There is now substantial evidence that women can develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in response to a difficult birth. Consistent with the diathesis-stress model for birth-related PTSD, research suggests that the subjective appraisal of a woman’s childbirth experience may be a more significant risk factor than objective complications (e.g., emergency caesarean, forceps delivery). Birth related PTSD is also thought to have direct effects on infant mental health, as well as significant social and economic costs. This thesis explores the consequences of birth related PTSD symptoms on the mother–infant relationship, the individual characteristics that are risk factors for birth related PTSD, and evaluates an intervention aimed at reducing or preventing birth related PTSD symptoms. A significant robust association between birth related PTSD symptoms and poorer mother– infant relationship quality is demonstrated, emphasising the relevance of the research topic. Findings relating to risk factors and the intervention are largely contrary to what was predicted, which suggests that a more comprehensive perspective on birth related PTSD that encompasses external systemic factors is needed. The impact of COVID-19 on antenatal depression further highlighted the influence of external factors on maternal well-being. An integrated theory of birth trauma using the power threat meaning framework is proposed. It is recommended that women should be routinely screened for birth related PTSD symptoms, alongside screening for postnatal depression, and those women who are identified as having experienced trauma symptoms should be offered a referral to a perinatal psychologist or mental health clinician with experience working with trauma. Policy and practice in hospital and healthcare settings should be consistent with the WHO’s recommendations for intrapartum care, including respectful woman-centred care, where women can make autonomous, informed decisions. To achieve this, birth needs to be recognised as a psychological and physiological process with important social and emotional aspects rather than as a medical event.

The aim of this thesis was to contribute to the understanding and genetic improvement of meat quality attributes of beef, focusing on intramuscular fat and marbling characteristics. To further extend our knowledge, the proportions of individual fatty acids in the intramuscular fat of beef were specifically examined.

In Chapter 3, we compared two technologies used to analyse ultrasound images to predict carcass traits in the live animal, the Pie Medical Esaote Aquila (PIE) and Central Ultrasound Processing (CUP). Each technology was specifically evaluated for their ability to predict carcass traits, including IMF and marbling, for genetic evaluation in Australian Angus cattle. The results indicating that the CUP system, compared to PIE, provides an advantage for genetic evaluation of carcass traits in Angus cattle, particularly for the IMF and associated marbling traits. CUP predicted IMF was more heritable and tended to have stronger correlations with the breeding objective traits of carcass IMF marbling traits, both genetically and phenotypically, compared to PIE.

In Chapter 4, accuracy of selection and response to selection for the breeding objective traits of carcase IMF, AUS-MEAT marbling score and Meat Standards Australia (MSA) marbling score were generated by modelling seventeen different phenotyping and genotyping scenarios using selection index theory. The study showed, for Australian Angus breeders, the highest rates of selection accuracy and response (ΔG) will be achieved through using a combination of CUP phenotyping for IMF and genotyping with a reference population of related animals with carcase IMF and marbling score phenotypes. However, the value of ultrasound scan phenotyping diminishes as the Genomic Breeding Value (GBV) prediction accuracy increases, which is mainly a function of the reference population size.

In Chapter 5, we examined modifying the definition of Residual Feed Intake (RFI), by including an adjustment for IMF. The secondary aim was to further understand the genetic relationships between feed intake and a range of carcase traits, including IMF and marbling. This study revealed RFI can be redefined to account for traits, other than average daily gain (ADG) and metabolic mid-weight (MMWT), like IMF. However, due to limitations of phenotypic linear regression, and only small amounts of variation in feed intake being explained by the IMF traits, the redefinition of RFI was a suboptimal approach to breeding candidate selection. Furthermore, this study has confirmed the challenges with selecting for both feed efficiency and meat quality traits as they are generally genetically antagonistic.

In Chapter 6, we estimated phenotypic and genetic parameters for fatty acid traits of IMF that are prevalent in Australian Angus beef. The conclusion of this study being genetic selection can be applied in Australian Angus breeding programs to modify the fatty acid composition within intramuscular fat. More specifically, Angus cattle breeders can select breeding candidates to change the proportion of fatty acids from saturated (SAT) to healthier unsaturated fatty acids (monounsaturated - MONO and polyunsaturated - PUFA) within the fatty acid profile of beef.

In Chapter 7, we continue from the previous chapter by using genomic relationships to estimate phenotypic and genetic correlations between fatty acid traits in IMF and a range of production, eating quality and efficiency traits. The findings show the proportion of fatty acids can be changed from SAT to healthier unsaturated fatty acids (MONO and PUFA) within the intramuscular fat of beef without being detrimental to the common breeding objective traits of liveweight (FW), feed efficiency (RFI), carcase weight (CWT), marbling (CMAU, CMMS, CIMF), or muscling (CEMA).

The studies that form this thesis have contributed to the understanding and genetic improvement of meat quality attributes of beef. If the findings from this study are implemented by industry, it can benefit the whole beef supply chain, including the consumer, through genetic selection resulting in beef that has greater eating quality through marbling attributes, and improved health characteristics by modifying the fatty acid profile.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health concern impacting millions of women each year. Despite the pervasive nature of IPV, survivors continue to face numerous barriers in disclosing abuse and accessing formal support services. Consequently, most survivors make their first disclosure of abuse to an informal supporter, such as a family member, friend, neighbour, or colleague. The assistance provided by informal supporters aids in promoting better mental health outcomes, reducing the level of risk, and providing a safe pathway to formal support services. Despite the crucial role that informal supporters play in safeguarding survivors; little research has been conducted on their experiences. This thesis aims to address this gap in the literature, through a series of studies focused on the role of informal supporters in IPV.

In Study 1, a systematic review was completed, identifying the current understanding of factors that increased or decreased the likelihood of an informal supporter helping a urvivor of IPV, as well as the self-care strategies employed by informal supporters during periods of help-giving. The systematic review also considered the theoretical underpinnings of help-giving specific to the context of IPV and developed an integrated theory of IPV help-giving – the Model of Informal Supporter Readiness (MISR). Study 2 was an opinion piece hat considered the unintended consequences of mandated social restriction measures during he COVID-19 pandemic. This article highlighted both the increased risks experienced by urvivors during the pandemic and the barriers informal supporters faced providing help-giving. Study 3 operationalised the MISR, developed in Study 1, through the development nd validation of the Informal Supporter Readiness Inventory (ISRI). This study provided nitial support for the ISRI as a measure of the core components of an informal supporter’s readiness to help an IPV survivor. Study 4 further validated the ISRI for use within an Australian context. This validation supported its reliability and effectiveness in assessing the readiness and preparedness of informal supporters in IPV scenarios, supporting the ISRI’s robust psychometric properties and its potential as a valuable tool in enhancing IPV support strategies within a network-oriented framework. Study 5 explored the psychological and physical burden of help-giving and considered the need for greater screening and wellbeing supports for informal supporters. It highlighted the role of mindful self-care and social support as protective factors in mitigating psychological distress. Finally, Study 6 presented a perspective paper that integrated the findings of the above five studies and proposed an extended model of social network-oriented support, which incorporated a structured assessment of informal supporter readiness and greater consideration of their wellbeing to promote longevity in their support role.

Overall, this thesis presents an exploration of the multifaceted dimensions of informal support in the context of IPV. Through various methodological approaches, it highlights the vital role of informal supporters, the complexities of their experiences, and the necessity of assessing and enhancing both readiness and wellbeing. The collective findings of this series of studies emphasises the importance of a focused understanding of informal support dynamics, the utility of effective support readiness tools, and the need for targeted interventions that prioritise the mental and physical health of these supporters. This body of work not only contributes valuable insights to the field of IPV research but also provides empirical advocacy for a network-oriented approach to strengthen the support network for IPV survivors.

This thesis investigates the dynamics and determinants of environmental sustainability in SubSahara Africa (SSA), focusing on the interplay between financial development, environmental regulations, technology, natural resources, and renewable energy. The urgent need to address the region's environmental challenges, encompassing degradation, pollution, and climate change impacts, is emphasised. Through rigorous empirical analyses, this thesis assesses the impact of financial development on key environmental indicators, including carbon emissions, methane emissions, pollution levels, ecological footprint indicators, and natural resource depletion. Additionally, it critically evaluates the effectiveness of existing environmental regulations and policies through a comparative analysis of regulatory frameworks across various SSA countries. Furthermore, it explores the role of technological innovation in fostering environmental sustainability, specifically focusing on clean technologies, renewable energy solutions, and eco-friendly practices. By synthesising empirical insights, the thesis provides refined perspectives on the dynamics shaping environmental sustainability in SSA and offers actionable policy recommendations to address the region's environmental challenges effectively.

Chapter 1 introduces the thesis, setting the stage for the subsequent discussions. Following this, Chapter 2 investigates the literature review and theoretical underpinnings of the study, laying the foundation for the empirical analyses.

Chapter 3 (objective 1) investigates the impact of the development of financial institutions on environmental sustainability in Africa. Drawing on a distinctive panel data set encompassing 34 countries from 1980 to 2017, with carbon emissions serving as an indicator of environmental sustainability, we discover that enhancing the development of financial institutions leads to increased carbon emissions, especially about the depth of these institutions. Furthermore, our study supports the environmental Kuznets curve, heterogeneous slopes and shifts over time in the finance–emissions nexus. Our results remain robust to different model specifications. Our conclusions indicate that developing financial institutions and implementing pro-growth policies are essential for attaining environmental sustainability on the African continent.

Chapter 4 (objective 2) explores the regulation–technology–environment nexus in SSA, one of the world’s most rapidly growing regions. Using a comprehensive panel dataset of 32 countries om 2000 to 2022, we find that stronger environmental regulations and technological innovation enhance environmental well-being. Moreover, we identify stronger environmental regulations to be the catalyst of pro-environment innovation. Finally, we present clear evidence for a dynamic and nonlinear regulation–technology–environment nexus, ruling out one-sizefits-all policy approaches to environmental well-being. Our results remain robust to different estimators, measurements, and sample selections.

Chapter 5 (objective 3) explores the relationship between natural resources–environmental sustainability, and the mediating role of voice and accountability in African nations. We used data from 2004 to 2021 in 30 African countries (16 resource-rich and 14 resource-poor). We show that the results obtained using the System-GMM estimation method suggest that natural resources have a degrading effect on the environment across all African regions. Additionally, our findings indicate that an improvement in natural resource management positively impacts environmental quality, as demonstrated by the results from the long-run Panel Corrected Standard Error (PCSE) estimation method. Furthermore, voice and accountability (government policies and practices) do not significantly improve environmental sustainability in resourcerich regions; however, in resource-poor regions, voice and accountability have a positive impact on improving the environment, suggesting that effective policies and accountability can contribute to better environmental outcomes, particularly in regions with fewer resources. Finally, we demonstrate that resource-rich regions in Africa are associated with more detrimental environmental outcomes compared to resource-poor regions. Our study identifies issues related to sustainable development and governance, the absence of well-defined national policy guidelines, and weak institutions that impact environmental sustainability in Africa. We recommend the establishment of strong policy institutions that focus on environmental sustainability in the continent.