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Full-Text Articles in Psychology

Understanding Transitional Mental Health And Interpersonal Needs Of Newcomer Youth During Resettlement: Seeking Guidance To Strengthen Mental Health Programming, Anjali Ruparelia Oct 2022

Understanding Transitional Mental Health And Interpersonal Needs Of Newcomer Youth During Resettlement: Seeking Guidance To Strengthen Mental Health Programming, Anjali Ruparelia

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study investigated the supports that newcomer youth may need to promote positive well-being and foster healthy relationships during early resettlement. This study employed qualitative methodology using semi-structured interviews with four newcomer youth between the ages of 14 and 21 years old who have been in Canada for at least two years. Interview data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis (RTA). The results indicated that newcomer youth experience significant resettlement challenges and barriers including language barriers, culture shock, and feeling lonely and isolated within their new environments. However, newcomer youth participants also reported that they found various strengths and resources …


The Psychotherapeutic Effects Of Consumer-Grade Eeg Neurofeedback On Mental Health And Well-Being, Madeline Slack Sep 2022

The Psychotherapeutic Effects Of Consumer-Grade Eeg Neurofeedback On Mental Health And Well-Being, Madeline Slack

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The current study assessed whether pairing mindfulness meditation with consumer-grade neurofeedback (using Muse) would be a feasible and satisfying (i.e., fulfillment and pleasure) intervention for mental health and well-being. This was assessed via a four-day mindfulness program where participants (N=34) were assigned to mindfulness with neurofeedback (n=17) or guided meditation (control; n=17) group. On each day of the program, participants engaged in two mindful sessions (five minutes each) in the morning and afternoon. Participants were administered a series of affective measures before and after the program, as well as throughout. Upon completion, participants were asked to rate …


Usri Summer Experience - Psychological Intern, Jessica Ierullo Aug 2022

Usri Summer Experience - Psychological Intern, Jessica Ierullo

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

I had the pleasure of working with Colin King under the Mary J. Wright Child and Youth Development Clinic to aid in their new research project. Studying children, the goal for the project is to assess the psychological impacts that long-term, intensive PCCU care has on the youth. Throughout the summer, I worked as an intern, helping to establish a base from which the project can stem from. This short slide show highlights the current progress that has been made towards setting up the study. I am looking forward to inspecting the study results once it is completed.


Exploring The Role(S) Of Trait Emotional Intelligence & Personality In Help-Seeking Behaviour Among Undergraduate Students, Nikola Cuvalo Oct 2021

Exploring The Role(S) Of Trait Emotional Intelligence & Personality In Help-Seeking Behaviour Among Undergraduate Students, Nikola Cuvalo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Trait emotional intelligence (EI) and the Big Five personality factors represent promising constructs in the individual differences literature that have been investigated in relation to help-seeking behaviour. This quantitative work explores the relationship between individual differences in trait EI, personality, and attitudes toward – as well as future intentions to engage in – help-seeking behaviour among undergraduate students at Western University. Stepwise regression modelling was used to determine which dimensions of personality and trait EI best predicted help-seeking outcomes and whether attitudes toward help-seeking predicted intentions to seek help from university-provided mental health sources. Resultsindicated that several individual facets of …


Trends In Mental Health Service Use Among Youth And Emerging Adults In Canada, Thipiga Sivayoganathan Jul 2021

Trends In Mental Health Service Use Among Youth And Emerging Adults In Canada, Thipiga Sivayoganathan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Mental disorders among youth (age 12 to 17) and emerging adults (18 to 24) in Canada are common, but few receive mental health (MH) services. We examined trends in patterns and predictors of MH service use in this population. Secondary data analyses were conducted on six cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2011 to 2016). From 2011 to 2016, the prevalence of MH service use increased by 4.3%. In 2016, 85.1% of those with poor self-rated MH accessed services, greater than in previous years; however, this subgroup represents only 1% of the total population. Psychiatrists had the largest provider …


Lina Saadeddin_Supporting Transition Resilience Of Newcomer Groups (Strong) - Examining Impact Of Strong On Youth, Feasibility Of Community Implementation, And Parental Engagement, Lina Saadeddin Jun 2021

Lina Saadeddin_Supporting Transition Resilience Of Newcomer Groups (Strong) - Examining Impact Of Strong On Youth, Feasibility Of Community Implementation, And Parental Engagement, Lina Saadeddin

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study investigated the feasibility of virtual Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer Groups (STRONG) delivered through a community agency. STRONG is a Tier-2 intervention developed to enhance resilience and coping among newcomer youth. Ten youth participants from two STRONG groups completed pre-and post-surveys and participated in a focus group to describe their experiences. Parent sessions were added to STRONG programming. Five parents completed a satisfaction survey and a focus group to share their feedback. Two clinicians and one community manager provided feedback on the implementation in two focus groups. The study used a mixed-method approach. While there were no significant …


A Study Of Risk Factors Predicting School Disruption In Children And Youth Living In Ontario, Shannon L. Stewart Dr., Valbona Semovski, Sun Li Feb 2021

A Study Of Risk Factors Predicting School Disruption In Children And Youth Living In Ontario, Shannon L. Stewart Dr., Valbona Semovski, Sun Li

Education Publications

School disruption (SD) places students at risk of early school departure and other negative psychological outcomes. Based on the data derived from a sample of Ontario children and youth, this study aims to identify risk factors associated with SD among 1,241 school-aged students. A logistic regression model revealed that substance use, family functioning, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and experiencing bullying, significantly predicted SD. Substance use and family functioning resulted in the largest contributions to SD when holding other variables constant. This study provides supporting evidence of risk factors predicting SD and suggests that mental health and school personnel should consider family …


An Examination Of Child And Youth Mental Health Service Urgency In Ontario, Valbona Semovski Jun 2020

An Examination Of Child And Youth Mental Health Service Urgency In Ontario, Valbona Semovski

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Ontario’s capacity to treat children and adolescents in mental health crisis is outweighed by the number and needs of individuals requiring treatment. A lack of standardized assessments for prioritizing individuals has contributed to long wait times for treatment and a paucity of information to help prioritize those requiring urgent services. This study examined whether sector (e.g., school, hospital), sex, age, legal guardianship, interpersonal and school conflict, intellectual disability and comorbid health conditions predicted greater mental health service urgency in 61,448 children (ages 4 to 18 years) assessed using the interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health Screener. Additionally, differences in mental …


The Relationship Between Extracurricular Activities And The Well-Being Of Undergraduate Students, Angelica C. Galluzzo May 2020

The Relationship Between Extracurricular Activities And The Well-Being Of Undergraduate Students, Angelica C. Galluzzo

Undergraduate Honours Theses

Extracurricular involvement is a large part of the undergraduate student experience. Mental health can be affected when students are both mandated and encouraged to meet certain requirements, whether they are for an academic program or for experience and well-being. The current study was designed to analyze the relationship between extracurricular participation and well-being. The sample included 70 undergraduate students from the University of Western Ontario. Several hypotheses were proposed based on the type of extracurricular activity and well-being measure. The findings supported two out of the five hypotheses advanced, but also produced several other noteworthy findings. The most significant variable …


Adolescents’ Perceptions And Responses To Peer Mental Health Challenges And Problematic Behaviours Following A Social-Emotional Learning Program, Jessica Sommers Oct 2019

Adolescents’ Perceptions And Responses To Peer Mental Health Challenges And Problematic Behaviours Following A Social-Emotional Learning Program, Jessica Sommers

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Vulnerable youth may be more susceptible to developing problematic behaviours and mental health challenges, including anxious and depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, substance misuse, and unhealthy relationships. Social-emotional learning programs like The Healthy Relationships Plus Program (HRPP) can foster positive youth development by including training on mental health literacy, developing skills in help-seeking, and providing opportunities to practice difficult conversations. This study explored youth’s responses to hypothetical challenges faced by peers with a group of sixty-three adolescents who had participated in the HRPP. Responses to four distinct scenarios were collected to examine youths’ perceptions of various challenges and problematic behaviours, including …


The Relationship Between Perceived Sedentary Behaviour And Psychological Health, Kelsey Sick Aug 2019

The Relationship Between Perceived Sedentary Behaviour And Psychological Health, Kelsey Sick

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The present study examined relationships between individuals’ perceptions of their level of sedentary behaviour, as compared with other people their age, and mental health and well-being. Adults (n = 374, Mage= 60% between 18 and 24) completed the online Perceived Sedentary Behaviour and Psychological Health Survey which assessed perceptions of sedentary behaviour on a typical weekday and weekend day, mental health and well-being (i.e., depression, state anxiety, perceived stress, mental well-being, mental health function), and potential covariates that have known associations with mental well-being (e.g., sociodemographic characteristics, health status factors, actual sitting time). Perceived sedentary behaviour …


Cardiodynamic Associations With Resilience In Undergraduate Students And The Effect Of A Mentorship Intervention, Rachel J. Knetsch Oct 2018

Cardiodynamic Associations With Resilience In Undergraduate Students And The Effect Of A Mentorship Intervention, Rachel J. Knetsch

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The National College Health Assessment (NCHA) indicates that a majority of Canadian university students report feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious during their undergraduate studies. Resilience refers to positive adaptation, or the ability to maintain or regain mental health, despite experiencing adversity (Herrman et al., 2011). While autonomic indices have been used to describe chronic physiological stress, the role of heart rate variability (HRV) as an index of resilience remains unclear. This research tested the hypotheses that (1) there is a relationship between HRV and resilience scoresand (2) a mentorship intervention will improve HRV and resilience outcomes. Fifty-seven first year students …


Psychology 3317e: Community Funding City Art Centre, Caroline Luszawski, Kaitlyn Fox Apr 2018

Psychology 3317e: Community Funding City Art Centre, Caroline Luszawski, Kaitlyn Fox

Community Engaged Learning Final Projects

City Art Centre (CAC) is a non profit organization that offers assistance to adults with mental health challenges. Founded by a group of persons in recovery, CAC's main goal is to provide a safe, respectful space for expression through various forms of art. It is a space where peer support, fellowship and encouragement foster self-responsibility, facilitate recovery and improves quality of life. CAC is based on a peer support model and volunteer coordinators are responsible for the daily running of the centre. Volunteer coordinators receive a 'per diem' of $20 which acts as a recognition for their vital contributions to …


Comorbid Depression And Substance Abuse In Perpetrators Of Domestic Homicide, Casey Oliver Mar 2018

Comorbid Depression And Substance Abuse In Perpetrators Of Domestic Homicide, Casey Oliver

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Globally up to 38% of murdered women are victims of domestic homicide. However, research has yet to examine comorbid depression and substance abuse in domestic homicide, despite comorbid mental health conditions being associated with homicide in the general population. A retrospective case analysis approach was performed using domestic homicide cases that had been reviewed by the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee of Ontario. Group comparisons were made by compiling cases into groups based on perpetrator mental health status: a no mental illness group, depression only group, substance abuse only group, and comorbid depression and substance abuse group. Statistical analyses compared …


Predictors Of Re-Accessing Mental Health Services For Children And Adolescents, Catalina Sarmiento Jul 2017

Predictors Of Re-Accessing Mental Health Services For Children And Adolescents, Catalina Sarmiento

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The natural history of mental health disorders suggests that a substantial number of children experience persistent or recurrent problems and may need more than 1 episode of care. However, there is a paucity of research on recurrent service use. The present study examined the rates and predictors of re-accessing community-based care. Secondary data analyses were conducted on administrative and chart review data from 5 mental health agencies in southwest, eastern, and central Ontario. Approximately a third (30%) of children who had an episode of care re-accessed services again within 4 years; the median time to re-access was 13 months. Social …


Parental Help-Seeking For Pediatric Insomnia: Where, When, And Why Do Parents Seek Help?, Adam T. Newton Jun 2017

Parental Help-Seeking For Pediatric Insomnia: Where, When, And Why Do Parents Seek Help?, Adam T. Newton

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Pediatric insomnia affects approximately 25% of children and can impact both child and parent functioning. Despite its prevalence and impact, next-to-nothing is known about help-seeking mechanism for pediatric insomnia. These mechanisms are expected to mirror models from the children’s mental health help-seeking literature. Both studies in this thesis gathered data from an online multinational project. Manuscript 1 investigated the informal, informational, and formal sources of help for pediatric insomnia and the factors that motivated parents to seek professional help. Parents utilized or expected to utilize a variety of informal (most commonly their partner, friends, or family members) and informational (most …


Quality Of Life And Sources Of Stress In Teachers: A Canadian Perspective, Jessica R. Danilewitz Apr 2017

Quality Of Life And Sources Of Stress In Teachers: A Canadian Perspective, Jessica R. Danilewitz

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Previous research has reported that teaching is one of the most stressful occupations in the world. The present study examined the experience of teachers’ Quality of Life (QOL) and stress, and the relationship between QOL and the source (home life, work-life, or work-life balance) of stress in Canadian teachers. Data for the study was obtained from a comprehensive online survey of female full-time elementary and secondary school teachers across Canada (n = 227). Results demonstrated that all QOL scale scores were lower in the present study, as compared to previously published community sample literature. Of the three sources of stress, …


Exploring Mental Health In Justice Involved Youth: Relevance For Policy And Practice, Angelina Sarah Maclellan Jan 2017

Exploring Mental Health In Justice Involved Youth: Relevance For Policy And Practice, Angelina Sarah Maclellan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Over the past two decades, awareness of the prevalence of mental health problems in young offenders (ages 12 to 17 years) has grown, with estimates suggesting significantly higher rates compared to the general population. While experiencing poverty does not cause crime, recent research drawing from the Social Psychology of Crime suggests that individuals who experience poverty tend to live in adverse social environments, which can facilitate exposure to modeling and/or reinforcement that is related to antisocial behaviour. In the present study, archival data were drawn from 281 young offenders’ files from an urban-based court clinic to examine how the youth’s …


Social Relationships In Young Offenders: Relevance To Peers, Poverty, And Psychological Adjustment, Victoria Sabo Jan 2017

Social Relationships In Young Offenders: Relevance To Peers, Poverty, And Psychological Adjustment, Victoria Sabo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The increasing influence of peers in adolescence is related to a developing array of skills, aspirations, attitudes, and behaviours. The nature and magnitude of this influence and the potential association of certain youth with deviant peers is among the most prominent risk factors in predicting youth crime. This becomes of greater concern for economically disadvantaged youth, whose neighbourhoods harbour greater susceptibility to negative peer influence. With social affiliations at the forefront of youth development and criminality, research efforts need to further characterize the nature, constitution, and influence of peers on adolescent offending. Two hundred and eighty-one Canadian youth were sampled …


Defining And Predicting Dropout From Children’S Mental Health Services: A Novel Need-Based Definition Of Dropout, Kimberly Williams Dossett Aug 2016

Defining And Predicting Dropout From Children’S Mental Health Services: A Novel Need-Based Definition Of Dropout, Kimberly Williams Dossett

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: Dropout from children’s mental health services has negative impacts on children, families and community mental health agencies. In order to reduce dropout, it is essential to correctly define individuals as treatment dropouts, and understand the predictors of dropout. Methods: Manuscript 1 describes the development of a novel need-based definition of dropout and contrasts this definition to existing definitions of dropout in the literature. Manuscript 2 uses the need-based definition to examine predictors of dropout, and compares predictors of dropout using different definitions of dropout. Results: The need-based definition categorizes individuals differently from existing definitions of dropout. Caregiver needs are …


The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence, Resiliency, And Mental Health In Older Adults: The Mediating Role Of Savouring, Claire A. Wilson Jul 2016

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence, Resiliency, And Mental Health In Older Adults: The Mediating Role Of Savouring, Claire A. Wilson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Traditionally, mental and physical health have been considered indicators of successful aging. However, resiliency, the propensity to bounce back from negative events, is beginning to emerge as an important aspect of aging successfully. Further, possessing emotional intelligence (EI) has been associated with improved physical and mental health. Positive emotions consistently demonstrate numerous mental and physical health benefits, however savouring, the process through which positive emotions are focused on, has comparatively been under-studied. The present study hypothesized that savouring, resiliency and EI would predict physical health in older adults, and that savouring would mediate the relationship between resiliency, EI, and mental …


Madness In The Media: Understanding How People With Lived Experience Interpret Newspaper Headlines, Da Qing Wang Apr 2016

Madness In The Media: Understanding How People With Lived Experience Interpret Newspaper Headlines, Da Qing Wang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

There is research on media representations of mental health that suggests there is a tendency to portray mental health as problematic and those who are affected by mental illness as dangerous. It is evident there has been an increase in anti-stigma media campaigns. However, the effects of these efforts on beliefs held by members of the public has been mixed. What is most surprising from the literature is a lack of research about how people who have personal experience with mental illness interpret media messages. Individuals with and without lived experience participated in a structured conceptualization process known as concept …


The Cultural Connectedness Scale And Its Relation To Positive Mental Health Among First Nations Youth, Angela Snowshoe Aug 2015

The Cultural Connectedness Scale And Its Relation To Positive Mental Health Among First Nations Youth, Angela Snowshoe

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The mental health and wellbeing of youth is one of the most urgent concerns affecting many First Nations communities across Canada. Despite a growing recognition that cultural connectedness (i.e., the extent to which an individual is integrated within his or her First Nations culture) is an important factor for promoting the mental health of First Nations youth, there remains a clear need for a conceptual model that organizes, explains, and leads to an understanding of the resiliency mechanisms underlying this construct. Study 1 involved the development of the Cultural Connectedness Scale (CCS) with a sample of 319 First Nations, Métis, …


Protective Factors And The Role Of Gender In Childhood Mental Health: Application Of The Interrai Assessment Protocol, Alexandria Lynch Apr 2015

Protective Factors And The Role Of Gender In Childhood Mental Health: Application Of The Interrai Assessment Protocol, Alexandria Lynch

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The present study examined how a child’s mental health is impacted by protective factors and his/her gender. Resiliency research has been growing in recent years as researchers recognize the value of focusing on strengths in individuals. Previous research has shown that certain protective factors help buffer against the negative effects of mental health disorders differently for males and females. The present study sought to explore this further. The participants were children and youth with severe mental health and behavioural challenges and were drawn from a tertiary care facility and other mental health organizations. The results revealed that the children and …


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 …


Understanding Gendered Criminal Involvement With A Community-Based Criminal Sample: Assessing Substance Abuse And Mental Health Needs, Stacy Taylor Apr 2013

Understanding Gendered Criminal Involvement With A Community-Based Criminal Sample: Assessing Substance Abuse And Mental Health Needs, Stacy Taylor

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study explored the gendered effect of substance abuse and mental health issues on the pathways to criminal convictions with a criminal population in the community setting. The data was retrieved through a file review of a sample of 48 female and 42 male offenders who received crisis care during a one-year period, at a community corrections agency in a medium-sized urban community in Ontario. The data collected was based upon factors derived from the LSI-R (Andrews & Bonta, 1995) and the Women’s Supplemental Risk/Needs Assessment (Van Voorhis, Wright, Salisbury & Bauman, 2010). Results of the present study revealed gender …


Why Wait? The Effects Of Waiting Time On Subsequent Help-Seeking Among Families Looking For Children’S Mental Health Services, Kyleigh E. Schraeder Jul 2012

Why Wait? The Effects Of Waiting Time On Subsequent Help-Seeking Among Families Looking For Children’S Mental Health Services, Kyleigh E. Schraeder

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The influence of wait-list duration for child and adolescent mental health services on families seeking help elsewhere was examined. Survival analyses, modelling time from being initially placed on a wait-list to when a family contacted a new agency, were conducted separately for families that did not receive help prior to contacting a new agency (n=159) and those that received help (n=114). Survival analyses examined effects of wait-time along with predisposing (e.g.,age), need (e.g.,child psychopathology), and enabling (e.g.,number of agencies) factors on time to contact a new agency. Almost half of families contacted a new agency after having been wait-listed. Of …