Melbourne School of Population and Global Health - Theses
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ItemThe relevance of perseverative cognition for Aboriginal Australians( 2020)Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the most marginalised and disadvantaged group in Australia, experiencing measurably worse health and social outcomes than do other Australians. A substantial body of evidence suggests that perseverative cognition – a psychological state characterised by excessive worry, rumination, and anticipatory stress – increases the risk of psychological and physical ill-health through extending the stress response. Historical and contemporary experiences of structural, cultural, and individual race-related violence and discrimination may leave Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people particularly vulnerable to perseverative cognition and its long-term effects on physical and psychological health. This takes the form of conditions such as depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular disease, all of which are highly prevalent among this minority. This study applied critical race theory and participatory action research approaches to explore experiences and responses to racism with 39 Aboriginal adults from a regional urban context in 2015. Thematic analysis of seven discussion groups identified three major themes in the data including 1) The nature, sites and normalisation of racism and discrimination; 2) Anti-racism, redress, and reconciliation mechanisms; and 3) Predicting, protecting, and preserving self and others. Findings indicate study participants experience multiple forms of societal racism that promotes sustained cognitive vigilance or ‘action readiness’ for race-related threat and an array of adaptive context-driven and dynamic cognitive, emotional, and behavioural responses. This result supports the relevance of the perseverative cognition hypothesis in this context and recommends a more comprehensive mixed-methods investigation, broad-ranging structural, cultural, and individual anti-racism education, and effective redress mechanisms for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.