Karl K.K. Wiener

Compulsive Internet use and relations between social connectedness, and introversion

People with poor social connectedness have a greater risk of developing compulsive Internet use.More introverted people appear to be more vulnerable to compulsive Internet use.Using the Internet can become problematic and lead to poor social connectedness.Compulsive Internet Use Scale is a reliable and valid scale in a sample of students. This study aims to further understand factors involved in compulsive Internet use, with specific focus on the relation between social connectedness, the trait introversion, and compulsive Internet use. While Internet use can enhance social connectedness, compulsive Internet use has been associated with poor social connectedness. The factors that make a person vulnerable to compulsive Internet use and its negative effects remain unclear. The personality trait introversion has been associated with poor social connectedness, and there is disagreement on whether or not social interaction on the Internet is beneficial for people high in this trait. Australian university students (N=168) participated in an online survey. Standardised scales were used to measure social connectedness, introversion, and compulsive Internet use. Results show that introverted adults report more compulsive Internet use symptoms than extroverts. In addition, introversion partially mediated the relation between compulsive Internet use and social connectedness. The results raise questions for future research into factors involved in the development of compulsive Internet use and its effect on social connectedness, especially in those who are introverted.

Making workplaces safer: The influence of organisational climate and individual differences on safety behaviour

Current work health and safety practices focus predominately on fostering a safety climate to promote safety behaviours and reduce workplace accidents. Despite the importance of safety climates in accident prevention, recent research has demonstrated that individual factors can also predict work safety behaviour. This study considered the importance of organisational climate together with individual characteristics including differences in personality, impulsiveness, and perceptions of safety within the workplace on safety behaviour. 203 participants consisting of 67 males and 136 females aged 18 to 71 years, completed an online questionnaire. Results revealed that safety behaviour was directly related to safety climate, and conscientiousness. In contrast, neuroticism, and impulsiveness were not significantly related to safety behaviour. The present study findings support previous findings in the literature regarding the importance of safety climate as well as the personality trait of conscientiousness in applying safety behaviours. However, the present study findings did not support previous research in relation to the personality trait of high neuroticism resulting in decreased safety behaviour, nor did not confirm an inverse relationship between high impulsivity and low safety behaviour as theoretical models would suggest. This new finding may warrant further research into the precursors for safety behaviour.

Academic self-efficacy in a twenty-first-century Australian university: strategies for first-generation students

ABSTRACT A major consideration for educators and curriculum developers is finding ways to maximise outcomes for all students. Increased diversity within student cohorts as a result of the Federal Government’s Bradley Review has seen a greater percentage of first-generation students enrolled in tertiary education courses than ever before. Accepting prior evidence for the positive relationship between academic self-efficacy and academic outcomes, this study has sought to evaluate academic self-efficacy using Bandura’s self-efficacy theory for students (N = 1806) from an Australian university boasting high rates of first-generation student enrolment. Furthermore, the effects of bridging program participation were examined within the first-generation cohort. Students completed an online cross-sectional survey and a qualitative methodology was employed. Data were analysed using SPSS® software and Hayes Process Tool©. As hypothesised, and consistent with the literature, all four sources of academic self-efficacy mediated the relationship between generational status and academic self-efficacy. Also, consistent with the literature and hypothesis, first-generation students reported lower levels of academic self-efficacy than counterparts with familial tertiary education backgrounds. Inconsistent with the literature, however, students within the first-generation cohort (N = 1134) who had participated in bridging programs reported lower academic self-efficacy than those who had not. Overall, the mediation model supported previous research and added an incremental knowledge of academic self-efficacy when applied to first-generation students. The anomaly between previous literature and the reported academic self-efficacy of first-generation bridging program participants has warranted further investigation and is the topic of a current evaluation by the authors.

Development of a conceptual framework that identifies factors and challenges impacting perinatal fathers

Background A fathers ability to cope with fatherhood in the perinatal period has received limited attention in the literature. Recent studies have shown that both mothers and fathers are challenged by the demands of parenthood. Aims The challenges experienced by fathers during the perinatal period are explored and specific risk factors are identified. The aim of this paper was to develop a framework embedding the identified risk factors into a theoretical model that could be applied in predicting paternal emotional well-being. Methods This literature review consulted English peer-reviewed papers as far back as 1990. Databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, EBSCO, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses were examined. Results The results of the literature review depicted a number of factors that could be aggregated into four clusters, including vulnerability factors, precipitating factors, coping style, and socio-cultural factors. Limitation The literature review was limited as it only examined English based peer-reviewed articles. Conclusion The suggested model is based on various theoretical concepts and empirical findings. The application of this model could assist clinicians in the identification of at-risk perinatal fathers and target interventions to specific challenges experienced by perinatal fathers.

Predicting the intention to use herbal medicines for anxiety symptoms: a model of health behaviour

Abstract Background: Anxiety is a prevalent mental health condition in the Western world. Adults experiencing anxiety have been found to use a range of herbal medicines to manage anxiety symptoms. Aim: This study aimed to test a theoretical model based on the theory of planned behaviour that predicted the intention to use herbal medicines for anxiety symptoms, and to identify individual predictors of intention. Methods: An online survey was conducted with Australian adults who experienced anxiety and used herbal medicines (N = 400). A two-step approach to structural equation modelling was used to test a path model predicting the intention to use herbal medicines. Results: The model was found to be well-fitting. Attitude, subjective norms, control beliefs and severity of anxiety symptoms each significantly positively predicted intention to use herbal medicines for anxiety symptoms explaining 56% of the variance. Conclusions: The results suggest that mental health practitioners and policy makers need to ensure people experiencing anxiety have access to accurate and reliable information about herbal medicines to ensure they can effectively manage anxiety symptoms and safely engage in self-care.