FocUS-R

We often talk about stress as an individual experience, something that can be managed with better habits, better coping, better routines. But stress is not evenly distributed, and nor is the opportunity to manage it. This new preprint describes FocUS-R, a mixed-methods platform for listening to how people experience and manage stress in real-world contexts over time. A key feature of this work is the use of brief, repeated check-ins over months, allowing us to move beyond one-off surveys and begin to understand how stress and stress management fluctuate in everyday life. Using these repeated measures alongside open-ended responses, we’re trying to understand not just how much stress people experience, but whether they are able to translate strategies into effective stress management in their everyday lives. Early findings suggest something many people already know: people across contexts report similar strategies, but not the same opportunity to use them consistently. This work is only the beginning. It is a starting point for better measurement, and more importantly, for listening more carefully to how structural conditions shape what is actually possible. If you’re based in Australia and would like to contribute your experiences, you can still take part. 2026 is our final year of recruitment for the initial cohort, and we would love to hear from you. Preprint: https://lnkd.in/gr9p5Uqm Study info / join: www.focusr.com.au Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI)

We often talk about stress as an individual experience, something that can be managed with better habits, better coping, better routines. But stress is not evenly distributed, and nor is the opportunity to manage it. This new preprint describes FocUS-R, a mixed-methods platform for listening to how people experience and manage stress in real-world contexts over time. A key feature of this work is the use of brief, repeated check-ins over months, allowing us to move beyond one-off surveys and begin to understand how stress and stress management fluctuate in everyday life. Using these repeated measures alongside open-ended responses, we’re trying to understand not just how much stress people experience, but whether they are able to translate strategies into effective stress management in their everyday lives. Early findings suggest something many people already know: people across contexts report similar strategies, but not the same opportunity to use them consistently. This work is only the beginning. It is a starting point for better measurement, and more importantly, for listening more carefully to how structural conditions shape what is actually possible. If you’re based in Australia and would like to contribute your experiences, you can still take part. 2026 is our final year of recruitment for the initial cohort, and we would love to hear from you. Preprint: https://lnkd.in/gr9p5Uqm Study info / join: www.focusr.com.au Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI)

When stress starts swirling, try the Red Balloon Breathing Method. It may be just the pause button you need to calm down. 🎈

Yesterday, ideas met impact! 🚀 Fifteen University of Newcastle researchers took the stage at the Impact Ready Showcase, pitching their work to a packed room of industry and university stakeholders. A HUGE congratulations to our researchers for the courage, clarity, and craft you brought to the room. 👏 Your progress over the program has been sensational. 🏅A special shout out to the Most Impactful Pitch award winners, Rebecca Wyse and Emma Morris! We're so grateful to our program partners who have dedicated time over the past few months to help our researchers sharpen their engagement tools, and connect them with stakeholders who can supercharge their impact. The program and the showcase wouldn't have been possible without you! Ivan Waterfield and Boris Novak, BE(ELEC) GAICD from HunterNet Co-operative, Courtney Molloy from Central Coast Health & Wellbeing Living Lab, Kate O'Mara from Regional Development Australia Hunter, Chris Bird from ResTech, Amy De Lore and Bob Hawes from Business Hunter, Daniel Smith from TUNRA - The University of Newcastle Research Associates, along with Hilary Barton FIEAust CPEng EngExec, Marcus Hucker, and Josephine Vaughan. 🙌 Finally, thank you to everyone who joined us at the showcase, it was fantastic to see so many connections being made. This is exactly what Impact Ready is about. Bridging rigorous research with industry, government and community to solve regional and global challenges. Reach out to Lily Dixon if you're interested in learning more! Photo credit: Kye Smith #ImpactReady #UniversityOfNewcastle #HunterRegion #KnowledgeExchange Buddhini Ginigaddara Bethany Porteous Priscilla Tremain Caitlin Mollica Cui Ying T. Diep Nguyen Madeleine Hinwood Tuyen Nguyen Rohan Stanger Minah Gaviola Sheree G. Karen Ray PhD Brooke Williams Siobhan Curran Juanita Todd Warwick Dawson

The cost of living is already putting stress on many Australians, but could it also be making common stress management techniques less effective? Dr Madeleine Hinwood, a researcher from University of Newcastle and Senior Statistician at HMRI, has been tracking over 100 people for more than a year through the FocUS-R study, asking them about their stress levels and how they manage it. The findings reveal something important. Even when people use the same stress management techniques, such as yoga and mindfulness, socioeconomic factors play a major role in how well they actually work. With chronic stress increasing risk for cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders, and disadvantaged populations already facing higher rates of these conditions, understanding this pattern is crucial. The team is preparing to expand the research and work with at-risk communities to strengthen prevention efforts that address not just stress management techniques, but the conditions and resources people need to make them effective. Learn more and take part in this research: https://okt.to/IydDYm