Massey Documents by Type
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/294
Browse
19 results
Search Results
Item Does cooling affect skeletal muscle glycogen replenishment after an acute bout of fear-induced exertional hyperthermia in blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi)?(Elsevier Inc, 2025-11-01) Kohn TA; Martin M; van Boom KM; Donaldson B; Blackhurst DM; Fitte A; Burroughs R; Steyl JCA; Goddard A; Meyer LCRRhabdomyolyses is a clinical sign of capture myopathy in wild animals and may be linked to glycogen metabolism. To study potential mechanisms, 26 wild blesbok were chased for 15 min and immobilised, whereafter 12 of these blesbok were doused with ice-water (n = 14 chased only group; n = 12 chased + cooled group). An additional 12 blesbok served as resting (not chased) uncooled controls. Vastus lateralis biopsies were obtained after immobilisation for biochemical analyses. Biopsies obtained at initial capture, 3- and 16-days post exercise were analysed for glycogen content. Blesbok muscles contained predominantly myosin heavy chain (MHC) IIA (∼50 ± 9 %), followed by IIX (32 ± 10 %) and MHC I (18 ± 5 %), with no difference between groups. Citrate synthase (mean: 87 ± 48), 3-hydroxyacetyl co A dehydrogenase (47 ± 17), lactate dehydrogenase (1567 ± 654), phosphorylase (162 ± 94), phosphofructokinase (250 ± 123) and creatine kinase (12,455 ± 6372) activities (in μmol/min/g prot) were not different between groups. Similarly, superoxide dismutase (7.9 ± 7 U/mg prot), catalase (8.8 ± 5.8 mmol/min/g prot), and overall antioxidant capacity (ORAC: 23055 ± 18,460 μmol/g prot) were not different between groups. Glycogen content was reduced in both chased groups and not replenished by day 3. Glycogen supercompensation was observed on day 16 in both chased groups (∼33 % higher than resting control group). The results confirm that blesbok have high muscle metabolic capacities, and that glycogen resynthesis is slow, which could lead to metabolite deficiency during prolonged chase events (>15 min).Item Dataset describing Aotearoa New Zealand young adults’ psychological well-being and behaviour during nationwide lockdown(Elsevier B.V., 2022-02-01) Broodryk T; Robinson KThis dataset provides a comprehensive snapshot of 277 New Zealand young adult's (M age = 18.93, SD = 3.28) real-time behaviours and experiences during a seven-week nationwide lockdown. Participants were recruited through a university student participant pool and data were collected online during 20–27th April 2020 (Alert Level 4) and 6–13th May 2020 (Alert Level 3), constituting the 26th–33rd and 42nd–49th day (respectively) of a nationwide lockdown to manage the first wave of COVID-19 in Aotearoa New Zealand. Data have been used previously [1]. Data includes participants’ self-reported compliance with legally mandated COVID-19 lockdown policies, as well as participants’ self-reported knowledge of lockdown policies, lockdown characteristics, trust in government and information sources, COVID-19 specific worries, recent anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms, cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression use, and Big Five personality traits. The dataset is freely accessible (CC-BY-4.0 license) at https://osf.io/pa4n3/. This database can provide insight into the psychological experience of strict COVID-19 lockdown, support policy makers to evaluate the efficiency COVID-19 public health messaging, and inform future policy to support public health and wellbeing during widespread lockdown and quarantine.Item Coping with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic in the oldest-old population(Springer Nature B.V., 2022-12) Gerhards SK; Pabst A; Röhr S; Luppa M; Riedel-Heller SGThe aim of the study is to investigate psychosocial factors that are associated with positive and negative coping with stress, as well as with worries about and perceived threat by COVID-19 to enable us to provide adequate support for oldest-old individuals. A paper–pencil-based survey assessed COVID-19 worries and perceived threat, depression, anxiety, somatization, social support, loneliness, resilience, positive and negative coping in a sample of n = 197 oldest-old individuals (78–100 years). Linear multivariate and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. Individuals with high levels of resilience were more likely to feel self-efficient when coping with stress. High levels of depression, anxiety and loneliness were associated with feeling more helpless when coping with stress. However, oldest-old individuals who felt lonely also experienced situations where they felt competent in stress coping. Being male and experiencing high levels of social support was more likely associated with high levels of worries due to COVID-19. Increased age and higher levels of depression were associated with lower levels of perceived personal threat, whereas higher somatization scores were more likely associated with higher perceived personal threat. Findings suggest that mental health factors may shape the way oldest-old individuals cope with pandemic-related stress. Resilience might be an important factor to take into account when targeting an improvement in positive coping with stress. Oldest-old individuals who have higher levels of depression, anxiety and feel lonely may be supported by adapting their coping skill repertoire to reduce the feeling of helplessness when coping with stress.Item The impact of self-efficacy and cognitive appraisal on coping adaptability in military recruits : a test of a model and its impact on organisational outcomes : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University(Massey University, 2008) Loughran, BethanyThe present research aimed to test a model of adaptation in RNZAF recruits which was similar in structure to transactional models of stress such as Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) model. Using a longitudinal design and dispositional measures the study assessed the impact of general self-efficacy and cognitive appraisal at the start of recruit training on coping adaptability at the end of training. These variables were also assessed as to their impact on organisationally relevant variables including organisational commitment, perceived performance improvement and readiness for next career phase. Overall the study had two broad aims. The first was to confirm the relationships between appraisal, coping adaptability and outcomes as previously shown in transactional models of stress and coping. The second aim was to discover how self-efficacy impacted on the model, more specifically, whether it acted as a moderator, mediator or antecedent to the appraisal – coping relationship. The results confirmed that challenge appraisal was associated with better organisational outcomes, this relationship was fully mediated by coping adaptability. Self-efficacy was strongly correlated with challenge appraisal however did not moderate the appraisal – coping relationship nor did it mediate the appraisal – coping adaptability relationship. The direct relationship between self-efficacy and coping adaptability was however, fully mediated by challenge appraisal. Threat appraisal did not demonstrate strong relationships with the remaining variables in this sample. Additionally, general self-efficacy, challenge appraisal and coping adaptability were associated with organisational commitment and readiness but not with performance improvement.Item The effects of traffic congestion on Auckland commuters : an examination into the consequences and solutions of commuting stress for organizations : a thesis presented in a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University(Massey University, 2002) McCombe, Iain KeithAuckland's roadways are choked for up to two and a half hours every morning as employees commute to their jobs. Car ownership figures reported for Auckland are high in international comparison, the number of private cars is rising faster than the population. A quasi experimental field study was conducted on 33 Auckland commuters, as a pilot, to assess the effects of traffic congestion on state stress and job performance, using the State Driver Stress Inventory and peer and self assessments. A direct link between traffic congestion and job performance has not been studied before, however previous research posits to a relationship between traffic congestion and task performance. This study expands on previous work by including average speed and number of obstacles in its definition of the independent variable impedance. It was found that commuting by any mode of transport is regarded as stressful for some individuals. Heavily impeded participants had poorer peer ratings of performance. The State Driver Stress Inventory, travel logs, and behaviour bases observation scales received further validation and were found to be appropriate for New Zealand samples. Ways of minimising the impact of traffic congestion on commuters in the region are suggested. Limitations of the study and projected future investigations are discussed.Item Extracytoplasmic stress responses induced by a model secretin : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand(Massey University, 2015) Spagnuolo, JulianPathogenic bacteria export large proteins and protein complexes, including virulence factors, using dedicated transenvelope multiprotein machinery, collectively called secretion systems. Four of these protein export machines found in Gram-negative bacteria, type 2/3 secretion systems, filamentous phage assembly-secretion system and the type 4 pilus assembly system contain large homologous gated channels, called secretins, in the outer membrane. Secretins are radially symmetrical homomultimers (luminal diameter 6-8 nm) interrupted by an internal septum or gate. Expression of these channels imposes a fitness cost to bacteria. While stress induced by model secretin pIV has been previously investigated using microarrays, this thesis is the first RNAseq characterisation of secretin stress responses. Furthermore, this is the first comparison of stress imposed by a closed-gate secretin (wildtype pIV), vs. an isogenic leaky-gate variant, the latter serving as a model of an open-gate substrate-secreting channel. The high sensitivity to changes in gene expression and low background noise of the RNA-seq approach have greatly expanded the known secretin stress responses to include the SoxS, CpxR and RcsB/RcsAB regulons, in addition to the known involvement of the Psp response. A synthetic lethality analysis of candidate genes in these pathways suggested that the leaky-gate secretins, besides rendering the Psp response essential for survival, also stimulate the SoxS and RcsB/RcsAB regulons for protection of the cells. Knowledge of the secretin stress expanded by this work helped identify potential targets for development of much-needed antibiotics against toxinsecreting Gram-negative bacteria.Item An evaluation of the relationship between stressful life events, social support and depressive symptoms: a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University(Massey University, 1985) Jensen, Margaret Ada StewartA replication of Bell, Le Roy and Stephenson's (1982) study in New Zealand Rural, Country Town and City living conditions found no significant differences between the three communities in overall measurements of Stressful Life Events, Social Support and Depressive Symptoms. There were significant differences, however, within the communities. Sociodemographic groups within both Rural and City communities shared similarities that were conspicuously absent in Country Town living where significant differences were shown for Race, Sex, Age, and Socioeconomic Status. With the same levels of Social Support, New Zealand numbers of Stressful Events and Depressive Symptoms were significantly higher than in the United States study. The best model for explaining the findings in terms of this study, is that Stressful Events have a direct negative effect on Depressive Symptoms and that Social Support has a weak beneficial direct effect at intermediate levels of support. There was a tendency for Depressive Symptoms to increase at both low and high levels of support. While the number of depressive symptoms increased with increasing numbers of stressful events there was no evidence that this was a contingent relationship with the level of Social Support or that the effect was other than of the additive variety. The New Zealand study did did not confirm the Bell et al. (1982) conditional effect finding but as in the Bell et al. study, there was no evidence of interactive effects.Item Corticosterone responses of captive and wild northern brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Zoology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2000) Adams, Dominic ChristianConservation strategies should work to mmnruse the occurrence of stressful situations, which are likely to result in chronic elevations of corticosterone. Consequently, identification of such situations would yield important information for conservation management. The objective of this study was to compare the basal levels of corticosterone and the corticosterone response of kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) in different management systems. Repeated blood sampling enabled us to describe the magnitude and duration of the corticosterone response, which is a measure of the sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HP A) axis to stress. All kiwi responded to capture and handling with a rise in plasma levels of corticosterone, which peaked 30 min after capture. Corticosterone levels immediately after capture in wild kiwi were significantly higher than those of captive kiwi. This was most likely due to the method of capture, as wild kiwi took considerably longer to catch than captive kiwi. The plasma level of corticosterone 30 min after capture in nocturnal house kiwi was significantly lower than wild kiwi, but similar to those in outdoor penned kiwi. The cause of these differences is unclear. Nocturnal house kiwi may have become habituated to the presence of humans. Alternatively, it may be due to nocturnal house kiwi being held on a different light cycle to outdoor pen and wild kiwi. In addition, corticosterone levels in nocturnal house kiwi returned to basal levels 2 h after capture and handling. There was no significant difference in the binding affinity (I(I) and binding capacity (Bmax) of corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) between nocturnal house, outdoor pen and wild kiwi. Furthermore, at no stage did maximum plasma levels of corticosterone exceed Bmax· Therefore, the Bmax of kiwi CBG was not a major factor when interpreting corticosterone responses of kiwi. Regularly handled kiwi do not respond to public display and handling with an increase in plasma levels of corticosterone. Therefore, these kiwi appear to have become habituated to this procedure. Elevated corticosterone levels in wild kiwi immediately after capture indicate that determining the precise location of wild kiwi is sufficient to induce a stress response. Therefore this practice should be kept to a minimum. Low basal levels of corticosterone indicate that captive kiwi have acclimatised to captivity. Furthermore, these results indicate that captive kiwi are not exposed to chronic elevations in corticosterone.Item Depression as a function of stressful life events, social support and personality : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University(Massey University, 2000) Freedman, Tracy AmandaThe effects of stressful life events, personality factors (extroversion, socialization/psychoticism and emotionality/neuroticism) and social support on depression were assessed. A questionnaire consisting of The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, College Life Stress Inventory, Depression Inventory, and The Brief Social Support Questionnaire was administered to a sample of 124 volunteer university students enrolled in undergraduate psychology courses. Results showed that other than for socialization, with women scoring higher on average than men, there were no significant differences between men and women, or between ethnic groups, on any of the variables. Age was found to be inversely related to stressful university life events. Emotional instability and low satisfaction with social supports predicted depression. The effects of university life events on depression were mediated by satisfaction with social supports, but not by number of social supports. Emotional stability was found to predict satisfaction with social supports. Emotional instability predicted severity of university life events and explained the largest proportion of variance in depression scores.Item The effects of occupational stress on the family in five occupations : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University(Massey University, 1983) Voges, Kevin E.An experimental study was conducted which investigated the effects of various sources of occupational stressors, life event stressors, and housework stressors on a number of criterion variables assessing the levels of family disruption, marital stress, marital communication, and psychological health. In addition, the moderating effects of both social support mechanisms and the personality construct of locus of control were investigated. An extension of the design included comparing the results of this investigation across five occupational groups, sampling the occupational categories of professional (represented by barristers and solicitors), intermediate non-manual (represented by primary school teachers and insurance salesmen), skilled non-manual (represented by ambulance officers), and semi-skilled non-manual (represented by prison officers). In addition, the levels of effects on the four criterion variables were assessed from two viewpoints, that of the husband's and that of the wife's. A number of reviews were made, covering theoretical issues concerning the type of model proposed, a discussion of various concepts of the term stress, an analysis of sources of occupational stress, a discussion of two moderators of the effects of stress, and a comprehensive review of previous studies investigating the effects of stress on the family. The first stage of the analysis of the results utilized analysis of variance and multiple regression to compare the occupational groups across the various measures, and to investigate the relationship between the occupational and life event stressors and the various criterion variables for each occupational group separately. The results obtained for the comparisons of occupational groups suggested that prison officers perceived their job as being more stressful than did the other occupational groups, on four of the dimensions, those of role conflict, role ambiguity, work underload, and co-worker conflict. In addition, the results indicated that prison officers were consistently high in their assessment of the impact of their occupation on the family. As well, a comparison of moderator variables across the occupational groups showed significant differences in three of the social support variables. These were support by supervisor, co-workers and friends. Support, by co-workers and support by friends tended to be similar for all groups, suggesting that the job incumbents may see these two as basically the same. For the personality measure of locus of control, the results showed that prison officers tended towards external orientation and insurance salesmen tended towards internal orientation. For the investigation of the relationship between the stressors and the criterion variables, the overall pattern suggested that job qualities (work overload, work underload) and organizational role (role conflict, role ambiguity) were important stressors effecting marital relationships. For the level of impact on the family, the stressor variable assessing the lack of free time as a result of work was most important. Within these broad statements of results however, many specific findings were indicated, showing clear differences in effects across the various occupational groups. For example, prison officers perceived a higher impact on the family from their job, in comparison with the other occupational groups studied. The second stage of the analysis of results used multiple regression to investigate the interaction between all the variables in the design for all the occupational groups combined. Both the stressor and the moderator variables were considered as predictor variables in the regression analysis, with the criterion variables corresponding to the various effects of stress measures. Differences in the effects of various stressors and moderators were obtained, and clear indications of overlap between the husband's and wife's stressors were found. For example, the stressor category of the wife's stresses of housework was found to have significant adverse effects on the level of a number of the husband's criterion variables. Finally, the results obtained clearly showed the importance of assessing stress from a number of areas, including both the husband's and wife's occupation and the wife's housework. In addition, the importance of moderator variables, especially in the area of social support, was clearly shown. The value of measuring a number of stress sources and moderators was demonstrated by the significant increases in the levels of explained variance over those usually obtained in research of this nature.