Society, Culture and Health

We explore the complex relationships between societal factors, cultural beliefs and health, working towards solutions for improved health and wellbeing for all.

About

The research theme blends insights from medicine, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and public health. This research theme delves into the intricate relationships among societal factors, cultural beliefs, and health outcomes. Researchers within this theme are focused on examining how social and cultural factors (such as discrimination, identity, isolation, or disadvantage) influence health behaviours, access to healthcare, and the presence of health disparities. They also study the effects of social determinants of health—such as economic status, education, and environment—on health outcomes both for individuals and across populations.

Theme Leads: Jonathan Mond and Tegan Cruwys (Interim)

Groups

Collaborative Health, Education, Self and Society (CHESS) Lab

The CHESS lab is a multi-disciplinary research group working together to collaboratively solve real-world problems “in the wild”. We are particularly interested in applied research focusing on education, health and wellbeing.

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A group of people standing on a hill, looking care free and happy.

Health and Identity Lab

Our research examines the ways our mental and physical health are shaped by our social relationships and social connectedness.

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Projects

The impact of human memory on the validity of health data collected during foodborne disease outbreak investigations

The project aims to elucidate the scope, nature and impact of memory errors in public health contexts and tests the efficacy of evidence-based cognitive interventions to enhance memory accuracy.

People

Madeline F. Y. Han
Tehzeeb Zulfiqar (NCEPH)
Yiyun Shou (National University of Singapore)
Norbert Schwarz (University of Southern California)
Tim Sloan Gardner (ACT Health)
Craig Dalton (Hunter New England Public Health)
Russell Stafford (Queensland Health)

The Know Me Dementia Program: Knowing the person behind the diagnosis

This study aims to support people in aged care with dementia to receive person-centred care from care staff, to increase the quality of care received and subsequently their quality of life.

People

Associate Professor Katrina Anderson

Cath Bateman, ANU SMP, Rural Project Manager/Chief Investigator
Annaliese Blair, ANU SMP, Metropolitan Project Manager/Chief Investigator
Rebecca Collins, ANU SMP, Intervention Lead
Sarah MacPherson, ANU SMP, Metropolitan Project Manager
Professor Sunil Bhar, The Swinburne University of Technology, Chief Investigator
Professor Susan Kurrle, The University of Sydney, Chief Investigator
Professor Ian Cameron, The University of Sydney, Chief Investigator
Professor Victoria Traynor, University of Wollongong, Chief Investigator
Professor Tracy Comans, National Ageing Research Institute, Chief Investigator
Dr Mike Bird, Chief Investigator, Consumer Advisor
Elaine Todd, Associate Investigator/Consumer Advisor

The New Psychology of Leadership

In this research program, we examine principles and processes outlined in our book, The New Psychology of Leadership.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, MPhil, PhD students

People

Professor Michael Platow

Professor S. Alexander Haslam (University of Queensland)
Professor Stephen Reicher (St. Andrews University)

The Relations Study: Women who use drugs and their children within the health and welfare system

Building on our work in an innovative UK-based study covering the same topic, this proposal aims to build a new team of Australian researchers to develop a funding application to explore this urgent and under-researched issue.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, MPhil, PhD students

People

Associate Professor Anna Olsen

Cathy Banwell
Helen Keane

The role of miRNA in the development of aseptic loosening around hip and knee arthroplasty

This program will provide better understanding of mRNA related to aberrantly expressed miRNAs, which would be drug targets.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, MPhil, PhD students

People

Thwarted identity: The missing link between psychopathology and prejudice

Prejudice and the extremist violence that arises from it are typically explained either by the psychopathology of individual perpetrators, or by their membership of extremist groups. This project will seek to reconcile these competing explanations.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, MPhil, PhD students

People

Professor Catherine Haslam (University of Queensland)
Professor S. Alexander Haslam (University of Queensland)

News

The team of researchers and collaborators from the Know Me Dementia Project

Knowing the person behind the dementia diagnosis

The Know Me Dementia program is evaluating if a 4 minute digital story about the life of a person living with dementia can support care staff to provide better person-centred care.

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Photo of Victoria Thomas, PhD Scholar by Dave Fanner/ANU

Injuries of the moral kind

Making tough decisions that conflict with your values can result in what psychologists call 'moral injuries'. ANU experts are working to understand this better.

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