Abstracts 2000

International Journal of Rural Psychology

	ISSN 1444-2166











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Archived Abstracts 2000

Comparison of Adolescent Lifestyles in Rural and Metropolitan Communities
Ruth Rowlands and David Harvey (Posted 13 December 2000)
Refereed Reports Members Only
Abstract
This Australian study reports urban-rural differences in 352 adolescents’ levels of activity during out of school hours at home and in the community. Year 7-11 students, aged 12-17 years (males = 161, females = 191) listed their entire range of out of school activities during the previous 14 days on the ‘Adolescent Activities Diary’. Urban adolescents participated in significantly more activities than rural adolescents and senior rural students recording the least number of activities. Reported activities were classified as either, ‘Authority’, ‘Family’, or ‘Independent.’ Involvement in the first was highest for urban adolescents. Location did not influence activity level in participation in family activities, but females listed these activities more often than males. Family activities decreased with age, particularly in the rural areas. Gender differences were observed in rural participation in independent activities with female participation higher than males. The lower activity level of rural male adolescents, particularly of senior students in Years 9-11, is highlighted. The study has implications for counsellors who work with adolescents giving some guide as to the importance of knowing how these age groups spend their free time. The results for older rural young men suggest more thought needs to be given to the way in which rural communities can best cater for this very important age group.

Stress and Coping in Urban and Rural Ambulance Officers
Colin Horwell & Suzanne McLaren (Posted 15 August 2000)
Refereed Reports Members Only
Abstract
Living in rural areas has been linked to higher incidences of stress, depression and suicide. The current research investigated whether living in rural Australia was associated with higher levels of occupational stress among ambulance officers. Australian ambulance officers (n = 98) completed the Coping Resources Inventory (Hammer, 1988) and the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein, 1983). Only one rural-urban difference was demonstrated, with the rural officers reporting the availability of significantly more social support than their urban colleagues. Overall, the officers reported high levels of social support. Conversely, they reported fewer emotional and spiritual/philosophical resources. The possession of each type of coping resource was related to lower stress. Results demonstrated the importance of coping resources in the stress process, and raised questions concerning the nature of the ambulance organisation and its role in facilitating employee’s use of social support.

Issues in the Practice of Australian Rural and Remote Psychology
Shafik, S & Dollard M. PhD. (Posted 8 August 2000
Refereed Articles Members Only
Abstract
In the past ten years, attention has been directed towards the provision of adequate health care delivery in rural Australia, with a particular emphasis on the need for improved mental health services. The delivery of effective psychological services is contingent upon the recognition of the contributing psychosocial factors and the application of appropriate skills in the management of such issues. However, despite a clear need for psychological services in the rural domain, there is an obvious lack of rural psychologists. The practice of rural psychology embodies challenges that are unique to a distinct rural cultural milieu for which the psychologist must be adequately prepared. Consideration must therefore be given to the provision of adequate education and training of rural psychologists. Additionally, efforts must be directed towards the improvement of recruitment and retention of psychologists in rural Australia. Similarly, the deterrents to psychological service utilisation must be explored and overcome. In order to achieve significant advances in the field, key strategies must be implemented: collaboration with major stakeholders (e.g. universities, national health organisations, and rural psychology practitioners); education of rural communities regarding issues of mental health; and research of issues pertinent to rural psychology. Finally, major policy changes in training, standards, and registration, requiring compulsory training and/or placements in rural psychology, are proposed to redress the lack of rural psychologists, and improve rural psychological services.

Australian Rural Psychology and the Rural Consumer - Paradigm Shifting
John Court PhD. & Maureen Dollard PhD. (Posted June 2000)
Refereed Article Members Only
Abstract
Training for psychologists to work in rural settings at present involves taking existing specialisations at graduate level and trying to adapt them from their natural urban settings to fit the needs of the rural consumer. This does not adequately equip those going out to practice, leaving them vulnerable to the unfamiliar context without skills developed to cope. Hence the probability of low retention rates is perpetuated. A number of ways in which the current paradigm for training could be modified to create a more deliberate preparation for the special needs of rural practice are explored.

Dual Relationships: A personal account of some of the issues, dilemmas & challenges encountered in the rural practice of pyschology
Elise Wilson-Barrett (Posted April 2000)
Practice Forum
Abstract
Rural psychology has steadily been receiving increasing attention over recent years for a variety of reasons. My interest in this area stems from my own experience of living and working in a rural area. As a result of my move to the country and my early experiences of rural psychological practice I decided that I would undertake an exploration of the dilemmas and challenges that psychologists encounter in the rural practice of psychology, specifically around the issue of dual relationships as part of my Clinical masters study.

Stress and Life Events as a Function of Place of Residence
Suzanne McLaren, Lisa Hopes, Belinda Jude & Helen Poon (Posted 4 November, 2000)
Refereed Reports Members Only
Abstract
Research has identified the mental health of rural residents to be of concern. Despite fairly extensive research regarding physical and general mental health, there is a paucity of research focused specifically on stress. Contrary to reports in the United States, the paucity of Australian research has shown that the experience of perceived stress does not differ as a function of residence. The present study extended previous research by examining whether the experience of perceived stress, and positive and negative life events varies with location of residence. Six hundred and fifty five residents in Victoria, Australia, completed the List of Recent Experiences (Headey, Holmstrom, & Wearing, 1984) and the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein, 1983). The respondents were divided into four groups by their location of residence: urban (n = 146), regional city (n = 164), regional town (n = 174) and rural (n = 171). Respondents’ ages ranged from 17 to 88. Overall no rural-urban differences were demonstrated in either levels of stress or sources of stress. It may be more appropriate to examine other demographic divisions such as socioeconomic status, than making comparisons between population density divisions.