Journal Articles
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915
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Item Frequency of traumatic events, physical and psychological health among Maori(New Zealand Psychological Society, 2005) Hirini PR; Flett RA; Long NR; Millar MWe examined the lifetime prevalence of 12 traumatic experiences (combat, child sex abuse, sexual abuse as an adult, family violence, other physical assault, theft by force, vehicle accident, other accident, natural disaster, disaster precautions, traumatic death (secondary trauma) and the links between these experiences and physical and mental health, via a cross sectional survey of 502 community dwelling New Zealand Maori adults. We found that the overall frequency with which such events occur in this group to be relatively high. Males were significantly more likely than females to report experience of combat, physical assault, theft by force, vehicle accident and other forms of accident. Females were significantly more likely to report sexual abuse as a child or adult, violence at the hands of a family member, and a traumatic death of a loved one. Younger respondents and those living in urban areas also reported more traumatic experiences of various sorts. There were some significant linkages between traumatic experiences and mental health (specifically PTSD, and the well-being scale of the MHI) but the size of the effects were small. We argue, that despite methodological limitations, these data are instructive about the frequency and impact of traumatic events among this group.Item Influential factors moderating academic enjoyment/motivation and psychological well-being for Maori university students at Massey University(New Zealand Psychological Society, 2005) Gavala JR; Flett RAPerceptions of stress and discomfort in the university environment and the relation between these perceptions and academic enjoyment/motivation and psychological well-being were examined in a sample of 122 Maori psychology students at Massey University. The moderating effects of perceived control and cultural identity were also considered. Major findings were that: (a) individuals reporting high stress, more feelings of discomfort at university, and a lower sense of academic control, were significantly more likely to be experiencing a lowered sense of well-being, and reduced feelings of academic enjoyment and motivation; (b) under conditions where there is a high sense of academic control, those with a high sense of comfort with university report significantly higher well-being that those with low comfort; (c) there were no moderating effects of cultural identity. Providing a comfortable academic environment that students' perceive as culturally-congruent increases perceived psychological well-being and academic enjoyment and motivation.Item Stages of change for fruit and vegetable intake and dietary fat modification in Maori women: Some relationships with body attitudes and eating behaviours(New Zealand Psychological Society, 2005) Tassell NA; Flett RAWe examined the influence of psychological factors (social physique anxiety, dietary self-efficacy), difficulties associated with making dietary changes and food security on stages of change for dietary fat reduction and increased fruit and vegetable intake in a non-probability convenience sample of New Zealand Maori women (N = 111) recruited through several acquaintanceship networks of the first author. We found that dietary fat intake, dietary self-efficacy and difficulties associated with changing fruit intake were significantly related to the stages of change for both dietary fat intake reduction and increased fruit and vegetable intake. In addition, difficulties associated with reducing dietary fat intake were significantly related to the stages of change for dietary fat intake reduction. As one moved along the change continuum, dietary fat intake and barriers associated with dietary change steadily reduced, whilst dietary self-efficacy increased. Sixty eight percent of the sample were categorised as either overweight or obese, and these participants reported significantly more anxiety and lower self-efficacy. Discussion focussed on the applicability of the study variables in the implementation of dietary related interventions for Maori women.Item Predictors of health care utilisation in community dwelling New Zealand Māori(University of Papua New Guinea and Massey University School of Psychology, 2004) Flett RA; Hirini PR; Long NR; Millar MItem Domestic violence, psychological distress, and physical illness among New Zealand women: Results from a community-based study(New Zealand Psychological Society, 2000) Kazantzis N; Flett RA; Long NR; MacDonald C; Millar MThis study aimed to measure the prevalence of psychological distress and physical illness among women in New Zealand, and to identify the risk factors for psychological distress and health, with specific reference to domestic violence. A survey was carried out among a community sample of 961 women aged 19-90 years. Among all women surveyed, 25% were classified as experiencing psychological distress at the time of interview, 22% were classified as experiencing severe symptoms of physical illness, and 17% reported domestic violence by a family member at some point in their lives. Among those women who had experienced domestic violence, the perception that their life was in serious danger and the impact of the violence on their life each contributed significantly to variability in psychological distress (22% variance accounted). An estimated 12% of all cases of psychological distress and 7% of all cases of serious physical illness were attributable to domestic violence. The study underscores the need to improve policy for mental and physical health screening and care for abused women within health services in New Zealand.Item Contribution of retirement-related variables to well-being in an older male sample(New Zealand Psychological Society, 2000) Alpass FM; Neville S; Flett RAWith New Zealand's increasing older adult population comes an increase in the number of retirees. Changes in work patterns, earlier retirement and increasing life expectancy are resulting in longer periods of time spent in retirement. The effects of retirement on health and well-being have been viewed both positively and negatively and previous research on the impact of retirement has been equivocal. Inconsistencies may be attributable to a number of factors including time since retirement, changes in health status of the retiree, loss of social supports, policies of voluntary versus mandatory retirement and whether the work career was satisfying versus unfulfilled. Further, there are many possible outcomes following retirement and indices such as depression, and psychological well-being may be influenced by retirement in different ways. The present study sought to address a number of these issues by investigating the relative contribution of demographic, health, social support and retirement related variables to a number of indices of well-being in a group of retired older adult males. The present study found the nature of retirement (forced/voluntary) was unrelated to well-being outcomes; number of years retired was negatively associated with well-being outcomes; and prior job satisfaction was positively related to well-being outcomes. However, retirement variables contributed little to the overall explained variance in well-being indices. The major contributors to outcomes were diagnosis of a long-term illness or disability and satisfaction with social supports. Findings are discussed in relation to the literature.Item Considerations for culturally responsive Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Māori with depression(Cambridge University Press (CUP): STM Journals, 16/08/2016) Bennett ST; Flett RA; Babbage DRA strong case can be made for adapting cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for ethnic and cultural minority groups. In North America, literature is readily available for CBT practitioners wishing to adapt their practice when working with ethnic minority groups (e.g., Latino, African-American, and Native American groups). In other countries such as New Zealand, literature of this sort is scarce, and the empirical foundation for CBT adaptation in these parts of the world is weak. This article documents the core tenets of an empirically validated CBT treatment protocol tailored for individual delivery to Māori clients suffering from depression in New Zealand and developed through consultation with an expert advisory group consisting of senior clinicians and Māori cultural experts. The result is a series of considerations for clinicians endeavouring to provide culturally responsive CBT with Māori clients, who are identified and organised into four domains. Two case studies are presented to illustrate the practical application of the proposed techniques. Links are made to international literature related to the adaptation of CBT in pursuit of cultural responsiveness.Item Evaluating the content and quality of cognitive-behavioural therapy case conceptualisations(New Zealand Psychological Society, 2011) Haarhoff BA; Flett RA; Gibson KLWhilst case conceptualisation (CC) is considered a key Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT) competency, assessment and evaluation of the content and quality of CBT CC skills is not generally part of CBT training. In this paper, the content and quality of CCs produced by novice CBT clinicians was evaluated. Twenty-six novice CBT clinicians constructed CCs based on four clinical case vignettes. The content and quality of the CCs was evaluated using three rating scales, the Case Formulation Content Coding method, the Fothergill and Kuyken Quality of Cognitive-Therapy Case Formulation rating scale, and the CBT CC rating scale and benchmark conceptualisations. Descriptive statistical analysis of content displayed consistent distribution of subcategories of clinical information included, or omitted in the CCs. Underlying psychological mechanisms were emphasised. Information concerning biological, socio-cultural, protective factors, and the therapeutic relationship were generally omitted. As far as quality was concerned, between 50% - 61% of participants produced 'good-enough' CBT CCs. The consistent pattern of clinical information evidenced in the participants' CCs highlighted strengths and weaknesses which have implications for improving training in CC CBT competency.