Testing a model of factors influencing athletes attitudes towards and use of performance enhancing drugs. This study aims to test the model for achieving performance enhancing drug compliance in sports developed by Donovan (CI) and Egger for the Australian Sports and Drug Agency to better inform the development of effective education, drug testing and policy programs in the lead up to the 2000 Olympics. This research project will not only provide descriptive data in their own right, but will all ....Testing a model of factors influencing athletes attitudes towards and use of performance enhancing drugs. This study aims to test the model for achieving performance enhancing drug compliance in sports developed by Donovan (CI) and Egger for the Australian Sports and Drug Agency to better inform the development of effective education, drug testing and policy programs in the lead up to the 2000 Olympics. This research project will not only provide descriptive data in their own right, but will allow the testing of different models of PED use. The model not only applies to individual behaviour, but also provides a framework for anti-doping programs. Hence results of the survey will provide direct input to anti-doping agencies' strategic planning.Read moreRead less
The weighty issue of childhood obesity: an investigation of the role of junk food advertising. Australian children have been getting continuously fatter since the 1970s. The direct health cost implications amount to $830 million annually. Most fat kids also become fat adults, suggesting a future health crisis in Australia. Junk food advertising is extremely heavy during children's television and is thought to contribute greatly to childhood obesity because children are highly susceptible to t ....The weighty issue of childhood obesity: an investigation of the role of junk food advertising. Australian children have been getting continuously fatter since the 1970s. The direct health cost implications amount to $830 million annually. Most fat kids also become fat adults, suggesting a future health crisis in Australia. Junk food advertising is extremely heavy during children's television and is thought to contribute greatly to childhood obesity because children are highly susceptible to the suggestions of ads. The present research will help policy makers decide the most appropriate regulation of food advertising to children, and has the potential to reduce the proportion of Australian kids who are fat, thereby saving billions of dollars in health costs.Read moreRead less
Development and evaluation of morality curriculum intervention for children in Year 7 to reduce uptake of alcohol and tobacco in high school use. This project builds on previous research that supports the notion that a moral stance against alcohol and tobacco use has a protective effect on uptake of these substances. This study aims to develop morality curriculum components on alcohol and tobacco use for children in Year 7, and to determine the effectiveness of these morality components on preve ....Development and evaluation of morality curriculum intervention for children in Year 7 to reduce uptake of alcohol and tobacco in high school use. This project builds on previous research that supports the notion that a moral stance against alcohol and tobacco use has a protective effect on uptake of these substances. This study aims to develop morality curriculum components on alcohol and tobacco use for children in Year 7, and to determine the effectiveness of these morality components on preventing uptake of alcohol and tobacco use in early secondary school (Years 8 and 9). School-based interventions to date have ignored morality issues in their alcohol and tobacco control interventions. The output of this study will be the development of evidence-based morality curriculum components to enhance the effect of existing school-based interventions on alcohol and tobacco use.Read moreRead less
Using advertising to negatively reconstruct memories of risky and high-risk drinking amongst Australia's youth : a new intervention strategy. The NHMRC recognises alcohol-related problems as one of Australia's most serious health problems. Binge-drinking in particular is endemic amongst the population, especially youth, with such behaviour resulting in enormous economic, social and emotional costs to our nation. This study works towards reducing binge drinking amongst youth by assisting the de ....Using advertising to negatively reconstruct memories of risky and high-risk drinking amongst Australia's youth : a new intervention strategy. The NHMRC recognises alcohol-related problems as one of Australia's most serious health problems. Binge-drinking in particular is endemic amongst the population, especially youth, with such behaviour resulting in enormous economic, social and emotional costs to our nation. This study works towards reducing binge drinking amongst youth by assisting the development of more effective counter-advertising campaigns that make young people's memories of binge-drinking less enjoyable & more unpleasant. It also assists relevant advertising regulators & key decision-makers to take action to ensure that alcohol ads do not spawn primarily attractive memories of binge-drinking experiences.Read moreRead less
Evaluation of a psychological anti-doping intervention for athletes. This project builds on previous research that developed a psychological profile of athletes susceptible to doping. The primary objective is to refine and pilot an intervention involving psycho-educational activities and exercises that can be used to reduce an athlete's susceptibility to doping. Current anti-doping programs focus on knowledge of banned substances, reporting and testing requirements, and penalties for noncomplian ....Evaluation of a psychological anti-doping intervention for athletes. This project builds on previous research that developed a psychological profile of athletes susceptible to doping. The primary objective is to refine and pilot an intervention involving psycho-educational activities and exercises that can be used to reduce an athlete's susceptibility to doping. Current anti-doping programs focus on knowledge of banned substances, reporting and testing requirements, and penalties for noncompliance. These programs ignore psychological variables that may render an athlete susceptible to doping. The successful application of the psychological anti-doping intervention is expected to provide an internationally significant contribution to doping prevention and the social science research on which it is based.Read moreRead less
CATCH: Children, Active Travel, Connectedness and Health. This project will explore built and social environmental influences on children's independent mobility, active travel and health. The research will provide necessary evidentiary support to justify government and development industry policy supportive of healthy and child-friendly environments.
To what extent does Australian food policy consider its health impact. This research will examine how public policies relating to food can be made healthier. The diet of Australians currently contributes to high rates of disease including diabetes, heart disease and the underlying issue of obesity. It will examine Australian agriculture and food processing, manufacturing and marketing and the environmental impacts of these sectors. The research will analyse policy documents and interview key peo ....To what extent does Australian food policy consider its health impact. This research will examine how public policies relating to food can be made healthier. The diet of Australians currently contributes to high rates of disease including diabetes, heart disease and the underlying issue of obesity. It will examine Australian agriculture and food processing, manufacturing and marketing and the environmental impacts of these sectors. The research will analyse policy documents and interview key people involved in each sector to determine their views on the ways in which our food supply affects our health. It will result in policy recommendations advising how the Australian food sector can be made more supportive of health and equity. Policy makers will be engaged with our findings through a Food Policy Summit. Read moreRead less
The impact of gambling advertising, promotions, and sponsorship on children. This project aims to provide new and informative qualitative data aimed at preventing and reducing children’s exposure to gambling advertising, promotion and sponsorship (GAPS) in sport. It uses a Commercial Determinants of Health Framework which investigates the impact of industry mechanisms on health outcomes. It explores this issue from three perspectives - children; sporting organisations; and policy makers. The pro ....The impact of gambling advertising, promotions, and sponsorship on children. This project aims to provide new and informative qualitative data aimed at preventing and reducing children’s exposure to gambling advertising, promotion and sponsorship (GAPS) in sport. It uses a Commercial Determinants of Health Framework which investigates the impact of industry mechanisms on health outcomes. It explores this issue from three perspectives - children; sporting organisations; and policy makers. The project will have significant policy benefits by providing important evidence about the impact of gambling industry marketing strategies within sport, the decision making processes associated with gambling policy, and identifying leverage points for improving strategies to prevent GAPS from having a negative impact on children. Read moreRead less
Do perceptions of morality of alcohol, tobacco & cannabis use influence uptake in high school? In Australia, the cost of drug use was estimated at $34.4 billion in 1998-89. Preventing or delaying alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use among adolescents is a way of reducing substance use among adults, and therefore, reduces the health, social and economic costs associated with substance use. This study will assess the protective/vulnerability effect of a range of variables on youth substance use i ....Do perceptions of morality of alcohol, tobacco & cannabis use influence uptake in high school? In Australia, the cost of drug use was estimated at $34.4 billion in 1998-89. Preventing or delaying alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use among adolescents is a way of reducing substance use among adults, and therefore, reduces the health, social and economic costs associated with substance use. This study will assess the protective/vulnerability effect of a range of variables on youth substance use including morality and legitimacy concepts. These data will guide the development of curriculum components to enhance the effect of school-based interventions with respect to substance use, and provide practical recommendations for community interventions targeted at substance use.Read moreRead less
What works best for youth smoking prevention messages? In Australia, tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease, resulting in over 19,000 deaths annually. The morbidity and mortality associated with smoking costs the community over $21 billion a year. People who start smoking when they are young are more likely to smoke heavily as adults, to become more dependent on nicotine and to be at increased risk of smoking-related illness or death. This research study will provi ....What works best for youth smoking prevention messages? In Australia, tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease, resulting in over 19,000 deaths annually. The morbidity and mortality associated with smoking costs the community over $21 billion a year. People who start smoking when they are young are more likely to smoke heavily as adults, to become more dependent on nicotine and to be at increased risk of smoking-related illness or death. This research study will provide practical recommendations for future tobacco control television advertising targeted at youth in terms of the elements featured in tobacco control advertisements that increase advertising effectiveness. Read moreRead less