Australian link worker social prescribing programs: An integrative review.

Link worker social prescribing programs are gaining recognition in Australia for addressing health and social needs outside routine medical care. The evaluation of these programs is essential for informing future social prescribing programs, research and evolving policy. However, diverse outcome evaluation measures present challenges for benchmarking across link worker social prescribing programs.

Link workers' and clients' perspectives on how social prescribing offers a social cure for loneliness.

Social prescribing is a healthcare model designed to reduce loneliness and improve individuals' health by addressing unmet social needs. The present study adopted the Social Cure framework to provide an understanding of the psychosocial processes involved in helping participants to engage with social activities, from both the link workers' and clients' perspectives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 link workers ( = 40.

Effectiveness of physical activity interventions on undergraduate students' mental health: systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effectiveness of physical activity interventions on undergraduate students' mental health. Seven databases were searched and a total of 59 studies were included. Studies with a comparable control group were meta-analysed, and remaining studies were narratively synthesized.

A controlled evaluation of social prescribing on loneliness for adults in Queensland: 8-week outcomes.

Introduction: There have been few controlled evaluations of Social Prescribing (SP), in which link workers support lonely individuals to engage with community-based social activities. This study reports early outcomes of a trial comparing General Practitioner treatment-as-usual (TAU) with TAU combined with Social Prescribing (SP) in adults experiencing loneliness in Queensland.

Methods: Participants were 114 individuals who were non-randomly assigned to one of two conditions (SP,  = 63; TAU,  = 51) and assessed at baseline and 8 weeks, on primary outcomes (loneliness, well-being, health service use in past 2 months) and secondary outcomes (social anxiety, psychological distress, social trust).

Data from four consecutive cohorts of students in Australia (2019-2022) show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic and international university students' mental health.

Introduction: COVID-19 and related travel and social restrictions caused significant stress for university students in Australia and globally. Learning quickly moved online and many students (particularly international students) were separated from social and economic support. This study examined the impact of the pandemic from pre-pandemic (2019) to the COVID-19 Omicron wave (2022) on domestic and international students' mental health.

Expanding the social cure: a mixed-methods approach exploring the role of online group dance as support for young people (aged 16-24) living with anxiety.

There is an increased interest in whether online arts interventions support mental health and social connections. This study explored eight weeks of online group dance as support for young people (aged 16-24) living with anxiety. The applicability of the 'social cure' theoretical framework to the novel context of an online dance class was sought.

Efficacy of the Tuned In music emotion regulation program in international university students.

Objective: Moving overseas to study can be exciting, however many international students find this transition stressful. Therefore, empirically supported strategies to assist with managing stress and supporting well-being are needed. Motivated music listening is an effective stress management strategy, and is linked with international student well-being.

Misery loves company: Predictors of treatment response to a loneliness intervention.

Objective: The last 10 years have seen a surge of interest in loneliness and interventions to reduce it. However, there is little evidence regarding differential treatment effectiveness and predictors of treatment outcome. This paper aimed to investigate possible predictors of treatment response.

Controlled Trial Examining the Strength-Based Grit Wellbeing and Self-Regulation Program for Young People in Residential Settings for Substance Use.

This cohort-controlled trial examined whether the 12-session Grit Wellbeing and Self-regulation Program enhanced the treatment outcomes of young people accessing residential alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment. Grit focuses on increasing wellbeing and reducing substance use and mental health problems by building self-regulation skills, strengths, social connections, and health behaviours. Participants were 194 (66% male, Mage 27.

Testing a psychosocial model of sexual communication and sexual risk-taking: A cross-sectional, online survey study of Australian University students.

Objective: Sexually transmitted infection rates are higher among young people relative to other age groups. Despite much investigation, there is not enough research about in-the-moment factors associated with risky sexual behaviour, such as relational and situational variables. The present study sought to test a comprehensive psychosocial model of sexual risk-taking that included a range of factors: individual (emotion dysregulation, impulsivity), relational (attachment, communication), societal (norms, gender), and situational (dating application use, alcohol use).

Social prescribing link workers-A qualitative Australian perspective.

Social prescribing (or community referral) is a model of healthcare designed to address social needs that contribute to poor health. At the heart of social prescribing programs is the link worker, who liaises between clients, health professionals and community organisations. Social prescribing is newly emerging in Australia but there are already calls for a large-scale roll out.

Exploring links between social identity, emotion regulation, and loneliness in those with and without a history of mental illness.

Objective: Emotion regulation and social identity theorizing provide two influential perspectives on loneliness. From an emotion regulation perspective, loneliness is understood as a negative emotional state that can be managed using emotion regulation strategies. A social identity perspective views loneliness as resulting from a loss or lack of important social groups and related identities.

Verbalisation of attention regulation strategies and background music enhance extinction learning and retention.

Relapse and return of fear are common following exposure-based treatments which aim to decrease anxiety by reducing danger expectancies and negative stimulus evaluations. Using Pavlovian conditioning and extinction procedures, recent studies found that verbalising catchphrases to prompt attention to, and memory of, stimulus contingencies during extinction prevented US expectancy generalisation to safe stimuli and reduced anxiety ratings. Verbalizations did not improve negative evaluations of conditional stimuli.

FullFix: a randomised controlled trial of a telephone delivered transdiagnostic intervention for comorbid substance and mental health problems in young people.

Introduction: Transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) targets common psychological factors that underlie multiple disorders. While transdiagnostic interventions are a promising new approach, limited research has evaluated these treatments within the alcohol and other drug (AOD) sector for young people with comorbid mental health symptoms. This project will examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of FullFix-a new risk-targeted transdiagnostic CBT telehealth programme for comorbid AOD and depression/anxiety disorders in young people.

How Do Music Activities Affect Health and Well-Being? A Scoping Review of Studies Examining Psychosocial Mechanisms.

This scoping review analyzed research about how music activities may affect participants' health and well-being. Primary outcomes were measures of health (including symptoms and health behaviors) and well-being. Secondary measures included a range of psychosocial processes such as arousal, mood, social connection, physical activation or relaxation, cognitive functions, and identity.

Systematic Review: Diabetes Family Conflict in Young People With Type 1 Diabetes.

Objective: To investigate the relationships between diabetes-specific family conflict and health outcomes of young people with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA statement (registration number: CRD42020164988). PubMed, Embase, PsycNET, reference lists of included studies, and other relevant reviews were searched (1990-2020).

"It's Not the Same": A Comparison of the Psychological Needs Satisfied by Musical Group Activities in Face to Face and Virtual Modes.

According to the social identity approach to health, group memberships influence people's mental health to the extent that they identify with their group. Emerging evidence suggests that music groups, such as choirs, enhance mental health group identification and the satisfaction of various psychological needs; however, more research is required to understand these processes in other types of music groups. Furthermore, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) social distancing restrictions in 2020 prevented music groups from meeting face to face (F2F).

Long-term antidepressant use in general practice: a qualitative study of GPs' views on discontinuation.

Background: There is considerable concern about increasing antidepressant use, with Australians among the highest users in the world. Evidence suggests this is driven by patients on long-term use, rather than new prescriptions. Most antidepressant prescriptions are generated in general practice, and it is likely that attempts to discontinue are either not occurring or are proving unsuccessful.

Music Listening as a Strategy for Managing COVID-19 Stress in First-Year University Students.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought rapid changes to travel, learning environments, work conditions, and social support, which caused stress for many University students. Research with young people has revealed music listening to be among their most effective strategies for coping with stress. As such, this survey of 402 first-year Australian University students (73.

The effects of social group interventions for depression: Systematic review.

Background: There is a growing prevalence of prolonged antidepressant use globally. Social group interventions may be an effective way to manage mild to moderate depression, especially with patients seeking to discontinue antidepressant use. This systematic review evaluates studies that used social group interventions to manage depression.

Perceptions of loneliness among people accessing treatment for substance use disorders.

Introduction And Aims: Guided by cognitive theory of loneliness, this study sought to explore the experience of loneliness among people accessing treatment for substance use disorders. Specifically, contributors to, consequences and alleviators of loneliness were explored.

Design And Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants.

Reducing loneliness among people with substance use disorders: Feasibility of 'Groups for Belonging'.

Introduction And Aims: Although loneliness is common among people with substance use disorders, few interventions to reduce loneliness have been developed for this population. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of delivering a six-session group-based intervention, 'Groups for Belonging', that builds social group connectedness.

Design And Methods: Participants were 41 individuals accessing residential substance use treatment services.

Young adults' sexual health in the digital age: Perspectives of care providers.

Objectives: This study examined care providers' views on young people's sexual health in the digital age. Young people have high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), indicating sexual risk-taking behaviours. Adolescents transitioning to adulthood may be particularly at risk due to increased sexual behaviour and exposure to risk factors for unsafe sex, such as less parental monitoring.

Loneliness among people with substance use problems: A narrative systematic review.

Issues: Despite the serious implications of loneliness on health and wellbeing, little is understood about this experience across people with substance use problems. This systematic review aimed to examine: (i) correlates and predictors of loneliness; (ii) theories underpinning loneliness; (iii) methods employed to measure loneliness; and (iv) loneliness interventions for people with substance use problems.

Approach: Empirical sources were identified from key databases for all publications preceding February 2019.