Bachelor with Honours Dissertations - open access

Permanent link for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10292/14987

The "Bachelor with Honours Dissertations - open access" collection contains digital copies of AUT University B(Hons) dissertations approved for open access. B(Hons) dissertations are required to be open access from April 2022. Past students may contact the Tuwhera team (tuwhera.opentheses@aut.ac.nz) if they wish to make their B(Hons) open access.

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The Moderating Effect of Parenting on the Relationship Between COVID -19 Prenatal Maternal Stress and Child Internalising Behaviours: The Birth in the Time of COVID (BITTOC) Study
(Auckland University of Technology, 2023) Sinclair, Rebecca
The in utero and early post-natal environment has long-lasting implications for development. This is demonstrated by the multitude of poorer child outcomes associated with prenatal maternal stress (PNMS), such as child internalising behaviours. Positive parenting behaviours have been shown to ameliorate such associations. Conversely, negative parenting behaviours can lead to poorer child outcomes. No study has yet examined the relationship between PNMS and child internalising behaviours, nor the influence of parenting on this relationship, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines whether supportive and unsupportive parenting behaviours attenuate the relationship between PNMS and child internalising behaviours, in a cohort of Australian women pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 1219). Recruitment began on 20 March 2020, with eligible participants required to be English-speaking, be over 18 years in age, be pregnant with a singleton, have access to the internet, and be living in Australia. At recruitment, women reported on their COVID pandemic-related PNMS (objective hardship, cognitive appraisal, subjective distress), maternal age at time of birth, child sex, level of maternal education, relationship status, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status, the state in which they lived, and language spoken at home. Parenting behaviour, maternal mood and child internalising behaviours were reported by mothers at 24 months post-partum. Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted to examine the association between PNMS and child internalising behaviours as well as the moderating effects of parenting. Results showed that COVID-19 pandemic-related PNMS did not predict child internalising behaviours. This study found maternal mood at 24 months was related to concurrent child internalising behaviours, above and beyond COVID-19 pandemic-related PNMS. Moreover, supportive parenting did not moderate the association between PNMS and child internalising behaviours. Unsupportive parenting did not moderate the relationship between maternal objective hardship or maternal subjective distress and child internalising behaviours at 24 months. There was a significant interaction between maternal cognitive appraisal and unsupportive parenting in relation to child internalizing behaviours at 24 months. Less unsupportive parenting was, however, associated with fewer child internalising behaviours amongst children whose mothers negatively appraised the COVID-19. When mothers had neutral or positive appraisals of the COVID-19 pandemic, unsupportive parenting was not related to child internalising behaviours. Findings indicate that maternal concurrent mood, but not exposure to pandemic-related PNMS is directly related to child internalising behaviours at 24 months of age. Moreover, less unsupportive parenting was associated with fewer child internalising behaviours when mothers perceived their coping ability to be insufficient to overcome the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings support the vantage sensitivity hypothesis, such that exposure to a negative cognitive appraisal may render children more susceptible to a positive parenting environment. These children subsequently display fewer problem behaviours in the face of less negative, more positive parenting.
The Expression of the Bicultural Relationship in Aotearoa New Zealand School Curricula
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Simanu, Harley
This study aimed to investigate how the relationship between Māori and non-Māori, as established by Te Tiriti o Waitangi, is expressed within three contemporary curriculum policy documents: the New Zealand Curriculum (2007), the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum (2022), and Te Mātaiaho (2023). Document analysis was employed to examine the three curricula, focusing on who is considered to be part of the relationship, the language and terminology relating to the relationship, and how the relationship itself is expressed. The main finding of the research is that while each document reflects a commitment to biculturalism, the bicultural relationship is expressed in slightly different ways. This lack of consistency may contribute to the ongoing challenge educators face in understanding and enacting biculturalism in educational settings. Ultimately, this research reaffirms the need for ongoing reflection, dialogue, and collaboration to ensure that the curriculum not only reflects Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitments in theory but also supports their realisation in practice.
Home-Insemination: The Motivations and Experiences of Same-sex Couples Who Use Known Sperm Donors and Self-insemination Methods to Conceive in Aotearoa New Zealand
(Auckland University of Technology, 2024) Fyfe, Angela
This qualitative study explored the motivations and experiences of same-sex couples who used a known donor and self-insemination to conceive outside of the regulated fertility framework in Aotearoa New Zealand (hereafter Aotearoa). This research aimed to gain an understanding of what the psychosocial and cultural considerations and experiences are for this diverse form of family building. Specifically, what influences decision-making, how donors were chosen and approached, how relationships were constructed, the challenges faced, and the resources and support sought and available. Participants (n =11) were parents of children conceived since the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology [HART] Act (2004) was introduced, meaning, they were not subject to mandatory medical, ethical, or legal procedures implicit within the current clinical assisted fertility setting. Data was collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted with parents. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and a thematic analysis was applied. The main findings include that financial considerations and the desire for agency and non-medicalised methods of family building were key motivations for pursuing home insemination. The preference for a relational process, along with the desire for ongoing personal connections and the building of extended family networks, motivated the use of known donors. The process of donor recruitment was often challenging, and the practicalities of home insemination could be difficult, information was often unavailable or uninformed, and support was commonly lacking or inaccessible. Limitations of this study include potential selection bias and small sample size that may not be representative of the diversity within the target population. Research findings may contribute towards identifying the support required to meet the needs of all stakeholders involved in home insemination with known donors i.e., parents, donors, children, and their families. This may include contributing knowledge towards helping equip counsellors and others to effectively support families built in diverse ways.
Digital Competencies for Human Resource Management Professionals in a Digital Transformational Era: A Systematic Literature Review
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Gopicherran, Nikiel
The function of Human Resource Management (HRM) within a business is to attract, retain and develop talent and manage people engagement. Over time the role of HRM has also shifted from a talent management role to a strategic business partner role thus broadening the scope of HRM. In the 21st century, the rise in digitalisation has meant that HRM professionals have had to acquire digital competencies to effectively perform their roles as HRM functions have shifted to online platforms. Research to understand the digital skills, knowledge and ability HRM professionals need in the 21st century have been conducted in recent years. Despite this research there is still a gap in the delivery of HRM graduates with appropriate digital competencies. The lack of digital skills has been linked to the slow adoption of digital HRM technology by HRM practitioners. In light of this, this systematic review examines both academic literature and the HRM framework perspectives to identify the digital competencies essential for HRM professionals today. The research question proposed is: What digital competencies are identified as important for HRM professionals according to the academic and practice literature? The introduction section of this dissertation describes the current context of HRM, outlines the research question and the contribution to academic literature. A systematic literature review technique was used to integrate the academic literature and the HRM competency frameworks on digital competencies between 2019-2024. In addition, competency frameworks from four HRM professional institutions- New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom are included in this study. Following the search and selection process, 18 academic articles were located. The articles provide insight regarding the competencies, skills, knowledge, and abilities and digital competencies of each HRM function. A summary of the academic articles and the HRM institutions frameworks is provided, focussing on key parameters such as the digital competencies knowledge, abilities and skills and the HR function/s. An integration of the information from the academic journal articles and the HRM frameworks is presented to provide a comprehensive understanding of the HR functions: recruitment and selection, learning and development, talent and performance management and HRM analytics with a summary of the digital competencies for each function. A critical review of the academic literature and HRM frameworks outlining the differences and similarities is provided. Future research directions are discussed along with practical recommendations and strategic implications for HRM. Finally, recommendations for HR practitioners, HRM training providers, and professional HRM institutions are provided.
Does Working-From-Home Work? A Multidimensional Investigation of the Effect of Workspace Environment on Self-Control
(Auckland University of Technology, 2024) Austin, Tess
This research report aimed to investigate whether workspace environment, specifically working-from-home versus working at a company-owned premises, affects the self-control of employees. Firstly, self-control has been measured in many ways in past research. However, by examining the literature it was discovered that utilising both state and actual measures of self-control would provide a comprehensive measurement of self-controlled behaviour in employees. Previous research has indicated contrasting evidence to the affect workspace environment may have on self-control. Some research states that increased privacy and control in a WFH environment may increase self-control. Other research, such as the process and ego-depletion models of self-control, provide evidence which indicates that increased visual distractions in a WFH environment will decrease self-control in employees. The present study used response inhibition, behavioural and trait measurements of self-control in a sample of employees who worked in different spaces. Analysis did not find a difference in self-control on any measure between different workspaces. This finding may be due to mediating factors, such as privacy, control and perceived isolation which were not controlled for in the present study. However, some interesting correlational findings exist. Correlations existed between response inhibition and behavioural measures of self-control; however, the trait measure did not correlate and provided a low reliability score. This may indicate that this measure should be modified in future uses. Correlations were also discovered for self-control measures and sleep, age and motivation. This adds evidence to past research which indicates these factors influence performance on self-control tasks. Overall, more research is needed to determine the effect of workspace environment on employee's self-control.
Social Media Fundraising: How Message Framing and Typeface Design Affect Donation Intentions
(Auckland University of Technology, 2024) Zhou, Jingwei
With the shift from offline to online donation methods and the rapid growth of social media users, social media platforms have become essential tools for Nonprofit organisations (NPOs) to attract potential donors and raise funds. However, fundraising on social media is not always successful, and NPOs have yet to fully leverage the advantages of these platforms. The effectiveness of fundraising messages on social media platforms remains a subject of ongoing research, particularly concerning the interaction between textual and visual elements. Therefore, this study investigates message framing (gain-framed and loss-framed) and its interaction with typeface design (typewritten and handwritten) in influencing donation intentions in social media fundraising campaigns, with a specific focus on the mediating role of perceived credibility. This study employed a quantitative experimental design. Specifically, a 2 (gain-framed vs. loss-framed message) × 2 (handwritten vs. typewritten typeface) between-subjects experiment was conducted through an online survey, involving 275 participants recruited via CloudResearch’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) Toolkit. The collected data was analysed using IBM SPSS statistical software. The results of the study reveal several noteworthy findings. First, loss-framed messages were found to elicit higher donation intentions compared to gain-framed messages. Second, the interaction between message framing and typeface design had a significant impact on donation intentions. Specifically, for loss-framed messages, typewritten typefaces led to higher donation intentions compared to handwritten typefaces. In contrast, under gain-framed messages, there was no significant difference between handwritten and typewritten typefaces in enhancing donation intentions. Finally, results from the moderated mediation analysis indicated that perceived credibility is the underlying psychological mechanism driving this interaction effect. The findings of this study have significant theoretical and practical implications. The study provides new evidence for the effects of message framing in the context of social media fundraising. Moreover, by exploring the interaction between typeface design and message framing on donation intentions, it extends the visual design, particularly typeface design, into the domains of persuasion research and social media fundraising. Identifying perceived credibility as a mediating factor adds a new dimension to social media fundraising research. Practically, the results provide novel insights for NPOs and social media marketers aiming to optimise their fundraising strategies. By strategically using loss-framed messages and carefully selecting typeface design, organisations can increase the credibility and effectiveness of their fundraising messages, leading to increased donation intentions and fundraising success.
Behavioural Biometrics: A Novel Approach to User Authentication in Information Systems Security
(Auckland University of Technology, 2024) Mulligan, Joshua
As information technology (IT) evolves, user authentication has shifted towards innovative approaches, with behavioural biometrics (BB) emerging as a leading contender. However, there are no studies that investigate the factors that shape user acceptance and trust in the biometric authentication systems. This dissertation employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to investigate these focusing on behavioural biometrics. Past studies indicate that there is immense potential for BB as a robust authentication method to enhance user acceptance and trust. Therefore, this examination of the existing literature aims to provide a nuanced understanding of trust in IT and its intersection with BB. The outcomes of this study will inform the refinement of biometric technologies and provide crucial insights for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers, advancing secure and user-friendly digital authentication solutions in an ever-evolving technological landscape. By employing an SLR methodology, this research endeavours to bridge existing gaps. Based on a review of 88 articles, it is evident that the quality of data related to BB is often inconsistent, with inadequate quality assessment and poor reporting of detailed information. This study presents key reporting items to improve the transparency and comparability of future research on user authentication and adoption. It also emphasizes that user trust and acceptance of BB are poorly assessed and reported in both empirical and conceptual research, as well as across multiple industries. Additionally, it highlights common challenges faced by BB applications, including regulatory, technical, social, and research-related issues that need to be addressed for progress in the field.
Trophic Ecology of Gould’s Arrow Squid (Nototodarus gouldi) in Aotearoa New Zealand
(Auckland University of Technology, 2024) Hu, Lucia
Deep-sea squids (order Oegopsida) are recognised for their integral role in marine ecosystems, which can be investigated through detailed trophic studies. Gould’s arrow squid (Nototodarus gouldi) is a commercially exploited species in the southwest Pacific. Although prey composition has been reported from Australia, no research to date has been published on this species’ diet in Aotearoa, New Zealand. This integrative study combined morphological, DNA analyses and helminth parasite identification to provide the first data on the prey of N. gouldi in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Gut contents were visually screened for parasites and hard parts of prey remains—including otoliths, eye lenses, squid beaks, crustacean exoskeletons and soft tissues. The conservative DNA barcode region (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I [COI]) was sequenced for representative pieces of soft tissue (which could not be visually identified). Overall, 26 species from across six phyla were reported, including 18 novel species herein reported for the first time in the diet of N. gouldi. This baseline information on the prey species and parasites of N. gouldi may serve as a foundation for ecosystem-based fishery management and understanding trophic interactions and prey dynamics within the south Tasman region.
Violent and Unpredictable: Perceptions of Victims of Crime Who Are Living With a Mental Health Problem
(Auckland University of Technology, 2024) Andersen, Joshua
Public perceptions of mental illness are largely derived from stigmas and social norms that perpetuate punitive and discriminative rhetoric. In regard to illnesses like schizophrenia, these perceptions are overwhelmingly associated with violence and the threat of harm. Recent academic literature has questioned this notion. Our study explored how varying stigmas can influence perceptions of mock newspaper articles that depict a violent assault of which the victim has a mental illness. Members of the public (n = 106) were randomly assigned to one of six newspaper depictions of a violent assault, of which the victim was reported to have a mental illness (schizophrenia, depression, no mental illness). To test for the influence of substance use comorbidity, the presence of methamphetamine was also a variable in each mental illness condition. After reading the mock newspaper articles, participants then responded to the Social Distance Scale (Link et al., 1987) to assess participants desired social distance from the victim in the newspaper vignette. Participants also responded to several covariate measures that helped us better understand the judgements made in relation to the vignette. The results of our study suggest that mental illness alone did not substantially alter participant perceptions of mental illness. However, when factoring for methamphetamine presence, participants in the schizophrenia conditions reported significantly lower levels of desired social distance and subsequent stigma than those in control conditions. Future research could seek to better explore the interaction between mental illness and crime victimisation. As such, the implications of research in this domain work to resolve the prevalence of discriminative social stigma both within academic and public spheres.
Do Social Norms Predict Equestrians' Likelihood of Using Safety Equipment?
(Auckland University of Technology, 2024) Hathaway, Alexandra
Equestrian sports carry a high risk of injury. Despite the well known risks carried by these activities, there are still many riders who choose to not utilise safety equipment when working with horses. The current study examined whether social norms or differences in personality traits influenced riders’ decision to use various types of safety equipment. An online questionnaire (N = 115) was used to investigate whether agreeance with descriptive norms, injunctive norms, or differences in sensation seeking and conscientiousness predicted the use of helmets, protective vests, or safety stirrups. Consistent with prior research, the study found descriptive norms and injunctive norms both influenced the proportion of use of various safety equipment. More specifically, descriptive norms predicted the proportion of helmet and safety stirrup use, while personal and peer injunctive norms predicted the proportion of safety vest use. Sensation seeking was only found to be a predictor of helmet use and did not correlate to the proportion of safety vest or safety stirrup use. Conscientiousness was not found to be a predictor of any variable. The findings are significant within the equestrian community as they contribute to the understanding of what influences safety equipment use, allowing for more informed interventions to increase safe practices within equestrian sport.
Synthesis of Enzyme Inspired Immobilized Catalysts
(Auckland University of Technology, 2023) Malingin, Marc
The primary objective of this study is to develop an immobilized catalyst for transphosphorylation, drawing inspiration from enzymatic processes. To accomplish this goal, a set of key objectives were set. Firstly, the synthesis of TACN (A) and guanidinium (B) ligands is paramount. Then, the next objective is to immobilize these ligands onto a solid resin, establishing a bioactive site through a copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) "click reaction." Lastly, the study aims to evaluate the catalytic activity of these supported catalysts using the model substrate HPNPP. This assessment seeks to identify optimal conditions for catalytic activation and to elucidate potential cooperativity in the catalytic process. The focus of this project lies in investigating the catalytic properties of the selected ligands when immobilized on solid resin as an alternative to gold nanoparticles. The investigation includes the characterization of molecules, monitoring reactions through NMR and IR spectroscopy, and evaluating catalytic activity using UV-vis spectroscopy. TACN (A) was initially synthesized using a protective group, Boc, and this was employed to selectively perform a substitution reaction at the desired site. Subsequently, "click chemistry" was utilized to attach it to the resin. Finally, the protective group was cleaved under acidic conditions. The synthesis of Guanidinium (B) was approached through three distinct routes. The first route involved a standard substitution reaction, followed by a Staudinger reduction reaction, ending in guanylation. In the second route, with the aim of enhancing efficiency and effectiveness, a different starting material was used and tosylation was performed before following the aforementioned steps. The third route employed a completely different route, employing Gabriel synthesis to obtain the amine, which was eventually subjected to guanylation. Similar to the TACN synthesis, the "click reaction" was employed to immobilize the ligands, and deprotection was achieved through acidic conditions. We successfully showcased the immobilization of different functional groups onto the Merrifield resin's surface, resulting in the creation of a highly efficient transphosphodiesterase. This achievement holds promise for applications in synthesizing artificial enzymes characterized by great stability compared to their biological counterparts, along with the convenience of recovery and reusability. Our future research endeavors will focus on further enhancing this technology by exploring combinations of the two existing ligands and potentially introducing additional ligands in varying proportions, with the aim of developing artificial enzymes boasting even greater catalytic activities.
A Qualitative Study Examining the Opinions and Experiences of New Zealand Participants Regarding Beliefs of Sugar as an Addictive Substance
(Auckland University of Technology, 2023) Rosser, Alexandra
The present study aims to examine New Zealand participants’ perceptions of sugar as an addictive substance. The concept of sugar addiction is not new and there has already been some research around this, however due to ethical implications in human research, most studies have used animal experiments. Despite the myriad of health concerns caused by sugar overindulgence, including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, tooth decay and other issues, we do not yet have a conclusive answer as to the validity of sugar addiction. This study asked participants to draw from their understanding and experiences of sugar to explain whether they believed it should be classified as addictive. Qualitative content analysis was used to draw meaning and context from the rationale described by participants. Both inductive and deductive methods were used to determine whether perceptions and experiences by individuals in this study aligned with established scientific criteria surrounding substance dependence. For a considerable majority, signs and symptoms relating to excessive sugar intake conformed to current understandings of addiction. Conversely, those who did not believe sugar was addictive referenced how various biopsychosocial influences may contribute to sugar overindulgence, highlighting the complex nature of sugar consumption. While relying exclusively on subjective measures has inherent limitations, understanding individual experiences with sugar is essential in comprehending how a range of factors may shape indulgence. Given the consistency between participant experiences of sugar addiction and scientific literature concerning substance dependence, further measures should be implemented in evaluating the credibility of sugar as an addictive substance.
Synthesis and Antibiotic Activity of Vitamin B12-Vancomycin Conjugates
(Auckland University of Technology, 2023) Stackpole, Ben
Vitamin B12 has the potential to be used as a “Trojan horse” for drug delivery applications, with previously reported examples including anti-cancer drugs and antimicrobial drugs. As B12 is too large to cross cellular membranes by diffusion, humans and bacteria uptake it via active transport processes mediated by a series of proteins. Conjugating therapeutic molecules to B12 allows this process to be hijacked to transport cargo into cells. Because B12 is an essential nutrient and many species of bacteria cannot synthesise it themselves, this is a promising method for transporting antibiotics into bacteria. This may be especially useful in the case of Gram-negative bacteria, which possess an additional outer membrane that prevents many antibiotics from entering the cell. In this research project, we investigated the antibiotic activity of B12-vancomycin conjugates. Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic which inihibits bacterial cell wall synthesis. Due to its large size, it cannot diffuse across bacterial membranes and so it is only effective against Gram-positive bacteria. By conjugating vancomycin to B¬12, we hypothesised that it could be transported across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and inhibit their growth. Four different B12-vancomycin conjugates were successfully synthesised, differing in the linker used and the site of conjugation to B12. The conjugates were tested for antibiotic activity against Escherichia coli. None of the conjugates displayed antibiotic activity.
The Design and Synthesis of Light Responsive GSK-3 Inhibitors
(Auckland University of Technology, 2023) Clotworthy, Megan
The inhibition of kinase enzymes has proven to be a valuable therapeutic approach for the treatment of various diseases (such as cancer, cellular metabolism and neurodegenerative disorders). Despite the large number of potent kinase inhibitors reported in the literature, many of these typically bind to multiple kinase targets and exhibit poor tissue selectivity, giving rise to undesired side effects. The idea of creating selective drugs has proven difficult, as once a drug is administered, there is very little control over when and where the drug is active within a biological system. The implementation of photopharmacology (the use of light to control the biological activity of a drug) into drug design and development could prove to be useful in developing molecular tools with improved tissue selectivity. Through the use of photocages, known drugs can be modified to be inactive. Only once administered to the cellular setting is the caged inhibitor exposed to a selected wavelength of light, liberating the active form of the drug at the desired target. This project focusses on the development of photocaged glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) inhibitors through the introduction of fluorescent caging groups onto a key binding moiety. This project firstly entails the successful synthesis of a known GSK-3
Survey Study of Challenging and Mystical Experiences After Consuming Psilocybin Mushrooms in New Zealand
(Auckland University of Technology, 2023) Zong, Zixuan (Jonathan)
Background: Psilocybin is a psychedelic substance which is contained within certain species of mushrooms. Research has identified that in addition to the acute psychedelic effects of psilocybin, there are longer-lasting consequences of psilocybin consumption, including change in personality, and reduction in depressive symptoms and substance use disorder. However, little research has investigated the acute and lasting effects of psilocybin consumption in the New Zealand population. Aim: The present study aims to explore the extent of mystical experiences, meaningfulness, spiritual significance, and enduring changes in wellbeing resulting from recreational psilocybin experiences, and how these factors are affected by difficult or challenging experiences. Method: A quantitative anonymous survey was distributed online by convenience sampling and was open between August 31, 2022 to November 5, 2022. 511 New Zealanders completed the survey. Participants completed the Mystical Experience Questionnaire 30 (MEQ30) and survey questions about the difficulty, meaningfulness, spiritual significance, and enduring changes to wellbeing as a result of the psilocybin experience. Participants could also provide open-ended written comments about their experience. Results: Participants reported high levels of mystical experiences (MEQ30 Total Average = 99.3), with 36.2% achieving Complete Mystical Experiences. High levels of meaningfulness, spiritual significance, enduring positive changes in wellbeing due to the psilocybin experience were also found, with a moderate number of participants having a challenging psilocybin experience. A Spearman’s rho correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations between all previously mentioned factors with a p < .001, except for the relationship between the estimated psilocybin dosage and enduring changes in wellbeing (p < .01), difficulty and enduring changes in wellbeing (p < .01), and between difficulty and positive mood (not significant). A slight difference was found between participants who achieved a Complete Mystical Experience, and those who did not. Conclusion: This study provided an initial insight into the recreational psilocybin experiences of people in New Zealand, looking at the relationship between psilocybin experiences, challenging or otherwise, and their impact on personal meaning, spiritual significance, and enduring changes in wellbeing. The findings are consistent with prior research, indicating that both mystical and challenging experiences of higher intensity are associated with greater increases in personal meaning, spiritual significance, and lasting improvements in wellbeing.
Clinicians’ Lived Experience of Using the AIM3 Assessment Model to Assess Harmful Sexual Behaviour in Adolescents
(Auckland University of Technology, 2023) Hume, Tom
Harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) is a universal issue transcending class, race and economic status. The harm that HSB causes to individuals, families, and society cannot be overstated. However, the shame and secrecy around it make it a universal taboo, creating difficulties in discovering the true extent. As something which causes so much harm, it is vital that we have the tools to be able to intervene and to treat this behaviour to be able to create societies that are free from sexual abuse. The AIM3 is the tool that is used by specialist clinicians to assess the HSB exhibited by CYP, and to help establish goals for their clinical intervention. It does this by scoring the young person (YP) across five domains: sexual behaviour; general behaviour; developmental; environmental; self-regulation. This study explored the lived experience of clinicians who specialise in treating HSB, and their use of the AIM3 model of assessment in this work. Six clinicians agreed to participate in this study, exploring their experiences of using the AIM3 in their work. Semi-structured interviews were used to look at their perspectives on this assessment model. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data that was collected from the interviews. Six key themes were identified which were then discussed in relation to current research on HSB and its occurrence in a New Zealand context. It was discovered that the clinicians had a very favourable view of the AIM3, although there were some areas of concern. Clinicians noted that cultural issues were sometimes invisible, and there was sometimes a risk of bias or subjectivity in scoring. Most of the clinicians felt as though those potential issues could be mitigated through their own experience, or through co-working.
Whakawhānautia Te Haumanu Māori - Birthing of a Māori Therapy: A Scoping Literature Review
(Auckland University of Technology, 2023) Manaia, Mark
Increasing prevalence rates of psychological distress remains a detriment to the wellbeing of Māori. This study explores how a British colonial hegemony has systematically predisposed and perpetuated high negative health statistics for Māori. A process of colonisation that has dismantled societal norms and continues to violate the mauri, mana and wairua of ngā iwi Māori. Western evidence-based therapies are predominantly the chosen interventions for tangata whai i te ora seeking therapeutic support. The stance that therapeutic interventions, which evolved from Western colonial epistemologies, can heal the mana, mauri and wairua of Māori is challenged, in favour of a Māori therapeutic alternative. An alternative present within its own Māori ontology. The last four decades have borne witness to the advent of Māori health models and frameworks to better inform allied health and therapeutic delivery for positive outcomes for tangata whai i te ora cohorts. This study will investigate whether, within these models and frameworks, is there a Māori therapy silently laying await? A therapy that can provide culturally authentic and safe delivery of care for Māori. This research provides a scoping review of literature authored by allied health practitioners and talk therapy practitioners to extract key themes, components that contributed to the formation of a Māori therapy – he haumanu Māori. A Kaupapa Māori Methodology and Pūrākau Method was used to ensure reliability and validity of themes identified. The findings of the results were able to provide building blocks towards constructing a therapy schema for a Māori therapy. A therapy that inherently has a relationship with wairuatanga, a pivotal and encompassing dimension of health for Māori. Twelve models and frameworks were included in the final data set and their respective Māori constructs – ngā mātāpono me ngā uara were charted for analysis. Recommendations for key components towards he haumanu Māori include; a macro- model, a pūrākau atua Māori infused therapeutic theory, mātauranga-informed therapy framework and tikanga-informed counselling skills. A gap in the literature that warrants further investigation is the gathering and assessment of Māori counselling micro-skills.
The Experience of Caregivers Supporting Adults with Intellectual Disabilities During Hospitalisation: A Qualitative Study
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Fuller, Emma
This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of caregivers supporting adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) during hospitalisation within Aotearoa. Whilst there has been research that has examined the hospitalisation experiences of caregivers supporting adults with ID internationally, there has been little research undertaken in Aotearoa within this context. Identifying caregivers’ experiences of whether caregivers have been adequately supported during hospital stays supporting their adult with ID, and establishing what worked well and what did not work well, is a crucial element to understanding whether the caregivers were overwhelmed or had insufficient support at any point of the hospital stay with their adult with ID in Aotearoa. This study utilises a qualitative methodology as it enabled lived experiences to be shared, which will help to determine what services within the Aotearoa hospital system are necessary to better support this population in the future. Caregivers of six adults with intellectual disabilities were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Transcripts from these interviews and thematic analysis have been used to identify key themes. The findings discovered the increasing reliance placed on caregivers of adults with ID whilst in hospital. These were highlighted through the interdependence within the themes developed in this research; advocacy, environment, lack of support, lack of awareness, interpersonal care, informed consent, communication, health experience and sense of abandonment. This study broadens the body of knowledge through understanding the challenges caregivers face. Caregivers involved in this study were predominately family caregivers, therefore non-qualified, supporting findings that they are involved in processes beyond their personal competencies. The findings highlight that caregivers experienced insufficient support whilst supporting their adult with ID when in hospital in Aotearoa. This study can be used to show awareness of the challenges that caregivers face in Aotearoa, with further research looking into how these challenges can be addressed. Future research needs to consider the use of artificial intelligence and technology advances that provide assistance with advocating, communication, and supporting ID adults, thus relieving their caregivers of some of these burdens. This is expected to provide positive outcomes.
Exploring the Maintenance of Social Connection for Adults Living with Complex Medical Conditions in New Zealand: A Qualitative Study
(Auckland University of Technology, 2023) Hitch, Rachael
Background: Complex medical conditions (CMCs) are persistent and ongoing health conditions that substantially impact an individual’s life and require treatments and services from a variety of healthcare specialists. One area likely to be impacted for this health population is the social dimension of their lives. An understanding of how social connection is maintained by individuals living with CMCs may be used to guide support initiatives. This study sought to answer the research question, “How is social connection maintained by individuals living with Serious and complex medical conditions?” Participants / Method: In 2018 face-to-face interviews were conducted with 30 participants who lived with CMCs. Reflexive thematic analysis was used in the current study to analyse the data from 12 of these interviews. Participants ranged in age from 24 to 60 years of age and had lived with their conditions for an average of 15 years. Findings: Six themes were derived from data analysis that gave insight as to how adults living with complex medical conditions maintained social connection: Social connection is maintained despite health challenges; Social interaction is constrained; Social connection is enhanced by prioritising needs; Technology and connection to the outside; CMCs are linked to experiences of social isolation and loneliness; and, connecting through shared experience positively influences social connection. Conclusion: For those living with CMCs regular connection was made with close friends and family despite health challenges. Individuals made efforts to maintain social connection because it was considered important. Physical and emotional condition related factors constrained social interaction. Social connectedness was facilitated by prioritising needs and planning and preparing for social events. Technology significantly enhanced social connection. Individuals living with CMCs experienced social isolation and loneliness but had a variety of strategies to manage these experiences. Owning a dog positively impacted experiences of isolation and loneliness. Connecting through shared experience encouraged reciprocal engagement including informational and emotional support.
The Design and Synthesis of Two-Photon Excitable Fluorescent Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
(Auckland University of Technology, 2022) Williamson, Jade
This project focuses on the development of HDAC inhibitors that possess innate fluorescent properties. More specifically a potential fluorescent 6-amino-2,3-naphthalimide derived HDAC inhibitor has been synthesised, as a potential tool for cellular imaging studies. The abnormal regulation of HDAC activity has been linked to a number of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, cancer, and many more. HDAC inhibitors are able to restore the regulation of these enzymes to help treat these problems. The synthesis of the target molecule included four main reactions; a nucleophilic acyl substitution to install the imide, followed by an amination at the 6-position of the naphthalimide ring, then hydrolysis of the tert-butyl ester, and finally an amide coupling to install the zinc binding group. NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry analysis supported that the target molecule has successfully been synthesised. Upon optimisation of the methodology needed to access such compounds, we attempted to synthesise three derivatives of the target compound by changing the amino group at the 6-position. The target compound 43 and the derivative compound 64 were also analysed for their HDAC activity, compound 43 showed incredibly good selectivity for class I HDACs 1 and 3, and compound 64 wasn’t as strong but still quite good results in terms of selectivity.

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