Objective:The aim of this study was to develop and validate a culturally adapted Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. Method:The short-form PIDAQ was culturally adapted and administered to 187 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. Network psychometric analyses examined dimensionality, item redundancy, network loadings, and model fit. Additionally, internal consistency (McDonald's Ω), construct validity, and criterion validity were also measured. Results:Two statistically redundant but conceptually distinct item pairs (Look/Nice and Proud/Show) were retained on cultural and content-validity grounds. The "Worry" item was removed for a low network loading (0.169), yielding a final seven-item PIDAQ. Model fit was good (χ2(4) = 6.26, p < 0.180; CFI = 1.000; RMSEA = 0.059, 90% CI: 0.000-0.140). Internal consistency was excellent (Ω=0.94), inter-item correlations were moderate to adequate (ρ= 0.520-0.790), and the correlation with the SEWB scale provided directionally consistent support for criterion validity (ρ=0.320). Participants reported mixed feelings about dental aesthetics, often not minding showing their teeth in photographs yet being dissatisfied with how their teeth look. Conclusions:The PIDAQ demonstrated strong psychometric properties, making it a valid, reliable tool for assessing the psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics.
Objective:Generative artificial intelligence is now embedded in university learning, but the psychological pathways linking AI literacy with AI dependence remain unclear. This study examined whether AI self-efficacy and academic procrastination mediate the association between AI literacy and AI dependence among Chinese undergraduates. Method:A total of 417 Chinese undergraduate students aged 18-24 years completed measures of AI literacy, AI self-efficacy, academic procrastination and AI dependence. This study tested common method bias, estimated descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations, examined multicollinearity, conducted robustness checks and estimated a serial mediation model with PROCESS Model 6. Results:AI literacy was negatively associated with AI dependence (r = -.283). Bootstrapped indirect effects indicated three significant pathways: through AI self-efficacy, through academic procrastination and through the sequential pathway from AI self-efficacy to academic procrastination. The total standardised indirect effect was -.229, accounting for 55.84% of the total effect. Conclusions:AI self-efficacy and academic procrastination partially and sequentially mediated the association between AI literacy and AI dependence. The findings suggest that AI literacy may reduce maladaptive AI dependence by strengthening efficacy beliefs and reducing procrastination-related reliance on AI tools. Given the cross-sectional design, longitudinal research is needed to clarify temporal ordering.
Objective:To determine the prevalence and mental health impacts of parental loss in children and adolescents under 18 years. Method:A nationally representative sample of households with children aged 4-17 years was recruited in 2013-2014, with 6,310 parents/carers of eligible households (response rate = 55%). Primary carers completed a questionnaire about biological parental loss (death, incarceration, separation) and mental health disorders. Results:At 17 years, 0.3% had a parent in custody, 2.5% had a biological parent die, 31.8% had separated parents, and 37.8% were not living with both biological parents. Across loss types, the proportion of children and adolescents with a mental disorder was 21.4% and highest for parental death (28.8%), followed by having a parent in custody (21.9%), and parents having separated (20.2%). Mental disorder was highest (38.3%) for 4-11-year-old children whose biological parent had died. Conclusion:This is the first study to provide national prevalence estimates of death of a biological parent, parental incarceration, and parental separation in Australia. Among parental loss types, parental bereavement had the highest risk of mental disorders. Findings support the need to ensure relevant and effective services are accessible to and meet the needs of bereaved children and adolescents.
Objective Evaluation of professional competence is important at all levels of psychology training and practice; however, there is no tool for practitioners to adequately assess professional competencies at the level of area of practice endorsement in clinical psychology. Designed to be used with the Competencies of Professional Psychology Rating (COPPR) Scales, this paper outlines the development and validation of the COPPR-Clinical Subscale (COPPR-Clinical).Method Items for the COPPR-Clinical were developed in accordance with the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council’s (APAC) Accreditation Standards (2025), followed by iterative rounds of expert review. Participants included 177 professional psychologists with Australian registration, and the psychometric properties of the COPPR-Clinical were analysed.Results Confirmatory factor analysis showed a unidimensional structure of the COPPR-Clinical consistent with the theoretical foundation of APAC Accreditation Standards (2025). Additionally, internal consistency was strong, with evidence of convergent and divergent validity assessed through a structural equation model, and a strong, positive correlation was found between years of professional experience and scores on the COPPR-Clinical.Conclusions In conjunction with the COPPR Scales, the COPPR-Clinical offers the assessment of professional competencies for area of practice endorsement in clinical psychology. Together, they have utility to assess the acquisition and development of professional competencies during training, professional practice over the course of a psychologist’s career, and in research contexts.
Objective:The escalating global mental health burden has triggered an urgent real-world need for scalable artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. This study employs a quantitative bibliometric approach to objectively present the research hotspots and emerging trends in the global AI-driven mental health landscape (2016-2025), specifically capturing the post-2023 surge in generative AI. Methods:We analyzed 9,623 original research articles from Web of Science and Scopus. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were utilized for co-authorship analysis, literature co-citation clustering, and keyword burst detection. Results:Research output grew exponentially, surpassing 3,000 publications in 2025. The US and China led productivity, with King's College London as the top institution. Research clusters encompass foundational AI methodologies and four clinical domains: diagnosis (e.g., neuroimaging), digital interventions (e.g., chatbots), targeted conditions (e.g., PTSD), and suicide prevention. Recent keyword bursts highlight diagnostic accuracy, loneliness, and occupational burnout as post-2023 frontiers. Conclusion:The field is transitioning from exploratory algorithmic development to patient-centered clinical applications. While AI offers transformative potential for mental health research and care, future research must urgently prioritize patient safety, algorithmic bias, data privacy, safeguards against algorithmic hallucinations, and ethical integration into clinical workflows to ensure sustainable implementation.
Objective:The purpose of this study was to conduct a scoping review to map the existing literature on the use of mantra meditation in sport contexts, clarify its conceptual distinctions from related constructs such as self-talk, and identify directions for future research. Method:This study employed a comprehensive literature search, combining electronic database searches (including Web of Science, Psychology & Behavioural Sciences Collection, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus) with manual searches, following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews. Results:The search initially identified 17,346 articles electronically and 324 articles manually. After a four-step screening process - duplicate removal, primary screening, secondary screening, and expert consensus - a total of four articles were initially included, with two additional articles added through a manual search by the first author, resulting in six articles for review. These studies were categorised into two main domains: mantra meditation as a mental training strategy and mantra meditation as a coping strategy. Conclusions:The findings provide preliminary insights into how athletes describe using mantra meditation in sport contexts. Across the included studies, athletes reported using mantras to regulate attention, maintain pace or rhythm, cope with fatigue and psychological stress, and support their sense of spiritual meaning and mental well-being. However, the limited number of available studies highlights the early stage of research in this area. Further high-quality empirical and intervention-based research is needed to clarify the mechanisms and potential effectiveness of mantra meditation when applied as a mental training strategy and as a coping strategy in sport contexts.
Ojectives To examine the experiences of older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus (LGBTQ+) internet users engaging with online spaces. This study explores the internet’s implications for supporting the health and wellbeing of older LGBTQ+ adults, in the context of the cohort’s distinct challenges in successful ageing and heightened levels of social isolation.Methods LGBTQ+ internet users aged 50 and older (n = 16; Mean = 60.3 years, sd = 7.5) completed online qualitative surveys, which were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.Results Three themes were generated: Infrastructure for Tangible Connections, highlighting the centrality and usefulness of online spaces for social and community engagement; Awareness, Value, and Vigilance, exploring practical uses of the internet and exposure to harmful rhetoric; Community Trailblazers and Protectors, encompassing participants’ roles as LGBTQ+ community mentors, including how these roles extend to online spaces.Discussion The internet can be a valuable avenue to foster wellbeing of LGBTQ+ internet users over 50, especially when considered alongside their history and sociocultural contexts. However potential barriers and harms of engaging online should be carefully considered alongside benefits.
Objective Psychology internships are the bedrock of training for psychologists. However, little is known from the perspective of psychology interns regarding how internship experiences shape outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic interplay between internship-related factors, overall internship satisfaction, and perceived professional competence for psychology interns.Method Participants (N = 122) completing or having completed a psychology internship via the 5 + 1 internship pathway to registration as a psychologist in Australia undertook an online questionnaire.Results Participants who perceived internship providers as prioritising their learning needs over the needs of the service/business reported greater internship satisfaction. Supervision quality was also related to internship satisfaction. This was especially the case for those reporting financial strain. An iterative data analytic process revealed that for current interns only, a positive link between supervision quality and perceived sense of professional competence was fully mediated by internship satisfaction, and was strongest for those experiencing financial strain.Conclusions Collectively, these findings highlight the protective role good quality supervision and internship programs can play in supporting psychology interns, including those from potentially vulnerable subgroups, and presents a call to action for improved education, training, and accountability for internship providers to safeguard the future of the psychology workforce.
Objective:This systematic review and meta-regression evaluated virtual reality‑based nature interventions for older adults with cognitive impairment. Methods:Following PRISMA 2020 and a registered PROSPERO protocol (January 2000-December 2025), we identified randomised controlled trials from nine databases and two registries. Eligible interventions used simulated nature as the primary therapeutic component. Random‑effects models pooled standardised mean differences (SMDs) and risk ratios (RRs). Results:Twenty‑four RCTs (N = 1,534) were included. VR nature interventions significantly improved depression (SMD = -1.17), anxiety (-1.45), stress/distress (-1.38), apathy (-1.33), loneliness (-1.32), agitation (-1.69), and overall neuropsychiatric symptoms (-1.34). Quality of life improved (mental health‑related SMD = 1.26; global SMD = 1.14; mood/positive affect SMD = 1.18). Sleep quality improved (RR = 3.44). Engagement favoured VR (SMD = 1.07), while physiological stress markers showed mixed effects (SMD = -0.72). Dichotomous outcomes had no heterogeneity (I² = 0%); continuous outcomes showed substantial heterogeneity (I² > 90%). Meta‑regression found a modest positive association between intervention duration and effect size (β = 0.01/week). Conclusions:VR‑based nature interventions may improve mental health and quality of life in older adults with cognitive impairment. However, large effect sizes, high heterogeneity, and potential small‑study effects warrant cautious interpretation.
Objective Colonisation and oppression of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have resulted in intergenerational trauma and systemic health inequities, making culturally responsive, healing-informed approaches that uphold self-determination essential. This review aimed to identify and describe healing services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by trauma, violence or abuse.Method A four-step search strategy located peer-reviewed studies, grey literature reports and organisational websites (2012-2025).Results Eighty services/programs were identified across Australia with 15 exemplars included. Most were delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations spanning justice, family violence prevention, primary health care, and community services. All exemplars included culturally grounded components such as yarning, storytelling, and time on Country. Evaluations suggested improvements in wellbeing, cultural connection and family and community relationships, though evaluation approaches varied. Synthesis of 31 healing frameworks produced an umbrella framework encompassing three guiding principles and eight service elements, including culturally centred, community-led, and holistic approaches. Exemplar services are aligned strongly with this framework.Conclusions Healing-informed, culturally-grounded, community-led and flexible wrap-around approaches support wellbeing, cultural connection, and relationships for those affected by trauma, violence and abuse. Findings provide an evidence-informed framework for designing, delivering and evaluating future services, highlighting the need for Indigenous-led evaluation.
Objective Previous research has explored adolescent boys’ masculinity attitudes and the social forces shaping them. We extend this work by examining masculinity attitudes of all students, parents, and staff of a relatively affluent, independent faith-based all-boys’ school in metropolitan Australia.Method A qualitative Reflexive Thematic Analysis of open-text questions, distributed in an online survey to 650 students, 287 parents, and 46 staff, examined beliefs about masculinity, desired masculine ideals, contextual differences (home vs. school), and behavioural consequences.Results Boys’ accounts revealed context-dependent constructions of masculinity, with pro-social norms more salient at home and dominance-oriented norms enforced in school settings. They framed traditional masculinity as developmentally necessary, reinforced by manosphere narratives and fuelled by counter-cultural resistance to progressive change. Despite this, many boys recognised the personal and social costs of these norms, and there was substantial divergence between boys’ views and those of parents and school staff.Conclusions Results highlight the influential role of peer/school contexts and online manosphere narratives in shaping Australian boys’ masculinity attitudes, as well as clear generational differences in how masculine status was defined. These findings point to schools as key leverage points for interventions aimed at promoting healthier, context-sensitive models of masculinity.
Objective This study introduces the construct of Humor Competence, a set of interrelated psychological and interpersonal capacities that support successful humour use, and reports on the development and validation of a four-dimensional model of humour competence.Method Following an extensive item-generation and validation process, the 32-item Humor Competence Scale (HCS) was developed. The scale represents four humour competence domains: fluency, awareness, composure and discretion. The main validation study involved an international sample of workplace leaders (N = 623; 48% Female; age M = 35.84, SD = 10.34) completing the HCS along with Humor Styles Questionnaire, Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire, and a measure of transformational leadership.Results The HCS yielded a clean four-factor solution, and the subscales demonstrated good reliability. The scales showed meaningful correlations with trait emotional intelligence, reinforcing the idea that effective humour use is closely related to social effectiveness and psychological adjustment. While the new measure showed some overlap with established humour styles, it also captured unique elements related to cognition, emotion and behavioural regulation and provided superior prediction of transformational leadership.Conclusions The new measure provides a useful tool for future investigations of humour use in the workplace, along with potential utility in non-workplace settings.
Objective Due to the increasing popularity and the associated psychological and social burdens associated with bariatric surgery, there is a need for safe and accessible online spaces to share experiences. This research aimed to identify the available English-language Online Social Support (OSS) for people seeking bariatric surgery in Australia and to evaluate the available OSS website features.Method This research focused on open and publicly accessible OSS, excluding user data or post content. The study was conducted in two phases: (a) identifying the available English-language Online Social Support for people seeking bariatric surgery in Australia and (b) appraising the website features of the available OSS.Results Two search strategies yielded N = 1210 websites, n = 39 were subjected to preliminary analysis, and eight met the inclusion criteria. There was limited variability, with all OSS classified as discussion forums. The website features varied and scored moderately in terms of total number of best practice features used.Conclusion OSS is an underutilised form of support for Australians seeking bariatric surgery. Using evidence-based benchmarks, the website features examined in this study should be considered by website designers to enhance the development of improved OSS for Australians seeking such surgery.
Objective:Higher rates of comorbidity for depressive disorders and anxiety disorders have been observed in adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which result in a significantly poorer prognosis. Developing an understanding of why this comorbidity occurs may help identify modifiable factors and inform treatment approaches. However, there is limited research examining the mechanisms through which these symptoms co-occur. This study evaluated whether racing thoughts and rumination (which have been observed in adults with ADHD, depression and anxiety) mediate the relationship between inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms of ADHD and depression and anxiety symptoms in a general population sample. Method:Participants were 289 adults, aged 18-65 (M = 38.57; SD = 11.24; 64% female), who completed online self-report questionnaires assessing their symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, racing thoughts, rumination, and depression and anxiety symptoms. Results:Racing thoughts significantly mediated the relationship between inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms of ADHD with depression and anxiety symptoms. Rumination significantly mediated the relationship between hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, but not inattentive symptoms, with depression and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion:Implications for future research and interventions are outlined in relation to the role racing thoughts and rumination may play in the association between ADHD symptoms and depression and anxiety symptoms.
Objective Traditional face-to-face postgraduate psychology practicums are associated with a range of challenges, such as poor availability and accessibility of supervised placements, difficulty accumulating adequate client contact and supervision hours, and lack of consistency and standardisation between placements. While the use of simulated practicums in health-related fields is becoming increasingly acknowledged, the efficacy is less well understood.Method Building on a previous pilot evaluation, this study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of a fully online and simulated practicum for professional psychology trainees in developing initial professional competencies.Results The results indicated that trainee competencies, as assessed by board approved supervisors, significantly improved across all domains from mid-to-end-of-practicum. Furthermore, the study found that completion rates for the online, simulated practicum were significantly higher, and rates of extensions to complete the practicum were significantly lower, compared to previously offered face-to-face practicums.Conclusions These findings provide some empirical support for the use of simulated practicum experiences for postgraduate psychology students. Simulated practicum can provide standardised training for psychologists to develop core competencies and overcome barriers to traditional face-to-face practicum experiences and has the potential to increase the level of competency for trainees prior to commencement of face-to-face practicum or internships.
Objective:Numerous cross-sectional studies have documented a robust association between mindfulness and phubbing; however, evidence regarding their longitudinal linkage and underlying mechanisms remains limited. To address this gap, we conducted a three-wave longitudinal study during the 2023 fall semester (September - November) and tested a multiple mediation model incorporating attentional control and the dual-system of self-control. Method:A total of 536 college students (55.4% female; Mage = 19.04) completed the baseline survey, and 507 participants provided valid data at the final wave. Results:The results indicated a significant negative association between mindfulness and subsequent phubbing. Attentional control and the impulsive system partially mediated this relationship, whereas the mediating effect of the control system was not significant. Conclusions:These findings suggest that enhanced attentional regulation and top-down self-control may function as key protective mechanisms through which mindfulness reduces phubbing among young adults. Overall, the study advances understanding of the cognitive - regulatory pathways linking mindfulness to phubbing and underscores the potential value of mindfulness-based interventions in mitigating socially disruptive smartphone use.
Objective:Dyslexia, a neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs reading, poses risks to students' academic and psychological well-being. This study examined the associations between dyslexia and mental health outcomes (anxiety and depression) in primary school students, focusing on the moderating roles of parenting style, and character strengths. Method:A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2,322 primary school students in Yinchuan city, China. Dyslexia risk was identified through multi-step screening. Binary logistic regression was used to test main effects and interaction effects (dyslexia × parenting style, dyslexia × character strengths), adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. Results:Dyslexia risk was identified in 137 students (5.9%). In main-effect models, dyslexia risk was associated with higher depression (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.23-2.86, p = .003) but not anxiety (p = .190). Paternal overprotection significantly moderated the relationship between dyslexia and depression (OR for interaction = 0.16, p = .011), while no significant moderation was found for anxiety or for character strengths. These findings suggest that the mental health impact of dyslexia is context-dependent rather than uniformly buffered by protective factors. Conclusions:Paternal overprotection specifically exacerbates depression risk among children with dyslexia, whereas general protective effects (e.g. emotional warmth) apply similarly to all children. Interventions should target parenting practices in families of children with reading difficulties.
ObjectiveThis study evaluated real-world engagement with the online Military to Civilian Adjustment and Reintegration Measure (M-CARM) platform, described user characteristics and usage patterns, and examined score distributions, factor structure and variability in a naturalistic online sample relative to the original validation study.MethodWebsite analytics (2022-2025) and M-CARM completion data (December 2020-February 2025) were analysed to assess reach, uptake, and engagement. Following data cleaning, 1,101 unique responses were retained. Group differences were examined using t-tests, ANOVAs, chi-square tests, and logistic regression. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) evaluated the fit of the hypothesised five-factor structure.ResultsThe platform received 10,155 site visits with an 11.2% completion rate among users who accessed the assessment page. Users were predominantly male, aged 26-45 and from the Army. The CFA demonstrated acceptable model fit and strong item loadings. Exploratory analyses identified that Navy users had lower total scores and higher odds of Resentment and Regret, and older veterans (56-75) were less likely to meet criteria for this need compared with younger groups.ConclusionsThis is the first study to examine real-world engagement with the M-CARM platform, highlighting the M-CARM's translational potential as a scalable, accessible digital tool for identifying reintegration needs among veterans.
Objective General-purpose conversational AI (e.g., ChatGPT) is increasingly accessed for mental health support despite lacking clinical validation. This study examined the prevalence and user preferences for conversational AI compared to mental health professionals among Australian adults.Method A two-phase survey recruited 500 Australian adults (215 male, 278 female, 7 gender diverse) via an online crowdsourcing platform. Phase 1 assessed the prevalence of AI use for mental health. Phase 2 invited participants with dual experience of AI and professional care for mental health (n = 82) to rate comparative preferences across trust, competence, accessibility, and satisfaction, and indicate their preferred modality for future mental health support.Results Approximately 24% of participants had discussed mental health with AI. In direct comparison, AI was strongly preferred for accessibility, while professionals were rated significantly higher for trustworthiness, satisfaction, and most competence items. The majority (52.4%) preferred using both modalities for mental health support, though 19.5% preferred AI exclusively.Conclusion Users demonstrate clear preferences: professionals for clinical quality, AI for accessibility. A majority prefers accessing both modalities for mental health support, yet current systems provide no framework for integrating or supervising such hybrid use. These findings suggest mental health services should consider how to guide rather than ignore clients’ AI engagement.
ObjectiveCyber-victimization has been increasingly linked to suicidal ideation, yet the underlying psychological mechanisms remain underexplored among college students. This study examined the relationship between cyber-victimization and suicidal ideation among Chinese college students, with a focus on the mediating roles of emotion dysregulation and non-suicidal self-injury.MethodA total of 2001 students aged 18-24 completed questionnaires. Common method bias tests, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analyses, and chain mediation analysis (using the PROCESS Model 6) were conducted.ResultsSuicidal ideation was affected by cyber-victimization through 3 different pathways: the mediating role of emotion dysregulation, the mediating role of non-suicidal self-injury, and the chain mediating role of both emotion dysregulation and non-suicidal self-injury.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that emotion dysregulation and non-suicidal self-injury sequentially mediate the relationship between cyber-victimization and suicidal ideation among college students, underscoring the need for early interventions to strengthen emotion regulation and reduce non-suicidal self-injury.
