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- ItemDo online social networks contribute to social connectedness and wellbeing for ex-New Zealand police officers? : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Neilson, DavidPolice officers are routinely exposed to a wide range of stressors as part of their operational day. Research has demonstrated that chronic exposure to stress can impact wellbeing. Police are not immune to this phenomenon, and an increased incidence of compromised wellbeing has been reported in police cohorts. Officers in active service are typically the focus of wellbeing research despite evidence that the detrimental effects of policing endure into retirement. Social connectedness is well supported in the research literature as a promoter of wellbeing. Over the last two decades, the internet and online social networking platforms have transformed how individuals and groups socially connect (Klimmt et al., 2018; Vorderer et al., 2017). Part of this transformation has been the rapid growth of online social networking platforms. In response to this growth, a burgeoning research interest in the effects of social network use on wellbeing has developed. This study used a cross-sectional research design to explore the relationships between social networking site use, social connectedness and wellbeing for a group of ex-police officers. Participants completed a survey assessing their social network site use, online social connectedness, loneliness and wellbeing. The research survey included the use of a scaled model of wellbeing based in te ao Māori, Te Whare Tapa Whā, in conjunction with a validated scale of wellbeing. No statistically significant relationships were observed between social network site use, social connectedness and wellbeing. A moderate positive relationship was observed between the validated wellbeing scale and the Te Whare Tapa Whā scale. Although participants overwhelmingly reported that their social network use was detrimental to their wellbeing, this was not reflected in the study's data analysis. This study contributes to the limited research with ex-police officers and provides exploratory data to inform future research with this population. Recommendations regarding research design and population engagement for this cohort are made. This study also provides exploratory evidence for the validity of a scaled version of Te Whare Tapa Whā as a quantitative measure of wellbeing.
- ItemExploring the barriers and facilitators of accessing and utilising mental healthcare for adults with childhood trauma : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, by Distance, Aotearoa/New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Brocas, CaitlinChildhood trauma is a prolific and pervasive issue, with New Zealand reporting a concerning number of child maltreatment cases each year. Extensive research has highlighted the myriad of negative physiological, neurological, and psychological impacts associated with experiencing trauma in childhood. Despite this, mental healthcare service usage in New Zealand remains relatively low, with the most recent data estimating only 2.9% of the population access some form of mental healthcare annually (Te Whatu Ora, 2023). To understand this, disconnect, the current study aimed to explore the lived experiences of adults with childhood trauma and identify the barriers and facilitators that impact accessing and utilising mental healthcare. Employing Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, semi-structured interviews were conducted with four adult participants to provide an in-depth understanding of their experiences accessing care. Analysis revealed six overarching themes: Constraints of Living in a Small Town, The Cost of Care, Confronting Internal Barriers, reaching a Breaking Point and A Need for A System that Cares. From these themes, six primary barriers were identified: Limited Resources, Incompatibility in the Therapeutic Relationship, Lack of Anonymity, Stigma, Lack of Trust and Financial Constraints. Three key facilitators also emerged: Crisis as a Motivator, Support and Positive Healthcare Relationships. Additionally, participants identified several systematic changes that would facilitate future access and utilisation of care. This thesis addresses critical gaps in existing literature and contributes to our understanding of the challenges and supports that impact to mental healthcare for adults with childhood trauma in New Zealand.
- ItemThe relationship between New Zealand primary school teachers’ experiences of balancing work and leisure and their career intentions : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Arts (Psychology) at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Hunt, BethanyTeacher attrition is a critical issue worldwide, with many primary school teachers struggling to manage the balance between their professional and personal lives due to conflicting priorities. While work-life balance research is extensive, the work-life balance of primary school teachers and the effect of this on their career intentions is significantly underexplored, particularly within the New Zealand context. Research that has been conducted has often investigated the balance between teachers’ work and personal life from a work-family balance perspective, neglecting other aspects of personal life such as leisure. The aim of this research was to explore New Zealand primary school teachers’ experiences of balancing work and leisure and the potential effect of this on their career intentions. A qualitative study was conducted in the form of semi-structured interviews on a sample of 16 New Zealand primary school teachers. The findings were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis approach. The study identified a variety of factors hindering participants ability to balance work and leisure. These included workload, teaching experience, dual roles, personal priorities, job intensity and workplace support. While many participants indicated struggling to engage in regular leisure activity, their responses highlighted that engagement in leisure was not a primary factor affecting their career intentions. A significant factor influencing participants' career intentions was a desire to make a difference to their students. However, the study found that this came at a cost to their personal well-being and time, chosen priorities, role responsibilities and leisure engagement. Participants identified areas which may assist them to achieve their ideal work-life balance, such as meaningful workplace support and a simplification of work-related tasks. Further research is recommended on ways to support teachers in these areas in order to address the work-life balance of New Zealand primary school teachers and the critical issue of teacher attrition.
- ItemThe prevalence of violence and aggression towards remotely piloted aircraft pilots and their ground crew : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Aviation at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Walton, ClaireRemotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) are unmanned aircraft (UA) which are controlled by a pilot on the ground from a ground control station or by using a handheld flight controller. RPA are used both recreationally, or commercially as a tool to support goods and services provided. Narrative-based accounts from those within the sector report a rising number of events of violence and aggression from the public towards RPA pilots and their ground crew. However, these concerns are based on social media reports, news articles, and anecdotal accounts, rather than through empirical research. Although current literature around public acceptance of UA sometimes includes those within the sector, the focus of extant research is squarely on the interests of the public rather than from the perspective of the RPA crew. The main purpose of this research is to identify how widespread or prevalent violence and aggression towards RPA pilots and their ground crew is; and, if identified, to ascertain the nature of these threats and aggression towards RPA pilots and ground crew. To address these questions, an online survey was undertaken which generated 337 responses, 293 of which were valid and comprised the sample. A mixed-method approach was taken to balance richness of data (qualitative, for describing experiences) and generalisability (quantitative, for user and flight characteristics). Given the wide range of data collected, a similarly wide range of analyses were used. This included an overall grounded theory approach to the qualitative data utilising both content and thematic analysis. The quantitative data utilised chi-squared goodness of fit tests, single sample t-tests, and regressions (linear, ordinal logistic, and binary logistic). This research identified 52.90% of participants had experienced violence and aggression during RPA operations, with the nature of these events being predominantly anger and verbal aggression. This research also revealed a small number of events (24) where the instances of violence and aggression involved firearms. Additionally, this research determined that professional RPA users with higher flight hours were more likely to experience violence and aggression while flying an RPA. Interestingly, this research identified that there was no single RPA application (e.g., photography) that attracted significantly more threats of violence and aggression than any other application. This suggests that violence and aggression towards RPA users may be a threat for the whole RPA sector rather than just one area. This thesis provides implications for aviation regulators, the police, and government agencies associated with public privacy regulations. One critical implication for both the aviation regulator and the police is to recognise the danger to public safety of an RPA pilot or crew member being distracted by angry members of the public. Although the intent from the public member may not directly be towards interference of the aircraft, the consequences of the angry public members actions may jeopardise the safety of the aircraft. For this reason, this research recommends further investigation into dealing with malicious behaviour towards the RPA and RPA user from the public. This research also determined the majority of these threats against RPA users were unreported to the aviation regulator or to the police. The implication of this, is that neither organisation will have an overall understanding about what is occurring in the sector and, therefore, will be unable to address this safety concern. Both organisations should encourage RPA users to report events of violence and aggression and explain the benefits for the RPA sector in reporting these issues. One possible reason identified in this research for violence and aggression towards RPA pilots and their ground crew was confusion around privacy regulations. A further recommendation from this was the benefit of education for the public around privacy regulations along with what the public can do in the event of misconduct by an RPA user.
- ItemUnderstanding the experience of children aged between five and thirteen years old and their parents undergoing long-term treatment for juvenile dermatomyositis : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Jeffries, MeganThis thesis examines the emotional and practical challenges faced by children with juvenile dermatomyositis and their parents during treatment. It also explores the challenges experienced on the journey to diagnosis. Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare chronic childhood autoimmune disease with the average age of onset of 7 years old with a girl-to-boy ratio of 3:1 (Pachman et al., 2021). The international annual incidence of juvenile dermatomyositis is 1.7-3 per million, as reported by Concannon (2021). The existing literature demonstrates a robust focus on biomedical interventions for juvenile dermatomyositis; however, empirical investigations into the experiences of children and their parents remain scarce. This study primarily utilises parental perspectives to highlight the systemic challenges that may influence the treatment experience of children with juvenile dermatomyositis. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants to complete an anonymous survey, resulting in sixteen survey participants. Of those sixteen survey participants, five agreed to an interview. The results were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. The main findings were the need for advocation during the journey to diagnosis and throughout treatment, treatment experience, and parent knowledge. There was a common thread of emotional resilience required for constant advocation, mental labour for treatment logistics, and the need for independent research due to lack of information given around prognosis and treatment options. The research revealed a significant lack of mental health services offered for the child or the family, highlighting the need for psychosocial support for both children and their families due to the ripple effect that treatment experience has. Future research could benefit from prioritising the voices of the children and gaining access to a larger, more diverse sample pool.
- ItemHidden stories : exploring teachers’ experiences of family violence response and inter-agency collaboration in schools : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Neilson-Dyer, SusanThe introduction of the Family Violence Act (2018) marked a significant shift in legislative guidance for information-sharing and inter-agency collaboration, for the first time, naming schools as social agencies taking an active, collaborative role in family violence response, opening spaces to privilege the knowledge of teachers, positioning them as valuable stakeholders in inter-agency working. The current research aimed to explore teachers experiences of family violence response and collaborative opportunities through listening to the lived experiences of six primary school teachers who worked prior to and since the introduction of the Family Violence Act (2018), analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The identified themes of Spaces and Islands, Doing What is Right and Best, and Travelling with the Trauma revealed the isolation, institutional and professional limitations, and pain teachers experience when supporting children who have experienced family violence in their classroom due to a lack of information-sharing capabilities and collaborative interagency networks of support that persist despite the potentials the Family Violence Act (2018). The adaptive and creative strategies teachers employ to protect and support their students was also acknowledged, where they do what they can with heart and with passion within the limitations and constraints they face, at times placing themselves at risk to protect their students. The findings from this study highlight the commitment of teachers to student wellbeing, and the under-utilised, detailed student knowledge they can contribute to inter-agency family violence response measures in Aotearoa. Systemic change is required to recognise teachers and schools as valuable stakeholders in inter-agency networks of family violence response, and to mobilise their expert knowledge and experience to better support and protect children experiencing family violence in our communities. As the first research study in Aotearoa New Zealand to explore teachers’ lived experiences of family violence response, it is recommended that further study of teachers’ lived experience is required to continue contributing to our collective knowledge of inter-agency family violence response.
- Item"E vaka e vakatukakaso na sasalu ni veitiritiri” : exploring indigenous perspectives on socio-economic change and development : a case study of Draubuta and Nabudrau villages in the Rewa Delta : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for Master of International Development in School of People, Environment and Planning at Massey University, Palmerston North, Manawatu, New Zealand(Massey University, 2024) Naivaluvou, Apisaki BaniaThis study looks at how local communities in Fiji are affected by long-term socioeconomic developments. It delves into the role of climate change as a primary driver of change, but it also pays particular attention to the ways local people see the effects of colonialism, globalization, and westernization, all of which have a significant role in the shifts and swift transformation of a local community. With the Vanua Framework serving as the underlying paradigm, the study is qualitative in nature. To capture the impact of these changes, semi-structured interviews, ‘talanoa’ and photovoice were used. The results show the value of Indigenous knowledge and wisdom as it guides their actions and response to change and development. By prioritizing the Indigenous ways of knowing, there are sustainable practices that promote interconnectedness and relational knowledge. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how local people navigate and respond to the complexities of modernity, climate change and development. It calls for sustainable development that is aligned to Indigenous knowledge, perceptions and values.
- ItemQualitative enquiry into mindfulness of death meditation among experienced practitioners : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Sadykova, AnyaThe benefits of meditation and mindfulness-based interventions are widely known and have been studied extensively since the end of the last century. However, mindfulness of death is a less researched practice, and appears to be less common among mindfulness practitioners. In non-clinical populations mindfulness of death has been linked to greater self-awareness, decreased death anxiety and increase in prosocial attitudes and values. Given the positive reports for using this practice, further research into its effects and mechanisms could be of benefit. The current study is a qualitative enquiry into mindfulness of death among experienced practitioners. The research is directed at exploring individual motivations to participate in such practice, its effects and challenges. Semi-structured interviews with six individuals from Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia were completed. Transcripts of the interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), an appropriate qualitative methodology for analysing subjective experiences of meditation. Three group experiential themes emerged from the dataset: (1) close and personal with death, (2) transformation and (3) controlled losing of the mind. The results of this study indicated that mindfulness of death was an important practice that contributed to how participants understood their relationship with dying and living. It had contributed to their focus on values-based living and mindfulness in relationships. The participants also reported deepening their metacognitive and emotion regulation abilities. Identified challenges were around frequency and intensity of the practice, as well as one’s emotional readiness to confront mortality. Practical implications of the findings are discussed. There is room for future quantitative research exploring the themes generated from this study using a larger statistically significant sample to test generalisability. Aspects such as intensity and frequency of this practice can also be explored further.
- ItemShifting gears : exploring the mobility stories of Latin American women in Auckland : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Resource and Environmental Planning at Massey University, Aotearoa New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Rodriguez Mora, AnamariaIncreasing immigration presents Aotearoa New Zealand with both challenges and opportunities for its transport system. While Aotearoa’s cities aspire to encourage the use of low-carbon transport modes (walking, cycling and public transport), a key challenge to this transition is the ongoing 'reverse mode shifts' (RMS); where immigrant women shift from using low-carbon transport in their respective countries to private cars after migrating. Given the sharp growth of immigrants in Auckland, understanding this phenomenon is key to plan for the future of its transport system. This thesis explores the factors that encourage or discourage Latin American women in Auckland to RMS after migration, and proposes ways to discourage immigrant women from embracing driving after migration. This research uses the ’new mobilities paradigm’(NMP) as a theoretical framework, to understand the mobility challenges immigrant women face daily, and identify key ways of progressing sustainability and equity planning outcomes. Specifically, the research applies Tim Cresswell’s (2010) framework, which is informed by the NMP, to explore how social and power dynamics play a part in the emergence of new patterns of (im)mobility, leading Latin American to RMS after migration. The thesis takes a qualitative research approach, combining two sources of data. First, the thesis involves a critical review of the planning framework by reviewing documents relevant to transport planning in Auckland. Second, over twenty Latin American women residing in Auckland were interviewed to capture their (im)mobility experiences through stories. The findings revealed that Latin American women are encouraged to embrace driving as a way to address inequalities linked to Auckland’s transport system. Driving is a means for them to offset economic, socio-cultural and physical obstacles in the city. The research shows driving is not necessarily a choice in a car-dependent city like Auckland, as many would not choose to drive If they had alternative and sustainable options. Key factors influencing their RMS included motherhood (i.e. having a baby), needing to work in a sprawled city and desires to feel free, independent and equal. However, perceptions of fear, anxiety and stress when driving discouraged several participants from driving as main commuting mode. Although some of them found ways to either manage or accept these barriers, the perceptions of fear, anxiety and stress remain present for most, suggesting Latin American women end up sacrificing their mobilities experiences to fulfil other needs. The research concludes that the RMS of immigrant women in Auckland are strongly influenced by to transport planning approaches adopted in the city. These approaches prioritise economic growth and individual market choice over sustainability and equity-needs-approaches which ultimately promoted forced car ownership and usage. The research recommends prioritising transport planning approaches that understands human as experiential and emotional beings, moving away from approaches centred on rational philosophies. This research sits between social science and applied planning and have advance theoretical and practical knowledge that emphasis the needs of alternative approaches in transport planning to address the mobility challenges of immigrant women.
- ItemHow can we Improve self-care practices and reduce burnout within New Zealand and Australian psychologists? : examining self-compassion and its link to self-care and burnout : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Matheson, SiobhanThe demanding nature of psychologists’ work and their exposure to distressing content, puts them at high risk of experiencing stress outcomes. Self-care is widely accepted as important for preventing stress outcomes such as burnout; however, surprisingly few studies have investigated the link between self-care and burnout among psychologists. Further, despite ethical imperatives to engage in self-care, psychologists tend to have a chronic disregard for their own needs and limited research has investigated factors that increase psychologists' engagement in self-care. One promising factor that may enhance self-care and buffer burnout is self-compassion. Prior research within other helping professionals has linked self-compassion with promoting self-care and reducing burnout. However, almost no research has investigated the benefit of self-compassion for psychologists or considered the relationships between these three factors. This research explored self-compassion’s relationship with self-care and burnout in psychologists, as well as whether self-compassion was a moderator of the relationship between self-care and burnout. Currently registered and practicing New Zealand and Australian psychologists (n = 197) were recruited through convenience sampling. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that self-compassion had a significant, positive relationship with both professional and personal self-care in psychologist and that both self-compassion and self-care had significant, negative associations with burnout. Psychologists with greater self-compassion tended to have higher engagement in both professional and personal self-care along with lower levels of burnout. Moderation analysis showed that self-compassion was also a significant moderator of relationship between self-care and burnout, such that self-compassion strengthened the negative relationship that self-care had with burnout in psychologists. Specifically, as psychologists’ level of self-compassion gets higher, the negative relationship between self-care and burnout gets stronger. These results highlight self-compassion as a valuable resource for enhancing self-care practices and buffering burnout within psychologists. This research extends the finding that self-compassion is positively associated with self-care to a population of New Zealand and Australian psychologists, and it provides an initial foundation for new ways of looking at the relationship between self-care and burnout with respect to self-compassion.
