Ruth Walker
Biographic Data
| ID | 3693210 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Ruth Walker |
| GIVEN NAMES | Ruth |
| FAMILY NAME | Walker |
| SIGNATURE | WALKER R |
| AFFILIATIONS | Flinders University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5936-1068 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 34 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 87 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 33 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1970 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Examining perceived ageism and age-related stereotypes as potential moderators of the associations between biologically based risk factors and engagement with life in older adulthood
How people experience their own ageing may impact how likely they are to remain engaged with life. This study examined (1) biologically based risk factors in the form of self-reported health and cognition, and (2) age-related stereotypes and frequency of perceived ageism as predictors of engagement with life and number of ‘close’ social connections in older adulthood. We aimed to move beyond studies focusing on direct links between ageism and psy…
Adults With Intellectual Disability Moving out of the Family Home Using the National Disability Insurance Scheme
For adults with intellectual disability and their families, future planning and moving out of the family home in Australia will increasingly occur within the context of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). As a market‐based, individualised funding system its impact on this transition remains largely unknown. This paper reports on a qualitative study involving 17 family members who supported an adult with intellectual disability to mov…
Using Inclusive Research Methods and the Housing Pathways Framework in Future Planning and Housing Research
Housing and future planning have been key areas of interest in intellectual and development disabilities research for a number of decades. However, the voices of adults with intellectual disabilities are underrepresented in this area of research. Furthermore, the use of inclusive research methods remains limited in the literature. This study sought to pilot the use of inclusive research approaches to investigate the viability of these methods and…
Self-Compassion, Stressor Exposure, and Negative Affect
These findings suggest that self-compassion in older adults should be conceptualized as both state and trait variables and that state self-compassion may be protective in the stress-reactivity pathway. Future research should investigate whether brief self-compassion interventions might help older adults to avoid or downregulate negative emotions in response to stressors
Sexual and reproductive health education in Australia
Young people tend to have low levels of sexual health literacy. The aims of this work were to explore health professionals’ perspectives of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education in Australia and what they considered should be the core components of SRH curriculum, particularly for Year 11 and 12 students. In September and October, 2021, health professionals (n = 12) with expertise in SRH, in Victoria, Australia participated in semi-struc…
Sexual and reproductive health education for young people in Victoria, Australia
Young people aged >15 years (Years 11 and 12 students) in Australia are unlikely to receive school-based sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education. The aims of this study were to gather the perspectives of young people regarding their experiences of school-based SRH education and explore what they considered should be the core components of this form of education for Years 11 and 12 students. A mixed-methods study involving an online survey …
End-of-life care for adults with long-standing physical disability from the perspectives of bereaved family members
This qualitative exploratory study provides insight into experiences of end-of-life care for adults with long-standing physical disability from the perspectives of bereaved family members. The challenges and positives for their family member at end of life, as well as their own support needs were explored. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with four family members: three mothers and a sister. Three themes were constructed from th…
Educating young people to graduate school with the ability to protect their sexual and reproductive health
Many young people in Australia leave secondary school with little understanding of sexual and reproductive health (SRH). This study aims to describe Australian teachers’ experiences when providing SRH education, map their use of resources, and explore barriers and strategies to increase students’ skills and confidence to protect their SRH. Quantitative data were gathered via an online questionnaire (n = 189) before qualitative data were elicited …
A behavioural activation intervention to increase engagement with life and wellbeing in older adults
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (Reg no. ACTRN 12621001192875). Trial retrospectively registered 6th September, 2021
Empowerment for behaviour change through social connections
Women valued their health and had a holistic view that includes physical, mental and social dimensions. Women viewed social connections with others as an opportunity to be listened to and to gain support that empowers behaviour change. Future interventions to promote behaviour change in preconception women should consider the importance all women placed on social connections and leverage off existing resources to connect women
Teachers’ perspectives of sexual and reproductive health education in primary and secondary schools
Fear and Uncertainty
In New Zealand, as in the UK, the surrogate is the legal mother of the child until parentage is transferred by the court to the intended parents. Social workers are responsible for assessing the intended parents’ suitability to parent and scrutinising the arrangement. However, courts almost invariably transfer parentage, regardless of their recommendations, with the result that social workers experience a significant amount of role ambiguity. We …
The Opportunity Cost of Compulsory Research Participation
Developing dimensions for a new preference-based quality of life instrument for older people receiving aged care services in the community
This research finds that quality of life for older people accessing aged care services goes beyond health-related quality of life and incorporates broader aspects that transcend health. The findings represent the first stage in a multiphase project working in partnership with older people to develop a new preference-based instrument of quality of life for informing quality assessment and economic evaluation in community aged care. In future work,…
Missing in action
A cardinal rule of academic research with human participants is to protect their confidentiality. While there are limits to confidentiality, universities and researchers will make strenuous efforts to protect the identity of participants. This is especially important where they are at risk of serious harm if confidentiality is breached. Yet, some researchers doing highly sensitive research have found themselves subject to encroachment by law enfo…
Care-giving dynamics and futures planning among ageing parents of adult offspring with intellectual disability
The number of older parents ageing in tandem with their adult children with intellectual disability (ID) is increasing. This unique situation calls for greater research that investigates how older parents experience this extended care-giving role, including the extent to which they are engaging in futures planning. Participants were recruited via disability service providers in South Australia. Using the theoretical perspective of hermeneutic phe…
Barriers and facilitators in supporting people with intellectual disability to report sexual violence
Purpose Evidence from Australia and worldwide has highlighted the ongoing marginalisation, discrimination, abuse, violence and neglect of people with disability. One of the main areas of concern is that despite such evidence there remain fundamental barriers for people with disability to report violence and/or access supports. Significantly few studies have canvased the perspectives of people with intellectual disability (ID), family members or d…
Is Aboriginal nutrition a priority for local government? A policy analysis
Objective The present study aimed to explore how Australian local governments prioritise the health and well-being of Aboriginal populations and the extent to which nutrition is addressed by local government health policy. Design In the state of Victoria, Australia, all seventy-nine local governments’ public health policy documents were retrieved. Inclusion of Aboriginal health and nutrition in policy documents was analysed using quantitative con…
Scoping review
BACKGROUND: The strategic importance of monitoring social determinants of health (SDH) and health equity and inequity has been a central focus in global discussions around the 2011 Rio Political Declaration on SDH and the Millennium Development Goals. This study is part of the World Health Organization (WHO) equity-oriented analysis of linkages between health and other sectors (EQuAL) project, which aims to define a framework for monitoring SDH a…
Does one size fit all? Assessing the preferences of older and younger people for attributes of quality of life
They really get you motivated
Long-term unemployment can negatively impact health and well-being, and is a central focus of governments seeking to address poverty and social exclusion. Little is known about how individuals experience programmes aimed at addressing long-term unemployment and consequently the client-centred indicators of 'success'. In-depth interviews were carried out with 31 long-term unemployed individuals engaged in a 'life-first' programme integrating vocat…
How older people cope with frailty within the context of transition care in Australia
Transition care is increasingly common for older people, yet little is known about the subjective experience of the transition care 'journey' from the perspective of clients themselves. This study examines how older people cope with frailty within the context of a dedicated transition care programme and discusses implications for improving service delivery. Qualitative in-depth interviews were carried out during 2011 in the homes of 20 older peop…
Social partners and momentary affect in the oldest-old
Links between social relationships and emotional well-being in old age are well documented, but little is known about daily life fluctuations in momentary affective experiences of the oldest-old while interacting with specific social partners. We examined associations between the presence of different types of social partners and moment-to-moment fluctuations in affect in the oldest-old, taking into account individual differences in gender, neuro…
Teach us how to do it properly!' An Australian academic integrity student survey
The results of a large online student survey (n = 15,304), on academic integrity at six Australian universities, indicate that a majority of respondents reported a good awareness of academic integrity and knowledge of academic integrity policy at their university and were satisfied with the information and support they receive. Response varied across cohorts, with international students expressing a lower awareness of academic integrity and acade…
Zombies in the Academy
Places and health
Social partners and momentary affect in the oldest-old
Links between social relationships and emotional well-being in old age are well documented, but little is known about daily life fluctuations in momentary affective experiences of the oldest-old while interacting with specific social partners. We examined associations between the presence of different types of social partners and moment-to-moment fluctuations in affect in the oldest-old, taking into account individual differences in gender, neuro…
Access and acceptability of community-based services for older Greek migrants in Australia
In most developed nations, ageing migrants represent a growing proportion of the older population. Policies that emphasise care in the community depend on older migrants having access to formal services along with informal support, yet little is known about how older migrants experience community-based formal services. By examining the views of both Greek elders in Australia and those of formal service providers, this research fills an important …
They really get you motivated
Long-term unemployment can negatively impact health and well-being, and is a central focus of governments seeking to address poverty and social exclusion. Little is known about how individuals experience programmes aimed at addressing long-term unemployment and consequently the client-centred indicators of 'success'. In-depth interviews were carried out with 31 long-term unemployed individuals engaged in a 'life-first' programme integrating vocat…
Teach us how to do it properly!' An Australian academic integrity student survey
The results of a large online student survey (n = 15,304), on academic integrity at six Australian universities, indicate that a majority of respondents reported a good awareness of academic integrity and knowledge of academic integrity policy at their university and were satisfied with the information and support they receive. Response varied across cohorts, with international students expressing a lower awareness of academic integrity and acade…
A comparison of widowhood and well-being among older Greek and British-Australian migrant women
Care-giving dynamics and futures planning among ageing parents of adult offspring with intellectual disability
The number of older parents ageing in tandem with their adult children with intellectual disability (ID) is increasing. This unique situation calls for greater research that investigates how older parents experience this extended care-giving role, including the extent to which they are engaging in futures planning. Participants were recruited via disability service providers in South Australia. Using the theoretical perspective of hermeneutic phe…
How older people cope with frailty within the context of transition care in Australia
Transition care is increasingly common for older people, yet little is known about the subjective experience of the transition care 'journey' from the perspective of clients themselves. This study examines how older people cope with frailty within the context of a dedicated transition care programme and discusses implications for improving service delivery. Qualitative in-depth interviews were carried out during 2011 in the homes of 20 older peop…
A gendered lifecourse examination of sleep difficulties among older women
Recent research has suggested that understanding and addressing the high prevalence of sleep difficulties in older women requires going beyond a purely physiological focus to address the role of social contextual pressures and demands. We take a gendered lifecourse approach to explore how sleep difficulties have evolved and how their management might reflect the position of older women in society more broadly. We conducted in-depth interviews wit…
Fear and Uncertainty
In New Zealand, as in the UK, the surrogate is the legal mother of the child until parentage is transferred by the court to the intended parents. Social workers are responsible for assessing the intended parents’ suitability to parent and scrutinising the arrangement. However, courts almost invariably transfer parentage, regardless of their recommendations, with the result that social workers experience a significant amount of role ambiguity. We …
Missing in action
A cardinal rule of academic research with human participants is to protect their confidentiality. While there are limits to confidentiality, universities and researchers will make strenuous efforts to protect the identity of participants. This is especially important where they are at risk of serious harm if confidentiality is breached. Yet, some researchers doing highly sensitive research have found themselves subject to encroachment by law enfo…
Barriers and facilitators in supporting people with intellectual disability to report sexual violence
Purpose Evidence from Australia and worldwide has highlighted the ongoing marginalisation, discrimination, abuse, violence and neglect of people with disability. One of the main areas of concern is that despite such evidence there remain fundamental barriers for people with disability to report violence and/or access supports. Significantly few studies have canvased the perspectives of people with intellectual disability (ID), family members or d…
There was Nothing to Say and Nobody Said It
The article focuses on the experiences of Gertrude Stein in France during World War II that is portrayed in her book "Wars I Have Seen." The book depicts a picture of her and her partner Alice B. Toklas as well as an emphasis on media technologies. The book reveals that Stein has been preoccupied during the war with disconnected telephones and addictive radio. It also discusses the impact of acoustic communication technologies on war writing
Life in the Air
Mothers' views on feeding infants around the time of weaning
Objective To describe women's views about aspects of infants' diets around the time of weaning, making comparisons with national guidelines. Design A survey of women with a 9-month-old child. Setting Adelaide, South Australia. Subjects Five hundred and five women who joined a longitudinal study during pregnancy. Results Sources of information varied, with written material most commonly used (37%). Cows' milk was considered suitable as the main dr…
Places and health
Food and nutrient intakes of 9-month-old infants in Adelaide, Australia
Objective To describe the food and nutrient intakes of 9-month-old infants. Design A survey undertaken as part of a longitudinal study of child growth and development. Infant diet was characterised through a structured interview in which consumption frequency and portion size of foods were obtained. This method was compared with a 4 d diary and had adequate relative validity. Setting Adelaide, Australia. Subjects Three hundred and forty-one infan…
Marking machinima
The model of learning best suited to the future may be one which sees learning as the process of managing the different kinds of participation an individual might have in complex social systems. Learning capability and engagement is thus dependent on the relationship between an individual identity and social systems. We report on the incorporation of machinima , a Web 2.0 technology, as part of an interdisciplinary and collaborative project where…
Access and acceptability of community-based services for older Greek migrants in Australia
In most developed nations, ageing migrants represent a growing proportion of the older population. Policies that emphasise care in the community depend on older migrants having access to formal services along with informal support, yet little is known about how older migrants experience community-based formal services. By examining the views of both Greek elders in Australia and those of formal service providers, this research fills an important …
A gendered lifecourse examination of sleep difficulties among older women
Recent research has suggested that understanding and addressing the high prevalence of sleep difficulties in older women requires going beyond a purely physiological focus to address the role of social contextual pressures and demands. We take a gendered lifecourse approach to explore how sleep difficulties have evolved and how their management might reflect the position of older women in society more broadly. We conducted in-depth interviews wit…
Zombies in the Academy
A comparison of widowhood and well-being among older Greek and British-Australian migrant women
How older people cope with frailty within the context of transition care in Australia
Transition care is increasingly common for older people, yet little is known about the subjective experience of the transition care 'journey' from the perspective of clients themselves. This study examines how older people cope with frailty within the context of a dedicated transition care programme and discusses implications for improving service delivery. Qualitative in-depth interviews were carried out during 2011 in the homes of 20 older peop…
Social partners and momentary affect in the oldest-old
Links between social relationships and emotional well-being in old age are well documented, but little is known about daily life fluctuations in momentary affective experiences of the oldest-old while interacting with specific social partners. We examined associations between the presence of different types of social partners and moment-to-moment fluctuations in affect in the oldest-old, taking into account individual differences in gender, neuro…
Teach us how to do it properly!' An Australian academic integrity student survey
The results of a large online student survey (n = 15,304), on academic integrity at six Australian universities, indicate that a majority of respondents reported a good awareness of academic integrity and knowledge of academic integrity policy at their university and were satisfied with the information and support they receive. Response varied across cohorts, with international students expressing a lower awareness of academic integrity and acade…
Scoping review
BACKGROUND: The strategic importance of monitoring social determinants of health (SDH) and health equity and inequity has been a central focus in global discussions around the 2011 Rio Political Declaration on SDH and the Millennium Development Goals. This study is part of the World Health Organization (WHO) equity-oriented analysis of linkages between health and other sectors (EQuAL) project, which aims to define a framework for monitoring SDH a…
Does one size fit all? Assessing the preferences of older and younger people for attributes of quality of life
They really get you motivated
Long-term unemployment can negatively impact health and well-being, and is a central focus of governments seeking to address poverty and social exclusion. Little is known about how individuals experience programmes aimed at addressing long-term unemployment and consequently the client-centred indicators of 'success'. In-depth interviews were carried out with 31 long-term unemployed individuals engaged in a 'life-first' programme integrating vocat…
Is Aboriginal nutrition a priority for local government? A policy analysis
Objective The present study aimed to explore how Australian local governments prioritise the health and well-being of Aboriginal populations and the extent to which nutrition is addressed by local government health policy. Design In the state of Victoria, Australia, all seventy-nine local governments’ public health policy documents were retrieved. Inclusion of Aboriginal health and nutrition in policy documents was analysed using quantitative con…
Barriers and facilitators in supporting people with intellectual disability to report sexual violence
Purpose Evidence from Australia and worldwide has highlighted the ongoing marginalisation, discrimination, abuse, violence and neglect of people with disability. One of the main areas of concern is that despite such evidence there remain fundamental barriers for people with disability to report violence and/or access supports. Significantly few studies have canvased the perspectives of people with intellectual disability (ID), family members or d…
Care-giving dynamics and futures planning among ageing parents of adult offspring with intellectual disability
The number of older parents ageing in tandem with their adult children with intellectual disability (ID) is increasing. This unique situation calls for greater research that investigates how older parents experience this extended care-giving role, including the extent to which they are engaging in futures planning. Participants were recruited via disability service providers in South Australia. Using the theoretical perspective of hermeneutic phe…
The Opportunity Cost of Compulsory Research Participation
Developing dimensions for a new preference-based quality of life instrument for older people receiving aged care services in the community
This research finds that quality of life for older people accessing aged care services goes beyond health-related quality of life and incorporates broader aspects that transcend health. The findings represent the first stage in a multiphase project working in partnership with older people to develop a new preference-based instrument of quality of life for informing quality assessment and economic evaluation in community aged care. In future work,…
Missing in action
A cardinal rule of academic research with human participants is to protect their confidentiality. While there are limits to confidentiality, universities and researchers will make strenuous efforts to protect the identity of participants. This is especially important where they are at risk of serious harm if confidentiality is breached. Yet, some researchers doing highly sensitive research have found themselves subject to encroachment by law enfo…
Teachers’ perspectives of sexual and reproductive health education in primary and secondary schools
Fear and Uncertainty
In New Zealand, as in the UK, the surrogate is the legal mother of the child until parentage is transferred by the court to the intended parents. Social workers are responsible for assessing the intended parents’ suitability to parent and scrutinising the arrangement. However, courts almost invariably transfer parentage, regardless of their recommendations, with the result that social workers experience a significant amount of role ambiguity. We …
Educating young people to graduate school with the ability to protect their sexual and reproductive health
Many young people in Australia leave secondary school with little understanding of sexual and reproductive health (SRH). This study aims to describe Australian teachers’ experiences when providing SRH education, map their use of resources, and explore barriers and strategies to increase students’ skills and confidence to protect their SRH. Quantitative data were gathered via an online questionnaire (n = 189) before qualitative data were elicited …
Psychology (23 works) · Medicine (20 works) · Sociology (17 works) · Political science (14 works) · Qualitative research (11 works) · Nursing (10 works) · Gerontology (9 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (8 works) · Social Psychology (8 works) · Environmental health (7 works)