Gender differences in alcohol consumption among middle-aged and older adults in Australia, the United States and Korea.

Objectives: To compare gender differences in alcohol use and the socioeconomic correlates of at-risk drinking among middle-aged and older adults in Australia, the United States (US) and South Korea.

Method: Data were drawn from large nationally representative surveys of people aged 45 years and older, collected in 2006.

Results: Rates of any drinking and at-risk drinking (>14 US standard drinks/week) were higher for males than females in all countries and these gender differences were largest in Korea.

Rumination, substance use, and self-harm in a representative Australian adult sample.

Background: There are few data on self-harm in the general population, especially examining the roles of rumination and substance use.

Objectives: To evaluate the inter-relationships of rumination, self-harm, and potential mediating variables.

Method: A cohort with follow-up every 4 years involving a random sample of adults aged 20-24 and 40-44 years (at baseline) living in Australia.

Alcohol, hospital admissions, and falls in older adults: a longitudinal evaluation.

Background: There are limited data on the impacts of alcohol use in older adults. We aimed to evaluate self-reported hospital admissions and falls against current Australian alcohol consumption guidelines.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal analysis of data from five Australian cohort studies.

Cross-national gender differences in the socioeconomic factors associated with smoking in Australia, the United States of America and South Korea.

Objectives: We compared rates of smoking among those aged 45 years and older in Australia, the United States of America and South Korea, and examined cross-national gender differences in key socioeconomic differentials in smoking.

Methods: We conducted weighted analyses on cross-sectional data from nationally representative surveys conducted in 2006.

Results: Current smoking was more prevalent for males than females in all countries; the gender difference was largest in Korea.

Correlates of subjective health across the aging lifespan: understanding self-rated health in the oldest old.

Objectives: To examine the determinants of self-rated health (SRH) in different age groups of older adults, including the oldest old.

Methods: Variables assessing physical health, difficulty with self-care, depressive symptoms, and cognitive impairment were pooled and harmonized from three Australian longitudinal studies of ageing (N = 5,222). The association of these with SRH was examined in older adults aged 60 to 64 years, 65 to 74 years, 75 to 84 years, and 85 years and older.

A simple measure with complex determinants: investigation of the correlates of self-rated health in older men and women from three continents.

Background: Self-rated health is commonly employed in research studies that seek to assess the health status of older individuals. Perceptions of health are, however, influenced by individual and societal level factors that may differ within and between countries. This study investigates levels of self-rated health (SRH) and correlates of SRH among older adults in Australia, United States of America (USA), Japan and South Korea.

Alcohol use and depression from middle age to the oldest old: gender is more important than age.

Background: Alcohol use disorders are associated with other mental health disorders in young adults, but there are few data on alcohol use and mental health outcomes in older adults, particularly the oldest old. This study examines the relationship between alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms.

Methods: Data were collected from the Dynamic Analyses to Optimise Ageing (DYNOPTA) project, which has pooled nine Australian longitudinal studies.

Treatment burden and health-related quality of life of children with diabetes, cystic fibrosis and asthma.

Aim: To identify the time required by children with cystic fibrosis (CF), diabetes or asthma to complete daily treatment tasks and the hassle they experienced when completing these tasks. To compare parent and child reports of daily treatment time and hassle. To investigate the relationship between treatment time and hassle, and (i) children's health-related quality of life (HRQL); and (ii) disease severity.

Health-related quality of life of children and adolescents with chronic illness--a two year prospective study.

The aim of this study was to compare the self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQL) of children and adolescents with diabetes, asthma or cystic fibrosis (CF) with the HRQL of a large community sample, to assess the extent to which the HRQL of the children and adolescents with chronic illness changes over time, and to examine the consistency of changes in different HRQL domains. One hundred and twenty three young people aged 10-16 years with asthma, diabetes, or CF were recruited from specialist paediatric clinics. Children rated their HRQL using the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) and three disease-specific measures at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post-baseline.

Comparison of three models of alcohol craving in young adults: a cross-validation.

Aims: The aim of study 1 was to develop a three-factor Approach and Avoidance of Alcohol Questionnaire (AAAQ), designed to assess mild and intense inclinations to drink, as well as inclinations to avoid drinking. The aims of study 2 were to cross-validate the AAAQ with an independent sample and to test the goodness-of-fit of three models of craving for alcohol: (a) the traditional unidimensional model; (b) a two-dimensional, approach-avoidance ambivalence model; and (c) an expanded two-dimensional neuroanatomical model that retains avoidance, while positing a threshold that partitions approach into two distinct levels and relates all three factors involved in craving to brain pathways associated with inhibitory processes, reward and obsessive-compulsive behaviour, respectively.

Design, Setting And Participants: The survey was administered to 589 Australian university students (69% women) in study 1 and to 523 American university students (64% women) in study 2.

Measurement invariance in the General Health Questionnaire-12 in young Australian adolescents.

The General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) has been extensively validated with adults, but its validity with young adolescents is questionable. Further, the dimensionality of the survey remains in doubt. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to compare five competing models for the GHQ-12 using an adult sample (n = 235).

Validity and psychometric properties of the General Health Questionnaire-12 in young Australian adolescents.

Background: The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) is a measure of current mental wellbeing that has been extensively validated with adults. The instrument has also been used with adolescents.

Objective: (i) To assess the psychometric properties of the GHQ-12 among school students in grades 7-10; (ii) to validate it against other psychological tests; and (iii) to suggest a threshold score.