoding (getting the

information into memory) that can moderate this effect. This study examined the effects of

encoding conditions and secondary tasks on recall ability during a serial recall task.

Method: 20 adult participants completed an experiment which involved listening as a primary task,

and handwriting as a secondary task. Participants listened to pre-recorded word lists (six words per

list) in four differing conditions (Listening with or without writing, with a 3- or 6-second gap between

words). Participants recalled their responses verbally. An electronic tablet was used to collect

handwriting data where appropriate.

Results: For each condition, the typical pattern of recall was observed with words at the beginning

of the list recalled well, then recall decreasing in the middle, then improving at the end of the list.

Conditions with a larger gap between words produced better recall than conditions with a shorter

gap, particularly for the last word in the list. There was no overall difference between the listening

and writing conditions, however there was an interaction with better recall in the writing condition

compared to the listening condition for words at the beginning of the list, and worse recall at the

end of the list.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that having additional time to attend to the words had a

beneficial effect on recall. Contrary to past research, the secondary writing task only had a

detrimental effect on recall of the last couple of words, but actually improved recall for the first few

words in the list. It appears that time did not moderate the effect of handwriting, and the differing

rehearsal strategies were adopted depending on whether the condition involved handwriting.

Keywords: Secondary Tasks, Encoding Conditions, Listening, Handwriting, Serial Recall.


43

Heart, Mind and Music: What is the Role of Emotional Intelligence in Anticipation and Pleasure from Music?

Alana Nunan and Dr. Desirée Kozlowski

Aim: The links between music and emotions have been studied comprehensively, including the use

of music listening as a tool for emotional self-regulation. The aim with this study was to identify

potential relationships between emotional intelligence (EI), positive affect, and expectations and

enjoyment when listening to different genres of music.

Methods: Participants (N = 140, 88 females, 48 males, 2 non-binary, 2 other; mean age was 42.36)

were randomly assigned to one of four conditions in an online experiment. Each condition included

a 120 second piece of music from one of four genres of music (Classical, Electronic, Jazz, Rock).

Participants first completed the 30-item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-SF), the 33-

item Schutte Emotional Intelligence Index, and questions related to demographics, musical

background and preferences. They then estimated the extent to which they expected to enjoy

listening to a piece of music, listened to their assigned music clip, and rated their enjoyment of the

piece. A second application of the PANAS-SF was then completed.

Results: EI significantly predicted music enjoyment across genres (r = .29, p = .001) and positive

affect both pre- (r = .50, p < .001) and post-intervention (r = .49, p = .02). Age was positively

correlated with the difference between expected and actual enjoyment (r =.19, p = .02). A one-way

multivariate analysis of variance revealed no statistically significant differences between the music

genre conditions on expectation or enjoyment, F (9, 275.16) = 1.46, p = .16. Conclusion: The positive

relationship between EI and music enjoyment, as well as with positive affect both pre- and post-

listening, suggests that higher EI may be associated with a tendency to savour the moment overall.

Our results suggest that expectation and enjoyment may have less to do with specific music genres

and more to do with individual differences.

Keywords: emotional intelligence, music, enjoyment, satisfaction, music listening


44

Where is true North on our moral compass?: Investigating the effects of culture and religion on moral decision making

Maejoy Obach and Dr. Heather Winskel

Aim: In an increasingly globalised and multicultural world, it is essential to build a greater

understanding of how people from diverse cultures interact and make decisions. The aim of the

current study was to investigate whether cultural and religious differences affect moral decision

making using trolley type dilemmas in collectivist Filipinos compared to individualist European-

Australians. In order to investigate the effects of acculturation, a comparison group of Filipinos

living in Australia was also recruited.

Method: In this study, 603 participants including Filipinos (N = 248), European-Australians (N = 230)

and Filipino-Australians (N = 99) completed an online study consisting of demographic questions, a

religiosity scale, and six moral dilemmas. The dilemmas comprised of three types:

Trolley/Footbridge, Water Park and Family Game Show, each with a personal and impersonal

version. Participants were asked to make a choice to either take action or do nothing, followed by a

moral rating of how right or wrong it was to take that action on a 7-point Likert scale.

Results: There was a significant cultural difference between Filipinos and European-Australians in

the Footbridge (personal) dilemma. Filipinos were most likely to take action, followed by Filipino-

Australians then European-Australians. Across all cultural groups, there were significant religious

differences in the Footbridge (personal) and Waterpark (impersonal) dilemmas. Highly religious

individuals were most likely to take action compared to individuals who reported moderate and low

religiosity. Conclusion: The results suggest that people from individualist cultures respond

differently to moral dilemmas compared to those from collectivist cultures and that a person’s level

of religiosity is associated with differences in moral dilemma responses. This highlights the need to

consider cultural and religious differences in making decisions in increasingly diverse communities.

Future research could investigate potential interaction effects between culture and religion on

moral decision making.

Keywords: moral decision making, cultural difference, religious difference, Filipino culture, trolley

problem


45

The ppmp project: can ‘duo celloid minerals’ reduce the symptoms of anxiety?

Donna Ogston, Dr. Steve Provost and Prof. Stephen Myers

Aim: Given the increasing worldwide prevalence of anxiety and the potential adverse effects of

prescription medications there is an urgent need for safe alternative effective treatments. Celloid

Mineral Therapy (CMT) has a long history as an alternative treatment for various disease states, and

its use in the form of potassium phosphate and magnesium phosphate (PPMP) has been

recommended for anxiety symptoms. Although the biological pathways for PPMP make these claims

credible, there is no published scientific evidence for its efficacy. This pilot study was designed to

assess CMT employing PPMP in the reduction of mild to moderate anxiety symptoms utilising a

design which provided a high level of evidence without incurring the substantial costs involved in a

fully randomised control trial.

Method: Over a 10-week period in total, nine participants, 60% males (Mean age = 46.67, SD =

7.38), consumed PPMP for four weeks, or placebo, in a multiple baseline, single-case, double-blind,

design. Symptoms were measured at baseline, during PPMP administration, and post-

administration. Measures included the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the 21-item Depression Anxiety and

Stress Scale, and eye-blink startle modulation.

Results: The study is still under way, and the double-blind requirements prevent more detailed

examination of results, but there has been some reduction in self-report anxiety scores and in the

eye-blink startle reflex for a number of participants.

Conclusion: It is possible that there has been some effect of PPMP on mild to moderate anxiety. If

such an effect is confirmed following closer examination of baseline against administration scores,

this study will be the first to provide credible scientific evidence for the potential effectiveness of

CMT employing PPMP. Although the small sample size requires caution with respect to

generalisation of these results, this outcome would provide strong support for the value of further

larger-scale random control trials being conducted.

Keywords: Anxiety, Celloid, Eye-blink Modulation, HPA-axis, Magnesium, Potassium, NDMA

receptor, N-of-1, Stress


46

Current Practice for the Assessment of Cognitive Abilities in Indigenous Australians

Abbey Orchard, Dr. Emily Hindman, Prof. Peter Hassmen and Dr. Kylie Radford

The validity of standardised cognitive assessment tools for Indigenous Australians is yet to be

established (Dingwall, Pinkerton & Lindeman, 2013). In the absence of research evidence, clinicians

lack clear guidelines to inform test selection and interpretation for Indigenous clients. This mixed

methods study examines current practices for clinicians conducting cognitive assessment with

Indigenous Australians, clinicians’ level of confidence when working with Indigenous and non-

Indigenous clients, and factors influencing the likelihood of using standardised testing. Participants

included 21 health professionals with experience conducting cognitive assessment (female = 15).

Clinical experience ranged from 1 year to 40 years (M = 14.3, SD = 10.6). Clinical scenarios differing

in client’s level of education and first language (English or not English) were presented via an online

survey. Participants were asked to rate their likelihood of using standardised testing for each clinical

scenario. Clinician confidence for Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients was examined using the

evidence-based practice confidence (EPIC) scale. A series of open-ended questions were used to

capture additional information about current clinical practices and factors influencing clinical

decision making with regard to cognitive assessment in Indigenous Australians.

Results suggest that both education (F(1.68, 30.29) = 24.56, p < .001), and first language (F(1, 18) =

17.56, p = .001) influence likelihood of using standardised testing. Clinicians were more confident

when working with non-Indigenous clients than with Indigenous clients t(20) = 2.43, p = .024, d =

.53. Qualitative data indicated a lack of consistency in regard to test selection. Clinicians expressed

concerns about the validity of available cognitive tests for Indigenous Australians and the absence of

an evidence base to assist clinical decision making. Cited barriers included language, educational

attainment, and cultural factors.

Keywords: Indigenous Australians, cognitive assessment, clinicians, language, education


47

Are you who you think you are? Links to life satisfaction

Emily Patch and Dr. James Donnelley

Aim: Research has shown that incongruence among aspects of the self is associated with reported

negative emotions and negative life outcomes (Higgins, 1987), however existing literature has not

fully examined factors which contribute to positive life outcomes. Additionally, evaluations of life

satisfaction have been linked with increased congruence among self-aspects in older individuals

(Frijters et al., 2012). The current study explored the relationships among the actual, ought, ideal

and other-self as reported by adults. It was predicted that as people age, these aspects of the self

would be more congruent and older individuals would experience higher levels of life satisfaction.

Method: Participants (N =166) completed an online survey including demographics, and measures

of Positive and Negative Affect (PANAS, Watson et al., 1988), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS,

Diener et al., 1985). Participants also completed questions about the various aspects of their sense

of self (i.e., actual, ought, ideal and other-self) and differences between these aspects were

computed.

Results: A multiple regression was computed which included PANAS percentage scores and three

self-aspect difference scores as predictors of Life Satisfaction (LS). After accounting for variance

associated with state affect, there were no difference scores which accounted for further unique

variance in life satisfaction scores. There was a main effect of age category on PANAS percentage

scores with older adults reporting more positive affect (PA) relative to negative affect (NA). There

was no main effect of age category on any self-discrepancy scores, nor was there any main effect of

age category on SWL.

Conclusion: Current findings are inconsistent with prior reports that incongruences within various

aspects of the self should be related to negative affect. There was evidence to suggest that older

adults tended to report more PA than NA and greater LS. Age effect was not related to reported

discrepancies within self-aspects.

Keywords: Life Satisfaction, Congruence, Self-Aspects, Moral Identity, Age


48

Examining the effect of goal types and perfectionism on performance and commitment in a cognitive task

Samantha Pilcher and Dr. Christian Swann

Perfectionism is a common personality trait which is relevant to many domains including sport,

education and work. Perfectionists often set extremely challenging and unrealistic goals, which can

lead to distressing thoughts surrounding possible failure to perform to such standards, as well as

poor performance.

Aim: The aim of the current study was to examine the effects of goal types and perfectionism on

performance and commitment in a cognitive task.

Method: Sixty-six participants (male = 25, female = 41, M age = 30.42, SD = 12.25) completed the

Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale and six trials of the Letter and Number Identification Task.

Participants were instructed to follow a different goal for each trial: a specific-easy goal, a specific-

challenging goal, a specific-unrealistic goal, an open goal, a do-your-best goal, and a baseline

condition of no goal.

Results: One-way repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that there was a significant

difference between goal types and task performance, with participants performing better in open

goals compared to all other goal types. However, when controlling for perfectionism, there was no

significant difference, indicating that perfectionism did not account for any of the variance between

task performance and goal types. Secondly, there was a significant difference between goal types

and commitment with participants being less committed to specific-unrealistic goals compared to all

other goal types. When controlling for perfectionism, there was a significant difference between

post task commitment, with individuals high in perfectionism showing higher post-task commitment

compared with individuals low in perfectionism. However, there was no significant difference

between perfectionism and pre-task commitment.

Conclusion: Overall, open goals were found to produce better performance outcomes in a cognitive

task, for individuals both high and low in perfectionism.

Keywords: perfectionism, goal setting, goal commitment, cognitive performance, goals


49

Girls don’t do that! Gender non-conformity and its social consequences

Isabella Power and Dr. Desirée Kozlowski

Aim: Individuals who exhibit behaviour that deviates from what is expected based on their gender

experience negative social repercussions known as ‘backlash’. Backlash has commonly been

measured as decreased ratings of likability and competence toward the individual displaying the

gender-incongruent behaviour. Despite evidence suggesting both women and men experience

backlash, few studies have compared gender-incongruent women and men within the same study.

Furthermore, it remains unknown whether a gender-incongruent personal trait or gender-

incongruent occupation affect backlash differently. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine

whether and to what extent a gender-incongruent job and/or trait affected ratings of likability and

competence.

Method: The online experiment consisted of 252 participants (191 female, 58 male; mean age = 36

years), recruited using university email and snowball sampling. Participants were presented with a

series of moving dots (point-light walkers: PLWs) conveying the targets’ sex (female/male).

Accompanying each PLW was a vignette conveying the target’s occupation (feminine vs masculine)

and personal trait (feminine vs masculine). Participants rated each target on likability and

competence.

Results: Results revealed a backlash effect on both likability and competence for trait-incongruent

and job-incongruent females. The extent of backlash was greater for trait-incongruence than job-

incongruence. In contrast, a reverse backlash effect (higher ratings on likability and competence)

was found for trait-incongruent males. The backlash for female targets reflected previous studies,

but the reverse backlash effect for males was contrary to expectations.

Conclusion: These findings could indicate a change to society’s expectations of men; for example,

they may reflect a response to the idea of ‘toxic masculinity’. Alternatively, they could have arisen

from the nature of our sample. Future research should test this effect using a non-university

Australian sample and use a broader range of gender-linked traits/occupations to see whether or

not the findings of this study generalise beyond the current sample.

Keywords: gender-incongruent behaviour, prescriptive stereotypes, gendered traits and

occupations, backlash, likability and competence.


50

All in the mind? Can mindfulness improve learning & memory?

Edwina J. Ritchie and Dr. Emily Hindman

Aim: The number of Australians experiencing anxiety-related conditions is increasing each year. One

in eight Australians currently have an anxiety-related condition, an increase of 11% over the past

three years. Anxiety triggers fundamental neurophysiological changes in the body such as in the

autonomic nervous system. These changes are detrimental on physical and emotional health and

interfere with cognitive functioning, in particular the skills required for learning and memory.

Mindfulness meditation has the potential to reduce symptoms of anxiety and its detrimental effects

on cognitive functioning. The aim of this study is to explore the effects of a brief self-administered

mindfulness mediation session on learning and memory using a repeated measures design.

Method: Participants were university students and community members from the Mid North Coast,

NSW (N = 30). The California Verbal Learning Test - Third Edition (CVLT-3) was administered before

and after participants took part in a brief, 10-minute, self-administered mindfulness session to

assess changes in learning and memory. Participant’s trait mindfulness (Mindful Attention

Awareness Scale, MAAS), was measured prior to the mindfulness meditation session and included in

analyses as a potential covariate.

Results: Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVAS) suggest reductions in learning, but not

memory following the mindfulness intervention. In contrast, participants with higher levels of trait

mindfulness demonstrated better short-term memory when compared to participants with lower

levels of trait mindfulness.

Conclusion: The results suggest that a single, brief mindfulness meditation session does not improve

learning and memory. Higher pre-existing levels of mindfulness skills could be beneficial.

Implications for future research will be discussed.

Keywords: Mindfulness, learning, memory, California Verbal Learning Task – 3rd Edition (CVLT-3),

anxiety


51

Who Cares? Development of the attitudes towards residential aged care questionnaire (ATRACQ)

Katie Rose and Dr. Desirée Kozlowski

Aim: Australia faces a rapidly increasing aged population with a predicted 8.8 million older adults to

comprise 22% of the population by 2057. With an increased aged population comes increased

demand for aged care, something that requires planning from the policy level down to the

psychological. However, despite its increasing relevance, there is currently no standard measure to

assess attitudes towards aged care. This study aimed to develop an instrument for the assessment

of attitudes towards residential aged care of adults aged 45+. The intention was to provide an

understanding of how areas of satisfaction in individuals’ lives might predict their attitudes toward

aged care.

Method: Community living adults (n = 201; female = 142, male = 52, non-binary = 3; Mean age = 58)

participated in the online study. Respondents completed demographic questions, the novel

Attitudes Towards Residential Aged Care questionnaire (ATRACQ) and a measure of psychological

wellbeing. The ATRACQ comprises Part A, which assesses satisfaction in current living circumstances,

and Part B, which assess predicted satisfaction in aged care.

Results: Exploratory Factor Analysis indicated a three-factor structure for Part A consisting of

Interpersonal, Hygge and Food Enjoyment and a two-factor structure for Part B consisting of Agency

and Institutional. Factor loadings ranged from .937 to -.303 for Part A, and 1.010 to .349 for Part B.

Being older significantly predicted higher psychological wellbeing. Individuals’ satisfaction in their

current living situation was positively correlated with psychological wellbeing and with anticipated

satisfaction with residential aged care. Interestingly, previous exposure to aged care was associated

with increased positive expectations of aged care.

Conclusion: These findings provide strong preliminary evidence for the novel ATRACQ measure.

Results suggest that an individual’s positive mindset and their previous exposure are important

indicators of positive attitudes towards aged care. Implications for future research are also

considered.

Keywords: Older adults, aged care, aged care attitudes, psychological wellbeing, factor-analysis


52

Childhood trauma, depression and physical activity in older indigenous Australians

Georgia Rowland, Dr. Emily Hindman, Prof. Peter Hassmen, Dr. Kylie Radford, and Prof. Tony Broe

Aim: Indigenous Australians experience higher levels of psychological distress compared to the

general population. Physical activity is a cost-effective, culturally appropriate approach, associated

with reduction of depressive symptoms. The protective properties of physical activity for depressive

symptoms are yet to be evaluated in older Indigenous Australians.

Method: 336 Aboriginal Australians aged 60 years and over from five urban and regional NSW areas

participated in structured interviews on mental health, physical activity participation, and childhood

trauma. Regression and moderation analyses were used to examine links between childhood

trauma, depression, and physical activity. Thematic analysis was subsequently conducted to explore

the facilitators and barriers to physical activity following a focus group with nine older Indigenous

Australians.

Results: Childhood trauma severity and intensity of physical activity predicted depressive symptoms.

Physical activity did not affect the strength of the relationship between childhood trauma and

depression. Through the focus group, family support and low impact activities facilitated

commitment to physical activity. In contrast, mental health, trauma, and illness acted as barriers.

Irrespective of the barriers, motivation to maintain a healthy life balance was evident in participants

with physical activity viewed as essential.

Conclusion: Childhood trauma significantly increased risk of depression. Physical activity appeared

to play an important role in preventing or reducing depressive symptoms and was viewed by older

Indigenous people as integral to maintaining a healthy, happy life. While situational factors, health

problems and trauma impact physical activity participation, access to low-impact group activities

with social support was identified to help navigate these barriers.

Keywords: Indigenous Australians, physical activity, childhood trauma, depression, older adults


53

Manage your emotions if you want to comprehend me: Emotional Intelligence and performance on hot and cold tasks.

Carolyn Ryan and Dr. Mitchell Longstaff

Aim: People with higher Emotional Intelligence (EI) are thought to have superior ability in managing

emotions and mood leading to better performance on cognitive tasks. Recent studies suggest those

with higher EI perform better on hot (emotionally-laden) tasks with little difference in performance

on cool (non-emotionally laden) tasks. However, typically the cool tasks used are memory tasks not

requiring comprehension of ‘content’. We hypothesised that people with high EI will perform better

than those with a low EI on both cool and hot comprehension tasks and this difference will be

greater on a hot task.

Method: Participants (N = 130) completed an on-line survey measuring EI, mood, understanding and

recall of short comprehension texts (both hot and cold), the level of emotion within each text and

the level of emotion elicited by each text.

Results: Participants performed better on the hot compared to the cool task, with no difference

between groups and no interaction. Participants with high EI reported significantly more elicited

emotion in the hot text, with both groups reporting significantly more emotional content in the hot

text.

Conclusion: For this task, high EI did not improve performance compared to low EI. However, it led

to an increase in elicited emotion for the hot text, suggesting they identify and feel the emotion but

are not distracted by it, managing emotions in the presence of emotionally laden stimuli to maintain

performance.

Keywords: Emotional Intelligence, Cognitive Performance, Managing Emotions, Hot Task, Cool Task


54

Organ Donation Beliefs: Does the Emotional Context Matter?

Tahnee Serone and Dr. Gail Moloney

Aim: The need for donated organs far exceeds the number of organs available for transplantation.

Donation decision are now recorded on the Australian Organ Donor Register but less than 30% of

Australia’s eligible population have done so. Research has investigated the role of emotions on

registration behaviour but has yet to investigate the effect of emotional context on the salience of

organ donation beliefs. Thus, the aim of this study was to firstly, investigate whether the emotional

context in which people consider their beliefs about organ donation affected the salience of their

donation beliefs, and, secondly, whether the salience of these beliefs was related to registration

behaviour.

Method: In Study 1, 69 University staff and students (M age = 30.41; 11.8% Male, 88.2% Female),

completed a self-report manipulation check that investigated whether the emotion embedded in

four scenarios (Hospital-positive/happy and negative/sad; Sport-positive/happy and negative/sad)

was elicited as intended. Significant differences were found between the positive (happy) and

negative (sad) conditions in the Hospital and Sporting scenarios. In Study 2, an online survey with

four randomly assigned conditions comprising of the scenarios used in Study 1 and the Organ

Donation Belief Scale, was completed by 115 Surf Life Saving members (M age = 46.09; 47.5% Male,

52.7% Female).

Results: Principal Components Analysis of the Organ Donation Belief Scale revealed four factors; Gift

of Life, Benefit to Self, Negative Consequences and Concerns over Medical Care. A Mixed ANOVA

analysis found no significant differences across conditions on the four belief scales. However, for

non-registered participants a significant difference was found for Benefits to Self-belief between the

two Hospital conditions, with stronger Benefits to Self-reported in the negative (sad) condition.

Conclusion: The findings suggest the emotional context that organ donation beliefs are elicited in

may make a difference, particularly if the context is within a sad hospital setting.

Keywords: Organ donation, donation beliefs, registration behaviour, emotions, context.


55

Parenting an entitled child: Did baby boomers do it best?

Nadia Smith and Dr. James Donnelly

Aims: Parenting is the foundation for a child’s healthy psychosocial growth (Lomanowska et al.,

2017) and Parenting Style (Authoritarian, Authoritative and Permissive) (Baumrind, 1978) accounts

for the variance in child outcomes (Tully et al., 2017). For example, fostering an excessive sense of

entitlement has been linked to risk for narcissism (Mechanic & Barry, 2015). We assessed

associations between parents' reported parenting style, their sense of entitlement and that of their

adult child. Permissive parenting, which may include neglect, was expected to be associated with

entitlement in the parent and the child. We also examined if entitlement and parenting style

differed across generations; younger parents and their children were hypothesised to likely endorse

permissive parenting and higher levels of entitlement.

Method: Participants were adult parents (n = 111) and adult children (n = 12). Parents completed an

online survey including demographics, and measures of state affect (PANAS, Watson, et al., 1988),

Parenting Style (Robinson et al., 1995) and Entitlement (Campbell, 2003). Parents described their

parenting when their child was 0-12 and 13-18 years old. Parents were also asked to send a link to a

similar survey for their adult child.

Results: Insufficient child data was obtained to compare parent and child reports. State affect was

not related to parent entitlement but was positively correlated with Authoritative parenting for

adolescents (r =.24) and negatively correlated with Authoritarian and Permissive styles at both age

ranges (r =-.36 and -.24, respectively) (all p <.05). Parenting style was not correlated with parent-

reported Entitlement. Entitlement did not differ across generations. Parenting style did shift

between childhood and adolescence (Authoritarian parents became less so, Permissive parents

became more so, Authoritative parents remained strict).

Conclusion: Future studies should include an index of current mood when assessing self-reports

about parenting behaviour. The inclusion of reporting at two age levels was found to be informative.

Entitlement was not related to parenting style from the perspective of the parent, but more

effective means of obtaining concurrent adult child reports is required.

Keywords: Parenting style, Entitlement, Generational effects, State Affect.


56

Thinking and feeling: Emotional intelligence and body satisfaction.

Diana Stojiljkovic and Dr. Desirée Kozlowski.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and body

dissatisfaction, with the addition of body mass index (BMI), age and gender as predictor variables in

the regression model. Given that EI includes aspects of emotional self-management, a negative

correlation between emotional intelligence and body dissatisfaction was hypothesised. That is, it

was expected that higher emotional intelligence would predict lower body dissatisfaction.

Method: Respondents were 210 individuals aged between 18 and 69 (mean age = 31), comprising of

167 (79.5%) females and 43 males. Respondents completed an anonymous questionnaire online. It

included the Schutte Self Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) and the Body Shape

Questionnaire (BSQ). A standard multiple regression analysis was run to assess whether EI, gender,

age or BMI were significant predictors of body dissatisfaction.

Results: The regression model identified EI, age, BMI and gender as significant predictors of body

dissatisfaction and the model accounted for 32% of the variance. BMI was the strongest predictor of

body dissatisfaction accounting for 12.74% of the unique variance. Gender was the next strongest,

accounting for 7.4% of the unique variance (women’s mean score of body dissatisfaction = 111.13;

men’s = 81.21). Age and EI accounted for 4.2% and 3.9% respectively. A mediation analysis was then

conducted to see whether EI was a mediator of body dissatisfaction when controlling for BMI scores.

That analysis identified EI as a partial mediator of body dissatisfaction.

Discussion: Our findings that gender and BMI predicted body dissatisfaction are consistent with

previous work. Here we added the information that emotional intelligence was a small but

significant predictor of body dissatisfaction and was demonstrated to be a partial mediator. Given

that EI can be increased with training, future studies should test for an effect of EI training on body

dissatisfaction.

Keywords: emotional intelligence, body dissatisfaction, BMI, body image, emotions.


57

Do you have a sweet tooth? Creation of a scale to measure sugar craving

Erin Sullivan and Dr. Alison Bowling

Aim: The term ‘sugar addiction’ is commonly used in popular culture, however in academia it has

only recently been a focus of clinical/experimental study in humans. In order to measure this

concept, this research aims to develop a sugar craving scale.

Method: An online questionnaire was sent out to students of Southern Cross University and via

social media sites Facebook and Instagram. The questionnaire included 45 items relating to

individual consumption of high-sugar foods, 16 items from the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and

basic demographic questions.

Results: After data screening, responses from 256 participants were subject to principal axis

factoring. This sample had a mean age of 36.34 ranging from 18 to 83, with 199 females and 56

males. Of the original 45 items, one item was deleted as it did not meet criteria for sampling

adequacy, a further 12 items were deleted with communalities below the accepted .3 cut-off.

Analysis of the pattern matrix revealed 3 items with cross loadings which were removed from the

scale. A final item was removed from analysis as it and another were similarly worded. The final

scale was comprised of a three-factor solution which included a craving and withdrawal subscale

consisting of 19 items (α = .94), a lolly specific subscale consisting of 4 items (α = .84) and a

consumption and restraint subscale consisting of 5 items (α = .85). The final 28-item scale had a

Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin of .93 (marvellous) and overall explained 55.58% of the variance.

Conclusion: The three subscales reflect what is currently understood by sugar addiction, that

dependence can be seen by the display of craving and withdrawal behaviours and the inability to

restrain intake. Through the endorsement of questions relating to these concepts it suggests the

final scale is in fact measuring sugar craving for a human population.

Keywords: sugar addiction, craving, withdrawal, dependence, sugar craving scale


58

Does the golf handicap system influence anxiety and performance levels in amateur golfers?

Gavin Tierney, Prof. Peter Hassmen and Dr. Kyle Bennett

Aim: To determine if the handicap system in golf has an influence on anxiety and performance in

amateur golfers. Research suggests that anxiety does, indeed, influence performance in many areas

of life. Golf, more specifically, has been studied on numerous occasions to determine the

relationship between anxiety and performance. The results of these studies suggest that poor

performance can be attributed to anxiety and that the level of anxiety is often determined by skill

and confidence levels. With golf’s global use of a handicapping system, designed to even up the

playing field, does this system actually induce anxiety in amateur golfers, ultimately affecting

performance?

Method: Twelve adult, male golfers, participated in this study with handicaps ranging from 9 to 22.

Participants were required to play in their normal competition rounds with instructions to complete

the Revised Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2r), immediately before they played the

easiest and hardest holes. After completing each of the 2 holes, participants were instructed to

record their score for that hole. This process was completed as often as possible over the course of

approximately 1 month.

Results: After a total of 65 competition rounds of golf, the results did not show any significant

differences in anxiety, confidence or scores between the easiest and hardest holes.

Conclusion: These results highlight the fact that the easiest and hardest holes were very similar in

terms of scores after the handicap system was applied. While it is difficult to determine what effect

the handicap system may have had in relation to these results, it certainly appears that anxiety was

not a factor. Ultimately, with no difference in anxiety or confidence levels being evident between

the two holes, other factors need to be explored, like familiarity with the golf course or a lack of

serious consequences for poor performance.

Keywords: Anxiety, confidence, performance, golf, amateur


59

Perfectionism and Burnout in Subjectively and Objectively Marked Sports

Kyra Webb, Prof. Peter Hassmen and Dr. Christopher Stevens

Aim: Athletic burnout is characterised by physical and emotional fatigue, disinterest in sporting

participation and devaluation of one’s sporting achievements. Given the detrimental impact burnout

may have on an athlete, it is important to identify the factors that may increase an athlete’s

susceptibility to this condition. This study, therefore, intended to investigate whether certain types

of perfectionism contributed to burnout in athletes. The study also sought to examine whether

differences existed in sport type, specifically, a comparison between sports marked subjectively (e.g.

dancing and gymnastics) and objectively (e.g. athletics, swimming, cycling, and triathlon). This may

be due to the influence of external variables such as personal perception or bias that are present in

subjectively marked sports.

Method: Participants (N = 48, M age = 21.6, SD = 5.3) completed an online questionnaire providing

information about their training and competitive involvement in sport. Participants then completed

the Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (S-MPS-2) and the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire

(ABQ).

Results: When training hours and ratings of perfectionism were examined, no significant differences

between objective and subjective sports were observed. Regression analysis revealed a significant

positive relationship between the Doubts About Actions dimension and ratings of burnout. A

significant positive relationship was also observed between the Concern Over Mistakes dimension

and athlete burnout. No significant relationships were observed between the remaining dimensions

of perfectionism and athletic burnout.

Conclusion: Athletes scoring highly on the Doubts About Actions and the Concern Over Mistakes

dimensions may be more susceptible to athletic burnout. These findings highlight the importance of

examining both physical and psychological factors when investigating the causation and

maintenance of athletic burnout. No differences between objective and subjective sports were

revealed, future studies would benefit from utilising a larger sample.

Keywords: Burnout, Perfectionism, Perfectionistic concerns, Doubts about actions


60

School teacher wellbeing: does self-compassion and psychological flexibility reduce burnout levels?

Leshay Wells and Dr. Christina Samios

Aims: School teachers experience high rates of stress and burnout. Burnout has negative

implications for teacher health, organisational functioning, and student outcomes. To address these

negative impacts and enhance teacher wellbeing, intrapersonal resources or psychological strategies

could be addressed. Two psychological strategies include self-compassion and psychological

flexibility. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between self-compassion and

psychological flexibility, and whether psychological flexibility mediates the relationship between

self-compassion and psychological adjustment outcomes. Self-compassion involves providing

kindness to ourselves, seeing our situation as part of common humanity, and holding our

experiences in mindful awareness. Psychological flexibility involves being accepting of our thoughts,

emotions, and experiences while continuing towards valued behaviours. Both constructs have been

shown to relate to reduced psychopathology and improved wellbeing. Recent research has

examined these two constructs together. However, how they relate to each other is less known.

Methods: This study surveyed 110 Australian school teachers across a variety of locations, 105 of

whom were female (95.5%). Ages ranged from 23-65 years. Teachers completed online measures of

self-compassion, psychological flexibility, and psychological adjustment (specifically, burnout,

depression, and anxiety).

Results: Self-compassion and psychological flexibility were positively related to each other and

negatively to the psychological adjustment outcomes. Psychological flexibility mediated the

relationship between self-compassion and each of the psychological adjustment outcomes.

Conclusions: The results of this study may be used to inform interventions for enhancing wellbeing

among school teachers. Future longitudinal research is needed to further support the proposed

mediation model using a replicative strategy.

Keywords: school teachers, self-compassion, psychological flexibility, psychological adjustment,

burnout


61

What do you fear you’ll miss? Social networking sites and sense of belonging

Isabella Whyte and Dr. Heather Winskel

Aim: Recently, the psychological phenomena of Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) has been found to be

associated with the rising prevalence of social networking site usage in everyday life. However, little

is known about how generalised FoMO affects people using social media and the influence of an

individual’s sense of belonging. A study was conducted to further investigate FoMO and the

influence sense of belonging has in relation to everyday scenarios.

Method: In the study, a total of 233 university students and non-students were recruited through

email and Facebook. The participants responded to six scenarios that evoked FoMO, followed by a

generalised FoMO scale and a Need to Belong scale. ANOVAs were conducted to analyse the effects

of FoMO between the scenarios and the relationship between sense of belonging and FoMO. The

scenarios consisted of alternate activities; the party of a close friend without the reminder of social

media, a second party situation with reminders from the social media platforms Snapchat and

Instagram. The final scenario involved a friend leaving town for a few months. Each scenario invoked

FoMO using a planned activity, which was either a school assignment or a work presentation – the

planned activity was always chosen over the alternative.

Results: An ANOVA was conducted to investigate the between-subjects and within-subjects effects

concerning the activities of the scenarios, followed by pairwise comparisons. Results indicated that

FoMO is a social phenomenon that is prevalent in people’s lives both with and without the presence

of Social media, as the friend scenario was significant compared to both party scenarios. Sense of

belonging was also found to be highly correlated with FoMO.

Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that FoMO can be heavily influenced by what an

individual considers salient – such as seeing a friend before they leave for an extended period of

time.

Keywords: FoMO, Sense of belonging, Social Networking sites, Social Media, Social


62

Who's paying attention? The effect of Instagram on body satisfaction and attention bias.

Charlotte Zorro and Dr. Alison Bowling

Research investigating the mental health effects of Instagram usage and exposure to thin- idealised

images through Instagram suggest it can contribute to greater levels of Body dissatisfaction (BD).

Likewise, Body dissatisfaction has been positively correlated with an attention bias (AB) towards

appearance related stimuli.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate Instagram as an influencer on BD and thus AB.

Method: Thirty six participants comprised of females aged between 18 and 35, completed an

Instagram usage questionnaire, followed by the Physical Appearance Comparison Scale and the

Body Esteem Scale as measures of BD. Subsequently, all participants completed the eye tracking dot

probe task. The task contained a fat word condition: fat word vs neutral word stimulus condition

(i.e. Obese vs Bench), and a thin word condition: thin word vs neutral word stimulus condition (i.e.

Skinny vs Mirror). The time spent fixating on fat words and thin words was measured as a

representation of AB.

Results: Regression analysis revealed a non-significant effect of Instagram usage on BD and AB

towards both appearance words. Results also indicated that Instagram content also did not have an

effect on BD and AB towards appearance words. Body dissatisfaction did significantly effect

attention bias, B = 2.96, SE = 1.16, p =. 015, with higher BD indicating greater AB towards both thin

and fat words.

Conclusion: From these data, a replication of the positive relationship between BD and AB was

produced. However, there is not sufficient evidence to support an effect of Instagram usage on body

satisfaction and exposure to thin-idealised images through Instagram on body satisfaction. Further

research is required to investigate the entirety of this relationship.

Keywords: body dissatisfaction, Instagram, attention bias, media influence, thin ideal.


63

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