Samantha L Thomas
Biographic Data
| ID | 3838088 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Samantha L Thomas |
| GIVEN NAMES | Samantha L |
| FAMILY NAME | Thomas |
| SIGNATURE | THOMAS S L |
| AFFILIATIONS | Monash University |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 27 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 130 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 27 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2008 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
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 …
A critical qualitative inquiry of the social practices of older adult gamblers
Older adults' participation in gambling is increasing internationally. Due to their lifestage, older adults may be vulnerable to gambling-related harm. When investigating older adults' gambling, researchers have mostly focused on the individual characteristics of ‘problem gamblers’. Less is known about the socio-cultural, environmental and commercial factors that may influence older adults' gambling behaviours. Utilising Social Practice Theory, t…
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…
Young people in Australia discuss strategies for preventing the normalisation of gambling and reducing gambling harm
This study demonstrates that young people have important insights and provide recommendations for addressing factors that may contribute to the normalisation of gambling, including strategies to prevent gambling related harm. Young people hold similar views to public health experts about strategies aimed at de-normalising gambling in their local communities and have strong opinions about the need for gambling to be removed from sport
Young men’s perceptions about the risks associated with sports betting
This study indicated that a range of factors may influence how young men conceptualise the risks and benefits associated with sports betting. Current public health strategies for gambling that focus on individual determinants and responsibility paradigms must be broadened to target the social and commercial factors that influence young men's attitudes towards, and engagement in sports betting
Gamblers’ perceptions of responsibility for gambling harm
Background Gambling has traditionally been conceptualised as an issue of addiction and personal responsibility. While there are now clear public health models that recognise that gambling harm is caused by a range of socio-cultural, environmental, commercial and political determinants, government and industry messages about gambling are still largely personal responsibility focused. Given the well-recognised issues associated with personal respon…
How Do People With Intellectual Disability Engage With and Understand Gambling? A Qualitative Study of Adults in Victoria, Australia
Objective: This study aimed to understand the factors that may influence how and why people with intellectual disability may engage in gambling. Method: Nineteen people with intellectual disability were recruited from a disability advocacy organization and participated in face to face, semi-structured qualitative interviews. Open ended questions were used to explore participants' gambling participation, recall of, and attitudes toward, different …
"You don't really see the dangers of it at the time." Risk perceptions and behaviours of older female gamblers
Weighing up the risks and benefits of community gambling venues as recreational spaces for people with lifelong disability
While many people with lifelong disability have positive experiences in pubs and clubs, some are vulnerable to the harms associated with risky products such as gambling within the venue. While it is important to acknowledge the positives associated with recreational facilities and encourage engagement in leisure activities for people with lifelong disability, further consideration is needed to ensure people are informed and protected from the har…
A comparative content analysis of media reporting of sports betting in Australia
Mapping the media reporting of sports betting is important in developing effective public health advocacy approaches. This study indicates that discussions about the marketing strategies utilised by the sports betting industry was still a main theme in media articles. However, discussions relating to sports betting reforms, in particular to protect individuals who may be vulnerable to the harm associated with these products and their promotional …
Creating symbolic cultures of consumption
This research suggests that the appeal strategies used by the sports wagering industry are similar to those strategies adopted by other unhealthy commodity industries. With respect to gambling, analysis revealed that strategies are clearly targeted to young male sports fans. Researchers and public health practitioners should seek to better understand the impact of marketing on the normalisation of sports wagering for this audience segment, and im…
I can sit on the beach and punt through my mobile phone
Obese people's perceptions of the thin ideal
‘You just change the channel if you don't like what you're going to hear’
OBJECTIVES: To investigate how gamblers interact with, and respond to, downstream social marketing campaigns that focus on the risks and harms of problem gambling and/or encourage help seeking. METHODS: Qualitative study of 100 gamblers with a range of gambling behaviours (from non-problem to problem gambling). We used a Social Constructivist approach. Our constant comparative method of data interpretation focused on how participants' experiences…
Obese Adults' Perceptions of News Reporting on Obesity
News reporting, in channels such as broadcast and print media, on obesity as an issue has increased dramatically in the last decade. A qualitative study, in which we used in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, was undertaken to explore 142 obese individuals' perceptions of, and responses to, news reporting about obesity. Participants believed that news reporting on obesity focused on personal responsibility and blame, and portrayed obese peop…
Challenging stereotypes and legitimating fat
This article contributes to scholarship on the cultural politics of obesity by providing insights into how people considered 'obese' think news media reporting should be improved and their views on ideas such as reporting guidelines and promoting body diversity. A thematic analysis of interview data identified the following themes: 'Challenging stereotypes', 'The limits of news', 'Individual responsibility' and 'Legitimating fat'. These themes ca…
Parent and child interactions with two contrasting anti-obesity advertising campaigns
Well-funded, targeted social marketing campaigns will play an important role in the prevention and management of obesity. It is important that these campaigns are comprehensively evaluated and are backed up with structural supports to enable and encourage population subgroups to act upon messages
"Don't eat that, you'll get fat!" Exploring how parents and children conceptualise and frame messages about the causes and consequences of obesity
What Influences the Beliefs, Behaviours and Consumption Patterns of ‘Moderate Risk’ Gamblers
‘I’m searching for solutions’
INTRODUCTION: This study explores what types of information obese individuals search for on the Internet, their motivations for seeking information and how they apply it in their daily lives. METHOD: In-depth telephone interviews with an Australian community sample of 142 individuals with a BMI ≥ 30 were conducted. Theoretical, purposive and strategic samplings were employed. Data were analysed using a constant comparative method. RESULTS: Of the…
The Role of the Fatosphere in Fat Adults’ Responses to Obesity Stigma
Obese adults face pervasive and repeated weight-based stigma. Few researchers have explored how obese individuals proactively respond to stigma outside of a dominant weight-loss framework. Using a grounded theory approach, we explored the experiences of 44 bloggers within the Fatosphere—an online fat-acceptance community. We investigated participants’ pathways into the Fatosphere, how they responded to and interacted with stigma, and how they des…
Any one of these boat people could be a terrorist for all we know!’ Media representations and public perceptions of ‘boat people’ arrivals in Australia
In April 2009 a boat (named the ‘SIEV 36’ by the Australian Navy) carrying 49 asylum seekers exploded off the north coast of Australia. Media and public debate about Australia’s responsibility to individuals seeking asylum by boat was instantaneous. This paper investigates the media representation of the ‘SIEV 36’ incident and the public responses to media reports through online news fora. We examined three key questions: 1) Does the media report…
Aids Assassins
The media representations of refugees who are HIV-positive often revolve around criminal transmission cases. This study examines the approach the Australian mass media have taken toward the case of two men from refugee backgrounds and how this stigmatizing language is unhelpful in discussions of HIV. An extensive search of the Factiva database was undertaken for all newspaper articles in the major dailies that mentioned “HIV,” “AIDS,” and “refuge…
How do obese individuals perceive and respond to the different types of obesity stigma that they encounter in their daily lives? A qualitative study
Do Health Beliefs and Behaviors Differ According to Severity of Obesity? A Qualitative Study of Australian Adults
Public responses to obesity have focused on providing standardized messages and supports to all obese individuals, but there is limited understanding of the impact of these messages on obese adults. This descriptive qualitative study using in-depth interviews and a thematic method of analysis, compares the health beliefs and behaviors of 141 Australian adults with mild to moderate (BMI 30-39.9) and severe (BMI > or = 40) obesity. Mildly obese ind…
Any one of these boat people could be a terrorist for all we know!’ Media representations and public perceptions of ‘boat people’ arrivals in Australia
In April 2009 a boat (named the ‘SIEV 36’ by the Australian Navy) carrying 49 asylum seekers exploded off the north coast of Australia. Media and public debate about Australia’s responsibility to individuals seeking asylum by boat was instantaneous. This paper investigates the media representation of the ‘SIEV 36’ incident and the public responses to media reports through online news fora. We examined three key questions: 1) Does the media report…
How do obese individuals perceive and respond to the different types of obesity stigma that they encounter in their daily lives? A qualitative study
I can sit on the beach and punt through my mobile phone
Obese people's perceptions of the thin ideal
Challenging stereotypes and legitimating fat
This article contributes to scholarship on the cultural politics of obesity by providing insights into how people considered 'obese' think news media reporting should be improved and their views on ideas such as reporting guidelines and promoting body diversity. A thematic analysis of interview data identified the following themes: 'Challenging stereotypes', 'The limits of news', 'Individual responsibility' and 'Legitimating fat'. These themes ca…
"Don't eat that, you'll get fat!" Exploring how parents and children conceptualise and frame messages about the causes and consequences of obesity
"You don't really see the dangers of it at the time." Risk perceptions and behaviours of older female gamblers
Obese Adults' Perceptions of News Reporting on Obesity
News reporting, in channels such as broadcast and print media, on obesity as an issue has increased dramatically in the last decade. A qualitative study, in which we used in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, was undertaken to explore 142 obese individuals' perceptions of, and responses to, news reporting about obesity. Participants believed that news reporting on obesity focused on personal responsibility and blame, and portrayed obese peop…
Aids Assassins
The media representations of refugees who are HIV-positive often revolve around criminal transmission cases. This study examines the approach the Australian mass media have taken toward the case of two men from refugee backgrounds and how this stigmatizing language is unhelpful in discussions of HIV. An extensive search of the Factiva database was undertaken for all newspaper articles in the major dailies that mentioned “HIV,” “AIDS,” and “refuge…
Being ‘fat’ in today’s world
Objective To develop an in‐depth picture of both lived experience of obesity and the impact of socio‐cultural factors on people living with obesity. Design Qualitative methodology, utilizing in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with a community sample of obese adults (body mass index ≥30). Community sampling methods were supplemented with purposive sampling techniques to ensure a diverse range of individuals were included. Results Seventy‐six indi…
Do Health Beliefs and Behaviors Differ According to Severity of Obesity? A Qualitative Study of Australian Adults
Public responses to obesity have focused on providing standardized messages and supports to all obese individuals, but there is limited understanding of the impact of these messages on obese adults. This descriptive qualitative study using in-depth interviews and a thematic method of analysis, compares the health beliefs and behaviors of 141 Australian adults with mild to moderate (BMI 30-39.9) and severe (BMI > or = 40) obesity. Mildly obese ind…
"I don't eat a hamburger and large chips every day!" A qualitative study of the impact of public health messages about obesity on obese adults
This study is the first step in exploring the ways in which we understand how public health messages about obesity resonate with obese individuals in Australia. However, much more research--both qualitative and quantitative--is needed to enhance understanding of the impact of obesity messages on individuals
‘I’m searching for solutions’
INTRODUCTION: This study explores what types of information obese individuals search for on the Internet, their motivations for seeking information and how they apply it in their daily lives. METHOD: In-depth telephone interviews with an Australian community sample of 142 individuals with a BMI ≥ 30 were conducted. Theoretical, purposive and strategic samplings were employed. Data were analysed using a constant comparative method. RESULTS: Of the…
The Role of the Fatosphere in Fat Adults’ Responses to Obesity Stigma
Obese adults face pervasive and repeated weight-based stigma. Few researchers have explored how obese individuals proactively respond to stigma outside of a dominant weight-loss framework. Using a grounded theory approach, we explored the experiences of 44 bloggers within the Fatosphere—an online fat-acceptance community. We investigated participants’ pathways into the Fatosphere, how they responded to and interacted with stigma, and how they des…
Any one of these boat people could be a terrorist for all we know!’ Media representations and public perceptions of ‘boat people’ arrivals in Australia
In April 2009 a boat (named the ‘SIEV 36’ by the Australian Navy) carrying 49 asylum seekers exploded off the north coast of Australia. Media and public debate about Australia’s responsibility to individuals seeking asylum by boat was instantaneous. This paper investigates the media representation of the ‘SIEV 36’ incident and the public responses to media reports through online news fora. We examined three key questions: 1) Does the media report…
Aids Assassins
The media representations of refugees who are HIV-positive often revolve around criminal transmission cases. This study examines the approach the Australian mass media have taken toward the case of two men from refugee backgrounds and how this stigmatizing language is unhelpful in discussions of HIV. An extensive search of the Factiva database was undertaken for all newspaper articles in the major dailies that mentioned “HIV,” “AIDS,” and “refuge…
How do obese individuals perceive and respond to the different types of obesity stigma that they encounter in their daily lives? A qualitative study
What Influences the Beliefs, Behaviours and Consumption Patterns of ‘Moderate Risk’ Gamblers
Parent and child interactions with two contrasting anti-obesity advertising campaigns
Well-funded, targeted social marketing campaigns will play an important role in the prevention and management of obesity. It is important that these campaigns are comprehensively evaluated and are backed up with structural supports to enable and encourage population subgroups to act upon messages
"Don't eat that, you'll get fat!" Exploring how parents and children conceptualise and frame messages about the causes and consequences of obesity
‘You just change the channel if you don't like what you're going to hear’
OBJECTIVES: To investigate how gamblers interact with, and respond to, downstream social marketing campaigns that focus on the risks and harms of problem gambling and/or encourage help seeking. METHODS: Qualitative study of 100 gamblers with a range of gambling behaviours (from non-problem to problem gambling). We used a Social Constructivist approach. Our constant comparative method of data interpretation focused on how participants' experiences…
Obese Adults' Perceptions of News Reporting on Obesity
News reporting, in channels such as broadcast and print media, on obesity as an issue has increased dramatically in the last decade. A qualitative study, in which we used in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, was undertaken to explore 142 obese individuals' perceptions of, and responses to, news reporting about obesity. Participants believed that news reporting on obesity focused on personal responsibility and blame, and portrayed obese peop…
Challenging stereotypes and legitimating fat
This article contributes to scholarship on the cultural politics of obesity by providing insights into how people considered 'obese' think news media reporting should be improved and their views on ideas such as reporting guidelines and promoting body diversity. A thematic analysis of interview data identified the following themes: 'Challenging stereotypes', 'The limits of news', 'Individual responsibility' and 'Legitimating fat'. These themes ca…
Creating symbolic cultures of consumption
This research suggests that the appeal strategies used by the sports wagering industry are similar to those strategies adopted by other unhealthy commodity industries. With respect to gambling, analysis revealed that strategies are clearly targeted to young male sports fans. Researchers and public health practitioners should seek to better understand the impact of marketing on the normalisation of sports wagering for this audience segment, and im…
I can sit on the beach and punt through my mobile phone
Obese people's perceptions of the thin ideal
A comparative content analysis of media reporting of sports betting in Australia
Mapping the media reporting of sports betting is important in developing effective public health advocacy approaches. This study indicates that discussions about the marketing strategies utilised by the sports betting industry was still a main theme in media articles. However, discussions relating to sports betting reforms, in particular to protect individuals who may be vulnerable to the harm associated with these products and their promotional …
Weighing up the risks and benefits of community gambling venues as recreational spaces for people with lifelong disability
While many people with lifelong disability have positive experiences in pubs and clubs, some are vulnerable to the harms associated with risky products such as gambling within the venue. While it is important to acknowledge the positives associated with recreational facilities and encourage engagement in leisure activities for people with lifelong disability, further consideration is needed to ensure people are informed and protected from the har…
How Do People With Intellectual Disability Engage With and Understand Gambling? A Qualitative Study of Adults in Victoria, Australia
Objective: This study aimed to understand the factors that may influence how and why people with intellectual disability may engage in gambling. Method: Nineteen people with intellectual disability were recruited from a disability advocacy organization and participated in face to face, semi-structured qualitative interviews. Open ended questions were used to explore participants' gambling participation, recall of, and attitudes toward, different …
"You don't really see the dangers of it at the time." Risk perceptions and behaviours of older female gamblers
Young people in Australia discuss strategies for preventing the normalisation of gambling and reducing gambling harm
This study demonstrates that young people have important insights and provide recommendations for addressing factors that may contribute to the normalisation of gambling, including strategies to prevent gambling related harm. Young people hold similar views to public health experts about strategies aimed at de-normalising gambling in their local communities and have strong opinions about the need for gambling to be removed from sport
Young men’s perceptions about the risks associated with sports betting
This study indicated that a range of factors may influence how young men conceptualise the risks and benefits associated with sports betting. Current public health strategies for gambling that focus on individual determinants and responsibility paradigms must be broadened to target the social and commercial factors that influence young men's attitudes towards, and engagement in sports betting
Gamblers’ perceptions of responsibility for gambling harm
Background Gambling has traditionally been conceptualised as an issue of addiction and personal responsibility. While there are now clear public health models that recognise that gambling harm is caused by a range of socio-cultural, environmental, commercial and political determinants, government and industry messages about gambling are still largely personal responsibility focused. Given the well-recognised issues associated with personal respon…
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…
Psychology (24 works) · Medicine (22 works) · Social Psychology (19 works) · Sociology (19 works) · Qualitative research (17 works) · Gambling Behavior and Treatments (13 works) · Social Psychology (13 works) · Perception (12 works) · Public health (12 works) · Obesity and Health Practices (11 works)