Elizabeth du Preez

Community connection has been identified as a meaningful protective factor in the face of adversity for sexuality diverse1 (SD) people (e.g., Asakura, 2017; Craig et al., 2023). The latter includes...

Donor conception that occurs outside of clinical fertility settings is understood to be increasingly common, yet research on this practice remains limited. Drawing on interviews with eleven participants, this study explored the motivations and experiences of same-sex and gender diverse couples who used known donors and home insemination methods to conceive. While participants were parents of children conceived after the introduction of the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology [HART] Act (2004) in Aotearoa New Zealand, conception outside regulated settings meant they were not subject to the medical, ethical, or legal procedures implicit within fertility clinics. Four main themes were identified (1) Finding the 'ideal donor'- participants sought donors who were 'good' people; known donors were chosen to enable relational processes and facilitate ongoing connections, (2) Home insemination - perceived as affordable, personal, and offering greater agency; though revealing potential relational awkwardness, (3) Relationship planning/envisaged relationships: not the 'donor dad' - participants constructed donors as 'helping uncles' or extended family members with ongoing, contracted roles, (4) Lack of and need for knowledge, understanding and relevant support for self-insemination using known donors. This study highlights the need for accessible, evidence-based resources and psychosocial support to benefit and protect all donor conception stakeholders.

The aim of this review is to identify detailed descriptions of specific family processes and relational actions that contribute to and support well‐being in transgender and non‐binary (TGNB) family members. A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA‐ScR guidelines. Five databases (APA PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed) were searched for keywords relating to transgender and non‐binary identity, family processes and well‐being. The search was run in April 2025 and yielded a total of 1359 studies; 152 texts were selected for full review and 68 articles were included in the analysis. Basic content analysis was used to synthesise the results. Sixty‐eight studies were included in the final review and content analysis identified that families engage in three main family processes underpinned by specific relational processes; this appears to have a developmental trajectory for families adjusting to change. The three key processes are (i) actively seeking out education and support independently from the TGNB family member, (ii) acceptance and affirmation communicated through specific relational actions and (iii) engaging in advocacy on behalf of the TGNB family member inside and outside the family system. Findings suggest that future research should include TGNB adults and their family systems, and explore the perspectives of transfeminine family members, fathers as parents of TGNB people and TGNB people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Virtual running events (VREs) have emerged as participatory events and are projected to be a legitimate future segment in the sport event industry. This paper considers the most suitable market segment(s) with future intentions to partake in VREs. A Chi-Squared Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) algorithm, scarcely used to segment sport consumer markets, was applied based on various motivational factors that may drive VRE participation. Data were collected from 1,017 individuals who had participated in a VRE. Ten distinct market segments with varying intentions to partake in VREs were identified, uncovering at least six viable future VRE segments. Hedonia, perceived psycho-social risk, perceived price and VRE benefits were the strongest predictors of VRE participation intentions. The CHAID analysis allowed a detailed description of the relative importance of the characteristics within each segment, confirming the benefit of using this sophisticated technique to develop targeted marketing strategies.

Tourism participation operates within contexts and systems, including systemic racism, and it must be understood as deeply embedded within local historical and societal, as well as global power str...

Objective: The use of video technology in synchronous psychotherapy has increased over the last few years, with a particularly rapid uptake following the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. This systematic review aims to provide an understanding of the key ethical considerations when providing video-based therapy. Method: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement guidelines, a systematic review was conducted of 15 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Studies were grouped based on characteristics and aims, and a thematic analysis was conducted based on a synthesis of the findings. Results: Four themes were identified in the literature—applying traditional ethical concerns to video-based psychotherapy, unique security and data safety concerns related to the use of video and streaming technologies, the establishment of clear boundaries prior to therapy beginning, and the accessibility and suitability of video-based therapy. Conclusion: Focus areas for best practice were identified. Areas for further research include consideration of cultural safety, equity of accessibility of care, and ethical concerns in video-based psychotherapy from the perspective of the client.

Background: Studies investigating the relationship between travel motivations and destination choice are often unidimensional and hierarchical, presenting limited perspectives on traveller groups with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Aim: This study investigates the variations in travel motives versus destination choices given different income bands. It presents a nuanced profile of income group members based on socio-demographic variables and travel experience. Setting: South African domestic tourism. Method: Threshold regression was applied to determine whether 13 motivations changed toward six destinations given specific income levels. Data from the 2019 South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) were used and the weighted sample represented 42 573 093 South Africans. Results: The threshold regression materialised with between four to six breakpoints for most destinations. Fun dominated as a motive among lower income groups, as opposed to relationship building for higher income groups. Relaxation, as a known core travel motivation, did not lead to varied interest in specific destinations. Apart from motives, race and travel experience produced several significant differences. Conclusion: Income thresholds meaningfully explain variations in the relationship between travel motivations and destination choice. More effective marketing strategies should be built around travellers within overlooked markets. Contribution: The study provides novel empirical evidence that destination choice is non-linear and multifaceted. It applies threshold regression that has not been used in destination choice studies. Finer nuanced segments are identified and suggest an amendment to the travel career pattern (TCP) to accommodate developing and emergent travellers.

This study explored the influence of yoga on practitioners’ lives ‘off the mat’ through a phenomenological lens. Central to the study was the lived experience of yoga in a purposive sample of self-identified New Zealand practitioners (n=38; 89.5% female; aged 18 to 65 years; 60.5% aged 36 to 55 years). The study’s aim was to explore whether habitual yoga practitioners experience any pro-health downstream effects of their practice ‘off the mat’ via their lived experience of yoga. A qualitative mixed methodology was applied via a phenomenological lens that explicitly acknowledged the researcher’s own experience of the research topic. Qualitative methods comprised an open-ended online survey for all participants (n=38), followed by in-depth semi-structured interviews (n=8) on a randomized subset. Quantitative methods included online outcome measures (health habits, self-efficacy, interoceptive awareness, and physical activity), practice component data (tenure, dose, yoga styles, yoga teacher status, meditation frequency), and socio-demographics. This paper highlights the qualitative findings emerging from participant narratives. Reported benefits of practice included the provision of a filter through which to engage with life and the experience of self-regulation and mindfulness ‘off the mat’. Practitioners experienced yoga as a self-sustaining positive resource via self-regulation guided by an embodied awareness. The key narrative to emerge was an attunement to embodiment through movement. Embodied movement can elicit self-regulatory pathways that support health behavior.

This scoping review seeks to identify what community-based support is used by older sexually and gender diverse (SGD) people, that aims to improve mental health/wellbeing. A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley framework. APA PsycInfo, Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Scopus were searched. Key information was extracted and entered into a structured coding sheet before being summarized. Seventeen studies were included (41% observational qualitative and 35% observational quantitative). The most commonly used community-based support was lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) social groups. A range of practices were reported in five studies, including in SGD affirming religious congregations and mind-body practices. Two studies reported the use of formal programmes, with one based on a group initiative. Positive outcomes included feeling connected, improved social support and mental health, and coping with illness. Five studies reported null or negative findings, including a lack of acceptance. Most studies used categories for sex and gender inaccurately, and lacked detail when describing community-based support. The use of community-based support by older SGD people is underexplored. More interventions designed for and by this community are needed, along with experimental research to draw conclusions on effectiveness to improve mental health or wellbeing.

Best practice guidelines for psychologists working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer+ (LGBTIQ+) people and position statements against "conversion therapies" have been published internationally. These call for professional psychologist education to develop competence for work with this community, but studies show variability and lack of inclusion of LGBTIQ+ content in professional programmes in higher education institutions. A critical narrative review examined approaches to the inclusion of LGBTIQ+ concerns in the education of psychologists. A systematic literature search identified 33 papers for review. Synthesis of findings highlighted benefits and challenges of the cultural competence approach to LGBTQ+ curricular inclusion; a contested pedagogic space relating to religious belief, homophobia, and sexualities; a shift in psychology to include resilience-based frameworks of sexuality and gender diversity; and finally disaggregation of the LGBTQ+ umbrella with emergence of transgender and gender diversity focused research. Lack of research relating to people with intersex variations and the need for LGBTIQ+ representation/voices in this research area were evidenced.