Family, domestic and sexual violence are significant public health concerns. It is essential that victim-survivors are adequately supported by the mental health services they access to aid their immediate and long-term recovery. Although family violence-specific training can improve practitioners' ability to provide support, there is no standard training provided within professional psychology courses in Australia. The aim of this commentary was to discuss the state of family violence-related training in professional psychology courses across 43 universities in Australia. Our online search of relevant courses showed that only seven post-graduate psychology programs comprised a unit that explicitly addressed family violence. We recommend the incorporation of mandatory training in family, domestic and sexual violence to improve the skills of psychologists so that they can better support the community and adopt appropriate self-care strategies.
Objective This study aimed to examine the relationship between subjective sleep quality and stress coping styles in individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Method It is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. A total of 112 participants were recruited, and data were collected between November 1 and 31 December 2022, using the Personal Information Form, the Coping with Stress Scale (CSS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results The mean CSS score was 56.09 (SD = 11.72), while the mean PSQI score was 5.97 (SD = 4.12). Correlation analyses revealed a significant negative relationship between PSQI total scores and both the Seeking Social Support and Problem-Focused Coping subdimensions of the CSS, indicating that adaptive coping strategies are associated with better sleep quality. Conversely, a positive correlation was found between the PSQI and the Problem Avoidance subdimension, suggesting that maladaptive coping is linked to poorer sleep outcomes (p < .05). Conclusions These findings underscore the complex, bidirectional link between stress regulation and sleep quality in individuals with bipolar disorder, highlighting the need for comprehensive, multidisciplinary interventions. Individualised psychoeducational programmes focused on sleep hygiene and adaptive stress management techniques by mental health professionals may improve clinical outcomes and reduce relapse rates.
ObjectiveThe rapid expansion of digital health resources has reshaped how pregnant women seek health information, often leading to excessive and repetitive searches, which intensify anxiety through a phenomenon termed cyberchondria. This study aimed to explore the components of a biopsychosocial-digital model of cyberchondria in pregnant women, focusing on the biological, psychological, social, and digital factors contributing to this condition.MethodA sample of 360 pregnant women completed a series of online questionnaires that assessed socio-demographic and obstetric information, internet use during pregnancy, and psychological variables.ResultsResults revealed that psychological factors, particularly stress symptoms, health anxiety, and pregnancy-specific anxiety, accounted for the largest variance in cyberchondria scores, followed by biological, social, and digital factors. Notably, a history of miscarriage, reflecting the biological dimension, emerged as a significant predictor, while higher education levels, lower income, and frequent social media use for health information were significant social predictors. The frequency of health information searches, both during and before pregnancy, stood out as key digital predictors of cyberchondria. When all significant predictors were examined simultaneously in an additional model, psychological factors - particularly pregnancy-specific anxiety and stress - remained the only significant predictors of cyberchondria.ConclusionsThese findings emphasise the critical role of psychological factors in understanding cyberchondria among pregnant women and suggest that interventions should focus on addressing these dimensions.
ObjectiveThe present study investigated the relationship between social connectedness and depressive symptoms using resilience as a mediator in a sample of Australian adults.MethodThe sample comprised 601 Australian adults (M = 36.2 years, SD = 14.5, 62.1% female). This observational study used a cross-sectional and correlational design, with data collected using measures of social connectedness, resilience, and depressive symptoms.ResultsSocial connectedness positively predicted resilience (r = .53), each of which inversely predicted depressive symptoms (r = -.59 and r = -.46, respectively). There was also an indirect effect of social connectedness on depressive symptoms via resilience (beta = -0.07), indicating that resilience partially mediated the association between social connectedness and depressive symptoms.ConclusionsThe findings demonstrate that resilience partially explains the relationship between social connectedness and depressive symptoms. Implications for depression screening practices and public health policies targeting depression among adults are discussed.
ObjectiveTo examine whether apprenticeship training increased therapist self-efficacy (TSE) in first-year clinical psychology students compared with training-as-usual, and whether TSE was associated with subjective stress.MethodStudents (N = 107) were randomised to training-as-usual or training-as-usual plus 10 weeks of apprenticeship, involving weekly therapy-session observation with professional therapists. TSE and stress were assessed pre- and post-intervention.ResultsTSE increased significantly in the apprenticeship group relative to controls (d = 0.55, 95% CI [0.16, 0.94], p = .001). Stress did not predict TSE.ConclusionApprenticeship training may strengthen TSE early in clinical psychology training.
ObjectiveCurrent performance anxiety (PA) research has applied a transdiagnostic approach to targeting symptoms identified by musicians. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of cognitive and attentional processes involved in the development and maintenance of PA for musicians, including trait- and state- social anxiety, performance appraisals, threat appraisals, negative attentional focus, and rumination in relation to music performances.MethodEighty-one (N = 81) Australian musicians aged 18 or older were recruited to complete a series of questionnaires related to their most recent, and their upcoming performances.ResultsMultiple regression analysis revealed performance appraisals, rumination, and negative attentional focus made unique and significant contributions to explaining variance in PA, but demographic and musician-specific variables (e.g. whether Ps played for a living) did not. A further mediation analysis revealed significant direct and indirect relationships between PA and negative attentional focus and rumination in relation to music performance.ConclusionsResults support the use of available cognitive models of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in the context of PA in musicians. Future studies assessing these factors in the context of actual performance are warranted, as is the evaluation of interventions targeting these specific cognitive and attentional maintaining factors for performing musicians.
ObjectiveTo examine Chinese supervisors' and supervisees' perceptions of using session transcripts in clinical supervision, including requirements, practices, benefits, and challenges, and to consider implications for supervision elsewhere.MethodSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 supervisors and 16 supervisees from two Chinese counselling training programs. Supervisors averaged 13.5 years of counselling and 5.4 years of supervisory experience; supervisees averaged 108.1 hours of counselling experience. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsMost supervisors (90.9%) required transcripts for every supervision session, usually from 15-minute therapy segments, often accompanied by recordings and reflections. Four major benefits emerged: direct access to therapy interactions, learning through transcription, more concrete supervisory feedback, and greater efficiency. Challenges included the time required, supervisee self-criticism and motivation difficulties, and limited capture of nonverbal communication. Speech-to-text technology was commonly used but raised concerns about data security.ConclusionsSession transcripts provide important educational and supervisory benefits despite implementation challenges. Findings highlight the need for clear expectations, emotional support for supervisees, and attention to ethical issues in technology use, particularly when training novice therapists.
