Nerina Caltabiano has teaching responsibilities at both the Cairns and Singapore campuses. Her Honours and PhD were in Social Psychology, namely nonverbal behaviour in children and attitudes towards compulsive casino gamblers. She is the coordinator of the Honours and Postgraduate Diploma program. She is a member of both the Australian and the American Psychological Societies. Her publications and supervisions of higher degree research students are within the area of social and development psychology. Together with her collaborators, she has been the recipient of several grants including some internal faculty grants, an Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, a Cairns Campus, JCU Student Association Grant, Education Queensland grant, and an ARC Discovery Grant. She was a recipient of the 2009 Docemus Award for Volunteers given by the Cairns Catholic Diocese in recognition of unwavering commitment to Catholic Education. Her current research interests are in social cognition, socio-emotional development of children, and well-being.
Abstract: Satisfaction with time spent together is an integral part of the overall satisfaction of any relationship. This study examines young school-aged children's and mothers' satisfaction with the time they spend together. While 906 mothers and 675 children (49.0% males) from seven schools in middle to high SES areas in a regional Queensland city participated in the study, just less than half (n = 319, 47.3%) of the children could be matched with their mother. In a classroom lesson administered by the teachers, children were asked if they were happy with the time they had together with their mum and dad or whether they would like more time. In a separate survey, mothers were asked how satisfied they were with the time they spend with their child. More mothers than children were satisfied with the time they have together. Children were more satisfied with the time they spent with their mother than their father. Significant relationships between mother's satisfaction and her employment status and her child's after-school care arrangements were found. More mothers were satisfied if they did not work full-time and were able to provide some hours of care for their child after school. There was a significant relationship between the children's behaviour scores and their after school care arrangements.
Abstract: WHILE RESEARCH HAS REPEATEDLY shown the benefits of participation in extracurricular activities for adolescents, few studies have focused on very young children. Extra-curricular activities afford children opportunities for development and can also influence their behaviour. Childrenâs behaviour is an important predictor of their future successes or failures. This study investigated the relationship between behaviour and participation in extra-curricular activities in children aged between five and eight years. Mothers of children (n = 906) in Prep to Year 3 from seven schools in middle- to highSES areas from a regional city participated in the study. Mothers gave details of their childâs extra-curricular activities and used the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (Goodman, 1997) to measure their childâs behaviour. Low scores on the SDQ indicate normal behaviour while high scores indicate borderline or abnormal behaviour. Participation, number of activities, and duration of activities were all associated with childrenâs behaviour. Children who participated in extra-curricular activities had lower behaviour scores than those who did not. The results suggest that children benefit from participating in two or more activities for 80â90 minutes per week.
Abstract: Abstract: Covert bullying has become a serious problem in Australian schools. Past research has focused on overt bullying, especially physical forms. This study explores teacher characteristics that influence their attitudes and responses to covert bullying. Responses to three scales measuring teacher attitudes towards bullying, perceived self-efficacy and preferred style of handling bullying incidents, as well as background questions were sought from 62 teachers from a Catholic Diocese in Queensland. Overt bullying incidents were taken more seriously than covert bullying; victims were shown empathy and intervention was likely. All teachers showed high levels of self-efficacy and were likely to intervene in overt bullying incidents. The most predominant style for handling bullying was one that focused on punishing the bully. Ongoing professional development is warranted to help ease this insidious problem in schools.
Abstract: Humour skills programmes are believed to assist in improving emotional well-being by increasing self-efficacy, positive thinking, optimism and perceptions of control, while decreasing negative thinking, perceptions of stress, depression, anxiety and stress. The study aims to evaluate a programme investigating this possibility. Volunteers from the community (37 females and 18 males, aged Mâ=â38 years) were randomly assigned to a humour group, a social group or a non-intervention control group. The programme, consisting of a manual and a booklet of measures assessing indices of well-being, was administered over an 8-week period. Data were collected at baseline, post programme and at 3-month follow-up. Results revealed that unlike the control and social groups, the humour group demonstrated a significant increase in several indices of emotional well-being. Specifically, increases occurred with self-efficacy, positive affect, optimism and perceptions of control, while decreases were found in perceived stress, depression, anxiety and stress levels.
Abstract: The school professional is in a unique position to play a strategic role in the early identification and prevention of youth suicide. The current study assessed North Queensland teachersâ knowledge on youth suicide. The sample comprised 201 secondary school teachers. A survey research design was used and data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Teachers scored, on average, 69% of the knowledge statements correct; however only 15% correctly recognized a high-risk situation. There was substantial variability in the accuracy of knowledge on youth suicide with some teachers maintaining high levels of knowledge, and others having very little accurate information. Findings highlight the need for youth suicide education for teachers in order to fulfil this âgatekeeperâ role in dealing with suicidal student.
Abstract: Landowners (100 males and 21 females) within the catchment of the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon located between the Barron and the South Johnstone Rivers responded to a postal survey assessing attitudes towards their streamside forests. 121 useable questionnaires were used to identify the underlying components within landowner's attitudes. Factor analysis revealed two components, namely, awareness of human impact on local streamside forest, and appreciation of environmental benefits and functions of streamside forest. Only factor 2, appreciation of environment benefits and functions of streamside forest, was found to significantly predict good streamside forest management practices as self-reported by landowners. There is a need to understand the human impact on streamside zones.
Abstract: This study explores adjustment to separation and divorce and the effects of participating in a small regional community agency group intervention program. Prior to participation in group intervention, participants were interviewed for suitability and invited to complete the pre-intervention questionnaires comprising demographics, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Social Support Appraisal Scale and the Fisher Divorce Adjustment Scale. Of the forty-four participants that started the program, twenty females and ten males completed the group intervention program. Following completion, the post-intervention questionnaires were administered to participants. Some differences in adjustment to separation and divorce were noted for men and women pre-intervention on the Social Support Appraisal Scale. However, no gender differences were noted on the adjustment scales post-intervention. Overall, the results indicate that participants made significant adjustment gains following participation on all adjustment scales. This result implies there are short-term benefits of attending a group intervention program aimed at improved adjustment to separation and divorce.
Abstract: This study is concerned with how tertiary students evaluate educational goals within their degree programs. Crooks' (1988) classification of educational practices in terms of short-term and medium-term consequences is used. This study assesses the viability of his classificatory system within a university student sample. The current study extends previous research by considering both lecturer characteristics (e.g., lecturer supportiveness, teaching quality, approachability of lecturing staff and availability of lecturing staff) and student characteristics (e.g., age and student's year level) which may predict how educational practices are evaluated. Evaluation data are provided by 164 volunteer students (31.5% males and 68.5% females). The principal component analysis was able to establish a list of short-term and medium-term goals appropriate for a university student sample. Lecturer supportiveness predicts short-term goals while teaching quality and student's year level predicted medium-term goals. (Contains 4 tables.)
Abstract: Gambling has long been known as a form of addiction, the effects of which can be devastating for the individuals involved. However, it is also a pervasive cultural phenomenon that has been a fascination and a temptation for cultures from antiquity to the present. This paper begins with a historical account of the fascination with gambling and then proceeds to an account of gambling in Australia's history, as well as its current status in national and regional Australian society. Furthermore, a number of key features of gambling, which seem to be trans-historical and trans-cultural, will be discussed.
Abstract: Objective: To explore the relationship between demographic, user-situational, attitudinal variables and automatic teller machine (ATM) use in an Australian sample of older adults.
Methods: Volunteers aged 60 years and over conducting their own banking filled in a self-administered questionnaire which assessed respondentsâ banking practices, attitudes towards ATMs, and demographics. MannâWhitney U-tests and chi-squared tests were computed to explore group differences, and a logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the predictive value of identified variables.
Results: The sample comprised 139 respondents of which 44.6% were ATM users and 55.4% were non-users. Group differences were found in regard to age, education, user situational and attitudinal variables. From the logistic regression, technology, perceived control and perceived user comfort were found to have an independent significant effect on ATM usage.
Conclusion: The results suggest that while age, education, attitudes and user-situational variables are related to ATM use, only technology experience, perceived user comfort and control are determinants of ATM use among this population.
Abstract: This study examines the domain of health behaviours practiced by young adults, and health beliefs which may influence such behaviours. Multidimensional scaling was used to investigate interrelationships between 48 health behaviours practised by young adults (N=211). The health behaviours were best explained by a 2-dimensional solution which accounted for 88.5% of the variation. The first dimension was categorised by positive health behaviours at one end, such as the wearing of seat belts, and not driving when under the influence of drugs/alcohol, while the other end of the dimension included behaviours such as excessive alcohol consumption and infrequent medical checkups. The second dimension related to the practice of behaviours to minimize perceived risk susceptibility such as safe sex and minimizing sun exposure. Of the health belief model constructs, perceived benefits predicted the practice of safe sex and medical/dental checkups. Philosophical health orientation (general health value) predicted eating behaviour. Those persons who believed that drugs, cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol intake were dangerous to health, tended to not engage in these behaviours or to succumb to peer pressure to do so.
Abstract: Psychiatric comorbidity can be defined as the occurrence of at least one mental disorder plus one substance abuse disorder in the same person. Much research has been conducted on how to identify psychiatric comorbidity, and the barriers that mental health professionals have towards individuals with psychiatric comorbidity. The objective of this study is to provide baseline data that is required for researching such issues as prevalence rates, demographic indicators and possible links between disorders. The research was conducted in a community setting within the Crisis Assessment Treatment Team (CATT) of Cairns, a city situated in the tropical far north of the state of Queensland, Australia. The analyses focused on descriptive statistics and determining the predictors of comorbidity. The general finding of this study indicated that within this region the prevalence rate of psychiatric comorbidity was 52 percent. It is estimated that in Australia, between 32% to 87% of psychiatric patients also have alcohol or other drug problems. Age, residential area and poly-drug usage were significant predictors of comorbidity.
Abstract: This study examines the domain of health behaviours practiced by young adults, and health beliefs which may influence such behaviours. Multidimensional scaling was used to investigate interrelationships between 48 health behaviours practised by young adults (N=211). The health behaviours were best explained by a 2-dimensional solution which accounted for 88.5% of the variation. The first dimension was categorised by positive health behaviours at one end, such as the wearing of seat belts, and not driving when under the influence of drugs/alcohol, while the other end of the dimension included behaviours such as excessive alcohol consumption and infrequent medical checkups. The second dimension related to the practice of behaviours to minimize perceived risk susceptibility such as safe sex and minimizing sun exposure. Of the health belief model constructs, perceived benefits predicted the practice of safe sex and medical/dental checkups. Philosophical health orientation (general health value) predicted eating behaviour. Those persons who believed that drugs, cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol intake were dangerous to health, tended to not engage in these behaviours or to succumb to peer pressure to do so.
Abstract: A religious festival of Sicilian origin is celebrated each year by the community of Silkwood in the tropical far north of Australia. The following account is based on the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the festival, held in 2000.
Abstract: The period after the birth of a child may be characterized by occasions of physical exhaustion. Mothers who self-reported having experienced postnatal depression in the past year and physical exhaustion were examined.
Abstract: Examined the environmentally responsible behavior practiced by 247 university students. Analysis showed that responsible behavior has 3 dimensions: Reusing/Recycling, Conserving, and Replacing products with friendly ones. Data suggest that Ss are working toward reducing, re-using, and recycling.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify the dimensions of ethnic identity among a group of Italo-Australians living in the Australian Capital Territory. The data from 68 of 3532 persons sampled from electoral rolls, explored by factor analysis suggests that socio-cultural activities, family, ingroup and conservative-traditional factors are salient dimensions of Italian-Australian identity.
Abstract: Two hundred and forty children, selected according to their age, ethnicity and sex, participated in a study of the encoding and decoding of symbolic hand gestures. Twenty-two gestures, chosen from a larger list of 101 gestures, were classified in a pre-test as either Italian or Australian gestures and were presented to the children in ordinary or stroboscopic photographs. Both the encoding and decoding studies conformed to a 2 (Italian or Australian ethnic background) Ã 2 (male or female) Ã 2 (3-year or 6-year-old) design. Age and ethnic background were shown to be major variables affecting gesture decoding. A significant interaction between age, ethnicity and sex was found for gesture encoding of Italian gestures. It was suggested that verbal fluency and the social roles of children in the Italo-Australian sub-culture might account for the superiority of the 6-year-old Italo-Australian girls in encoding Italian gestures. The need to investigate the larger issue of the effects of acculturation on non-verbal behavior was noted.
Abstract: The Covariation Theory of Kelley (1967) proposes that individuals attribute causes to a person, a stimulus, or circumstances depending on the quality of information. Therefore, individuals who reflect upon the origin of behaviour are influenced by consensus, consistency, and distinctiveness cues. The current study aims to investigate Kelleyâs Covariation Theory in light of psychological abuse as a common occurrence among heterosexual and homosexual couples. For the purpose of this study, a questionnaire containing vignettes depicting a psychologically
abusive scenario with varying degrees of consensus, consistency, and distinctiveness as well as differing gender composition of the couple (male-male, female-female, female-male abuse) were created. The study recruited 227 university students. Results of this study could not support Kelleyâs Covariation Theory. Furthermore, attitudes toward gay men and lesbians do not seem to have a considerable impact on causal attribution. Future research needs to focus on the vignette content, as well as the order in which the stimulus material is presented
Abstract:
Background: The development of a secure attachment is considered one of the most crucial milestones in the first 12 months of an infant's life. Furthermore, it is thought that reflective function is a key component in the developing attachment relationship. Approximately 20â30 % of new mothers will struggle with tuning into their baby and responding sensitively, with postnatal depression a well-recognised risk factor for the attachment relationship.
Primary health care providers have a key role in the screening and surveillance of common developmental problems in young children. They are well placed to monitor mother-infant relationships within the context of universal child health checks and targeted home visiting programs.
Aim: The aim of this study is to develop and conduct preliminary validation of a cost effective, brief self-report scale that is acceptable tomothers of young infants to identify potential difficulties with reflective function.
Method: A development scale was constructed with an over inclusive item set generated from a multidisciplinary, intersectorial expert groupand verbatim statements from a representative, community focus group of mothers. Pilot testing of items occurred with the focus group. Approximately 300 mothers of young infants (<12 months) are being recruited from primary health centres in three regional areas in North Queensland. Basic demographic information is being collected about mothers and their infants. Three other other scales are being administered concurrently to examine convergent and divergent validity. Exploratory Factor Analysis will be used to examine the underlying factor structure. Analysis with the Rasch Model will be conducted to explore item fit and refine the scale.
Results: The development scale and demographics of the North Queensland region will be presented and discussed in a primary health context.
Conclusions: This preliminary study will be discussed in relation to the scale's overall utility and acceptability as a screening tool to detect difficulties with reflective function in mothers attending primary health centres. Further validation of the final scale that includes different health care and cultural settings is recommended.
