Wellbeing in adulthood

Body Image and Sexual Functioning; 5th Sexual Dysfunction Conference, Queenstown, New Zealand (2012) - Prof Marita McCabe

Sexual Health for the Millennium - Forging for the future (keynote speaker); World Association for Sexual Health Congress, Glasgow, Scotland (2011) - Prof Marita McCabe

Preventing Excessive Gestational Weight Gain in Pregnancy and Post-Birth; 25th European Health Psychology Conference, Crete, Greece (2011) - Assoc Prof Helen Skouteris

Male beauty and body image over the centuries: Contrasting ideals and sociocultural influences (invited presentation); University of West of England, Bristol, UK (2011) - Assoc Prof Lina Ricciardelli

This group, led by Associate Professor Petra Staiger, has a strongly 'applied' and solution-focussed approach to promoting the mental health and wellbeing of adults in such problem areas as:

• Substance use/abuse
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Body image
• Obesity
• Sexual risk taking
• Family violence
• Gambling

Role of Women's Body Image in Wellbeing - Does self-acceptance and positive attitudes towards themselves improve women's psychological health and relationships with others? (Ms Rachel Chung and Prof Marita McCabe)

Early Identification of Depression, Anxiety and Substance Use Problems; Implementing an early identification strategy to detect anxiety, depression and substance abuse in community health clients.

Maintaining Subjective Wellbeing; How is mood regulated and what role does it play in depression and wellbeing? (Prof Bob Cummins)

Promoting Fit Bodies; Healthy eating and physical activity among Indigenous Australian men (Assoc Prof Lina Ricciardelli, Prof David Mellor, Prof Marita McCabe and Assoc Prof Alex Mussap)

Excessive Weight Gain During Pregnancy; A randomised controlled trial to prevent maternal weight gain during pregnancy and resistance to shedding that weight following birth (Assoc Prof Helen Skouteris, Prof Marita McCabe, Prof Jeanette Milgrom, J & Prof Bridie Kent)

Prof Marita McCabe has recently shown that adult men and women worry about different aspects of their body's appearance - for women this centres on their weight, while men seem to be more concerned about muscularity. Not only that, but the level of concern was unrelated to objective measures of their body's appearance but rather, their subjective perception of their physical features. This may mean that the therapy aimed at reducing distress from body image disturbance should be tailored to meet the needs of each of the sexes.

Professor David Mellor has recently studied the metal health and drinking behaviour of rural communities and found that providing support in the form of mental health professional up-skilling improves mental health practitioner competence which, in turn, should reduce the mental and physical harm caused by alcohol consumption amongst men and women in country areas.

Assoc Prof Lina Ricciardelli has recently shown that cultural influences promote positive health and wellbeing in young indigenous men by helping control modifiable lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise, as well as through the use of support groups. This might form the basis of new health programs specifically directed towards the integration of men's physical, spiritual and mental health.