Resilience Across the Lifespan

Research Area Leader

Suzanne McLaren

Professor Suzanne McLaren

To enhance the ability of individuals, groups, and communities to thrive despite experiencing adversity

Our research investigates how individuals, groups, and communities achieve positive adjustment and outcomes in the context of past and present adversities, including trauma, poor physical and/or mental health, loneliness, marginalisation and social exclusion, disability, inequalities, prejudice, discrimination, contact with the legal system, and out-of-home care.

Working from this broad perspective, our research focuses on:

developing an understanding of risk and protective factors across the lifespan;
developing an understanding of the circumstances, processes, or operations of these factors;
developing, evaluating, and refining resilience-based intervention strategies and models to promote resilience and positive outcomes at the individual, group, and community levels and identifying their culture-specific dimensions; and
developing, evaluating, and testing appropriate measures and models for the study and assessment of resilience.

Name	Email	Research Interests	Location
Prof Suzanne McLaren	smclaren@csu.edu.au	Professor Suzanne McLaren's research focuses on resilience among sexual and gender minority adults and older adults, with a focus on understanding the role that psychological variables play as protective factors. Sense of belonging has featured prominently in her research. Current projects investigate the protective role of hope among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, and self-compassion as a protective factor among LGBTIQ+ adults. Link to research output	Port Macquarie
Dr Robyn Brunton	rbrunton@csu.edu.au	Dr Robyn Brunton completed her post-graduate studies and doctorate at Charles Sturt University. Her PhD dissertation was on pregnancy-related anxiety. Since then Robyn has continued to research this distinct anxiety and is currently co-editor of a book on the topic and published numerous papers. More broadly speaking, Robyn's research interest extends to all types of anxiety and other areas of women's psychosocial health (e.g. body image, sexual abuse and pregnancy). Link to research output	Bathurst
Dr Mir Rabiul Islam	rislam@csu.edu.au	Dr Mir Rabiul Islam's research interest centres around issues related to environmental social psychology. In particular, his research focuses on environmental factors and health impacts relating to climate change; coping, adaptation, resilience and recovery in natural disasters; climate justice, human rights and displaced population. Link to research output	Bathurst
Dr Donnah Anderson	doanderson@csu.edu.au	Dr Donnah Anderson's research focuses on children and young people's rights, voice and wellbeing, and the adults who card for or work with them. Donnah is currently a Chief Investigator in an Australian Research Council Discovery Project investigating the role of ethical practice in improving child safety and wellbeing in three institutional contexts - schools, residential care and disability services. Expected outcomes include better-targeted, child-informed policy and practice for organisations involved with children. Link to research output	Port Macquarie
Dr Karl Wiener	kwiener@csu.edu.au	Dr Karl Wiener's broad research interests are within psychopathology and behaviour. Current projects are focused on what drives racial animus and the influence of racial animus on punitive behaviours; exploring precursory factors that make the development of PTSD following trauma more likely; and the influence of patient aggression and family aggression on carers of older adults. Link to research output	Wagga Wagga

Current Projects

Project Name	Brief Description	Funding Body	Investigators
The Desire and Capability for Suicide among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic	This project is investigating: whether thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, acquired capability for suicide, and suicidal thoughts and behaviours increase during the pandemic; and whether increases vary according to sociodemographic characteristics associated with suicide (e.g., gender, sexual orientation, living alone); whether hope acts as a protective factor by weakening the relationships between the risk factors and suicidal thoughts and behaviours; the unique values of older adults to better tailor suicide prevention efforts	Charles Sturt University	Professor Suzanne McLaren Professor Oliver Burmeister Professor Britt Klein (Federation University) Dr Paola Castillo Dr Richard Tindle Dr Denise Corboy (Blue Sky Mind Training and Research Consultancy)
Sense of Belonging and Depression among Bisexual Adults	This series of studies investigates the role of sense of belonging to the heterosexual and LGBTIQ+communities in the mental health of bisexual adults. Bisexual people can experience stigma from both communities, leading to poor mental health. This research explores whether sense of belonging is important for the mental health of bisexual people, and if so, the pathways by which protection occurs.	-	Professor Suzanne McLaren, Dr Paola Castillo
Beyond Safety: Ethical Practice Involving Children	The recent Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has clearly identified children’s safety in institutions as an area requiring urgent attention. This project aims to investigate the role of ethical practice in improving child safety. Ethical understandings and practice are being explored in three institutional contexts – schools, residential care and disability services. Focusing especially on those who are at greater risk of harm the findings will contribute to ensuring Australia’s children are safe and treated with dignity and respect. Expected outcomes include better-targeted, child-informed policy and practice for organisations involved with children.	Australian Research Council; ARC Discovery (DP180100465).	Professor Anne Graham: Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University Professor Sally Robinson: Flinders University Dr Timothy Moore: University of South Australia Professor Nigel Thomas: University of Central Lancashire UK Dr Donnah Anderson: Charles Sturt University Assoc. Professor Nicola Taylor: University of Otago

Past Projects

Project Name	Brief Description	Funding Body	Investigators
Traditional Coping Strategies in Bangladesh 2015-2016		Charles Sturt University Compact Funding	V. Ingham M.R. Islam
Australian field work: Strategies to promote community resilience in disaster management: The case of flooding in selected communities in Bangladesh 2011-2013		Charles Sturt University Compact Funding	V. Ingham M.R. Islam I. Manock
Strategies to promote community resilience in disaster management: The case of flooding in selected communities in Bangladesh and Australia 2010-2012		Charles Sturt University Competitive Grant	J. Hicks V. Ingham M.R. Islam
Improving wellbeing through student participation at school	This Australian Research Council (ARC) funded study explored how student participation (also known as student voice) is currently understood and experienced in NSW schools. Utilising a mixed-methods approach, and informed by Axel Honneth’s recognition theory, the research investigated the links between student participation and wellbeing. It was supported by the following partners: NSW Department of Education, Catholic Schools Office, Lismore, NSW Office of the Advocate for Children & Young People.	ARC Linkage: (LP 140100540)	The project was led by Professor Anne Graham: Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University. It involved researchers from Australian National University (ANU); University of Sydney (USyd); University of Central Lancashire University (UCLAN); Charles Sturt University (CSU). The research team was supported by an expert advisory group of 14 members: 4 representatives from the partner organisations (the NSW Department of Education, Lismore Catholic Schools Office and the NSW Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People); 2 school principals; 2 teachers; 6 students from Years 7-9.

Student	Topic/Area Research	Supervisor/s
Eleina Littlejohns	Social capital and psychological capital as predictors of burnout among teachers: A longitudinal study	Professor Suzanne McLaren Dr Donnah Anderson
Catherine Strods	The influence of past experience on evacuation behaviour of university staff and students	Dr V. Ingham Dr M.R. Islam
John Moy	Sustainable models for volunteer emergency services in Australia	Dr V. Ingham Dr M.R. Islam
Andrew Williams	Emergency responders’ understanding and approaches in addressing Domestic Violence during and after the natural disasters	Dr Philip Birch Dr M.R. Islam

Older Adults

Hodgetts, J., McLaren, S., Bice, B., & Trezise, A. (accepted). The relationship between self-compassion, rumination, and depressive symptoms among older adults: The moderating role of gender. Aging and Mental Health.
McLaren, S. (accepted). The relationship between living alone and depressive symptoms among older gay men: The moderating role of age. Journal of Homosexuality.
Sadler, P., McLaren, S., Klein, B., & Jenkins, M. (2020). Cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia and depression: Qualitative reflections from older adults who participated in a randomised control trial. Aging and Mental Health, 24, 932-938.
Miller, K, J., Mesagno, C., McLaren, S., Grace, F., Yates, M., & Gomez, R. (2019). Exercise, mood, self-Efficacy, and social support as predictors of depressive symptoms in older adults: Direct and interaction effects. Frontiers in Psychology.

Sexual and Gender Minority Adults

Snooks, M. P., & McLaren, S. (accepted). Resilience among trans and gender diverse adults: The protective role of dispositional hope in the perceived burdensomeness-suicide relationship. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity.
McLaren, S., & Castillo, P. (accepted). What about me? Sense of belonging and depressive symptoms among bisexual women. Journal of Bisexuality.
McLaren, S. (2020). The relationship between living alone and depressive symptoms among older men: The moderating role of sexual orientation. Aging and Mental Health, 24, 103-109.
Riley, K., & McLaren, S. (2019). Relationship status and suicidal behavior in gay men: The role of thwarted belongingness and hope. Suicide and Life-threatening Behaviour, 49, 1452-1462.