Research

The Culture, Trauma and Mental Health Group is undertaking cutting-edge translational research exploring the influence of culture on current understandings and treatment of trauma and mental health. For decades, psychology has predominantly focused on Western understandings of mental health. Thus, current understandings and treatment approaches prioritise Western cultural values, beliefs, and norms. Tailoring mental health interventions for culturally and linguistically diverse communities has been found to significantly improve treatment outcomes. However, to date, there is very little evidence to assist clinicians in tailoring treatments. The research conducted by members in this group attempts to address this concerning gap in the research. We work alongside communities to ensure our research is meaningful and has real world impact.

Areas of research/projects:

MEmory Training for Recovery- Adolescent (METRA): A brief intervention targeting psychological distress in adolescent refugees

This program of research is evaluating the efficacy, feasibility, appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of Memory Training for Recovery-Adolescent (METRA). METRA is an innovative intervention targeting psychological distress in adolescent Afghan refugees based in Tehran and Kabul. METRA is a low-intensity, low-cost, lay-delivered group intervention that can reduce symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression where impaired memory is associated with a variety of outcomes linked to recovery from PTSD and depression. This research is funded by Elrha R2HC grant.

Culture and Mental Health

Research investigating cultural differences in the emotion and cognitive substrates (e.g., emotion, self, autobiographical memory, cognitive appraisals, social support) underpinning mental health, with a particular focus on PTSD and depression. This includes research studies (laboratory, qualitative, cross-sectional, longitudinal) conducted in Australia. It also includes a series of cross-country studies with Iran, Malaysia, Iraq and China.

Currently members of our lab are working on an NHMRC-funded project, investigating cultural differences in post-trauma appraisals and emotion regulation between European Australians and Chinese individuals. If you are interested in participating in our research, please do not hesitate to get in touch via Larissa.qiu@monash.edu.

Indigenous Social and Emotional Wellbeing

This research area includes several studies investigating how a series of factors, including lateral violence, cultural identity, support groups, and caring for Country, influence the social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. This research is led by Indigenous researchers and is in partnership with the Gukwonderuk Unit and Indigenous Elders and community members.

Well-being of Refugees

This research area focuses on examining factors (e.g., sleep, moral injury, appraisals, resilience, discrimination) associated with the wellbeing of refugees residing in Australia. It involves co-design with refugee communities and has an across the lifespan focus.

False Remembering and PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are characterised by distortions and deficits in autobiographical memory. While substantial research has investigated memory disruptions in these disorders, less research has focused on false memory (i.e., remembering things differently to the way in which they occurred) in PTSD and depression. There are two types of false memories; spontaneous false memories, which can occur without any external pressure, and suggestion-induced false memories, which are formed by suggestive pressure. Accumulating research has focused on spontaneous false memories in PTSD and depression. This research has demonstrated that PTSD and depression are associated with increased spontaneous false remembering when the information is emotional and related to the disorder. However, to date, research has not focused on suggestion-induced false memories in these disorders. The aim of the proposed research is examining suggestion-induced false memories in PTSD and depression.