Massey Research Online
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Emotional and social loneliness as mediators of chronic conditions and depression in older adults in Aotearoa : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Distance, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2024) Nicholson, Thomas
Background and Objectives: Aotearoa New Zealand is experiencing an acceleration in its ageing population that will present economic and health challenges for its people and healthcare systems. Modern changes in healthcare enable people to live longer but have come with increased chronic conditions. Adding to this burden, older adults are vulnerable to psychological problems such as depression, itself often considered a chronic condition. Searching for ways to understand and prevent depression in older adults, researchers discovered connections with both chronic conditions and loneliness. The relationship between chronic conditions, loneliness, and depression is complex and not well understood. While considerable research suggests that these components are related, a dearth of research addresses all three components concurrently. Given that chronic conditions are potential risk factors for both depression and loneliness and that loneliness may predict depression, it is conceivable that loneliness may mediate the relationship between chronic conditions and depression. Consequently, it may be possible to prevent or alleviate depression in older adults experiencing chronic conditions by addressing loneliness. Method: Analyses used survey data from 3,011 participants aged 55-91 years taken from two waves of the New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Study. Two structural equation models tested the relationship between chronic conditions and depression, between multimorbidity and depression, and whether emotional or social loneliness mediated the relationships. Covariates included age, ethnicity, gender, partner status, and SES measured as living standards. Results: SEM analyses found that sleep disorder and multimorbidity predicted depression and that sleep disorder predicted social and emotional loneliness while multimorbidity predicted emotional loneliness. Additionally, SES predicted depression and both types of loneliness. However, loneliness did not mediate either relationship. Conclusion: The current study supports prior research findings that sleep disorder and multimorbidity predict depression. This study further provides a valuable contribution to the literature investigating the relationship between SES when measured as living standards and depression in older people and aligns with the considerable research on the importance of inequalities and their negative impact on health outcomes.
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The politics of contemporary collecting in Aotearoa New Zealand : examining shifts in museum policies and practices from the 1981 Springbok tour to COVID-19 : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Museum Studies at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, Te Papa-i-Oea Palmerston North, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2024) Claasen, April Charlotte Jane
Museums are more than repositories of material culture; they are active participants in shaping collective memory and negotiating societal norms. This thesis examines the evolving collecting practices of New Zealand museums during two pivotal national events: the 1981 Springbok Tour and the COVID-19 pandemic. Through these case studies, it explores how museums navigate power dynamics, ethical challenges, and community expectations in their curatorial decisions. Drawing on Bourdieu’s concepts of cultural capital and habitus, and Foucault’s theories of power, governmentality, and surveillance, this research interrogates the tensions between institutional authority and community engagement. The analysis traces a shift from reactive approaches during the Springbok Tour, shaped by dominant political pressures, to the proactive, community-focused collecting strategies employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift highlights an ongoing negotiation between preserving institutional priorities and representing diverse societal voices. Using a mixed-methods approach—including interviews, archival research, and survey data— this thesis argues that curatorial decisions are never neutral but are shaped by institutional frameworks and the politics of memory. It advocates for reflexive and collaborative collecting practices that decentralise dominant narratives, fostering inclusivity and equity in documenting Aotearoa’s histories. Ultimately, this study situates museum collecting within the broader dynamics of power, responsibility, and ethics, offering insights into how museums can engage meaningfully with their communities while responding to the complexities of contemporary society.
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Factors that improve probation officers impact for Māori on probation supervision : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2024) Barrett, Victoria
The disproportionate number of Māori involved in the justice system is deeply concerning. Māori account for 17% of the total population yet comprise 40% of police arrests and 53.2% of the correctional population in Aotearoa (New Zealand). (The Department of Corrections, Dec 2022). Re-conviction rates for Māori are significantly higher than other ethnicities on average, Māori accumulate 5 to 6 community sentences prior to entering prison, suggesting it is sensible to focus on what works to prevent Māori incarceration. Notwithstanding systemic issues associated with these statistics, research has shown that Probation Officers and the probation process have the potential to positively impact the people serving sentences. This thesis proposes to gain a more holistic understanding of Probation Officers and supervision practices that improve outcomes for Māori within the Aotearoa justice system. Ten Probation Officers and four Māori on probation supervision were interviewed using key themes identified in a literature review. Probation Officers were also asked to complete a personality assessment, which was used to validate some of the findings regarding interpersonal skills. Results suggest a range of multifaceted and complex factors interact and ultimately result in the likelihood of breaking the cycle of criminal behaviour. Further analysis revealed the majority of themes aligned with the Meihana Model, an Indigenous cultural competence framework designed to provide a practical approach to delivering culturally safe practices for Māori and their families. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to improving transformational outcomes for Māori within the justice system.
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Screening of effector proteins from the Kauri dieback pathogen Phytophthora agathidicida : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (MSc) in Biological Sciences at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2024) Heslop, Scott John
Phytophthora agathidicida is the causative agent of kauri dieback, a destructive disease threatening kauri that are endemic to the Northernmost regions of New Zealand. Relatively little is understood of this pathogen and its interaction with kauri at the molecular level. However, advances in the understanding of other Phytophthora pathogens, and the completion of a chromosome-level P. agathidicida genome sequence, now allow for this interaction to be studied in greater detail. Core components of any pathogen-plant pathosystem are effectors, which are proteins released by the pathogen during infection that promote virulence. A well characterised type of effector from Phytophthora are the glycoside hydrolases (GHs), a broad group of extracellular effectors that include XEG1 from the soybean pathogen Phytophthora sojae. In the model host Nicotiana benthamiana, XEG1 is recognised by an extracellular, membrane-bound receptor-like protein (RLP) that associates with the co-receptor SOBIR1 to begin the signalling cascade needed for plant immunity. In line with this, the presence of SOBIR1 strongly impedes the ability of P. agathidicida to grow on N. benthamiana. However, it is unclear what role RLPs may have in the immunity of kauri against kauri dieback disease via recognition of the XEG1 homolog from P. agathidicida. In this study, we aimed to characterise the role of XEG1 and a novel kauri dieback effector, Pa8011, to determine if the immunity observed in N. benthamiana could also be found in kauri and how this influences the host-pathogen interaction. Kauri from families with differing levels of tolerance to kauri dieback were kindly provided by Te Roroa, with the requirement that XEG1 testing in kauri leaves was performed using purified protein in place of transient expression used in N. benthamiana. Experiments were first conducted in N. benthamiana to confirm that the P. agathidicida XEG1 protein elicits a plant defence response in the form of localised cell death and that this response depends on the SOBIR1 co-receptor. The purified proteins were then infiltrated into kauri leaves where neither XEG1 or Pa8011 caused localised cell death, despite the response seen with XEG1 in N. benthamiana. To assess how the effectors influence the ability of P. agathidicida to infect kauri, protein-infiltrated leaf tissue was then inoculated with the pathogen, but neither effector caused a significant increase or decrease in the size of pathogen lesions formed. The results obtained indicate a lack of XEG1/Pa8011-specific RLP immune receptors in kauri and opens up new questions about what form this system takes in kauri and how comparable it is to the model host.
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Assessing rake mark ontogeny to investigate social aggression in common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in Aotearoa New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Zoology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2024) Crisp, Hannah R.
Aggressive competition can impact resource allocation, social structure, and reproductive success in social species. Rake marks, semi-permanent parallel scars from teeth raking across the dermis of another individual, indicate delphinid social aggression. When examined alongside ontogeny, demographic traits, and position, rake marks can inform social dynamics, and potentially health, in delphinids. The majority of existing rake mark studies have been field based and often lack sex, age, total body length (TBL), body condition and reproductive context. Here, I analysed rake marks on common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) examined postmortem between 2006-2024 (n = 102) in Aotearoa New Zealand. To account for skin loss and surface area variation, a zero-inflated generalised linear mixed model assessed rake mark occurrence (probability of rake density > 0) and prevalence (rake density, rm/dm² ) across the body (n = 89; dorsal/ventral, cranial/caudal, left/right), inferring potential confrontation, avoidance, and lateralisation. Zero-inflated generalised linear model was used to assess rake mark occurrence and prevalence with sex, age, TBL, sexual maturity, and body condition (n = 89), as well as female reproductive status (n = 51). Females demonstrated higher rake mark prevalence, but lower occurrence than males, possibly due to infrequent but severe aggressive sexual coercion. Males may engage in frequent intrasexual competition for mates. Resting mature females exhibited higher rake mark prevalence and occurrence than immature and pregnant and/or lactating females, likely attributed to reproductive availability and heightened sexual coercion. Rake mark occurrence and prevalence increased with greater TBL, possibly due to the increased surface area available to receive rake marks. Larger male body size, with a pronounced post-anal hump, may signal dominance, resulting in frequent severe aggression. Sexual maturity, age, and body condition displayed no relationship with rake occurrence or prevalence. However, biotic and abiotic factors may influence dolphin skin healing and rake mark longevity, which potentially inhibited the detection of existing relationships. These results provide first insights to how ontogeny may influence rake mark scarring in common dolphins, and the inferred context of the interactions that led to these rake marks.