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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™

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Counseling Psychology

Western University

2014

Articles 1 - 14 of 14

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Adolescents Experiences With Cyberbullying: A Mixed Methods Analysis, Nasim Shojayi Apr 2014

Adolescents Experiences With Cyberbullying: A Mixed Methods Analysis, Nasim Shojayi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study investigated gender differences in cyberbullying and the relationship between perpetrators and victims and asked the following research questions: Are there differences in who engages in cyberbullying more often, based on one’s gender? Are there differences in perceptions of reporting, when a cyberbully is a friend or stranger? Why or why not, would adolescents report one source over the other? Data was collected from 70 students, ages 16 to 18-years-old (42 females, 28 males), in a public secondary school in Southwestern Ontario. A mixed methodology was utilized. Quantitative data from the Cyberbullying Student Survey was analyzed, and qualitative data …

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Reporting Sexual Violence In School: Pre-Service Teachers’ Attitude And Behaviours, Ronit Futerman Apr 2014

Reporting Sexual Violence In School: Pre-Service Teachers’ Attitude And Behaviours, Ronit Futerman

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The present study examined pre-service teachers’ attitudes and behaviours toward reporting students’ disclosure of sexual violence. Sexual violence is a broad term that describes any violent, physical or psychological act, carried out through sexual means or by targeting sexuality (Baker, Campbell & Straatman, 2012). Teachers play a significant role in recognizing and reporting acts of victimization, as they are among those who are trained to detect and label signs of victimization (Anagnostopoulos, Buchanan, Pereira & Lichty, 2009). For the purpose of this study, a sample of 190 University of Western Ontario Bachelor of Education students completed a questionnaire measuring attitudes …

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Reporting Child Exposure To Domestic Violence: Pre-Service Teachers’ Attitudes And Behaviours, Katherine Vink Apr 2014

Reporting Child Exposure To Domestic Violence: Pre-Service Teachers’ Attitudes And Behaviours, Katherine Vink

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The present study examined pre-service teachers’ attitudes and behaviours toward reporting child exposure to domestic violence. Domestic violence exposure is defined as being within sight or sound of violence (Edleson et al., 2007). Due to their daily contact, teachers are in a unique position of being able to recognize children who are exposed to domestic violence, as they are amongst the first individuals to recognize warning signs and changes in behaviour including appearance, attitude, and academic performance (Byrne & Taylor, 2007). A sample of 190 University of Western Ontario Bachelor of Education students completed a questionnaire measuring attitudes and beliefs …

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Ambiguous Loss For Caregivers Of Family Members With Dementia, Ashleigh Vella Apr 2014

Ambiguous Loss For Caregivers Of Family Members With Dementia, Ashleigh Vella

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study examined the grief of spousal caregivers, specifically pertaining to how grief reactions and losses shift over the progression of the Alzheimer disease and related dementias, and how caregivers experience ambiguous loss. Five caregivers of spouses with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias participated in this study, recruited from the Alzheimer’s Society of London and Middlesex and the Alzheimer Outreach Services of McCormick Home. This was a descriptive field study using a qualitative approach to discover each participant’s experiences, which was complimented with two quantitative measures. The findings of this study were consistent with previous research regarding the changes in …

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Secondary Traumatic Stress And Alexithymia In High-Risk Professionals, Matthew R. J. Vandermeer Apr 2014

Secondary Traumatic Stress And Alexithymia In High-Risk Professionals, Matthew R. J. Vandermeer

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study investigated the role that cognitive deficits in emotional processing (i.e., alexithymia) play in the development of traumatic responses, such as secondary traumatic stress (STS), following work with clients who have experienced trauma. Using a prospective cohort of novice counselling psychology and pre-service education students, participants were measured for traits of alexithymia and STS before and after their first practicum placements. Elevated rates of STS consistent with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder were identified in participants following initial practicum placement. Correlation analyses demonstrated that alexithymia and alexithymia symptom clusters were significantly, and robustly, associated with STS and STS …

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Obtaining A Diagnosis Of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Experiences Of Caregivers And Professionals, Erica R. Lundberg Apr 2014

Obtaining A Diagnosis Of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Experiences Of Caregivers And Professionals, Erica R. Lundberg

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The current study describes the lived experiences of stakeholders in a community-based fetal alcohol spectrum disorders assessment clinic. A qualitative methodology was used. Five participants, one caregiver and four professionals, were interviewed about their experiences. Six themes emerged from this process including: clinic organization: systemic strengths and challenges; attitudes and approach: laying the foundation; beyond yes or no: assessment and diagnosis; the moment of truth: delivering the diagnosis; outcomes: what happens after the diagnosis?; what does the future hold? next steps and needs. These themes formed a sequential story-telling of participant experience. Study results are critiqued and practical implications are …

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Children's Voices In A School-Based Mental Health Needs Assessment, Shannon Byrne Apr 2014

Children's Voices In A School-Based Mental Health Needs Assessment, Shannon Byrne

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

As a part of a larger community mental health needs assessment, grade four students’ experiences of emotions related to mental health constructs were examined using photovoice methodology. Descriptive statistics from a large-scale survey were included to add context to the findings. The overall purpose of the study aimed to: (a) inform the school-based mental healthcare initiative that will be implemented in the school of the participants, and (b) add to the literature regarding children’s self-reported experiences of emotions. Photovoice allowed participants to visually represent their experiences and engage in dialogue about emotions linked to mental health and illness. Discussion questions …

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Childhood Abuse And Neglect: A Profile Of Associated Risk Factors For Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, Jennifer P. Gomez Mar 2014

Childhood Abuse And Neglect: A Profile Of Associated Risk Factors For Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, Jennifer P. Gomez

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the intentional destruction of body tissue without suicidal intent and for purposes not socially sanctioned. Approximately 14 to 17% of nonclinical adolescent populationss and over 40% of clinical adolescent populations use NSSI to cope. NSSI is consistently related to childhood maltreatment and the objective of this study was to examine differences between maltreated individuals who do and do not self-injure. Groups were compared on risk factors of childhood maltreatment and self-injury with the intent of creating a risk profile for NSSI. Participants who had experienced abuse/neglect scored higher on depression than a contrast group, regardless of …

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Technology Based Mental Health Support Strategies For Youth, Kathleen S. Larion Mar 2014

Technology Based Mental Health Support Strategies For Youth, Kathleen S. Larion

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this study was to investigate youth mental health concerns and technology based support strategies from the perspective of local youth. Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with a group of youth who attend area high schools and postsecondary institutions. The youth were asked two main questions: 1) What mental health problems do you think youth are experiencing? 2) What are some support strategies that youth can use, particularly in the school system, that are technology based? During the second focus group interview the youth were given a list of their responses and asked to organize them into …

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Mental Health And Safety In Schools: Children’S Perceptions And Experiences, Larissa K. Pipe Mar 2014

Mental Health And Safety In Schools: Children’S Perceptions And Experiences, Larissa K. Pipe

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The current study employed an exploratory analysis of children’s perceptions of safety, mental health and experiences with bullying in school. Secondary data from surveys administered to a Southwestern Ontario school board was used to gather frequency data in addition to exploring the associations between mental health, feelings of safety and experiences with bullying. Furthermore, a photovoice component was administered in a select school, intended to gain a deeper understanding of what leads children to feel safe and unsafe, while in school. Results highlight the number of children experiencing mental health concerns as well as the importance of support systems for …

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Establishing School Safety: Lessons Learned From A High Needs School, Jacqueline Lau Mar 2014

Establishing School Safety: Lessons Learned From A High Needs School, Jacqueline Lau

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Various social determinants hinder children's optimal functioning, particularly, poverty. This study explored students’ perceptions of school safety, bullying behaviour, and school programming in a high needs school. Student responses on the Safe Schools Survey were analyzed and the effect of poverty on students’ perceptions of school safety and bullying behaviour were tested. The school’s bullying initiatives were assessed with the Safe Schools Checklist to determine the degree to which provincial- and board-level as well as evidence-based recommendations for safe schools were met. Three themes emerged from interviews with school personnel: 1) The school’s knowledge on the impact of the community …

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Assessing And Responding To Parental Alienation Cases: Does Gender Matter In Canadian Court Decisions?, Bryanne M. Harris Mar 2014

Assessing And Responding To Parental Alienation Cases: Does Gender Matter In Canadian Court Decisions?, Bryanne M. Harris

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The present study examined gender bias within Canadian court cases citing parental alienation. This bias was investigated through close examination of the role of gender of parents (i.e., differences between mothers and fathers), children, legal professionals (i.e., judges) and mental health professionals (i.e., custody evaluators) in identifying the presence of parental alienation and using that information as a factor in the final court decision. A sample of 100 Canadian court cases citing parental alienation between 2010 and 2012 were extensively reviewed and coded for extensive predetermined criteria related to gender including, but not limited to: gender of judge, custody evaluator, …

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Early Adolescents' Experiences Of Mental Health: A Mixed-Methods Investigation, Lisa-Marie Coulter Mar 2014

Early Adolescents' Experiences Of Mental Health: A Mixed-Methods Investigation, Lisa-Marie Coulter

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

A mixed-methods research design was employed to explore early adolescents’ experiences of mental health. First, quantitative data from a school board wide survey in southwestern Ontario was analyzed. Next, focus groups were conducted to explore early adolescents’ perceptions and language associated with mental health, causes of distress, and individual coping strategies. Results from the survey demonstrated that knowing where to get help, beliefs that students at school are concerned about each other, and feelings of belongingness account for more variance in feelings of distress in females than in males. Qualitative data revealed that early adolescents do not differentiate between the …

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Learning To Prevent Burning And Fatigue: Teacher Burnout And Compassion Fatigue, Adam Koenig Mar 2014

Learning To Prevent Burning And Fatigue: Teacher Burnout And Compassion Fatigue, Adam Koenig

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

During a professional development workshop, 64 Canadian educators from Southwestern Ontario participated in a workshop about natural consequences that may develop as a result of their line of work. A focus on teacher compassion fatigue, an unresearched area with respect to Canadian educators, and burnout, was taken. The current study hypothesized professional development would positively influence educators’ knowledge, skills, and awareness regarding burnout, vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue, in both the short and long term. Furthermore, it was predicted there would be a correlation between burnout and compassion fatigue, and that years of experience would be related to the level …

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