Else, David (2015) Inferential Confusion, Rejection Sensitivity, Mindfulness, and Men’s Health. Coursework Masters thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Men fare poorly when compared to their respective female cohorts on most indicators of physical and psychological health (Ricciardelli, Mellor, & McCabe, 2012). Assuming that iii Abstract reduced social support accounts for some of the variance between men’s and women’s health status, developing a greater understanding of how men function in significant relationships is vital for improving the mental health of men. Improved understanding of men’s relationship functioning contributes toward the mental health of men and the significant people in men’s lives, couples counselling efforts, and unhealthy cycles in significant relationships. To further understand men’s relationship functioning, the concepts of inferential confusion, rejection sensitivity, and mindfulness are explored. Of particular interest is the extent to which men’s confused inferences may account for variance in how they respond to potentially threatening relationship cues, or rejection sensitivity. Using a two part research design, quantitative and then qualitative methodologies were used to address the question of whether levels of inferential confusion were related to heightened rejection sensitivity, and whether these were mediated by levels of mindfulness (specifically acting with awareness and accepting without judgement). Study 1 used regression analysis to assess relationships between levels of inferential confusion, rejection sensitivity, and components of mindfulness in a community sample of Australian men. 115 surveys were used in the analysis which found support for a positive relationship between inferential confusion and rejection sensitivity; found support for inferential confusion but neither component of mindfulness as a unique predictor of rejection sensitivity; did not find support for either component of mindfulness to mediate the relationship between inferential confusion and rejection sensitivity. Study 2 used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) on two interviews with participants who volunteered from Study 1. Both participants displayed higher levels of inferential confusion but varied in their levels of mindfulness. Analysis generated thematic evidence for confused inferences playing a role in heightened relationship interactions with significant others along three main themes: “Not Good Enough’, ‘Women as Controlling/Interfering’, and ‘Battle for Moral Superiority’. Higher mindfulness was associated with less reliance on cognition and emotional avoidance, greater recognition for over-reactivity having the potential for harm, and more repair attempts. An explanatory model is proposed. These findings may have practical implications for people working with men in clinical, health, and relationship settings.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Coursework Masters) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Grace Pretty; Jan Du Preez |
| Qualification: | Doctorate of Clinical Psychology |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Sep 2025 01:36 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Sep 2025 01:36 |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52300 |
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