The Role of Animal Companions in the Bereavement Experiences of Australian Lesbians and Gay Men.

All too often, humans who experience the death of a partner are directed towards other humans for support, ignoring the important role that animal companions play in the lives of many humans. For lesbians and gay men specifically - whose grief may be disenfranchised - animal companions may play a particularly important role. This paper reports on a secondary analysis of interviews with 10 Australian lesbians or gay men who had lost a partner due to non-HIV related issues.

'It makes you not want to eat': Perceptions of anti-obesity public health campaigns in individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder.

Objective: Recent research has highlighted the potentially deleterious effects of anti-obesity public health campaigns on vulnerable audiences such as those at risk of, or diagnosed with, eating disorders (ED). The qualitative experiences of campaigns in this population group have been little explored.

Methods: Twelve interviews were conducted with participants either currently or previously diagnosed with an ED using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach.

Anti-obesity public health advertisements increase risk factors for the development of eating disorders.

Although overweight and obesity are increasing in prevalence, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder are simultaneously on the rise. It is important to address the burden of disease of overweight and obesity on the population, yet there is concern that some of these efforts may be encouraging unhealthy weight control behaviours (UWCB). Using an online survey, 137 participants were exposed to four anti-obesity public health advertisements presented in random order.

The Readiness of Australian Health Care Students to Encounter Patients Experiencing Partner Abuse.

Partner abuse is a significant contributor to mortality and morbidity worldwide, and has been identified as a priority health care issue. Most health care students rarely receive education on partner abuse and report not feeling ready to encounter patients experiencing partner abuse. Analysis of the current readiness of health care students and can inform educational needs to address this gap.

First-time mothers' experiences of preparing for childbirth at advanced maternal age.

Objective: To explore the lived experiences of preparing for childbirth for nulliparous women aged 35-44 and determine how mature first-time mothers' can be better supported regarding childbirth preparation.

Design: The research study comprised a cross-sectional qualitative design utilising Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to provide a deep exploration into the experience of mature age women.

Setting: Participants resided in South Australia and Victoria, Australia, in regional, suburban and inner-city locations.

Anti-obesity public health messages and risk factors for disordered eating: a systematic review.

In response to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, public health efforts to curb these conditions have been delivered in abundance. There is concern however that the messages used to target these conditions may be increasing risk factors for disordered eating. Therefore, we sought to systematically review the literature on the effects of anti-obesity public health messages on risk factors for disordered eating.

Parent Perceptions of Psychosocial Outcomes of Equine-Assisted Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This research explored parents' perceptions of the psychosocial outcomes of their children's experience of receiving equine-assisted interventions (EAI). Participants were the parents of six children (aged 3-14) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Five semi-structured interviews were conducted and the transcript data was analysed using Interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Same-Sex Partner Bereavement: Non-HIV-Related Loss and New Research Directions.

The experience of same-sex-attracted people who have lost a partner is neglected in the existing literature on bereavement. Previous research on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and questioning (LGBTIQ) populations tends to focus on the loss of a partner to HIV-related causes, and there is scant research concerning non-HIV-related bereavement. The purpose of this article is to investigate the non-HIV-related bereavement experiences of same-sex partners and to address the potential complications of disenfranchised grief.

Heart and spirit: research with psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists about spirituality.

In qualitative interview research with 25 psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists in London, Sydney and Melbourne, the author explored how these clinicians experienced, conceptualised and worked with spiritual issues. Bringing to bear their experience on both sides of the couch, this 'information-rich' sample of mainly senior practitioners reflected on a psychoanalytically informed view of spirituality, and its understanding in clinical practice. Two methods of analysis were used.