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Examining The Relationship Between Park Design And Children's Park Use And Play Behaviours In London, Ontario Using Behaviour Mapping, Alyssa O. Aglipay

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Parks can offer an optimal play environment for supporting childhood development by encouraging the engagement of adventurous and diverse play. This study examines how park design influences children’s park use and play behaviours with the aim of identifying what features can be improved to better facilitate child engagement in adventurous play and diverse play types. Using London, Ontario as a case study, nine 1.5-hour observational sessions of behaviour mapping were conducted in each park. 248 play events were observed in Lorne Avenue Park, a hybrid natural park and 310 play events were observed in Carriage Hill Park, a traditional park. …

“Return To Play”: The Impact Of, And Changes To, Ontario Children’S Physical Activity During Covid-19, Monika B. Szpunar Ms.

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This dissertation explored parents’ and their children’s perspectives of returning to play/sport during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada, and assessed how children’s physical activity levels changed during COVID-19. To understand the initial impact of the pandemic, Study 1 (August 2020) explored the influence of family sociodemographic factors (e.g., housing type) and risk tolerance (using the validated Tolerance of Risk in Play Scale) on parents’ return to play/sport attitudes. Via interviews with parents (n = 9) and children (n = 12), Study 2 (December 2020 – January 2021) gathered participants’ experiences of getting active …

Interventions Based On Mindfulness For Socio-Emotional Skill Building In Children On The Autism Spectrum: A Systematic Review, Nethnie Thilakna Nandadasa

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Children on the autism spectrum are characterized by deficits in socioemotional skills. Previous research suggests that mindfulness is effective in improving social, emotional, and behavioural skills in a wide variety of populations. This review systematically investigated the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in improving social, emotional, and behavioural functioning in children on the autism spectrum (0-12 years of age). Furthermore, the current review discussed adaptations to traditional MBIs when implemented to children on the autism spectrum. MBIs as a potential evidence-based practice for the target population was also investigated. Eleven studies met inclusion criteria. Results indicated that MBIs led to …

Establishing The Minimum Clinically Important Difference (Mcid) Of The Quality Of Life In Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (Qolce-55), Mariela Leda

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (QOLCE-55) is a validated, parent-reported measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with epilepsy (CWE). The QOLCE-55 currently has no minimum clinically important difference (MCID), which is the minimum amount of change required to be considered meaningful to patients. The primary objective of this study was to estimate the MCID for the QOLCE-55 using the Making Mindfulness Matter© in Children with Epilepsy trial data. Parent-child dyads (n=66) completed the QOLCE-55 at baseline (week 0) and follow-up (week 9). MCID values for the QOLCE-55 were calculated using two types of methods: …

Adverse Effects And Pharmacokinetic Characteristics Of High-Dose Glucocorticoid Treatment In Children With Rheumatic Diseases, Renee X. Pang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This integrated-article thesis explores the impact of long-term glucocorticoid (GC) therapy on children with RD. Long-term GC treatment is potentially associated with severe adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Our scoping review summarizes the current evidence health-related quality of life (HRQOL) impacts of this treatment on children with RD. We describe the frequency of ADRs related to long-term GC treatment in a convenience sample of pediatric RD patients on long-term prednisone therapy and evaluate clinical characteristics that may be associated with risk for of GC-related ADRs. Lastly, we present a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of monitoring GC PK in children …

Return To Play: Impact Of Urbanicity And Socioeconomic Status On Parents’ Attitudes Regarding Their Children's Play And Sport During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kendall Saravanamuttoo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the daily routines of parents and children. The primary aim of this study was to explore the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) and urbanicity on parents’ attitudes toward their children’s active play opportunities 6 months and 1.5 years into COVID-19. The secondary objective was to explore how parents’ attitudes at 6 months related to the structured and unstructured play opportunities that children returned to 1 year later, while moderating the effects of SES and urbanicity. A sample of 239 Ontario parents of children (< 12) completed two online surveys (August – December 2020; 2021). In general, parents in communities with urban features (e.g., densely populated areas), single-parents, full-time employed parents, and parents of lower-income were more hesitant to return their children to active play during the pandemic. Findings from this work highlight SES and urbanicity disparities that continue to exist during COVID-19.

Perspectives Of Middle Eastern Immigrant Parents Regarding Accessing Healthcare Services For Children During The Covid-19 Pandemic In London, Ontario, Sarvenaz Mehrabi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, immigrants have been disproportionally affected and faced difficulties in accessing healthcare services. While it has been reported that the rate of pediatric healthcare utilization decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, the reasons behind this decline are unclear. It has been suggested that immigrant children might be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions regarding accessing healthcare services. This study aims to understand the Middle Eastern immigrant parents’ perspectives regarding their access to healthcare services for their children in the London, Ontario, area during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with an interpretive description methodology …

Using Spoken Narratives To Measure Listening Engagement In Children, Sarah Bobbitt

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Despite the rising popularity of audiobooks and podcasts, research on children listening to spoken stories remains in its infancy. In addition, the use of spoken stories could significantly improve studies of listening engagement in children. Thus, the present study sought to 1) explore how children aged 8-13 years engage with these novel media and 2) determine which stories might be most engaging to children in this age group. Fifty-two parents of children aged 8-13 years completed an online survey which asked about their children’s listening habits. Results of the survey then informed the development of four engaging stories (and two …

Piloting A Study To Examine Children’S Understandings Of Chronic Pain And Coping, Kristina P. Ferreira

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Many of our understandings of how children conceptualize and cope with chronic pain are drawn from adult accounts or extrapolated from research in adult populations. Accordingly, there is scant knowledge relating to children’s own experiences of chronic pain and coping. This study begins to address this gap by piloting a methodology combining arts-based methods with semi-structured interviews to generate data with children aged 6-13 years. Participants with chronic pain were invited to draw and/or photograph what represents a ‘good pain day’ and ‘a bad pain day’, before engaging in a tailored, semi-structured interview. Results, interpreted using a constructivist lens, contribute …

Long-Term Behavioural Problems In Youth With Childhood-Onset Epilepsy, Rebecca Grace Couper

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Children with epilepsy are impacted far beyond having seizures, as children with epilepsy often have more psychiatric and behavioural problems than the general population. Whether these problems remain at elevated rates in the long-term is unclear. This study revealed that the prevalence of long-term behavioural problems in youth with childhood-onset epilepsy did not differ significantly from the assessment normative data. Multivariable regression was used to assess associations of baseline and current characteristics with long-term behavioural problems. No associations with baseline characteristics were found, but current attitude towards epilepsy was associated with total, internalizing, and externalizing behavioural problems while seizure control …

Investigating Physiological Determinants Of Mental Health In Children With Cerebral Palsy, Daniela A. Testani

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background

Fifty-seven percent of children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience mental health symptoms including symptoms of anxiety and depression. Although CP is non progressive, secondary conditions can have progressive effects on an individuals’ functional abilities. Particularly, untreated mental health symptoms can negatively affect a child’s quality of life. Children with CP also experience fatigue, pain, poor physical activity, and sleep disturbances. The presence of these physiological symptoms, separate and in combination, may impact mental health; however, it has not been systematically examined. Identifying factors that contribute to mental health symptoms may prevent the maintenance of these issues into adulthood.

Objectives …

The Relationship Between Neighbourhood-Level And Family-Level Factors And Sleep Problems Among Children And Youth, Katarina Mckenzie

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

There is little research on the effects of neighbourhood factors on child sleep outcomes. No study to date has investigated the interactive effects of neighbourhood and family socio-economic characteristics (SECs) on child sleep outcomes. This study aimed to fill this gap. Secondary data analyses were completed on two samples (children and youth) from the 2014 Ontario Child Health Study, a cross-sectional, province-wide sample of 10,802 children aged 4 to 17. Multi-level modeling was used to assess the relationship between child- (e.g., age), family- (e.g., negative parenting) and neighbourhood-level factors and their relationship to sleep outcome variables: problems falling asleep, problems …

Validating An Observational Coding System For The Dominance Behavioural System (Dbs) In Childhood, Jennifer Mullen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The dominance behavioural system (DBS) is a biologically based system that underpins individual differences in motivation for dominance and power. However, little is known about the DBS in childhood. In a pilot study aimed at developing a behavioural coding system for dominance, a key facet of the DBS, we collected and coded observational data from 58 children, assessed at ages 3 and 5-6. Between these ages, dominance was moderately stable, to a degree comparable to other early child temperament traits. Consistent with study hypotheses, boys were more dominant than girls, and dominance was negatively associated with children’s behavioural inhibition, effortful …

Understanding Service Gaps And Support Opportunities In The Treatment Of Childhood Anxiety, Chelsey R. Masson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Globally, anxiety disorders represent the most prevalent mental health disorders in children and youth (Polanczyk et al., 2015), with an increasing number of individuals perceiving the need for professional help (Georgiades et al., 2019). It is unclear, however, where families are seeking help from, what barriers families are facing, and what services are being provided for effective management of symptoms. Two methods were used to investigate possible treatment support models; a questionnaire identified patterns in parental help-seeking behaviours and outlined perceived barriers to professional help, while a scoping review examined key components of parent/caregiver treatment models. Findings showed that parents …

Exploring Teachers’ Perspectives On Child Anxiety: Opportunities To Promote Anxiety Management Skills In The Classroom, Sydney Coleman

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of the current study was to examine how teachers identify and provide supports for students with anxiety as well as their perspectives on implementing strategies informed from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in the classroom. Data was collected from 11 classroom teachers in London, Ontario through virtual focus group sessions and an online demographic questionnaire. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: opportunities to implement CBT-informed strategies, barriers to implementing CBT-informed strategies, and current knowledge and resources. The findings revealed that teachers perceived that they are facing increased demands to support the mental health needs of students without appropriate resources …

Exploring The Feasibility Of A Concurrent Mindful Awareness Program, M3, For Children In A Community Setting, Alyssa E. Mueller

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study explored the feasibility of the Making Mindfulness Matter (M3) program for children. M3 is a universal eight-week, concurrent parent and child mindfulness program implemented in a community setting. The M3 curriculum includes mindful awareness concepts, social emotional learning, neuroscience and positive psychology. Ninety-seven children between the ages of 3-10-years and their parents participated in the M3 program. Children completed a mindfulness knowledge questionnaire pre and post-intervention and their responses to prompting questions related to using the skills at home were recorded. Parents completed the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning pre and post-intervention to investigate the efficacy of …

Neither Seen Nor Heard: Surviving Children Of Domestic Homicide, Alexis Winfield

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Domestic homicide is a critical human rights issue that continues to impact women, children, and families in Canada. Between 2010-2018, 662 individuals died as a result of domestic homicide, many of whom were mothers who left surviving children behind. This study examined the experiences of surviving children prior to, during, and in the aftermath of domestic homicide through quantitative and qualitative court and media document analyses. It was found that 136 children in Ontario experienced domestic homicide between 2010-2017. Domestic homicide impacted surviving children in all domains of functioning and was often associated with long-term adverse outcomes. Court documents revealed …

Individual Differences In Executive Functioning And Psycho-Emotional Well-Being And The Impact Of Acute Exercise On Children And Youth With Adhd, Madeline Crichton

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Short bouts of exercise can improve inhibitory control in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, individual differences among children with ADHD may impact the effectiveness of exercise interventions. We investigated how individual differences in inhibitory control, mood, and self-efficacy impact the efficacy of acute exercise among children with ADHD. Sixteen participants (ages 10-14) completed two interventions: 10 minutes of exercise and 10 minutes of silent reading (control). Inhibitory control was assessed prior to the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and after a 10-minute delay. Results suggested that participants with lower initial inhibitory control benefited more from exercise than …

A Novel Spatio-Temporal Examination Of Children's Accessibility, Exposure, And Engagement To Parks And Recreation Spaces In Middlesex-London, Ontario, Malcolm K. Little

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Children are spending more free time engaged in activities indoors, rather than in outdoor environments such as parks and recreation spaces. Parks and recreation spaces provide amenities that promote physical, cognitive, and social health among children. As it relates to the complexities of children’s living situations, properly measuring children’s levels of interactions with these spaces is poorly understood in geography research.

By examining various attributes of children, this thesis improves on the measurement of children’s levels of interactions with parks and recreation spaces. Research herein utilized household survey data, a high-resolution GIS dataset of environmental factors, and GPS logs from …

Children’S Perspectives On The Social Exclusion Of Peers With Behavioural Difficulties, Kayla Edwards

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Children who display externalizing behaviours are more likely than their peers to experience social exclusion. To better examine this topic, the perspectives of peers were investigated. Thirty-six participants were interviewed from a school in Southwestern Ontario. Participants were asked why they believe children with behavioural difficulties may be socially excluded by peers. Unique statements were extracted from the transcribed data. Participants were invited back to sort the statements into meaningful categories. Sorted data were analyzed using multi-dimensional scaling and cluster analysis. A five-cluster solution was selected as the best conceptual and statistical fit for the data. The clusters in this …

The Psychosocial Functioning Of Children With Chronic Health Conditions: A Meta-Analysis, Serena Thompson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Chronic health conditions are highly prevalent among childhood populations and lead to restrictions in everyday life. Previous research indicates that children and youth with a chronic health condition are at an elevated risk of psychosocial difficulties, including mental illness and social exclusion, compared to typically developing populations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the impact of chronic health conditions on psychosocial factors during childhood by comparing the psychosocial functioning of children with chronic health conditions and children without chronic illnesses using a meta-analysis. Specifically, three elements of psychosocial functioning were examined, (a) social-emotional functioning, (b) behavioural functioning, …

Investigating Children's Experiences And Participation In A Free Community-Based Physical Activity Program: The Grade 5 Act-I-Pass, Emma E. Ostermeier

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Physical activity is an important component of children’s health and development; however, a majority of Canadian children are not meeting the physical activity recommendations. This thesis aimed to identify the factors that influenced children’s enrollment and participation in a free community-based physical activity program, the Grade 5 ACT-i-Pass (G5AP). This thesis consisted of two individual, but interrelated studies. First, focus groups with G5AP participants were used to explore the factors that influenced children’s perceived physical activity levels and participation in the program. Second, a spatially-targeted promotional campaign was developed and implemented to help evaluate the impact of promotions on program …

Equity Considerations In Active School Travel Interventions, Alina Medeiros

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Active school travel has benefits for children’s physical and mental health, academic achievement, and the environment. Underscoring active school travel is children’s independent mobility, defined as their ability to travel around their community without adult supervision. Interventions have shown some success in reversing declining trends in active school travel and independent mobility. However, little is known about how interventions have varying impacts on different subgroups of children. This thesis identifies ways to increase equity in active school travel interventions by investigating how equity is currently considered in interventions and gendered disparities in children’s ability to engage in independent mobility. This …

Evaluating The Implementation Of The Centrally Procured School Food Program (Cpsfp) In Southwestern Ontario Elementary Schools, Mariam R. Ismail

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

School food programs can improve children’s health and well-being, while also creating economic opportunities for local food systems. Program evaluations of such interventions have always been done, but from the perspectives of their effectiveness. Yet, few have thoroughly examined the process or implementation practices of these interventions. The aim of this dissertation was to evaluate the implementation of the Centrally Procured School Food Program (CPSFP), a procurement and delivery-based school food program in Southwestern Ontario, that aims to improve elementary school-aged children’s intake of fruit and vegetables (FVs). Canada remains one of the few industrialized nations without a national school …

The Impact Of School Nutrition Policy On Diet Quality Of Children And Youth In Canada, Victoria Gaudin

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Improving diet quality is an important public policy initiative targeted to enhance population health worldwide. In this regard, school nutrition policy is an important means to promote healthy diet among children and youth. In Canada, six provinces implemented mandatory school nutrition policies at different times between 2005 and 2011. We investigated the impact of mandatory school nutrition policy on diet quality of Canadian children and youth using a quasi- experimental study design. Using 24-hour dietary recall data from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) Cycle 2.2 and 2015 CCHS-Nutrition, we constructed the Diet Quality Index (DQI). We used multivariable …

Exploring Elementary School Principals’ Perceptions Of Implementing Lighter Intensity Classroom-Based Physical Activity Following The "Step" Section Of The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines For Children And Youth, Madison Page

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Given evidence surrounding the benefits of light-intensity physical activity (LPA) and the amount of time that Canadian children spend at school, the aim of this study was to explore elementary school principals’ perceptions of implementing lighter intensity classroom-based physical activity (CBPA) outlined in the "Step" section of the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines. Implementation science suggests that elucidating stakeholder perceptions is an important step in promoting uptake. Principals (n=8) participated in semi-structured interviews to discuss perceptions around implementing CBPA as LPA in their schools. Data was analyzed using a thematic analysis. All principals were unaware of the Movement …

Challenges For Police In Safety Planning And Risk Management For Adults Victims And Children Living With Domestic Violence: Barriers And Promising Practices, Carolyn Anne Fraser

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This dissertation focused on how police services from across Ontario are employing safety planning processes and procedures with adult victims and children living with domestic violence and the effectiveness of adopting risk management strategies to reduce the risk of potential future violence by the offender. Police response in Ontario has been guided by procedures and processes that have been manualized since the year 2000 to manage and investigate offences of this nature. Furthermore, challenges and barriers to providing effective safety planning and risk management strategies were examined along with best practices that police services are incorporating to ensure overall victim …

Examining The Environmental Influences On Physical Activity Among Children In Rural Northern Ontario, Brenton L G Button

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Low levels of physical activity (PA) among children in Canada have been a primary health concern over the last decade. Higher levels of PA are associated with numerous social, physical, and mental health benefits, and research has also shown that different social, built, and natural elements of local environments are associated with varying levels of PA. Despite growing evidence around the connection between a child’s environment and PA, little research has examined the influence of the environment on the PA of rural Canadian children.

Broadly based on the ecological systems theory, this dissertation used data from the Spatial Temporal Environment …

Child And Adolescent Sleep Disturbances And Psychopathology In A Mental Health Clinic Sample, Aviva Blacher

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Sleep disturbances in children and adolescents (hereafter children) are associated with significant short-term and long-term impairments including more severe psychopathology, reduced cognitive functioning, and poorer general health. We know that children being treated in specialty mental health services are more likely to have sleep disturbances than community samples. We also know that relationships exist between sleep and psychopathology in children with specific disorders (e.g. ADHD, depression, etc.). However, few studies have investigated the relationship between sleep and psychopathology in a broad sample of children seen at mental health agencies. Both child factors and family factors may influence both sleep and …

Police Prevention Of Domestic Homicide: Missed Opportunities And Barriers To Change, Michael D. Saxton

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This integrated-article dissertation focused on the critical role of police in responding to domestic violence (DV) and recognizing the potential risk of adult and child homicides. The first study examined the police role in domestic homicide through an analysis of cases reviewed by the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee in Ontario, Canada. Homicide cases with police contact were found to have 1.6 times more risk factors compared to those without police contact. Cases also show an overall scarcity of formal risk assessments, even when there was prior police contact. The second study was a national survey on the types of …