Wendy Li

Gardens, Transitions and Identity Reconstruction among Older Chinese Immigrants to New Zealand

Psychologists have foregrounded the importance of links between places and daily practices in the construction of subjectivities and well-being. This article explores domestic gardening practices among older Chinese immigrants. Initial and follow-up interviews were conducted with 32 Chinese adults ranging in age from 62 to 77 years. Participants recount activities such as gardening as a means of forging a new sense of self and place in their adoptive country. Gardening provides a strategy for self-reconstruction through spatiotemporally establishing biographical continuity between participants’ old lives in China and their new lives in New Zealand.

Problem gambling and help seeking among Chinese international students: Narratives of place identity transformation

This article uses examples of problem gambling and help seeking among Chinese international students in New Zealand to demonstrate place identity transformation. Two-wave narrative interviews were conducted with 15 Chinese international students. Place identity among participants is shown to be a process that features the transformation of participants’ identity. While the casinos in which the Chinese international students gambled gave rise to negative place identities, positive place identities facilitated the participants to change their problematic gambling. Through the investigation of place identity transformation, this article promotes a strength-based, non-labelling approach to intervention for people who are concerned about their gambling behaviours.

Why Chinese International Students Gamble: Behavioral Decision Making and its Impact on Identity Construction

This article explores the decision making processes involved when Chinese international students’ (CIS) decide whether or not to gamble, as well as the impact that such behavior have on the construction of their identities in a new sociocultural environment. Two waves of narrative interviews were conducted with 15 CIS who self-reported as having gambling problems at the time of interview, or at some stage in their lives but had since recovered. The findings revealed that pre-existing beliefs and experiences, and various cultural schemas were closely linked to the participants’ decision making processes. The findings also showed that the participants’ sense of self-worth and self-respect became compromised as a result of their problematic gambling. The participants assigned to themselves extremely negative self-images, for example, ‘unfilial’, ‘unworthy’, ‘worthless’, ‘prisoner’, ‘a burden’, ‘hopeless’ and so on, that dominated their whole sense of self.

Chinese Narrative: a method to explore problem gambling from a cultural perspective

This case study explores the use of fangtan, a Chinese narrative method, in the investigation of problem gambling among Chinese international students. It provides a snapshot of the project context and an analysis on the importance of using narrative to explore sensitive topics. The case study covers practical elements of the investigation such as grants received, ethical approval, and research sites. Research design and research in action are presented to demonstrate how the Chinese narrative was conducted. A snapshot of findings provides readers with a better understanding of the issue being studied. Co-ownership of the research project and the insider relationship between the researcher and participants are identified as practical lessons that the researcher learned from the process of the research. This case demonstrates that the Chinese narrative method provides a means to access identity constructions as well as the broader experiences related to gambling among the participants. The narratives in the current study provide alternative knowledge about Chinese international students’ gambling, which is as valuable to researchers as knowledge about prediction of pathological gambling behaviour using epidemiological methods.

Asia-Pacific Perspectives on Intercultural Psychology

Todays world is more interconnected and interdependent than ever before. Within the context of globalisation and the associated increased contact between diverse groups of people, the psychology of culture is more relevant than ever. Asia-Pacific Perspectives on Intercultural Psychology brings together leading researchers from 11 countries to showcase the innovative, evolving and diverse approaches that epitomise the development of the psychology of culture across the Asia-Pacific region. The contributors provide a range of examples of how different psychologies of culture can inform engagements with a range of psychological issues. Central to each chapter is the relationship between local cultures and ways of being, and knowledge production practices, imported theories and methods from the global discipline. It is the resulting tensions and opportunities for dialogue that are central to the further development of intercultural psychology as a diverse scholarly arena. This important work argues the case for a combination of etic and emic approaches to theory, research, and practice in psychology, that this is foundational to the development of intercultural perspectives and more comprehensive understandings of both the universal and local elements of human experience and psychological phenomena today.

MENTAL HEALTH IN LATER LIFE—AN AUSTRALASIAN EXPERIENCE

Both Australia and New Zealand are ageing societies where their populations are growing older and more diversified. As is the case in most developed nations, a significant proportion of older people experience mental health issues in their everyday lives in these nations. The prevalence of mental illness, ranging from depression to dementia, is significantly increasing among older adults across genders, cultures and ethnicities. Consequently, there is greater pressure on the health and social care system to meet the needs of older adults with mental health conditions, and such challenges will be constant in coming decades. This presentation provides an outline of ‘mental health in older adults’ in Australian and New Zealand contexts. It also discusses major issues associated with services and policies, alongside current programmes and practice models, in mental health care for older people in both societies. Cultural influences and caregiving realities are addressed for further discussion.

BEYOND TRADITIONAL VALUES: MENTAL HEALTH IN LATER LIFE IN CHINA AND HONG KONG

According to the World Bank, China has the fastest aging population in human history. Strongly influenced by filial piety, there has been a culture of honoring an older person as a ‘treasure at home’ However due to various factors including rapid urbanization and associated policies, empty nest households are becoming more prevalent in Mainland China. In Hong Kong, traditional values are eroding, reinforced by a decline in the social status of older adults as a result of relatively low levels of education and lack of gainful employment. Moreover, social stigma and ‘face saving’ are prevalent in Chinese cultures. Mental illness is considered shameful. Negative stereotypes affect intervention models. This presentation examines the development of mental health services in China as well as the unique challenges faced by the different regions, including the paucity of community services in the Mainland and the sustainability of health/ community care in Hong Kong.

Prevalence of substance abuse and socio-economic differences in substance abuse in an Australian community-dwelling elderly sample

A sample of 324 55–90-year-old Australian adults participated in a survey on elderly substance abuse using the Clinical Assessment Scales for the Elderly. Overall, males had a higher prevalence rate of substance abuse than females. Significant differences in substance abuse mean scores were found for gender, age, income, community involvement, and retirement. The findings also reveal that being a female, involved in community groups, being a retiree, and being a non-baby boomer are protective factors of substance abuse. Being an upper medium income earner appears to be a risk factor of substance abuse.

The impact of coping and resilience on anxiety among older Australians

Objective: This study aims to explore the relationships between various coping types, resilience, and anxiety among older Australians. Particular attention is paid to whether resilience moderates copings effect on anxiety. Method: A total of 324 Australians aged between 55 and 90 (M = 66.7, SD = 8.6) were surveyed as part of the study. Moderation was assessed using structural equation modelling and plots of simple slopes. Results: Significant negative correlations were detected between anxiety and both proactive coping and preventive coping. Higher levels of resilience were associated with lower levels of anxiety. Age moderated both proactive coping and reflective copings effects on anxiety and gender moderated avoidance copings effect on anxiety. Resilience was found to moderate the relationships between proactive coping and anxiety, and instrumental support seeking and anxiety. For those high in resilience, there was little association between anxiety and proactive coping or anxiety and instrumental support seeking. Among low resilience individuals, there was a negative association between proactive coping and anxiety, but a positive association between instrumental support seeking and anxiety. Conclusion: Resilience, proactive coping, and preventive coping are all important predictors of anxiety among older people. Among those who are low in resilience, proactively coping with stress may be particularly important for good mental health. The results of the study highlight the complexity of the relationship between resilience, coping, and anxiety among older people.

Experiences of Chinese international students' gambling in New Zealand

This paper will discuss the Supervision Training and Accreditation Program (STAP), initiated by the Psychologists Board of Queensland, which registers psychologists in Queensland. The development of the relational model of supervision training, based on the literature and interviews with APS College chairs, will be discussed in light of the complexities involved in developing a generic model suitable to a range of specialties in psychology. An overview of content and process of training will include how the program addresses a range of essential aspects in supervision practice using both didactic and interactive practice skills training. Also described and discussed will be the format of an evaluation of the supervisor’s knowledge and skills as a requirement for accreditation. Information regarding the effectiveness of the program, to date, will be provided based on feedback from participants and evaluation of participant change as a result of training. Professional issues which have been raised in relation to training of supervisors will also be considered.Maximising the efficacy of treatments for psychiatric disorders in older adults is of increasing importance, given their increasing prominence as a percentage of those seeking mental health services. Older adults are prescribed more medication than any other age group; while adherence levels among older patients are similar to younger adults, adverse consequences of non-adherence may be more severe and less easily detected or resolved in this group. Similarly, compliance with homework assignments in CBT is a major predictor of efficacy in psychotherapy treatment, but adapting homework structure and process for older adults has only begun to be discussed in the literature, and little empirical work in this area exists. This presentation will review empirical compliance findings in both pharmacological and psychological treatment approaches with older populations. The difficulties involved in actually running medication compliance studies will be discussed and illustrated with issues and data emerging from a small pilot study in New Zealand on medication compliance in older adults. Finally, suggestions for maximising efficacy of homework assignment use with older populations in a range of settings, including those with mild cognitive impairment, will be offered.Asian communities in New Zealand is growing rapidly, with Asian people now forming a significant part of the New Zealand population. Research suggests that Asian people have high levels of gambling participation. However, little is known about gambling practices and the potential for problem gambling among Chinese people living in New Zealand. People seeking counselling services for their gambling problems often say they use gambling as a form of release from stress. This paper assesses gambling participation and experiences among Chinese people working in food industry who comprise a particular group that is exposed to stress and the potential for problem gambling. The research draws on findings from a quantitative survey and follow up interviews with participants to document reasons for gambling among this group, the prevalence of problem/pathological gambling, and help seeking patterns.Instead of sowing the seeds for ongoing disability, distress and disconnection, an adversity such as a disaster is more often just a “bump in the road” to be navigated. This was clearly demonstrated in the community responses to the Newcastle Earthquake. What can we, as psychologists, do to facilitate resilient responses? I draw on work that I am currently undertaking with children following traumatic injury, and work of Kevin Ronan, to provide some possible guidelines for the promotion of recovery. I will address initial intervention and outreach, screening and stepped care.Whilst job satisfaction and organisational commitment are consistently linked to turnover cognitions, the difficulties employees have balancing work and family lives is increasingly recognized as a potential contributor to turnover intention (Haar, 2004) and may be particularly problematic for employees in high demand occupations such as policing. This study examines whether work family conflict (WFC) makes an independent contribution to turnover cognitions above job satisfaction and job commitment, and whether gender moderates relations between WFC and turnover cognitions, in police officers. The sample consisted of 1,044 officers (690 males, 351 females) from an Australian police organisation. WFC was conceptualized bi-directionally as Work -family conflict (WIF) and Family-work conflict (FIW). Turnover intent was measured by thoughts of quitting, perceived probability of alternative employment, search for alternative employment, and intention to quit. Women perceived more WIF, and men, more FIW. The hypotheses were tested via moderated regression, and found WFC added to the prediction of turnover cognitions, with FIW being more problematic. Gender moderated the relation between WIF and search for alternatives; the relationship was stronger for females. Difficulties balancing needs of family with work are significant in predicting officers turnover cognitions.Behavioural patterns are determined in part by sociocultural factors such as values, expected behaviours and sociopolitical organisation. This paper presents the patterns of physical activity reported by Tongan and Fijian females aged 12-18 years and possible explanations for these patterns. The paper draws on interviews conducted in a wider study of adolescents patterns of eating, physical activity and body size in Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. The study examined sociocultural factors that could promote or protect against obesity from the perspective of adolescents in order to develop culturally-appropriate strategies for healthy lifestyles. Twenty four indigenous Fijian and 24 Tongan females aged 12-18 years were interviewed by females who were fluent in participants first languages. Researchers from Australia, Tonga and Fiji analysed the data separately and then together in order to capture cultural nuances and enhance cultural validity. This analysis revealed similarities and differences in both cultural groups. Limitations to physical activity identified by Tongan and Fijian girls included the time spent in household chores and parental restrictions.Fijian girls also identified concern about personal safety as a constraint. These findings are examined in relation to sociocultural factors that appear to limit opportunities for young females to be physically active.This presentation details research evaluating the efficacy and cultural acceptability of a group behavioural family intervention program (Group Triple P – Positive Parenting Program) tailored for Australian indigenous families. This preventively oriented, early intervention program incorporates parent education groups, print and video materials, which aim to promote positive parent-child relationships, and to help parents develop effective management strategies for common behaviour problems and developmental issues. Cultural tailoring involved broad community consultation in relation to program resources and format. A pilot randomised controlled trial showed that, compared waitlist controls, group participants reported significantly lower rates of problem child behaviour and lower reliance on dysfunctional parenting practices of authoritarian discipline, anger and irritability, with a further significant reduction found for lax or permissive discipline by 6-month follow-up. There were high rates of consumer satisfaction and positive comments about the cultural acceptability of the program. Also presented is an update on an effectiveness evaluation of program implementation in regional and remote community health services across Australia. The need for culturally appropriate parenting programs, issues experienced by indigenous Health Workers, and implications for the dissemination of family interventions in indigenous communities are discussed.Measures to assess anxiety and depression separately often incur difficulties due to overlap of these constructs, especially in older individuals. Using the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale (GADS) we aimed to confirm the factor structure of the instrument in a large cohort of older Australian women, to validate the instrument against other selfreport information. Participants were 7264 women (aged 75-82 years) enrolled in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Measures of anxiety and depression included the GADS, the mental health components of the SF-36, and self reported information on mental health diagnoses, symptoms and medications.In a variety of disciplines, particularly the social sciences and health sciences, but in areas spanning the arts and sciences, interest among students in ageing issues, and interest among professionals in ageing as a focus of research and practice, is increasing. Yet many undergraduate students (and even some postgraduate students) receive little exposure to research and theories regarding ageing. This talk aims to convey a sense of how ageing can be integrated into existing course structures across a variety of areas in psychology (for example, in clinical, health and research methodology areas). The presenter will offer suggestions as to how such material can be incorporated, even if the lecturer has little direct training or experience in ageing.