Rebekah Doley

Grandparents raising grandchildren: investigating factors associated with distress among custodial grandparent

The aim of the current study was to explore the relationship between the psychological health of grandparents raising grandchildren, and those grandchildrens social, emotional and behavioural issues. The study also assessed the relationship between psychological well-being in grandparents and access to informal social support. The sample comprised 100 grandparents who were raising grandchildren. Regression analyses revealed that grandparents caring for grandchildren with abnormal emotional and hyperactive symptoms scored higher on measures of anxiety, stress, and depression, and were more likely to report less life satisfaction. Grandparents with greater access to informal support experienced less depression, although greater access to informal social support did not lessen the impact of raising grandchildren with social, emotional, or behavioural issues. Implications for intervention and policy are discussed.

Copycat Firesetting Bridging Two Research Areas

Deliberate firesetting costs our community in destruction to property and lives. Public concern heightens when similar fires occur in a series, raising the specter of copycat firesetting. Difficulties associated with researching copycat crimes in general mean that not a lot is known about copycat firesetting. As an initial step toward filling this research gap, we explore connections between research on copycat crime and research into deliberate firesetting. The intention is to extract salient features from what is known about the phenomena of deliberate firesetting and copycat crime, map them together, and point out shared and unique characteristics. It is argued that a “copycat firesetter” is likely to exist as a distinct subgroup and potentially requiring targeted interventions.

Variations in the Offence Actions of Deliberate Firesetters A Cross-National Analysis

Since Canter and Fritzon first introduced their “4D” classification system for arson, many studies have replicated the model with samples of arsonists from around the world. However, scholars have reported differences in the offence actions of arsonists across samples. No study as yet has attempted to statically examine the relevance of these differences. Using multidimensional scaling procedures and two-way chi-square contingency analyses, this study examined whether cross-national differences in arson variables existed between Australian and British arsonists. The results indicated that differences did exist and, furthermore, that differences reflected the environmental characteristics of the country from which each sample was drawn. These findings have important theoretical and clinical implications, particularly for the utility of the “4D” model as an investigatory tool and for the wider arson profiling literature.

An Investigation Into the Relationship Between Long-term Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Coping in Australian Volunteer Firefighters.

Abstract This study examined the relationship between coping style and long-term posttraumatic stress symptoms in an Australian sample of volunteer firefighters 84 months following a bushfire disaster. A total of 277 firefighters completed 4 questionnaires to assess patterns of psychiatric morbidity. A 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was conducted to investigate the effect of time and disorder on coping. Firefighters evidencing distress were more likely to use both problem- and emotion-focused methods of coping. Based on previous research, it was hypothesized that problem-focused coping strategies would be used after 84 months. The use of both problem- and emotion-focused coping may be due to the length of time following this disaster or unique characteristics of firefighters. These data suggest that present coping theories are not sufficient to account for the onset and pattern of psychiatric morbidity within a firefighter sample. The authors declare no conflicts of interest including financial, consultant, institutional, and other relationships that might lead to bias.

Developmental characteristics of firesetters: Are recidivist offenders distinctive?

Developmental characteristics of firesetters: Are recidivist offenders distinctive? Ryan Bell* , Rebekah Doley and Deborah Dawson Centre for Forensic and Interpersonal RiskManagement, School of Psychology, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia Deborah Dawson Individualised and Integrated Offender Management Branch, Western Australian Department of Corrective Services, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

The role of fear avoidance beliefs in return to work post-injury

BACKGROUND: Fear avoidance beliefs have been demonstrated significant predictors of disability and work status post occupational injury and appear particularly important in explaining the transition from acute to chronic disability. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationship between fear avoidance beliefs, health-related quality of life, and their influence on return to work (RTW) outcomes, including durable RTW, post-occupational injury. METHODS: A total of 1179 questionnaires were posted to clients previously receiving vocational rehabilitation services from the Return to Work Assist program in Queensland, Australia. Participants were asked to indicate their current RTW status in addition to completing questionnaires measuring fear avoidance beliefs and physical and mental aspects of health related quality of life. RESULTS: The statistical analyses included 104 participants. ANOVA indicated the RTW group reported significantly better physical health than the no RTW (NRTW) group. No significant differences were observed between groups on mental health. ANOVA also indicated that participants with RTW outcomes reported significantly lower fear avoidance beliefs than the NRTW group. However, when controlling for physical health, no fear avoidance group differences were observed. Significant correlations were observed between fear avoidance beliefs and measures of physical and mental health. CONCLUSIONS: The findings are suggestive of a reciprocal relationship between fear avoidance beliefs, physical, and mental health in which fear avoidance beliefs hinder recovery from physical injury, contributing to deterioration in mental health. These findings also suggest that collaborative practice between medical practitioners, psychologists, and physiotherapists is likely to be required to improve RTW outcomes for this complex client group. Identifying and addressing fear avoidance beliefs early in the treatment process may decrease the likelihood of long-term disability and work absence.