A digital intervention to support childhood cognition after the COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot trial.

Difficulties in executive functioning (EF) can result in impulsivity, forgetfulness, and inattention. Children living in remote/regional communities are particularly at risk of impairment in these cognitive skills due to reduced educational engagement and poorer access to interventions. This vulnerability has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and strategies are needed to mitigate long-term negative impacts on EF. Here we propose a pilot trial investigating the benefits, feasibility, and acceptability of a school-based EF intervention for primary school students (6-8 years) living in regional, developmentally vulnerable, and socio-economically disadvantaged communities. Students were randomised to a digital intervention or teaching as usual, for 7 weeks. Children completed measures of EF and parents/educators completed ratings of everyday EF and social/emotional wellbeing at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Change in EFs (primary outcome), everyday EF, and social/emotional wellbeing (secondary outcomes) from pre- to post-intervention and pre-intervention to 3-month follow-up were examined. Feasibility and acceptability of the intervention was assessed through educator feedback and intervention adherence.Protocol Registration: The stage 1 protocol for this Registered Report was accepted in principle on 20 April 2023. The protocol, as accepted by the journal, can be found at: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/WT3S2 . The approved Stage 1 protocol is available here: https://osf.io/kzfwn .

Ngarratja Kulpaana: Talking together about the impacts of lateral violence on aboriginal social and emotional well-being and identity.

OBJECTIVE: Lateral violence occurs when oppressed group members take out their anger and frustrations, due to their experiences of oppression, on members of their own group. It is common among Indigenous people, including Aboriginal Australians. Limited literature exists on the holistic impacts of lateral violence on Aboriginal Australians. This study investigated the impacts of lateral violence on Aboriginal social and emotional well-being (SEWB) and identity. METHOD: Seventeen Aboriginal knowledge-holders (53% males, 47% females) participated in either a yarning circle or individual yarn. Knowledge-holders were aged from 18 to 65 years. Yarns were analyzed using thematic analysis and yarn summaries. RESULTS: Themes identified included: (a) influences of lateral violence on SEWB (subthemes: mind and emotions, body, family and kinship, community, culture, Country, and spirit); (b) lateral violence and identity (subthemes: "genuine" Aboriginal and confidence in identity); and (c) interconnected influences of lateral violence on identity and SEWB. The influences of lateral violence were found to encompass all domains of SEWB. Lateral violence also impacts Aboriginal identity and creates notions of an (in)authentic Aboriginal person, which can further undermine Aboriginality and SEWB. CONCLUSION: As a population who already experience poor SEWB, the additional negative consequences of lateral violence further deteriorate the SEWB of Aboriginal Australians. Lateral violence must be addressed urgently. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

"Connection to Culture Is Like a Massive Lifeline": Yarning With Aboriginal Young People About Culture and Social and Emotional Wellbeing.

Culture is an important social and emotional wellbeing factor for Aboriginal peoples in Australia, particularly regarding recovery from colonization. However, little is understood about how culture and wellbeing interact for young urban Aboriginal people. This study used Yarning methods to explore experiences and perceptions of culture and wellbeing for young urban Aboriginal people in Narrm, Australia. Findings indicate that culture is experienced as connection, and that perceived connection or disconnection has an essential influence on the wellbeing of young people. Through sharing young people stories, a range of factors, including colonization, relationships, cultural knowledge, community support, and agency, were identified as affecting perceptions of connectedness, and therefore on wellbeing. Youth were able to develop strategies to increase connection and provided illuminating advice and suggestions for improving connection for future generations. This study thus contributes to efforts to improved understanding of Aboriginal perspectives about social and emotional wellbeing and culture.

Postmigration stress and sleep disturbances mediate the relationship between trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms among Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Sleep disturbance is common in those who experience trauma. In a sample of nontreatment-seeking refugees, we examined the associations between trauma exposure, postmigration stress, sleep symptoms, and posttraumatic psychological symptoms. METHODS: Syrian and Iraqi refugees (n = 86; 51% female; mean age = 45 years) residing in Australia were recruited from the local community. Cross-sectional descriptive design, multinominal regression analyses, and mediation analyses were used. Participants completed measures in Arabic assessing premigration trauma exposure, postmigration stress, sleep symptoms, and mental health. They also completed 7 days of sleep diaries and actigraphy. RESULTS: We identified 34.9% of the participants as normal sleepers, 32.6% as probably having insomnia, and 32.6% as likely having insomnia. Variables associated with greater sleep disturbance (McFadden's R² = 0.57) included greater trauma exposure, increased time of resettlement, greater postmigration stress, and greater presleep arousal. The association of premigration trauma exposure to current posttraumatic symptoms was mediated sequentially by postmigration stress and sleep symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the extent of sleep disturbance in refugees. We found evidence for an indirect pathway between trauma exposure and posttraumatic symptoms through premigration stress and sleep (particularly presleep arousal). In the current global refugee crisis, improving the existing system of care in countries experiencing increased migration is critical. Because sleep disturbance is a modifiable condition associated with mental health, targeting sleep could be an important component of psychological interventions for refugees.