Australian Catholic University

About: Australian Catholic University is a education organization based out in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 2721 authors who have published 10013 publications receiving 215248 citations. The organization is also known as: ACU & ACU National.

A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial to Reduce Office Workers’ Sitting Time: Effect on Activity Outcomes

Abstract: PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the initial and long-term effectiveness of a workplace intervention compared with usual practice, targeting the reduction of sitting on activity outcomes.MethodsOffice worksites (≥1 km apart) from a single organization in Victoria, Australia, were cluster

A review of the impact of pregnancy on memory function

Abstract: Although until recently much of the evidence for pregnancy-related deficits in memory was anecdotal or based on self-report, a number of studies have now been conducted that have tested whether these subjective appraisals of memory difficulties reflect objective impairment However, these studies have failed to yield consistent results A meta-analysis of the 14 studies that have been conducted over the past 17 years comparing pregnant and/or postpartum women with healthy matched controls on behavioral measures of memory was conducted The results indicate that pregnant women are significantly impaired on some, but not all, measures of memory, and, specifically, memory measures that place relatively high demands on executive cognitive control may be selectively disrupted The same specific deficits associated with pregnancy are also observed postpartum These findings highlight the need for exploration of the etiologies and functional consequences of pregnancy-related memory difficulties and may help to guide the interpretation of neuropsychological data for the purpose of determining cognitive status in individuals who are pregnant or postpartum

Autonomy and autonomy disturbances in self-development and psychopathology: Research on motivation, attachment, and clinical process

Abstract: Self-determination theory (SDT) maintains that the adequate support and satisfaction of individuals' psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness promotes the gradual unfolding of individuals' integrative tendencies, as manifested through intrinsic motivation, internalization, identity development, and integrative emotion regulation. At the same time, the thwarting of these same psychological needs and the resultant need frustration is presumed to evoke or amplify a variety of psychopathologies, many of which involve autonomy disturbances. We begin by defining what autonomy involves and how socializing agents, particularly parents, can provide a nurturing (i.e., need-supportive) environment, and we review research within the SDT literature that has shed light on various integrative tendencies and how caregivers facilitate them. In the second part of this chapter, we detail how many forms of psychopathology involve autonomy disturbances and are associated with a history of psychological need thwarting. We especially focus on internally controlling regulation in internalizing disorders; impairments of internalization in conduct disorders and antisocial behavior; and fragmented self-functioning in borderline and dissociative disorders. The role of autonomy support as an ameliorative factor in treatment settings is then discussed among other translational issues. Finally we highlight some implications of recognizing the important role of basic psychological needs for both growth-related and pathology-related processes. Keywords: autonomy; attachment; internalization; parenting; psychological needs; self-determination theory

Reliability and validity of ultrasound measurements of muscle fascicle length and pennation in humans: a systematic review

Abstract: Ultrasound imaging is widely used to measure architectural features of human skeletal muscles in vivo. We systematically reviewed studies of the reliability and validity of two-dimensional ultrasound measurement of muscle fascicle lengths or pennation angles in human skeletal muscles. A comprehensive search was conducted in June 2011. Thirty-six reliability studies and six validity studies met the inclusion criteria. Data from these studies indicate that ultrasound measurements of muscle fascicle lengths are reliable across a broad range of experimental conditions [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and r values were always > 0.6, and coefficient of variation values were always 0.5 and coefficient of variation values were always 0.7) under certain conditions, such as when large limb muscles are imaged in a relaxed state and the limb or joint remains stationary. Future studies on validity should consider ways to test for the validity of two-dimensional ultrasound imaging in contracted or moving muscles and the best method of probe alignment.

Mechanisms of Change in the Relationship between Self-Compassion, Emotion Regulation, and Mental Health: A Systematic Review

Abstract: Background: Research suggests that self‐compassion may improve mental health by promoting emotion regulation (Berking & Whitley, 2014). This review aimed to identify studies which investigated the relationship between self‐compassion, emotion regulation, and mental health in order to examine the role of emotional regulation as a mechanism of change. Methods: Searches were conducted in PsycINFO, CINAHL, Medline complete, Web of Science and Scopus databases. Inclusion criteria required publications to be: peer reviewed, published in English, contain validated measures of self‐compassion and emotion regulation, and report a direct analysis on the relationship between these constructs. Results: The search yielded five studies which met inclusion criteria. Emotion regulation significantly mediated the relationship between self‐compassion and mental health. This pattern was consistent across community and clinical samples, for a range of mental health symptoms including stress, depression, and post‐traumatic stress disorder. A critical limitation of the review was that all included studies used cross‐sectional data, limiting interpretations regarding causation. Conclusions: Results provide preliminary evidence that emotion regulation may be a mechanism of change in the relationship between self‐compassion and mental health. Self‐compassion may be a pertinent preliminary treatment target for individuals who avoid experiences of emotions.