Research

My overarching research focus is on resilience, well-being, and self-esteem, coming from a strengths perspective (that is, let’s enhance what you’re doing right, rather than focus on what you’re doing not so well).

Hestia

The Hestia Project examines contemporary issues in Australian families. Recent projects include what factor, or combination of factors, of resilience, social support, and self-esteem contribute to life satisfaction in Australian parents (specifically, teenage parents, mothers of advanced maternal age, single mothers, single fathers, step-parents, parents who identify as LGBTQI+, parents of large families, parents of a child with disability, and parents who live in rural, remote, and regional areas), and what are the life experiences of these parents; what are the experiences of people who have one child; what are the experiences of biological parents in a step-family relationship; fathers at birth; the impact of birth on “good mothering”; stigma and parents of children diagnosed as ADHD; and, motherless mothers. If you would like a copy of research results when they come available, or if you are interested in participating in future research, please register your interest at http://www.tinyurl.com/bhhestia. 

Astarte

The Astarte Project examines people without children (whether by choice or circumstance) in Australia. The pilot study was conducted in two parts. The first was a qualitative study of 330 participants, 250 voluntarily childfree (206 female, 44 male) and 80 involuntarily childless (69 female, 11 male). The second stage was a quantitative study of 145 voluntarily childfree Australians and their life satisfaction. I am now embarking on a new project that will examine people who are voluntarily childfree in Australia, and their life experiences compared to the involuntarily childless, and parents. It will later look at life satisfaction and wellbeing amongst these groups, from a strengths perspective: what aspects, such as optimism and resilience, contribute to life satisfaction, for example. The first phase of this research is now under way. I am currently analysing the qualitative data from 249 participants (if you participated, thank you, I look forward to hearing your story). In 2018 I will be conducting in depth life story interviews with approximately 30 people. These experiences will then help inform the quantitative stage of the project. If you are interested in participating in this study, or you would like a copy of research results when they come available, please register your interest at http://www.tinyurl.com/bhastarte. 

Paidia

The Paidia Project examines aspects of play and early childhood programs, such as playgroup. I research the importance of play in child development, and inhibitors and encouragers of play. My most recent research has examined the prevalence of unstructured play amongst four year old children in Australia, and amongst five to nine year old children in Australia. Other studies have examined how mothers supervise their children during play, and factors that contribute to active transport. I have also examined various aspects of playgroup, such as why mothers go (or do not go) to playgroup, social capital in playgroups, how parenting styles are affected by playgroup, and support for refugee mothers and playgroup. If you are interested in participating in this study, or you would like a copy of research results when they come available, please register your interest at http://www.tinyurl.com/bhpaidia. 

Aceso

The Aceso Project is a five year research project that examines non-vaccination amongst Australian parents. It has several sub-projects, including the reasons parents choose not to vaccinate, social attitudes towards vaccination (or non-vaccination), why there are pockets of non-vaccinators, and the lifestyle and health attitudes of non-vaccinators. Various cohorts will be studied, including parents who do not vaccinate, parents who partially vaccinate, parents who do vaccinate, and early childhood education providers. If you are interested in participating in this study, or you would like a copy of research results when they come available, please register your interest at http://www.tinyurl.com/bhaceso.

Further Information

For further information on any of these studies, please contact me via email drbharman@gmail.com