APS Member Groups
Psychologists for Peace
Peace Student Research Award( Previously Peace Project Award)
Winners of the 2024 Peace Project Award announced
Congratulations to Charlotte Smith for her Honours thesis "Experiences of Microaggressions and Subjective Wellbeing in LGBTQIA+ Communities: An Australian Quantitative Study" Charlotte completed their thesis at Cairnmillar Institute.
Thesis abstract:
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities face a significantly higher risk of developing physical and mental issues compared to heterosexual cisgender populations. Research to date explains minoritised and marginalised groups, like the LGBTQIA+ community, are vulnerable to experiences of microaggressions, which are subtle, often unconscious acts of discrimination. This can be in the form of verbal or behavioural cues. Growing research in this field has indicated frequent exposure to microaggressions may be detrimental to a person’s wellbeing and mental health. This is the first known quantitative study in the Australian context to examine the relationship between microaggressions (measured by the Sexual Orientation Microaggressions Scale; SOMS), subjective wellbeing (measured by Personal Wellbeing Index; PWI), and anxiety (measured by Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale; DASS-21), in a sample of 114 adults (over 18 years old) from the LGBTQIA+ community. Participant experiences of microaggressions (SOMS) was found to be negatively correlated with SWB (r = -.39, p <.001), and positively correlated with anxiety (r = .43, p <.001). A series of hierarchical regressions found more frequent experiences of microaggressions predicted lower SWB scores and higher anxiety levels. Microinvalidations, Heterosexist Language, and Endorsement of Gender Conformity presented as key types of microaggressions relating to SWB and anxiety. The findings suggest the need for psychoeducation which may mitigate the frequency of microaggressions experienced by LGBTQIA+ people. Reducing such stressors may contribute to improvements in the overall wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Congratulations to Reem Allahham for her Masters thesis "The Mental Health Impact of the War on Gaza on Arab and Muslim Communities in Australia" Reem completed their thesis at University of Melbourne supervised by Ass Prof. Vicki McKenzie.
Thesis abstract:
Objective: The graphic nature and sustained intensity of the war on Gaza are likely to have distressing impacts on communities worldwide, including in Australia (Rees & Moussa, 2023). The current study broadly aimed to explore how witnessing the war on Gaza impacts the mental health of various communities in Australia, particularly Muslim and Arab diaspora communities. It also aimed to understand the interaction between various demographic and psychological factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional mixed methods study design consisting of an online survey and semi-structured interviews with a subset of participants was employed.
Results: This study found lower than average mental health and resilience ratings and various risk and protective factors (i.e., resilience, gender, marital status, ethnic background, media exposure). Furthermore, the thematic analysis revealed six main intersecting themes: 1) Emotional Toll of Prolonged Exposure to Injustice and Violence; 2) Harms of Systemic Silencing and Denial; 3) Dismantled worldview: Clarifying the reality of the world and where we fit into it; 4) Strengthened faith and identity as sources of resistance, hope, and meaningmaking; 5) Collective action and community support is empowering and validating and 6) The importance of prioritising cultural safety & community-based approaches for mental health care.
Conclusions: The results of this project underscore the urgency of addressing the mental health needs of Arab and Muslim communities living in Australia who are affected by the ongoing war on Gaza. Implications for future research and clinical interventions in responding to collective traumas are discussed.
Previous Peace Project Award Winners
Peace Project Winner 2023
Freya Wrigley
"Racial Microaggressions Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Mental Health Workers in Australia: A Qualitative Study".
Honours thesis - Cairnmillar Institute supervised by Dr Joanne Brooker.
Thesis abstract:
Understanding mental health workers’ experiences of subtle racism in the workplace is critical for improving racial and cultural inclusivity. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of racial microaggressions among racial and ethnic minority mental health workers in the Australian workplace. The ten participants included six psychologists, three mental health support workers, and one social worker. Participants’ racial and ethnic background were East Asian, South Asian, South-East Asian, Central American, or South American. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: (1) the mental and emotional labour of racial microaggressions, (2) prioritising the therapeutic alliance following a racial microaggression, (3) navigating culturally White work contexts with limited support, and (4) processing workplace racial microaggressions in safer spaces. The cumulative effect of racial microaggressions within and outside the work context contributed to participants’ fatigue and desensitisation to racial microaggressions. Participants expended cognitive and emotional resources when navigating culturally White workplaces and racial microaggressions from clients, colleagues, and supervisors. Generally, workplaces were unsupportive of participants, with limited conversations or training on managing discrimination from clients. These findings highlight that workplaces need to provide training, allyship, and support processes to reduce the burden of dealing with microaggressions experienced by racial and ethnic minority workers. Greater representation of racial and ethnic minorities within the workplace, particularly in leadership positions, may promote greater workplace safety and inclusion. Future research could validate interventions for addressing microaggressions in therapy and mental health workplaces in the Australian context.
Peace Project Winner 2022
Emily Haines
“Their Win Is Our Loss”: Examining Whether Framing Utopian Thinking and Collective Narcissism Influence Support for Racial Equality
Honours thesis - Flinders University (supervisors Professor Emma Thomas and Dr Morgana Lizzio-Wilson)
Emily’s honours thesis researched how imagining an ideal, positive future world (i.e., utopian thinking) may bring about racial equality between People of Colour and White people. Emily’s thesis offers a novel paradigm (utopian thinking) and adopts experimental methods to explore framing utopian thinking as a possible strategy to increase White people’s willingness to advocate for racial justice and reduce their support for movements and ideologies which reinforce inequality (e.g., support for White rights). Of course, one barrier for acting in solidarity with People of Colour is White people’s experience of threat in anticipation of changes to their power and privilege within society. Therefore, Emily’s research considers the role of a positive, imagined future (i.e., a utopian society) in which equality is achieved but without White people 'giving up' their privilege, as a means of engaging advantaged group members without eliciting threat. Indeed, the findings supported that framing an imagined future in terms of gains for People of Colour not being contingent on losses to White people, increased White people’s willingness to engage in collective action in support of racial equality. The results indicated that framing imagined future worlds in terms of achieving equality for People of Colour without any losses to White people’s privilege, and utopian thinking as a method, may assist us to move towards racial equality.
Emily is currently preparing a paper for publication as a means of disseminating the findings of her thesis, including seeking to replicate and extend these findings. Emily also aims to apply for a PhD and continue this line of research on promoting harmonious relationships at the intergroup level.
Peace Project Winner 2021
Kimberley Bates
Immigrants' Willingness to Report Victimisation to Police: The Importance of Procedural Justice, Police Effectiveness and Trust in Police
Honours thesis - Griffith University (supervisor Professor Kristina Murphy)
Kimberley’s Honours thesis title was: ‘Immigrants’ willingness to report victimisation to police’. Her project was ambitious and involved two studies: Study 1 used survey data collected from ethnic minority immigrants who had experienced criminal victimisation in Australia. The study explored the link between how police were perceived to treat immigrant victims in Australia and victims’ subsequent willingness to trust and report their victimisation to police. Findings showed that when police were perceived as more respectful, displayed empathy, and were neutral in their dealings with victims this had a strong positive effect on victims’ willingness to trust police and report their victimisation. Study 2 involved interviewing victim support workers about how they believed police could work more harmoniously with immigrants who had experienced victimisation. Again, relationship-building and respect were highlighted as crucial to this goal.
Peace Project Winner 2020
Erin Geary
Online Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Does Social Connectedness and Learning Community Predict Self-Determined Needs and Course Satisfaction?
Masters thesis - Monash University (supervisor Dr Kelly-Ann Allen)
Peace Project Winner 2019
Ariane Virgona
A comparison of the impacts of cultural ideologies on personal wellbeing: An Australian study of polyculturalism
Honours thesis - La Trobe University (supervisor Professor Emiko Kashima)
In contrast to a multicultural conceptualisation of cultural groups as separate and independent entities having fixed attributes, polyculturalism assumes cultural groups to have flexible boundaries and shared attributes as they interact and influence each other over time.
Ariane's study looked at how the cultural ideologies of multiculturalism, colourblindness and polyculturalism impacted psychological wellbeing in an Australian sample. Results found that polyculturalism was the only ideology to be significantly associated with wellbeing outcomes through increased empathy for other cultural groups and increased quality of contact. Additionally, polyculturalism was associated with decreased clarity in one’s cultural identity. These findings indicate that polyculturalism potentially has both positive and negative implications for endorsers' psychological wellbeing and this warrants further investigation. Ariane is continuing this research currently in a PhD at La Trobe University.
For further elaboration on these concepts, please see Ariane's interview on SBS Filipino Radio: https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/an-inclusive-australia-looking-into-polyculturalism
Peace Project Winner 2018
Michael Dare
Social Groups and Superordinate Identification: Preserving Pro-sociality in the Face of Inequality
Honours thesis - University of Queensland (supervisor Professor Jolanda Jetten)
Peace Project Award 2017
Award rested
Peace Project Winner 2016
Maddison Norton
Community Understandings of humanitarian entrants: An investigation of Coffs Harbour
Honours thesis - Southern Cross University (supervisor Dr Gail Moloney)
Peace Project Winners 2015
Emma Mabin
The Effects of Mitigating Information and Ruminative versus Empathic Group Discussions of Aggression
Honours thesis - University of New South Wales (supervisor Professor Tom Denson)
Fatima Azam
Predictors of Approach/Avoidance of Diversity in Non-Muslims: A Hijab Stall Field Test
Honours thesis - University of Newcastle (supervisor Dr Stefania Paolini)
Peace Project Winners 2014
Alison Clarke
Sacred Devotion through Social Interaction: Group-based Values and Psychological Pathways to Political Activism and Radicalism
Honours thesis - Murdoch University (supervisor Dr Emma Thomas)
Benjamin Low
Being ‘Here First” Determines “What’s Fair” for Immigrants
Honours thesis - University of Queensland (supervisor Professor Matthew Hornsey)
Peace Project Winner 2013
Alissa Badcock
The Role of Rumination in the Relationship Between Mindfulness and Forgiveness: A Trait and State-Level Investigation
Honours thesis - La Trobe University (supervisor Professor Eleanor Wertheim)
Peace Project Winner 2012
Alexia Naef
Visual Markers and Social perceptions of religious groups
Postgraduate Diploma thesis - Southern Cross University (supervisor Dr Gail Moloney)
Peace Project Winner 2011
Lisa Yu
The Dark Side of Self-control: Can Self-control Training Decrease and Increase Aggressive Behaviour?Honours thesis - University of New South Wales (supervisor Dr Tom Denson)
Peace Project Winners 2010
Miriam Capper
Practicing Self-Control Decreases Reactive Aggression in Aggressive Individuals
Honours thesis - University of New South Wales (supervisor Dr Tom Denson)
Rishani Panawennage
Intergroup Forgiveness after the Prolonged Conflict in a Sri Lankan Sample
Honours thesis - La Trobe University (supervisor Professor Eleanor Wertheim)
Peace Project Winners 2009
Joanne Frare
Patriotism or Nationalism: Investigating Australian National Identity and Flag Display Behaviour
Honours thesis - Southern Cross University (supervisor Dr Gail Moloney)
Tim Howle
The Differential Impact of Ethnic Threat and Ecological Threat on Ethnocentrism and Prejudice
Honours thesis - Australia National University (supervisor Dr. Boris Bizumic)
2008
Irene Giaprakis
The contribution of emotional intelligence and its components in the prediction of forgiveness
Honours thesis - La Trobe University (supervisor Professor Eleanor Wertheim)
2007
Award rested
2006
Peggy Koutsos
Paths to interpersonal forgiveness: The role of personality, dispositional forgiveness and situational forgiveness
Postgraduate Diploma thesis - La Trobe University (supervisor Professor Eleanor Wertheim)
2005
Luisa Rossi
The Relationship between Language Skills and Outcomes of the PATHS Curriculum
University of Western Australia
2004
Award rested
2003
Andreia Azevedo
Adolescents’ value orientations and preferred strategies for resolving disagreements involving different student groups
Honours thesis - La Trobe University
2002
Helena Culbertson
Ashley Carl
2001
Jackie Bornstein
University of Melbourne
Anne Matuszek
University of Tasmania
2000
Elizabeth Le Clercq
1999
Andrew Hamilton
University of Melbourne
Albert Dinelli
1998
Michelle Fleming
Michael Virgen
1997
Adina Kotler
Tamara Noy
Heather Siddons
Brianna Harrison
Janet Ruffles
1996
Therese Meallin
Michelle Versluys
1995
Tony Pastore
Lana Strogonow
Kimberley’s Honours thesis title was: ‘Immigrants’ willingness to report victimisation to police’. Her project was ambitious and involved two studies: Study 1 used survey data collected from ethnic minority immigrants who had experienced criminal victimisation in Australia. The study explored the link between how police were perceived to treat immigrant victims in Australia and victims’ subsequent willingness to trust and report their victimisation to police. Findings showed that when police were perceived as more respectful, displayed empathy, and were neutral in their dealings with victims this had a strong positive effect on victims’ willingness to trust police and report their victimisation. Study 2 involved interviewing victim support workers about how they believed police could work more harmoniously with immigrants who had experienced victimisation. Again, relationship-building and respect were highlighted as crucial to this goal.
|
