Academic literature on the topic 'Adjustment (Psychology) Victoria'

This article describes the study design of Parenting Today in Victoria: a representative survey of contemporary parenting experiences, behaviours, concerns and needs of parents. The aims of the study, sample design, survey content development processes, including pilot survey administration, data collection procedures and demographic characteristics of the sample are described. The survey was administered via computer assisted telephone interviewing using random dialling of landline and mobile phone numbers in 2016 to parents of children aged 0–18 years who were living in Victoria, Australia. The response rate was 57% with 2600 parents surveyed (40% fathers). The sample was broadly representative of the Victorian population on major demographic characteristics when compared to data from the Australian Census of Population and Housing (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011). However, adjustments were made for over representation of younger parents (16–34 years), more highly educated parents and for those living outside major cities. This survey provides rigorously collected, accurate and up-to-date information about the experiences, preferences and concerns of a large and representative sample of parents. Findings will provide vital new insights to inform policy decision making, service planning and future research aimed at understanding parents’ attitudes and behaviours, and the psychology behind their help-seeking.

Abstract The health and wellbeing benefits of Men's Sheds to the men who participate have had significant research attention for over a decade. However, there has been little research into the broader impacts of Men's Sheds, particularly in relation to the impacts on significant others in the lives of the men who participate. Our paper aims to redress this lack of research by focusing on the interrelated perceptions and experiences of men and those closest to them in four Men's Sheds in regional Victoria, Australia. The research shows that the partners and carers of ‘shedders’ reported that the men's participation not only benefited the men but also had benefits for their significant others. The study also showed that the partners of shedders in the study found that their individual and joint adjustment to retirement was in some cases assisted by the men enjoying the social and structured environment of the Men's Shed, while in other cases it was seen by partners as an over-commitment and impacting negatively on the marriage. The findings also shed some important light on some tensions experienced by the partners associated with carer burden and adjustments to retirement.

Stroke is the third most common cause of death in Australia. To date, there has been extensive research conducted on the reactive consequences following the diagnosis of stroke. In contrast, there has been limited research effort directed at understanding how some stroke survivors manage to adjust to their adversity and altered circumstances. This study took a phenomenological approach and explored the experiences and strategies stroke survivors employed in their renegotiation of living.

This study examined relinquishing mothers experiences in open adoption in the state of Victoria, Australia. The quantitative study aimed to document the actual practice of contact, and to examine the associations between contact and psychological adjustment and grief of relinquishing mothers. The study consisted of 30 participants who completed a questionnaire, which contained questions relating to the adoption and subsequent contact, satisfaction with contact, psychological adjustment measures of the GHQ, Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Delighted-Terrible scale, and grief measures of the Impact of Event Scale and an adapted version of the Grief Experience Inventory. Results revealed a range of type and frequency of contact experiences. Contact was not associated with psychological adjustment and grief as expected, however, a negative association was found between frequency of contact and satisfaction with contact. The co-variates of age of the mother, support at the time of the relinquishment and choice in the relinquishment decision were associated with psychological adjustment and grief. Post hoc analyses revealed guilt was negatively associated with psychological adjustment. Results are interpreted in relation to the minimal previous research in the field, theory and practice. Recommendations for future research are also included.

International students have diverse needs when undertaking education in Australian universities. It is in the interest of both international students and the host institution to ensure these students achieve success in their studies. This study builds on previous research and explores, from the students' perspective, the academic adjustment experiences of undergraduate international Business students from Chinese Confucian heritage cultural backgrounds at Victoria University, Australia. A qualitative methodology, using principles of grounded theory, was used for the study. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted for data collection. The transcribed data was analysed under focus questions and themes identified in the literature review using open and fixed grids. The dissertation documents the academic experiences of the cohort of students studied, focusing on the significant cultural factors which impinged on their adjustment; and discusses the emerging patterns, processes of the adjustment, strategies for future students to adjust well, and implications for curriculum development and delivery. The results of this study have suggested that cultural and educational backgrounds play a significant role in students' adjustment. The systematic building by academics and administrators of formal and informal mechanisms in Australian universities, which value students' cultural diversity and develop inclusive curricula, is to enrich the learning experiences of all students.

Previous research has highlighted general practitioners (GPs) maladaptive coping efforts, but little is known about GPs who appear to adapt positively to their inherently demanding work. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap by identifying factors that optimise GPs adaptation to working in general practice. A qualitative methodology underpinned by a constructionist epistemological stance was used. Twenty-six semistructured individual interviews with suburban and rural GPs in the State of Victoria aged between 24 and 77 years were conducted. GPs identified work demands consistent with previous research: time pressure, long hours of work, heavy workload, and pace of work; work interfering with non-work/family, threat of malpractice litigation, and bureaucratic interference. However, the degree of concern and coping responses was varied; some GPs appraised the work demands as a threat while others considered them an opportunity. GPs adopted a range of adaptive behaviours to manage and resolve work demands that were influenced by six key elements. These were: (1) the degree of work centrality to GPs, (2) the inclination of GPs towards integration or segmentation of work and non-work/family domains, (3) situational factors in the general practice and non-work/family domains, (4) ability to psychologically detach from GP role (5) choice of respite activity, and (6) adequate recovery from work demands. An heuristic schema that brings together these six elements and their implications for GP adaptation was presented. Understanding and self-knowledge about work orientation, and preference for integrating and segmenting life domains, point to the need for tailored respite strategies that facilitate psychological detachment, recovery of resources, and successful adaptation to working in general practice and life as a GP. This knowledge may also assist medical students to prepare for meeting the challenges of their future medical careers.