Nerina Caltabiano

Cyberbullying and self-esteem in Australian adults

Cyberbullying research is currently focused on identifying personal factors which increase the risk of an individual being involved in the behaviour. Recent findings indicate that within the web of cyberbullying culture a large group of individuals are both cyberbullies and victims. This group of cyberbully/victims has been shown to differ from pure cyberbullies or victims on various factors during adolescence; particularly self-esteem. However, little research to date has investigated cyberbullying behaviour in adults. The current study examined the prevalence of cyberbully typologies and their relationship with self-esteem within a convenience sample of 164 Australian young adults (72% being females; 17-25 years). Results found that the largest group identified were cyberbully/victims (62%), followed by individuals not involved (17%), cyberbullies (11%) and cybervictims (10%) respectively. The ratio of males and females in each of the four cyberbully typologies was similar. Contrary to previous research, all four cyberbully typologies reported similar levels of self-esteem. These findings suggest that research should examine cyberbullying behaviour across all age groups to determine if this is related to different factors in adolescence compared to adulthood. Limitations and future recommendations are discussed.

PERCEIVED DIFFERENCES IN ETHNIC BEHAVIOR: A PILOT STUDY OF ITALO-AUSTRALIAN CANBERRA RESIDENTS

The purpose of this study was to identify the dimensions of ethnic identity among a group of Italo-Australians living in the Australian Capital Territory. The data from 68 of 3532 persons sampled from electoral rolls, explored by factor analysis suggests that socio-cultural activities, family, ingroup, and conservative-traditional factors are salient dimensions of Italian-Australian identity.

Investigation of automatic teller machine banking in a sample of older adults

Objective: To explore the relationship between demographic, user‐situational, attitudinal variables and automatic teller machine (ATM) use in an Australian sample of older adults.

Effectiveness of a community group intervention program on adjustment to separation and divorce

Abstract This study explores adjustment to separation and divorce and the effects of participating in a small regional community agency group intervention program. Prior to participation in group intervention, participants were interviewed for suitability and invited to complete the pre-intervention questionnaires comprising demographics, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Social Support Appraisal Scale and the Fisher Divorce Adjustment Scale. Of the forty-four participants that started the program, twenty females and ten males completed the group intervention program. Following completion, the post-intervention questionnaires were administered to participants. Some differences in adjustment to separation and divorce were noted for men and women pre-intervention on the Social Support Appraisal Scale. However, no gender differences were noted on the adjustment scales post-intervention. Overall, the results indicate that participants made significant adjustment gains following participation on all adjustment scales. This result implies there are short-term benefits of attending a group intervention program aimed at improved adjustment to separation and divorce.

How ethnicity and religion affect attitudes towards mixed marriages

A survey schedule of Townsville and Thuringowa Shire residents allowed attitudes on inter-ethnic and inter-religious marriages to be assessed. A sample of 411 respondents selected on an equal probability bias were interviwed. Attitudes towards mixed marriages were assessed by investigating 2 independent variables namely, ethnicity and religious denomination. Both age and ethnicity were found to have independent effects on attitudes towards mixed marriages. The religious denomination- mixed marriage relationship was significant for the middle socioeconomic status group (p<.05), for those involved in a relationship (p<.05) and for the religious (p<.05).

Predictors of environmental behaviour: a comparison of known groups

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how different community groups differ in the extent to which environmentally friendly behaviours are performed, as well as how they differ across a host of other psychologically relevant variables.Design/methodology/approach – The study was conducted via a self‐report questionnaire delivered to four community samples (environmentalists; performance car enthusiasts; young and older people; n=124) assessing demographic information, ecological behaviour, and the psychological variables.Findings – Results showed that environmentalists engage in more ecological behaviour, are more cooperative, have stronger social and personal norms, a more internal locus of control, feel more collective guilt, and identify less with Australia than performance car enthusiasts. Differences in younger and older populations revealed that young people engage in less ecological behaviour, cooperate less, have a more external locus of control, and identify less with Australia.Pra...

Gesture decoding and encoding in children: The effects of ethnicity, age and sex

Two hundred and forty children, selected according to their age, ethnicity and sex, participated in a study of the encoding and decoding of symbolic hand gestures. Twenty-two gestures, chosen from a larger list of 101 gestures, were classified in a pre-test as either Italian or Australian gestures and were presented to the children in ordinary or stroboscopic photographs. Both the encoding and decoding studies conformed to a 2 (Italian or Australian ethnic background) x 2 (male or female) x 2 (3-year or 6-year-old) design. Age and ethnic background were shown to be major variables affecting gesture decoding. A significant interaction between age, ethnicity and sex was found for gesture encoding of Italian gestures. It was suggested that verbal fluency and the social roles of children in the Italo-Australian sub-culture might account for the superiority of the 6-year-old Italo-Australian girls in encoding Italian gestures. The need to investigate the larger issue of the effects of acculturation on non-verbal behavior was noted.

Cannabis use, dependence and withdrawal in indigenous male inmates

Abstract Background: No studies have investigated cannabis withdrawal in indigenous or incarcerated populations, and there is currently no standard treatment for cannabis withdrawal in Australian prisons. Aims: This cross sectional survey examines cannabis use, dependence and involuntary (abrupt cessation) withdrawal in incarcerated indigenous males for the purpose of improving clinical management. Methods: 101 consenting inmates (18–40 years) from an Australian correction centre were interviewed. Demographic characteristics, lifetime cannabis use (LCU), severity of dependence, cannabis withdrawal symptoms, psychological well-being and alcohol use were measured and compared using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Cannabis withdrawal symptoms were reported in 57% of current cannabis users compared with 16% of non-users (p < 0.01), indicating detectable cannabis dependence and withdrawal in a unique indigenous inmate population. Multivariate analysis revealed statistically significant associations between LCU and cannabis dependence (OR = 8.1; 95% CI: 2.2–29.1) when controlling for psychological well-being and alcohol consumption. Conclusions: Upon admission to a correction centre, cannabis users should be assessed and monitored for physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal. Implications: Routine cannabis withdrawal monitoring will maximise staff and inmate safety. This improvement to policy will ensure appropriate risk management of staff and inmates.

From Antiquity to Australia: A Brief Account of Gambling

Gambling has long been known as a form of addiction, the effects of which can be devastating for the individuals involved. However, it is also a pervasive cultural phenomenon that has been a fascination and a temptation for cultures from antiquity to the present. This paper begins with a historical account of the fascination with gambling and then proceeds to an account of gambling in Australias history, as well as its current status in national and regional Australian society. Furthermore, a number of key features of gambling, which seem to be trans-historical and trans-cultural, will be discussed.

Assessing environmentally responsible behaviour

While many individuals seem to have a genuine concern about minimising the global environmental crisis, little documentation of what environmentally responsible behaviour is being practised has appeared. University students (N = 247) answered a self-report questionnaire on environmental practices. Analysis showed that responsible behaviour has three dimensions, the three factors being Reusing/Recycling, Conserving, and Replacing products with friendly ones.