Journal Articles
Trust Difficulty in Intimate Relationships: Understanding the Impact of Insecure Attachment and Flirting Styles
Trust is essential to healthy intimate relationships, yet many individuals struggle to establish and maintain it. Guided by attachment theory, this study examined whether insecure attachment styles (anxious and avoidant) predict trust difficulty, and whether these associations are mediated by flirting styles (traditional and polite). Gender was explored as a potential moderator. A secondary analysis was conducted on data from 1,293 adults who completed a cross-sectional online survey measuring attachment, flirting styles, and trust difficulty. Regression, mediation, and moderated mediation analyses were performed using PROCESS macro. Both attachment styles positively predicted trust difficulty, respectively. Anxious attachment was associated with greater use of traditional flirting, and avoidant attachment with polite flirting. These flirting styles, in turn, predicted increased trust difficulty, indicating partial mediation. Gender moderated only the traditional flirting pathway, with a stronger effect for men. Findings suggest that attachment insecurity may contribute to trust difficulty through distinct early-stage communication behaviours that, while intended to initiate intimacy, may unintentionally undermine it. These insights underscore the importance of targeting maladaptive communication, particularly during the early stages of relational development, in clinical interventions.
Body mapping as a therapeutic activity in psychotherapy practice: A scoping review
Body mapping has gained popularity as a research method across diverse disciplines and is frequently reported to offer therapeutic benefits. However, a synthesis of studies specifically using body mapping as a therapeutic activity has not yet been undertaken. As a result, there remains limited understanding of how body mapping is applied therapeutically and in what contexts. This scoping review aimed to synthesise the available literature on body mapping as a therapeutic activity, identifying the clinical populations involved, how body mapping was used, and clients’/participants’ reported experiences and outcomes. Medline, Scopus, PsycInfo, Google Scholar, and citations were systematically searched to identify studies that used body mapping as a therapeutic activity. Fifteen studies were included that explicitly reported on the use of body mapping as a therapeutic activity, where eight were qualitative exploratory studies and seven were case studies. Body mapping was used in both one-to-one and group contexts. The majority of studies used body mapping in the context of trauma therapy or as a tool for fostering self-empowerment and self-compassion. Body mapping shows strong potential as a therapeutic activity, offering a creative and embodied pathway to emotional insight, empowerment, and client engagement across diverse clinical settings. While the existing literature affirms its promise, much of the work remains small in scale and exploratory in nature. Examining how body mapping as a therapeutic activity is therefore important to understand how it has been applied therapeutically, the clinical populations it has engaged, clients’ experiences and acceptability of body mapping, and to identify limitations and gaps to inform future practice and research.
Online Prosocial Behaviors: A Scoping Review of Definitions, Actions, and Motivators
People are fundamentally social creatures, seeking connectedness driven by a need to belong. Belonging is a subjective feeling that helps us recognize our connection to people, social groups, culture, places, and experiences. In turn, belongingness can support mental well-being through positive interpersonal interactions and encouragement in both face-to-face and online environments. Advancements in technologies and social media platforms have created spaces for people to connect virtually; however, little is known about users’ online prosocial behaviors. Hence, this scoping review aimed to identify (a) how online prosocial behavior is defined; (b) explore the types of online prosocial behavior people are engaging in; and (c) explore what motivates people to engage in online prosocial behavior. Utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute’s nine-step framework methodology, a review of the Scopus and PubMed databases was undertaken. From 755 retrieved articles, 43 were included. Various online prosocial behavioral definitions were identified, related to an individual’s attitudes, values, and beliefs, underpinned by the motives driving behavioral intent and action. Two categories of online prosocial behavior were identified: (1) intrinsic with two subcategories: (1.1) altruism and (1.2) reciprocity; and (2) extrinsic with one subcategory of (2.1) social connectedness. Two categories of motivators of online prosocial behavior were identified: (1) intrinsic with subcategories of (1.1) altruism, (1.2) empathy, (1.3) self-efficacy, (1.4) reciprocity, and (1.5) safety and trust; and (2) extrinsic with subcategories of (2.1) ease of use/practicality, (2.2) reputation, (2.3) personal gain, and (2.4) social connectedness.
The Theory of Relationship Sabotage: A Preliminary Evaluation of Conceptual Models Expanding on Attachment and Goal-Orientation Framework
Introduction: The current study proposed the best model to explain relationship sabotage by comparing three competing conceptual models, using attachment and goal-orientation frameworks. Up until now, the literature had not comprehensively defined and modelled which defensive strategies commonly lead to relationship sabotage. Methods: A sample of 436 participants was recruited for the current study. Analyses were conducted using structural equation modelling over two analytical steps. First, a series of confirmatory analyses were conducted to test how the predicted latent variables fit in one-congeneric models. Secondly, three full models were tested. Results: Results showed the best model for relationship sabotage is non-recursive, and it does involve reciprocal effects between insecure attachment styles, relationship factors (i.e., perceived relationship quality and perceived relationship stress), and defensive strategies commonly observed in relationship sabotage (i.e., defensiveness, trust difficulty, and lack of relationship skills). Conclusions: The best model for relationship sabotage is not linear. While insecure attachment can lead to relationship sabotage, sabotaging relationships can reinforce existing insecure attachment styles and/or establish new vulnerable styles. Further, defensive strategies can influence how people perceive quality and stress in their relationship, which means that individuals’ own attitudes and behaviours might be preventing them from starting and maintaining fulfilling intimate relationships.
The relationship sabotage scale: An evaluation of factor analyses and constructive validity
Some individuals are no longer entering romantic relationships, others move through relationships too quickly searching for “the one” and making quick assessments of their romantic partners, while others stay in their relationships but “check out” or do not work on their issues. These are conclusions from two studies: (1) an interview with psychologists who specialise in relationship therapy, and (2) an analysis of individuals’ lived experiences of relationships. The concept of relationship sabotage can explain these phenomena. However, presently, there is no instrument to conceptualise and empirically measure how people continue to employ self-defeating attitudes and behaviors in (and out) of relationships to impede success, or withdraw effort, and justify failure.
Why Do we Sabotage Love? A Thematic Analysis of Lived Experiences of Relationship Breakdown and Maintenance
Although many individuals are searching for love, failure can often be the expected outcome. A previous study investigated self-sabotage in romantic relationships and explored how psychologists in practice understand this phenomenon. A repertoire of self-sabotaging behaviors was identified by practitioners, with possible reasons as to why this occurs. The present study was the first to empirically explore self-sabotage in romantic relationships by gathering qualitative evidence from a diverse sample of 696 individuals. Participants’ lived experiences detailed motivations and strategies to self-sabotage romantic engagements. However, participants’ experiences have also helped inform essential steps toward breaking the cycle of self-sabotage.
The impact of localised general practice training on Queensland’s rural and remote general practice workforce
The diverse rural medical education initiatives that have been developed in Australia to address the medical workforce maldistribution have been less successful in many smaller and remote communities. This study explored the factors that attract and retain GP registrars and supervisors and the impact that localised training (i.e., rural and remote workplace-based training and support) has on both GP registrars and supervisors, and the GP workforce in rural and remote underserved areas.
Defining Romantic Self-Sabotage: A Thematic Analysis of Interviews With Practising Psychologists
The term ‘self-sabotage’ is not well defined in the current literature. Self-sabotage is generally explained as a synonym of self-handicapping, which does not fully encompass intrinsic behaviours found in romantic relationships. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the theme of self-sabotage as viewed by practising psychologists. A series of 15 semistructured interviews with psychologists specialising in romantic relationships around Australia identified the main issues contributing to self-sabotage in romantic relationships and the reason why it might happen. Future studies will need to be conducted to develop a scale to empirically test self-sabotage in romantic relationships.
Building general practice training capacity in rural and remote Australia with underserved primary care services: a qualitative investigation
Australians living in rural and remote areas have access to considerably fewer doctors compared with populations in major cities. Despite plentiful, descriptive data about what attracts and retains doctors to rural practice, more evidence is needed which informs actions to address these issues, particularly in remote areas. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing General Practitioners (GPs), primary care doctors, and those training to become GPs (registrars) to work and train in remote underserved towns to inform the building of primary care training capacity in areas needing more primary care services (and GP training opportunities) to support their population’s health needs.
Mental health diagnoses and relationship breakdown: Which is the chicken and which the egg?
Clients in therapy are typically diagnosed with mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression. However, recent statistics show that romantic relationship difficulties are one of the most common reasons for people to seek counselling in the first place. A series of 15 semi-structured interviews with psychologists around Australia revealed that romantic relationship difficulties are under-recognised in the counselling context and sometimes diagnosed and treated as anxiety or depression. Consequently, there is a major gap in the literature regarding the effect of romantic relationship breakdown on the mental health of individuals. Further, there are few evidence-based interventions for individual and couples experiencing romantic relationship difficulties. Interviews also revealed that most psychologists prefer to use a non-evidenced-based approach in relationship counselling. Therefore, it is important that psychologists explore the core issues the client is experiencing that trigger presentation for therapy prior to diagnosis.
Comparing the Effect of Stigma on the Recognition of Suicide Risk in Others between Australia and Brazil
Few studies have considered how suicide is perceived and impacted by stigma across cultures. A sample of 478 participants from Australia and Brazil was used to investigate cross-cultural perceptions of suicide and the impact of stigma on the recognition of suicide risk in others. The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide framed a mixed method within and between groups design. English and Portuguese versions of an online survey were developed to assess perception of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, acquired capability for suicide, suicide stigma, and demographic characteristics. A significant model was identified predicting recognition of suicide risk in Australia and Brazil. However, not all constructs contributed uniquely. Suicide stigma was found to blind perception of suicide risk in others across cultures. Theoretical implications and future directions for research are outlined.
