Globalisation is creating extant salary differentials across the South Pacific region, and this study explores their impact on emotional well being within the Indonesian education system. One hundred and eighty-eight local and expatriate teachers of English were classified into underpaid (n = 66 local instructors), overpaid (n = 60 expatriate instructors), and equitably paid (n = 62 local and expatriate instructors) groups, and completed a job satisfaction scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. Consistent with Social Equity Theory (SET), both underpaid and overpaid groups had significantly less job satisfaction than the equitably paid group. Moreover, compared to their equitably paid counterparts, the underpaid and overpaid groups experienced more symptoms of depression, anxiety, and hopelessness. These findings extend SET to both quality of working life and occupational mental health.

Australian national prevalence studies indicate that despite reductions in rates of smoking among younger secondary students, the proportion of smokers among older students remains unchanged in recent years and figures overall give cause for serious concern. This study examines the beliefs underlying adolescents' behaviour in relation to smoking and provides information about which beliefs should be targeted in persuasive communications designed to reduce adolescent smoking. One hundred and thirty adolescents in their second last year of high school were surveyed and results revealed that smokers were largely differentiated from others in relation to the perceived social consequences of smoking. They endorsed the beliefs that smoking would make them feel relaxed, gain personal enjoyment, look cool, and help with weight loss rather than beliefs regarding the health consequences. An important implication of the findings is that interventions may need to focus more on the perceived positive consequences of smoking, on changing social norms by correcting false beliefs about smoking prevalence and consequences, and by incorporating more skills-based components in prevention programs.

The extent to which 113 adolescent Malay women studying in Australia expressed the desire to lose weight was examined, as was the degree to which this desire reflected a genuine need to lose weight. Comparisons between participants who expressed the desire to either lose weight, stay at their current weight, or gain weight were made using both attitudinal and behavioural components of body image. An in-depth analysis of those who wished to lose weight was also undertaken. There was evidence that negative body attitudes were in excess of what actual body weight might dictate. However, these negative attitudes were not found to be consistently predictive of dysfunctional eating behaviours. Results were interpreted with reference to the potential influence of Westernisation in countries in the South Pacific region, and in particular how attitudes and behaviours are influenced by this process.

In order to promote cultural sensitivity in addressing mental health problems among the Chamorro people of Guam, the authors conducted a study aimed at exploring indigenous Chamorro alternatives to Western mental health theory. In tape-recorded interviews, thirty Chamorro participants shared their thoughts on Guam's psychosocial problems and the various ways in which Chamorros describe, explain, and address these problems now and historically. The resulting narratives were analyzed through a multi-layered process involving a number of Chamorro and non-Chamorro researchers and the participants themselves. In the spirit of participatory research, direct quotations from the interviews were woven into a synthesized cultural narrative highlighting a multiplicity of participant perspectives. This narrative examines substance abuse, violence, youth and family problems, and socially “bizarre” behavior in the context of cultural changes resulting from modernity and Westernization. The narrative also outlines Chamorro indigenous approaches to helping and healing, including family support, community support, and the use of traditional healers, as well as Chamorro views on Western mental health services. Discussion focuses on the role of mental health discourse in contemporary Chamorro culture.

Both locally and globally, human populations appear to be engaged in almost constant conflict in this new 21st century, offering ample opportunities for those who would help solve problems. In one remote part of the planet, Tanna in Vanuatu, conflict resolution is a near constant activity raised to an elegant art form. Big men and village orators deal with complex issues in a public forum frequently. Understanding the principles and the methods of resolving differences in another culture depends upon an in-depth knowledge of their historical and contextual background. In addition, observation of the spatial and temporal dimensions of actual meetings to resolve disputes provided the authors with a fascinating insight into the structure and dynamics of the inter-village systems. This paper initially examines selected aspects and themes of Tannese culture, including such concepts or bodies of knowledge as balance, reciprocity, politics, ethics, resource availability, kinship, genealogy and the practicalities of everyday living. Then, through presentation of several instances of conflict resolution, some of the non-western, alternative styles of conflict resolution noted, including for example, rapid resolution of differences, maintenance of balance and reciprocity, collective involvement, no imprisonment, and use of healing and ceremony, are discussed. These methods may have application to other cultures and peoples who are trying to resolve disputes within their own frameworks for living.

Psychologists have traditionally surveyed their public image using structured survey methods, such as specific questions and rating scales. In an attempt to assess Australian psychology's public image using a less conventional survey approach, a representative sample of adults were asked to draw pictures of what they considered a “typical” psychologist to look like. A basic content analysis of respondents' drawings (N = 119) suggested that psychologists were predominantly perceived as male, and middle-aged or older. Further perceptions to emerge are presented and discussed, along with both methodological and professional implications of the findings.

The effects of gender and individualism-collectivism on directness of refusal were examined on a Singapore sample. A 2 × 2 (Gender X Individualism-Collectivism) ANOVA revealed a significant interaction effect between gender and cultural orientation. Specifically, male individualists preferred more direct refusal strategies and male collectivists preferred more indirect refusal strategies compared to both female individualists and collectivists. Implications of the results and the limitations of the study were discussed.