Latest news with #SchoolofPsychology
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Feeling Hard Done By? New Study Looks At The Effects
Press Release – University of Auckland Drawing from data collected over nine years as part of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (NZAVS), researchers examined responses from more than 50,000 New Zealanders to explore how perceptions of economic inequality affected emotional wellbeing … Are you feeling hard done by – frustrated at earning less than other people? In a recently published study, people feeling that way tended to develop a diminished sense of belonging and then to report poorer physical health. Drawing from data collected over nine years as part of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (NZAVS), researchers examined responses from more than 50,000 New Zealanders to explore how perceptions of economic inequality affected emotional wellbeing and health. 'Our study suggests that if you are worse off financially compared to others, across time this is linked to reduced feelings of belonging, which may in turn negatively contribute to your physical health,' says Dr Brian Don, lead author of the study published in Affective Science. 'As a society, this shines a light on the toll that inequality can take.' Income inequality has been rising across the world and in New Zealand, says Don, a lecturer in the School of Psychology at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. In the study, people rated their levels of agreement with statements such as ' I'm frustrated by what I earn relative to other people in New Zealand ' and '(I) Know that people in my life accept and value me' and graded their health on a scale from poor to excellent. Participants who felt economically deprived one year were more likely to report lower levels of belonging the subsequent year, which predicted poorer physical health in the year following that. While financial hardship can limit participation in society, Don believes the decline in belonging may stem more from psychological mechanisms than direct economic constraints. How can these effects be avoided? At the societal level, Don says policies that reduce the rising pattern of economic inequality will help to reduce individual feelings of unfairness. There are things individuals can do, too. 'Comparison truly is the thief of joy,' says Don. 'At the individual level, avoiding social media could be a good start to avoid getting stuck in a rut of negative comparisons.' A caveat: the study shows associations, not causality. Besides a reduced sense of belonging, feeling worse off financially was linked with declines in gratitude and sense of meaning in life. Looking ahead, Don aims to explore whether objective measures of inequality, such as the Gini coefficient, influence emotional experiences and physiological responses in everyday life. The co-authors of the paper were Dr Kieren Lilly, Professor Chris Sibley, Professor Nickola Overall and Associate Professor Danny Osborne.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Feeling Hard Done By? New Study Looks At The Effects
Press Release – University of Auckland Drawing from data collected over nine years as part of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (NZAVS), researchers examined responses from more than 50,000 New Zealanders to explore how perceptions of economic inequality affected emotional wellbeing … Are you feeling hard done by – frustrated at earning less than other people? In a recently published study, people feeling that way tended to develop a diminished sense of belonging and then to report poorer physical health. Drawing from data collected over nine years as part of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (NZAVS), researchers examined responses from more than 50,000 New Zealanders to explore how perceptions of economic inequality affected emotional wellbeing and health. 'Our study suggests that if you are worse off financially compared to others, across time this is linked to reduced feelings of belonging, which may in turn negatively contribute to your physical health,' says Dr Brian Don, lead author of the study published in Affective Science. 'As a society, this shines a light on the toll that inequality can take.' Income inequality has been rising across the world and in New Zealand, says Don, a lecturer in the School of Psychology at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. In the study, people rated their levels of agreement with statements such as ' I'm frustrated by what I earn relative to other people in New Zealand ' and '(I) Know that people in my life accept and value me' and graded their health on a scale from poor to excellent. Participants who felt economically deprived one year were more likely to report lower levels of belonging the subsequent year, which predicted poorer physical health in the year following that. While financial hardship can limit participation in society, Don believes the decline in belonging may stem more from psychological mechanisms than direct economic constraints. How can these effects be avoided? At the societal level, Don says policies that reduce the rising pattern of economic inequality will help to reduce individual feelings of unfairness. There are things individuals can do, too. 'Comparison truly is the thief of joy,' says Don. 'At the individual level, avoiding social media could be a good start to avoid getting stuck in a rut of negative comparisons.' A caveat: the study shows associations, not causality. Besides a reduced sense of belonging, feeling worse off financially was linked with declines in gratitude and sense of meaning in life. Looking ahead, Don aims to explore whether objective measures of inequality, such as the Gini coefficient, influence emotional experiences and physiological responses in everyday life. The co-authors of the paper were Dr Kieren Lilly, Professor Chris Sibley, Professor Nickola Overall and Associate Professor Danny Osborne.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Feeling Hard Done By? New Study Looks At The Effects
Are you feeling hard done by – frustrated at earning less than other people? In a recently published study, people feeling that way tended to develop a diminished sense of belonging and then to report poorer physical health. Drawing from data collected over nine years as part of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (NZAVS), researchers examined responses from more than 50,000 New Zealanders to explore how perceptions of economic inequality affected emotional wellbeing and health. 'Our study suggests that if you are worse off financially compared to others, across time this is linked to reduced feelings of belonging, which may in turn negatively contribute to your physical health,' says Dr Brian Don, lead author of the study published in Affective Science. 'As a society, this shines a light on the toll that inequality can take.' Income inequality has been rising across the world and in New Zealand, says Don, a lecturer in the School of Psychology at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. In the study, people rated their levels of agreement with statements such as ' I'm frustrated by what I earn relative to other people in New Zealand ' and '(I) Know that people in my life accept and value me' and graded their health on a scale from poor to excellent. Participants who felt economically deprived one year were more likely to report lower levels of belonging the subsequent year, which predicted poorer physical health in the year following that. While financial hardship can limit participation in society, Don believes the decline in belonging may stem more from psychological mechanisms than direct economic constraints. How can these effects be avoided? At the societal level, Don says policies that reduce the rising pattern of economic inequality will help to reduce individual feelings of unfairness. There are things individuals can do, too. 'Comparison truly is the thief of joy,' says Don. 'At the individual level, avoiding social media could be a good start to avoid getting stuck in a rut of negative comparisons.' A caveat: the study shows associations, not causality. Besides a reduced sense of belonging, feeling worse off financially was linked with declines in gratitude and sense of meaning in life. Looking ahead, Don aims to explore whether objective measures of inequality, such as the Gini coefficient, influence emotional experiences and physiological responses in everyday life. The co-authors of the paper were Dr Kieren Lilly, Professor Chris Sibley, Professor Nickola Overall and Associate Professor Danny Osborne.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
New Deck Of Cards Designed To Deal Out A Greener Future
Press Release – University of Auckland The colourful cards offer prompts for deep discussion, creativity and actions to help turn around the environmental crisis, says Associate Professor Sally Birdsall from the Universitys Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society Ng Ara … A new pack of cards brings a playful element to a serious topic – how to create a more sustainable world. Called 'A Curriculum for Sustainability Advocates', the cards were designed by experts from the University of Auckland and local environmental organisations. The colourful cards offer prompts for deep discussion, creativity and actions to help turn around the environmental crisis, says Associate Professor Sally Birdsall from the University's Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society – Ngā Ara Whetū. Birdsall and head of the School of Psychology Professor Niki Harré have worked on bringing the cards to life over the past year, so they can be used in school classrooms, universities and the wider community. 'Each card gives ideas for how people can develop their understanding of environmental sustainability, enact it in their life, and advocate for sustainability by sharing their ideas with others. 'We want to promote the teaching of sustainability, because otherwise we will face increasing threats from climate change and biodiversity loss,' says Birdsall. Three workshops were held to co-design the cards, with 14 participants using their personal experiences of becoming an environmental advocate to inform the development of the pack. 'We asked the group to consider what are the essential teaching and learning experiences that shape a sustainability advocate. 'We came up with 18 cards, but we want ideas from a greater range of people to expand our pack,' says Birdsall. Themes for the cards include nature, knowledge, imagination, relationships, values, and skills. Blank cards are included in each set, so people can come up with their own topics and activities to explore. About 20 packs of cards have been created so far and the cards will soon be available to download online. Birdsall, whose work involves teaching science education to new teachers, would love to see a national curriculum for climate change and sustainability introduced to every primary and secondary school. 'Climate change has implications for education, because we have to help young people cope with the uncertainty it causes and help them with strategies, so they don't feel so helpless in the face of all these environmental problems. 'It's so doomy and gloomy, but feeling that you can do something to create change can give people more hope for the future.' Currently schools have no requirement to teach sustainability education, instead focusing on preparing students to enter the workforce and contribute to the economy, says Birdsall. 'But we can't have an economy if we don't have a flourishing environment. 'As the card on te ao Māori says, people are part of the environment, not above it and not able to do whatever they want with it.' Adults also need to step up their sustainability game, she says. 'We can't leave it all up to youth to make the changes. 'There are lots of community projects people of any age can get involved with.' The University granted $60,000 for the Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable World Project, which includes a series of videos showing local and international experts sharing their insights and inspiration for teaching sustainability. The cards will be launched at a seminar on 16 May at 1pm at the University of Auckland level 3 conference centre, room 423-340, 42 Symonds St. Everyone is welcome to attend – register by emailing
