Digital Commons Network^™

Structure And Function Of Long-Covid Evaluated Using Pulmonary Imaging, Harkiran Kaur Kooner

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of global respiratory infections, ranging in severity from asymptomatic to fatal. One of the many consequences of the pandemic is the emergence of long-COVID, which is an umbrella term used to describe the long-term sequelae and poor quality-of-life following recovery from acute COVID-19 infection. However, the pathophysiology and mechanisms responsible for the heterogenous manifestation of long-COVID remain poorly understood. Hyperpolarized ¹²⁹Xe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a non-invasive and radiation-free method to regionally visualize and quantify inhaled gas distribution and ventilation in vivo. A strong foundation for the use of pulmonary …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Physical Activity Of Families Managing Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Erica Seal

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Regular physical activity supports symptom management in children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study aimed to explore the ways in which the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) impacted the physical activity behaviours and wellbeing of families managing ADHD. Researchers implemented a qualitative approach positioned within a socioecological framework to further understand how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the physical activity of children with ADHD and their caregivers, identify potential barriers to their participation in physical activity, and recognize potential areas of support. Archival data including interviews from thirty-three participants were examined. Inductive content analysis deduced that physical activity declined for both …

Exploring How Covid-19 Impacts Relationship Dynamics Among Cohabitating Heterosexual And Female Same-Sex Couples, Mishele Kaplan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This qualitative study investigates the experiences of cohabitating heterosexual (n=10) and female same-sex couples (n=8) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores how these couples utilized dyadic coping and relational resilience to manage pandemic-related stressors and how their gender identities influenced their responses. Employing a phenomenological approach informed by feminist, queer, and dyadic coping theories, the study reveals that couples strengthened their bonds during the pandemic through intentional communication and novel activities. The findings of the study also highlight that societal perceptions of gender roles continue to exert pressure on individuals, but female same-sex couples demonstrated greater adaptability by challenging these …

Developing An Online Questionnaire To Investigate The Covid-19 Pandemic’S Impacts On Social Isolation And Health In Older Adults Living With Multimorbidity: A Pilot Study, Patricia Nistor

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction. Social restrictions preventing the spread of COVID-19 possibly increased social isolation and loneliness. The validity and reliability of a questionnaire assessing the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on social isolation and loneliness in community dwelling older adults with multimorbidity was investigated.

Methods. A conceptual framework was developed to guide questionnaire construction. Participants were recruited through professional networks, comprising a convenience sample. Feedback interviews assessed usability and face validity. Content validity was assessed using a Content Validity Matrix, and construct validity through tests of association. Reliability of validated scales was assessed using Cronbach’s ⍺. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were computed. …

Social Connectedness, Adolescent Mental Health And Well-Being At The Later Stages Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Exploration, Sarah Abdunnabi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

COVID-19 posed novel challenges by limiting in-person interactions and shifting interactions online. Effects of online and offline social connectedness on adolescent mental health and well-being, and the moderating role of the social determinants of health (SDoH) were explored. Canadian adolescents (n=1,586; M_age=15.3, range 13 to 18 years; surveyed summer 2022) reported their social connectedness, psychological distress, and mental well-being. An ordinal logistic regression was performed to examine the association between social connectedness (online and offline) and dual-factor mental health. Responses to two open-ended survey questions were analyzed. Social disconnection was associated with higher odds of being in a …

A Multi-Method Assessment Of The Impact Of Stress On Families’ Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Andrew R. Daoust

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The COVID-19 pandemic was a pervasive disaster, creating stress for people across the globe. As such, understanding how pandemic-related stress has impacted individuals’ mental health is vital for guiding intervention programs and limiting the impact of future similar crises. This is especially true for youth, who are at heightened risk for mental disorder and may experience pandemic-related social stress as particularly aversive, given the developmental challenges unique to this period. Although substantial efforts have been made to measure the impact of the pandemic-related stress on individuals’ mental health, the pandemic’s relatively sudden onset has limited researchers’ abilities to conduct fulsome …

Ontario Adults' Mental Health, Wellbeing, And Prosocial Behaviour During The First 16 Months Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study, Katie J. Shillington

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The overall purpose of this dissertation was to provide a detailed assessment of the mental health, wellbeing, and prosocial behaviour of Ontario adults aged 30–59 (those at highest risk for losing years of healthy life due to chronic disease) during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020–August 2021). To address this dissertation’s purpose specifically, four distinct yet thematically connected articles were written. Article 1 provides the starting point of this program of research via an overview of Ontario adults’ inter-related health behaviours (i.e., physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and dietary intake) and outcomes including, mental health, and wellbeing …

“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 …

Does Acute Maximal Exercise Or Chronic Physical Activity Affect Circulating Angiotensin (1-9) Concentrations?, Kyle R. Weiman

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction: Epidemiological evidence suggests physical inactivity can increase the likelihood of hospitalization from the SARS-COV-2 virus. Further, some data indicate a greater ratio of angiotensin 1-9 to angiotensin I helps prevent severe outcomes during infection. Moreover, related hormones can enhance potentially both physical activity and health. The purpose of this study was to determine whether plasma concentrations of angiotensin (1-9) are modified after a single exhaustive exercise bout and whether sex or chronic physical activity is associated with greater plasma concentrations.

Methods: Participants (n=14) performed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Antecubital area venipunctures were performed before, immediately …

Social Connectedness And Its Relation To Perceived Stress And Loneliness, Foluke Olusegun-Emmanuel

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

This study evaluated university students’ levels of overall social connectedness, perceived stress, loneliness, and strength of social connection with different groups (family, friends, classmates, instructors, university community). Associations between the aforementioned factors were also investigated, and time-related changes to 2020-21 data during COVID-19. Undergraduate students (n = 100) at a university in London, Ontario, completed a questionnaire comprising the Social Connectedness Scale, questions about the strength of social connections with different groups, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale. A correlational analysis revealed significant, negative correlations between social connectedness and perceived stress and loneliness. A repeated measures ANOVA …

The Resilience And Socioeconomic Status Of Caregivers And School-Aged Children In The Context Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Julia Yates

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged caregivers’ and school-aged children’s ability to adapt. Their adaptability may be due to their resilience, which socioeconomic status (SES) may impact.

Methods: Surveys were administered to 22 caregivers and 27 school-aged children (7-10 years) living in Ontario to measure their resilience and SES in the context of COVID-19. Correlations were employed to explore relationships between: (1) caregiver and child resilience; and (2) resilience and SES.

Results: Analyses found no significant relationship between caregiver and child resilience, nor resilience and SES in the context of COVID-19. Trends revealed caregivers with normal resilience had a higher …

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.

Canadian Olympic Athletes, Gender Issues And Body Dissatisfaction: A Critical Analysis Of The Impact Of Covid-19 And Canadian Sport Resources, Alyssa Mcculloch

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This multidisciplinary study has three main aspects and is guided by a critical feminist lens. One aspect lays out the philosophical feminist foundations, the context for the study and provides a literature review and brief history. A second aspect is guided by research questions which explore how COVID-19 impacted Canadian female Olympic athletes. Qualitative interview data was collected during a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) funded study and used for the empirical part of this paper. Participants included ten national level athletes (seven females and three males) and three coaches (two females and one male) from a variety …

Maid (Medical Assistance In Dying) And Meaning: An Exploration Of The Experience And Ability To Make Meaning Through Involvement In A Maid-Specific Bereavement Group, The Synergistic Potential Of Covid-19 And Maid, And The Impact Of Healthcare Providers Relationships From The Perspective Of Relational Ethics On The Legacy Of Maid-Involved Families Into Their Bereavement, Allyson Van Kessel

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

MAiD became legally accessible to Canadians with a grievous and irremediable illness in June of 2016. As I write in 2023, MAiD has been expanded to include patients who do not have a foreseeable death, with anticipated inclusion of those with mental illness as a sole underlying medical condition (MI-SUMC) in 2024. As MAiD now accounts for over 3% of all deaths annually in Canada, there is a growing impetus to explore ways by which MAiD practice can be improved and care can be extended to the family members following the death of a patient.

A hospital in southwestern Ontario …

A Feminist Analysis Of The Impact Of Covid-19 On Olympic Female Athletes From Canada And The People’S Republic Of China, Dongwan He

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Gender equality in sports acquired unprecedented discussion in the past few decades with the efforts of sports organizations such as the United Nations (UN), athletes, professionals, and scholars worldwide. Girls’ participation, women’s media representation, participation of transgender athletes, equal opportunity, equal pay, etc. drew attention and awareness successfully. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 has been limiting the achievement of women in sports due to the cancellation of sports events, postponement of the Olympic Games, stay-at-home orders in lockdown, and restrictions on health measurements. This study utilized methods of semi-structured interviews, media analysis, and comparative analysis to examine the barriers faced …

Autoethnography Of A Pregnant Doula: An Anthropological Investigation Of Birth Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Ontario And Quebec, Fattimah A. Hamam

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in the existing systems and institutions people depend on in all areas of life. Birth is no exception. This research shows that COVID-19 replicated dominant North American cultural scripts treating birth as a risky and stressful medical event. It goes further to explore how birthers themselves described their experiences. Drawing on autoethnographic reflections, ethnographic interviews and a WhatsApp group chat, this thesis documents the nuance in predominantly middle class, cis-gendered women’s experiences giving birth in Ontario and Quebec during the pandemic. It uncovers the overarching non-birther centric nature of local birth culture and argues …

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 …

Understanding Changes To Human Mobility Patterns In Ontario, Canada During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ben Klar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Transportation research has shown that socio-demographic factors affect people’s mobility patterns. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some of these effects have changed in accordance with changing mobility needs adapting to the pandemic, including restrictions on in-person gatherings, closure of in-person businesses and working from home. We investigate two gaps in current knowledge in this area of transportation research: to what extent the association between socio-demographic factors and mobility metrics have changed, and how these associations vary across geographic space. We also investigate how closely Ontario’s Public Health Unit boundaries, based on which pandemic restrictions were applied, reflect actual travel regions, and …

Respiratory Pattern Analysis For Covid-19 Digital Screening Using Ai Techniques, Annita Tahsin Priyoti

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Corona Virus (COVID-19) is a highly contagious respiratory disease that the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a worldwide epidemic. This virus has spread worldwide, affecting various countries until now, causing millions of deaths globally. To tackle this public health crisis, medical professionals and researchers are working relentlessly, applying different techniques and methods. In terms of diagnosis, respiratory sound has been recognized as an indicator of one’s health condition. Our work is based on cough sound analysis. This study has included an in-depth analysis of the diagnosis of COVID-19 based on human cough sound. Based on cough audio samples from …

Digital Geographies Of Indigenous Health: Exploring Indigenous Mental Health Content From Turtle Island During Covid-19, Veronica Reitmeier

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The physical and mental health and wellness of Indigenous peoples is cultivated through interrelations with spiritual, cultural, community, and social practices: these practices strengthen identity and belonging. COVID-19 has disrupted many of these relational practices or shifted them to digital environments such as social media. Drawing on a thematic analysis of Tweets from March 2020-December 2021 (n=1137), I address the research question: How are Twitter users across Turtle Island engaging with Indigenous mental health content on Twitter during the COVID-19 pandemic? Within an Indigenous context, no exploratory research has been conducted on who is engaging with mental health content on …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Undergraduate University Students With Part-Time Jobs, Miguel F. Bernard Bravo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study explored how the pandemic and the shift to online learning impacted university students’ experiences of learning and working, and how students’ capital and other resources impacted their university experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eighteen undergraduate students who had paid employment in the last 12 months were recruited. In interviews participants were asked about their experiences with work, schooling and balancing the two with the pressures of the pandemic. Students cited financial concerns, as well as challenges with difficulties with online learning, motivation, and isolation. Importantly, this study found that students experiences differed in accordance with their capital and …

How Can Single Mothers Care For Themselves And Their Children During The Covid-19 Pandemic?, Lisbeth Alexandra Pino Gavidia

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This work investigates how single mothers maintain healthy behaviours for themselves and their children as they try to meet the evolving COVID-19 public recommendations. Everyone has had to adapt to changing public health rules. Single mothers may have unique challenges as they juggle to adapt to changing family responsibilities since they do not have another person helping in the home, and help outside the home may be restricted by public health rules. My research plan addressed these questions to learn more about the experiences of single mothers during the pandemic: 1) What are the changes in family responsibilities? 2) How …

(Re) Evaluating Critical Care Nurse Support Program(S) In A Tertiary Care Hospital: Intersecting The Art And Science Of Nursing, C. Patricia Mazzotta

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

There is a growing critical care nurse staffing shortage with increases in nurse vacancy rates. Moral distress has been exacerbated by the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic and, in particular, impacting critical care nurses. COVID-19 is a significant contributor to staffing shortages and continued nursing crisis. Thus, the impetus for the Problem of Practice (PoP): the lack of support to address the psychological, emotional, and spiritual distress suffered by critical care registered nurses in a tertiary care hospital in Central Ontario. To comprehend the realities of working in the intensive care units, leaders must first understand nurses’ lived experiences, narratives, and what …

The Quality Of Life Of Patients With Eye Diseases, Brian Edward Yu

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) values determined using direct elicitation methods and generic preference-based measures are important for economic evaluations of healthcare interventions. The ophthalmology clientele is vulnerable to psychological stressors in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Objectives: To systematically identify and summarize the quality of life (QoL) of eye disease patients in general in North America and seniors with eye diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A systematic review identified North American studies that quantified HRQoL of eye disease patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted among seniors with eye diseases and backwards stepwise regression …

Regulation Of Mhc Ii Trafficking And Expression By Host And Viral Factors, Alex Lac

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Antigen presentation by major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) to the adaptive immune system is crucial for mounting sterilizing immune responses. This central role has made antigen presentation a target for antagonism by many pathogens. Notably, infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) decrease MHC II expression in several immune cells. The mechanisms responsible for this suppression are unknown but involves either redirecting MHC II molecules away from the cell surface or inhibiting MHC II expression. To understand how pathogens manipulate intracellular MHC II trafficking, we first investigated the role of the Golgi trafficking regulator, ERC1, in …

Examining The Association Between Brain Mri Measures At 7 Tesla And Cognition Following Covid-19 Infection, Helma Heidari

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The long-term neuropsychological, cognitive, and neurobiological effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) in survivors with milder symptoms are still poorly understood. In this thesis we evaluated cognitive and psychological changes approximately five weeks after a wide range of symptoms in COVID-19 illness and determined whether advanced diffusion magnetic resonance imaging measures within subcortical brain structures of the limbic system were related to neurological, respiratory, psychiatric, and gastric symptoms experienced during the acute phase of illness. Cognitive and neuropsychological evaluations were performed in 45 participants who experienced neurological symptoms during the acute phase of COVID-19 illness. Participants also underwent …

Characterizing And Predicting Canadian Adolescents’ Internalizing Symptoms In The First Year Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Haley Elizabeth Green

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Most studies of adolescents’ internalizing symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic have included few data waves, limiting long-term conclusions about adolescents’ mental health during the pandemic. Collecting only a few waves of data precludes examination of intraindividual symptom variability, which may have implications for adjustment beyond mean symptoms. We characterized mean n = 192 adolescents’ internalizing symptoms from March 2020-April 2021 and used mixed effect location scale models to examine established risk factors as predictors of mean trends and intraindividual variability in adolescents’ internalizing symptoms. Adolescents’ symptoms were relatively stable and low over the first year of the pandemic; severity peaked …

Automation Through Deep-Learning To Quantify Ventilation Defects In Lungs From High-Resolution Isotropic Hyperpolarized 129xe Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Tuneesh Kaur Ranota

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Obstructive lung diseases are characterized by heterogenous ventilation. Hyperpolarized ¹²⁹Xe gas lung magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can examine lung ventilation heterogeneity by acquiring high-resolution isotropic images. The current gold standard of semi-automated (SA) segmentation can be used to quantify non-isotropic ¹²⁹Xe lung images to generate ventilation defect percent (VDP), however, this method is not suitable for analysis of isotropic voxel ¹²⁹Xe images due to the large number of slices. Therefore, we used a fully automated deep learning-based (DL) lung algorithm to calculate VDP from isotropic images. SNR, SA and DL-based VDP were calculated, showing a strong positive …

Opening A Crack To Let The Light In: An Exploration Of An Online Group Adolescent Compassion Focussed Therapy Intervention, Euan Pb Fraser Tait

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The current study’s goal is to expand the adolescent compassion focused therapy (CFT) literature by exploring participant experiences of a novel CFT protocol which was delivered in an online group therapy format. This study is a mixed methods approach using surveys, open-ended questionnaires, and interviews to explore participants’ experience and expression of feelings of inadequacy (FOI) and self-compassion. Thematic analysis findings revealed that participants struggled primarily with FOI relating to evaluative contexts such as school and sports and that these FOI also carried with them implications of self-worth and perfectionism. Through participating in the program, participants were able to de-shame …

Exploring Coping Strategies Among Older Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence During Coivd-19, Christina Safar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

With the emergence of COVID-19 public health measures including the stay-at-home order, the effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) have become more severe for women while the availability of support has become hampered. The purpose of this interpretive description study was to explore coping among older women in Ontario experiencing IPV during COVID-19. 12 in-depth interviews with older women found age-related normative beliefs played a key role in how older women viewed their lives and how they looked beyond their experiences of IPV. Older women stressed how their roles as caretakers and homemakers influenced their response to IPV and that …