Simone Mccarthy
Biographic Data
| ID | 229761 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Simone Mccarthy |
| GIVEN NAMES | Simone |
| FAMILY NAME | Mccarthy |
| SIGNATURE | MCCARTHY S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Deakin University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2671-3511 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 34 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 3 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 34 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2021 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
‘Putting profit over people’
The commercial determinants of health are important drivers of population health, although their influence on women's health and social inequities remain underexplored. This study explored Australian women’s perceptions of how economic and commercial factors influence women’s health and wellbeing and the actions needed to address these influences and advance gender equity. An online qualitative survey was completed by 506 Australian women aged 18…
A narrative review of qualitative studies exploring the normalization of gambling for youth and younger adults
Gambling is a highly visible and socially embedded activity among young people, with marketing, social practices, and digital platforms shaping perceptions and behaviours. This article presents a narrative review of qualitative studies (2015–25) exploring how gambling is normalized among youth and younger adults (up to 35 years), and how they perceive and respond to these processes. Four themes were constructed from n = 22 articles using a reflex…
A mix of challenges, surprises, and quiet strengths’
Introduction Menopause is often framed as a negative biomedical transition. This overlooks experiences that are shaped by social, cultural, and economic contexts.Method This online qualitative study used a social constructionist approach to examine how n = 362 Australian cisgender women, aged 45–64 years, made sense of menopause within the overlapping pressures of midlife. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.Results Four themes w…
“Help young women to survive”
The increased pressures associated with the cost-of-living crisis (CoLC) have been demonstrated to impact population health. Research has shown that women are particularly vulnerable to negative life and health experiences associated with cost-of-living pressures, which are exacerbated by a range of gendered structural inequities. To date, very few studies have qualitatively explored the impact of the CoLC on the lives of women. A qualitative onl…
Australia’s proposed gambling reforms may be good for industry, but not for public health
Gambling industry harms are a major global public health concern (Van Schalkwyk et al. 2021, Thomas et al. 2023a, Cowlishaw et al. 2025). They contribute to financial hardship, family violence, relationship breakdown, and, in severe cases, suicide (Marionneau et al. 2023). The rapid expansion of online betting and the embedding of gambling within sport and digital environments have intensified exposure and normalized participation (Forrest 2025, …
Youth washing as a corporate social responsibility tactic of health-harming industries
The marketing tactics of health-harming industries are broader than advertising. Health-harming industries use a range of promotional and public relations strategies to increase corporate branding, promote their products, and shape their image as socially responsible corporate citizens. Increasingly, this has included ‘washing’ strategies which companies use to enhance their legitimacy and deflect blame. There is growing research examining the us…
‘I Battle With This Gambling Addiction Every Day’. Learning From Lived Experiences of Recovery to Guide Gambling Harm Prevention Strategies
BACKGROUND: Gambling harm is a significant public health issue affecting individuals, families and communities. In Australia, gambling is deeply embedded within everyday life, supported by the widespread availability of gambling products and industry marketing. This saturation has normalised gambling, obscuring its risks and creating barriers to recognising harm and seeking help. While clinical treatment pathways remain important, many individual…
They make it seem harmless”
The gambling industry uses a range of marketing strategies to increase the appeal and normalisation of their products. While there has been significant focus on how the gambling industry targets young men, there is evidence that the industry is increasingly using innovative marketing strategies to appeal to women. This study aimed to explore young women’s views about gambling promotions and public relations strategies, and their potential impact …
‘Industry still has too loud a voice’
Marketing is part of the suite of tactics used by the gambling industry and its allies to promote and normalize gambling. While there have been increased public calls for restrictions on gambling marketing, few governments have developed comprehensive policy responses to counter this public health threat. Consultation processes are widely seen as an important part of public decision-making and policy formation. However, there has been limited foc…
“It’s all about the money.” Australian women’s perspectives about menopause and the commercial determinants of health
With increased public attention on menopause, researchers have started to investigate the surge of commercial products and services which claim to provide solutions for menopausal symptoms. Few studies have explored the views of women about the commercial determinants of menopause. Using an online qualitative survey, this study sought insights from n = 509 Australian women aged 45–64 years about the factors that might influence the use of product…
“Menopause is not a dirty word.” Australian women's opinions about increased public attention to menopause
Women’s views about the use of gendered Corporate Social Responsibility strategies by harmful industries
BACKGROUND: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives are part of a suite of marketing and promotional strategies used by industries whose products and/or practices may be harmful to health and equity. These include the tobacco, alcohol, gambling, fossil fuel and pharmaceutical industries. CSR initiatives have included support for gender equity and empowerment initiatives, such as associations with women's organisations and charities, edu…
Engaging Young People in Action on Climate as a Public Health Issue
The climate crisis is recognised as a significant public health threat with a disproportionate and inequitable impact on the health of children and young people. Despite their successful engagement in public health advocacy initiatives, limited research has explored how to engage children and young people in such initiatives for climate. This study conducted a qualitatively led online survey with n = 511 young people in Australia (aged 15–24 year…
Hiding symptoms and balancing work, family and relationships
Menopause research has had a largely biomedical focus on symptoms and treatment. To date, limited research has investigated how menopause might intersect with a range of other pressures and challenges that women might experience during midlife. This study draws on narrative responses to four questions from an online qualitative survey with n = 509 Australian women (aged 45 to 64) to understand how women conceptualised menopause within a range of …
‘You can’t really separate these risks, our environment, our animals and us’
Perceptions of the risks associated with the climate crisis are shaped by a range of social and political contexts and information sources. While some have expressed concerns about the impact of the spread of climate misinformation through social media platforms on young people, others have shown that the youth climate movement has played a key role in countering misinformation. Despite this, there has been very limited research with children abo…
Conflicts of interest in submissions and testimonies to an Australian parliamentary inquiry on menopause
Conflicts of interest (COIs) have the potential to create bias in research, policy and practice. Although disclosure cannot fully protect individuals and public policy from vested interests, it is an important step to support trust in scientific and public discourse, and transparency in decision-making. However, COIs are often unreported, underreported or difficult to identify. This study aimed to assess the extent to which COIs are voluntarily d…
Developing structures to support researchers studying health-harming industries
It is well-documented that health-harming industries and the groups they fund use a range of tactics that seek to interfere with academic research. With the development of scholarship relating to the Commercial Determinants of Health (CDoH), an increasing number of public health researchers are working to examine the activities of health-harming industries and the impacts they have on health and equity. However, there has been limited research in…
Community sports leaders’ perceptions of the risks and benefits of gambling sponsorship in community sport
Gambling sponsorship of professional sport, particularly relating to online wagering, has been a key focus of global regulatory reform efforts to address the normalization of gambling. In Australia, gambling companies and venues (including community clubs and hotels) also sponsor and develop relationships with community (non-professional) sports teams and clubs. In-depth interviews (n = 24) were conducted with senior leaders in community sporting…
Methodological and practical guidance for designing and conducting online qualitative surveys in public health
Online qualitative surveys—those surveys that prioritise qualitative questions and interpretivist values—have rich potential for researchers, particularly in new or emerging areas of public health. However, there is limited discussion about the practical development and methodological implications of such surveys, particularly for public health researchers. This poses challenges for researchers, funders, ethics committees, and peer reviewers in a…
Children, young people and the Commercial Determinants of Health
The commercial determinants of health (CDoH) have a significant impact on the health and well-being of children and young people (subsequently referred to as young people). While most research has focused on the influence of harmful industry marketing on young people, more recent CDoH frameworks have emphasized that a range of commercial systems and practices may influence health and well-being. Focusing on the impact of traditional and digital m…
Youth perspectives on the promotional and public relations strategies of health harming industries
Public health researchers have investigated how youth are exposed to and influenced by traditional forms of commercial marketing from health-harming industries. Limited research has investigated youth opinions about the broader marketing and public relations strategies of these industries. This study aimed to understand youth perceptions of the impact and influence of a range of marketing and public relations strategies used by health harming ind…
Young people’s views about the use of celebrities and social media influencers in gambling marketing
Young people’s exposure to gambling marketing has had a clear impact on their gambling attitudes, risk perceptions and consumption intentions. Celebrities and social media influencers (SMIs) are increasingly used by the gambling industry in a wide range of promotions. While there is evidence that these types of promotions are influential in shaping young people’s attitudes towards other harmful products, there is limited evidence in relation to g…
Australian parents’ perceptions of the risks posed by harmful products to the health of children
Cigarettes, alcohol, vaping and gambling products can cause significant harm to children and young people. The industries that make these products employ a range of tactics that aim to normalize their products and resist policy and regulatory reform. This includes ‘responsibility’ framing, in which parents are often held responsible for educating their children about the risks of these products. However, there has been very little research, which…
“Older people will die of old age. I’ll die of climate change”
Children and young people have the right to be involved in decisions made about the climate crisis which significantly impact their futures, including their health and wellbeing. They argue for structural changes to embed their views in climate decision making, and describe a range of engagement strategies and mechanisms to structure their perspectives and knowledge with decision making processes. Furthermore, genuine involvement of children and …
The role of alcohol consumption in the lives of older Australian women
This research provides a starting point for future public health research examining the factors that may shape older women's alcohol consumption beliefs and practices. Public health activities should consider the unique needs and potential vulnerabilities of older women drinkers, and how these may be potentially exploited by the alcohol industry
Electronic gambling machine harm in older women
Background: Women make up a significant proportion of all gamblers globally. However, there has been limited research which has explored women’s gambling and the factors that may make women, and subgroups of women, vulnerable to harm.Methods: Using a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach, semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 women aged 55 years and over who regularly gambled on electronic gambling machines (EGMs).Results Key factors…
"You don't really see the dangers of it at the time." Risk perceptions and behaviours of older female gamblers
The symbolic consumption processes associated with ‘low-calorie’ and ‘low-sugar’ alcohol products and Australian women
The influence of commercial actors, practices and processes on the health and wellbeing of women is still not well understood. The alcohol industry has developed a range of products to appeal to new ‘health conscious’ markets, such as ‘low-calorie’ and ‘low-sugar’ products. While these products may have specific appeal for women, there has been little in-depth research that has sought to understand how women conceptualize these products and the r…
Supporting young people as genuine political actors in climate decision-making
When addressing the Petersburg Climate Dialogue, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres described anthropogenic climate change as ‘collective suicide’, stating that ‘no nation is immune. Yet we continue to feed our fossil fuel addiction’ (United Nations, 2022). Commercial and political power and decision-making are at the core of climate inaction, and governments continue to fail to comprehensively enact the policies that ar…
Women and the commercial determinants of health
There is growing recognition that commercial actors can have a significant impact in shaping health determinants and outcomes. The Commercial Determinants of Health (CDoH) are defined as ‘the systems, practices, and pathways through which commercial actors drive health and equity’ (Gilmore et al., 2023, p. 1195). Examples include how global market structures and systems contribute to the concentration of wealth in an increasingly small number of …
Global public health action is needed to counter the commercial gambling industry
The commercial gambling industry has become one of the most innovative health-harming industries of recent times. New digital technologies and affordable internet have enabled the rapid transformation of this industry and its ability to offer many high-intensity gambling products across the world (Akanle and Fageyinbo, 2019). These are readily accessible in land-based venues and online via mobile devices which are constantly available 24 hours a …
Strategies to prevent and reduce gambling harm in Australian women
There are increasing global concerns about women’s participation in gambling, and their risk of gambling-related harm. Limited attention has been given to the range of specific and tailored strategies that may be used to prevent and reduce women’s risk of gambling-related harm. This study aimed to understand how key informants in Australia conceptualised the risks facing women who gamble, and the range of tailored strategies that could be used to…
“It is always there in your face.” Australian young people discuss exposure to gambling activities and promotions
The normalisation of gambling for young people is a growing public health challenge. Despite initiatives aimed at reducing young people's exposure to unhealthy products, there is still little understanding of how they may be exposed to gambling. Using social exposure theory, this study aimed to explore young people's observations of gambling products and promotions within their everyday environments. In-depth interviews were conducted with 54 you…
Older adults' perceptions of the risks associated with contemporary gambling environments
This research supports the adoption of public health responses that include consideration of the environmental, commercial, and political factors that may contribute to risky gambling environments
‘You can’t really separate these risks, our environment, our animals and us’
Perceptions of the risks associated with the climate crisis are shaped by a range of social and political contexts and information sources. While some have expressed concerns about the impact of the spread of climate misinformation through social media platforms on young people, others have shown that the youth climate movement has played a key role in countering misinformation. Despite this, there has been very limited research with children abo…
Conflicts of interest in submissions and testimonies to an Australian parliamentary inquiry on menopause
Conflicts of interest (COIs) have the potential to create bias in research, policy and practice. Although disclosure cannot fully protect individuals and public policy from vested interests, it is an important step to support trust in scientific and public discourse, and transparency in decision-making. However, COIs are often unreported, underreported or difficult to identify. This study aimed to assess the extent to which COIs are voluntarily d…
Developing structures to support researchers studying health-harming industries
It is well-documented that health-harming industries and the groups they fund use a range of tactics that seek to interfere with academic research. With the development of scholarship relating to the Commercial Determinants of Health (CDoH), an increasing number of public health researchers are working to examine the activities of health-harming industries and the impacts they have on health and equity. However, there has been limited research in…
Community sports leaders’ perceptions of the risks and benefits of gambling sponsorship in community sport
Gambling sponsorship of professional sport, particularly relating to online wagering, has been a key focus of global regulatory reform efforts to address the normalization of gambling. In Australia, gambling companies and venues (including community clubs and hotels) also sponsor and develop relationships with community (non-professional) sports teams and clubs. In-depth interviews (n = 24) were conducted with senior leaders in community sporting…
Methodological and practical guidance for designing and conducting online qualitative surveys in public health
Online qualitative surveys—those surveys that prioritise qualitative questions and interpretivist values—have rich potential for researchers, particularly in new or emerging areas of public health. However, there is limited discussion about the practical development and methodological implications of such surveys, particularly for public health researchers. This poses challenges for researchers, funders, ethics committees, and peer reviewers in a…
Children, young people and the Commercial Determinants of Health
The commercial determinants of health (CDoH) have a significant impact on the health and well-being of children and young people (subsequently referred to as young people). While most research has focused on the influence of harmful industry marketing on young people, more recent CDoH frameworks have emphasized that a range of commercial systems and practices may influence health and well-being. Focusing on the impact of traditional and digital m…
Youth perspectives on the promotional and public relations strategies of health harming industries
Public health researchers have investigated how youth are exposed to and influenced by traditional forms of commercial marketing from health-harming industries. Limited research has investigated youth opinions about the broader marketing and public relations strategies of these industries. This study aimed to understand youth perceptions of the impact and influence of a range of marketing and public relations strategies used by health harming ind…
Young people’s views about the use of celebrities and social media influencers in gambling marketing
Young people’s exposure to gambling marketing has had a clear impact on their gambling attitudes, risk perceptions and consumption intentions. Celebrities and social media influencers (SMIs) are increasingly used by the gambling industry in a wide range of promotions. While there is evidence that these types of promotions are influential in shaping young people’s attitudes towards other harmful products, there is limited evidence in relation to g…
Australian parents’ perceptions of the risks posed by harmful products to the health of children
Cigarettes, alcohol, vaping and gambling products can cause significant harm to children and young people. The industries that make these products employ a range of tactics that aim to normalize their products and resist policy and regulatory reform. This includes ‘responsibility’ framing, in which parents are often held responsible for educating their children about the risks of these products. However, there has been very little research, which…
“Older people will die of old age. I’ll die of climate change”
Children and young people have the right to be involved in decisions made about the climate crisis which significantly impact their futures, including their health and wellbeing. They argue for structural changes to embed their views in climate decision making, and describe a range of engagement strategies and mechanisms to structure their perspectives and knowledge with decision making processes. Furthermore, genuine involvement of children and …
The role of alcohol consumption in the lives of older Australian women
This research provides a starting point for future public health research examining the factors that may shape older women's alcohol consumption beliefs and practices. Public health activities should consider the unique needs and potential vulnerabilities of older women drinkers, and how these may be potentially exploited by the alcohol industry
‘Industry still has too loud a voice’
Marketing is part of the suite of tactics used by the gambling industry and its allies to promote and normalize gambling. While there have been increased public calls for restrictions on gambling marketing, few governments have developed comprehensive policy responses to counter this public health threat. Consultation processes are widely seen as an important part of public decision-making and policy formation. However, there has been limited foc…
“It’s all about the money.” Australian women’s perspectives about menopause and the commercial determinants of health
With increased public attention on menopause, researchers have started to investigate the surge of commercial products and services which claim to provide solutions for menopausal symptoms. Few studies have explored the views of women about the commercial determinants of menopause. Using an online qualitative survey, this study sought insights from n = 509 Australian women aged 45–64 years about the factors that might influence the use of product…
“Menopause is not a dirty word.” Australian women's opinions about increased public attention to menopause
Women’s views about the use of gendered Corporate Social Responsibility strategies by harmful industries
BACKGROUND: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives are part of a suite of marketing and promotional strategies used by industries whose products and/or practices may be harmful to health and equity. These include the tobacco, alcohol, gambling, fossil fuel and pharmaceutical industries. CSR initiatives have included support for gender equity and empowerment initiatives, such as associations with women's organisations and charities, edu…
Engaging Young People in Action on Climate as a Public Health Issue
The climate crisis is recognised as a significant public health threat with a disproportionate and inequitable impact on the health of children and young people. Despite their successful engagement in public health advocacy initiatives, limited research has explored how to engage children and young people in such initiatives for climate. This study conducted a qualitatively led online survey with n = 511 young people in Australia (aged 15–24 year…
Psychology (19 works) · Qualitative research (18 works) · Political science (17 works) · Sociology (17 works) · Thematic analysis (17 works) · Medicine (16 works) · Public health (15 works) · Public relations (15 works) · Business (14 works) · Gambling Behavior and Treatments (12 works)