Smoke signals: The decline of brand identity predicts reduced smoking behaviour following the introduction of plain packaging.

This study tests a social identity based mechanism for the effectiveness of plain tobacco packaging legislation, introduced in Australia in December 2012, to reduce cigarette smoking. 178 Australian smokers rated their sense of identification with fellow smokers of their brand, positive brand stereotypes, quitting behaviours and intentions, and smoking intensity, both before and seven months after the policy change. Mediation analyses showed that smokers, especially those who initially identified strongly with their brand, experienced a significant decrease in their brand identity following the introduction of plain packaging and this was associated with lower smoking behaviours and increased intentions to quit.

Looking beyond personal stressors: an examination of how academic stressors contribute to depression in Australian graduate medical students.

Background: Medical school is a challenging environment that requires students to deal effectively with stress borne out of the medical education environment, as well as their personal lives. Previous research has not systemically distinguished between academic and personal sources of stress, and in particular has not explored the independent contribution that academic stressors make to medical student depression.

Purposes: This study aimed to investigate whether academic stressors make a unique contribution to the level of depressive symptoms in medical students, over and above the contribution made by personal stressors alone.

Identity and norms: the role of group membership in medical student wellbeing.

Medical students experience high levels of mental health problems, which can lead to poor academic performance, substance abuse and burnout. The current paper draws on social psychology to explore the factors underpinning wellbeing in medical students. From the literature it is evident that there is a strong association between group membership and wellbeing.