The biopsychosocial impact of Autism on families and the contribution of solar irradiance to its aetiology
- Authors: Syed, Somayya
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong disorder of unknown aetiology. A recent hypothesis is that a lack of Vitamin D is implicated in either the aetiology or maintenance of ASD. The human body synthesises Vitamin D from Ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation found in sunlight. It follows that greater exposure to sunlight hours may be related to decreased rates of ASD. There are no interventions that target the causes of ASD rather therapies address either its symptoms or its comorbidities. ASD not only affects individuals, it also has an impact on their families. Family members have experienced social, occupational and personal costs associated with their child’s ASD which can result in parental separation or divorce. While researchers have established some of the factors which contribute to the impact on families, this research has not addressed families living in regional areas nor have empirical studies used domain-specific scales. The aims in this thesis were: Study 1) to determine whether the prevalence rates of ASD vary as a function of exposure to sunlight by reviewing reported prevalence rates by latitude where, the greater the distance from the equator, the higher the expected prevalence rates; Study 2) to conduct interviews with parents and caregivers of children with ASD who live in a regional area to determine the factors which affect them and those which might protect them; and Study 3) use the interview data to develop domain specific measures and test a model of living with a child with ASD. The results of Study 1 revealed that there is an increase in the prevalence of ASD as distance from the equator increases lending some support to the hypothesis that Vitamin D is implicated in ASD. The 16 interviews conducted in Study 2 revealed seven themes: impact on finances; family life; child’s health and behaviour, and schooling; child’s future; limited support, and regional living. In Study 3, with 178 participants, domain-specific scales were developed to test a model of the impact of living with a child with ASD. Resilience manifested by social support and coping strategies, explained 54% of the variance in impact of living with a child with ASD which, was operationalised by financial and relationship costs, social impact and feelings. Family life as assessed in this thesis, is significantly impacted by living with a child with ASD. The implications of these findings are discussed, especially around the need for greater exposure to outdoor activities and hence sunlight for children with ASD, more regional facilities and assistance for families, the importance of educational interventions for the public as well as enhancing levels of family resilience, as operationalised by support and coping strategies. Limitations of the studies and future research are discussed.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Syed, Somayya
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong disorder of unknown aetiology. A recent hypothesis is that a lack of Vitamin D is implicated in either the aetiology or maintenance of ASD. The human body synthesises Vitamin D from Ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation found in sunlight. It follows that greater exposure to sunlight hours may be related to decreased rates of ASD. There are no interventions that target the causes of ASD rather therapies address either its symptoms or its comorbidities. ASD not only affects individuals, it also has an impact on their families. Family members have experienced social, occupational and personal costs associated with their child’s ASD which can result in parental separation or divorce. While researchers have established some of the factors which contribute to the impact on families, this research has not addressed families living in regional areas nor have empirical studies used domain-specific scales. The aims in this thesis were: Study 1) to determine whether the prevalence rates of ASD vary as a function of exposure to sunlight by reviewing reported prevalence rates by latitude where, the greater the distance from the equator, the higher the expected prevalence rates; Study 2) to conduct interviews with parents and caregivers of children with ASD who live in a regional area to determine the factors which affect them and those which might protect them; and Study 3) use the interview data to develop domain specific measures and test a model of living with a child with ASD. The results of Study 1 revealed that there is an increase in the prevalence of ASD as distance from the equator increases lending some support to the hypothesis that Vitamin D is implicated in ASD. The 16 interviews conducted in Study 2 revealed seven themes: impact on finances; family life; child’s health and behaviour, and schooling; child’s future; limited support, and regional living. In Study 3, with 178 participants, domain-specific scales were developed to test a model of the impact of living with a child with ASD. Resilience manifested by social support and coping strategies, explained 54% of the variance in impact of living with a child with ASD which, was operationalised by financial and relationship costs, social impact and feelings. Family life as assessed in this thesis, is significantly impacted by living with a child with ASD. The implications of these findings are discussed, especially around the need for greater exposure to outdoor activities and hence sunlight for children with ASD, more regional facilities and assistance for families, the importance of educational interventions for the public as well as enhancing levels of family resilience, as operationalised by support and coping strategies. Limitations of the studies and future research are discussed.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Theoretical perspectives on using epidemiology and systems thinking to better understand the aetiology and prevention of distance running-related injury
- Authors: Hulme, Adam
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: On a global scale, the sporting activity of distance running has increased in popularity. This is likely attributable to a growing societal concern for the documented rise in several lifestyle-related chronic diseases. As a form of exercise, running provides significant beneficial effects on a range of biomedical health indices, and is the preferred physical activity of choice for many people given its high accessibility and relatively low financial cost. Notwithstanding the many health-related benefits associated with running, the risk of sustaining a distance running-related injury (RRI) can be high. Therefore, from an injury prevention perspective, understanding why runners sustain RRI is of primary scientific importance. Over the last fifty years, the science behind RRI causation and prevention has attracted considerable interest amongst sports injury prevention researchers. During that time, there has been a concerted scholarly effort to understand the aetiology of RRI from an epidemiological and clinical research-based standpoint. Traditional scientific approaches have attempted to identify the effect of discrete trainingrelated, behavioural, and/or biomechanical exposures on the risk of developing either general or specific RRI. Despite what is now a considerable body of work, several descriptive and systematic reviews have found a history of previous injury to be the only definitive risk factor for subsequent RRI development. Alongside the continuing application of traditional scientific approaches, this PhD thesis promotes the use of a complementary ‘systems thinking’ theoretical perspective for better understanding the development and prevention of RRI. There are several contained chapters, the first of which is a systematic review of the RRI aetiological literature. After examining in closer detail the causal mechanism underpinning RRI development, a series of papers urge injury prevention scientists to consider drawing on alternative philosophical perspectives when planning and designing research. In building on the preceding arguments, the final chapters involve the construction of a systems ergonomics control structure model of the Australian distance running system, including the way RRI is managed and controlled.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Hulme, Adam
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: On a global scale, the sporting activity of distance running has increased in popularity. This is likely attributable to a growing societal concern for the documented rise in several lifestyle-related chronic diseases. As a form of exercise, running provides significant beneficial effects on a range of biomedical health indices, and is the preferred physical activity of choice for many people given its high accessibility and relatively low financial cost. Notwithstanding the many health-related benefits associated with running, the risk of sustaining a distance running-related injury (RRI) can be high. Therefore, from an injury prevention perspective, understanding why runners sustain RRI is of primary scientific importance. Over the last fifty years, the science behind RRI causation and prevention has attracted considerable interest amongst sports injury prevention researchers. During that time, there has been a concerted scholarly effort to understand the aetiology of RRI from an epidemiological and clinical research-based standpoint. Traditional scientific approaches have attempted to identify the effect of discrete trainingrelated, behavioural, and/or biomechanical exposures on the risk of developing either general or specific RRI. Despite what is now a considerable body of work, several descriptive and systematic reviews have found a history of previous injury to be the only definitive risk factor for subsequent RRI development. Alongside the continuing application of traditional scientific approaches, this PhD thesis promotes the use of a complementary ‘systems thinking’ theoretical perspective for better understanding the development and prevention of RRI. There are several contained chapters, the first of which is a systematic review of the RRI aetiological literature. After examining in closer detail the causal mechanism underpinning RRI development, a series of papers urge injury prevention scientists to consider drawing on alternative philosophical perspectives when planning and designing research. In building on the preceding arguments, the final chapters involve the construction of a systems ergonomics control structure model of the Australian distance running system, including the way RRI is managed and controlled.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
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