Mental and Social Health Commons^™

The Role Of Cultural And Family Values On Social Connectedness In Visible Minority Elders: An Exploratory Study, Laura Garcia Diaz

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Assumptions about the family providing enough social support to visible minority elders can be found in the literature, contradicting reported levels of social isolation and loneliness by visible minority elders. While structural barriers have been recognized to influence feelings of isolation and loneliness, limited information exists about the role of cultural factors such as acculturation and family values. Accordingly, this study investigated the role of acculturation and the ‘family as referents’ dimension of familism, which refers to the belief that family members’ behaviour should meet with familial expectations, on isolation and loneliness among visible minority elders (N = 123). …

Pearl Harvesting Autism, Mariya Gruntovskaya

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis addresses the difficulties of on-line information searching as it relates to the topic of autism. A review of existing search strategies is presented and their limitations are discussed. A new method for deriving a set of search-terms for comprehensive searching, Pearl Harvesting, was tested here to determine the necessary search terms (i.e., synonym ring) for ERIC and PsycINFO databases. Once discovered and validated, a synonym ring can be copied and pasted directly into the search box of the database, providing a simple, thorough and time saving way of conducting on-line research in the field. This easily used method …

Settlement Experiences Of Professional Immigrant Women In Canada, Usa, Uk And Australia, Naila Meraj

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Highly skilled professionals are often forced to accept jobs below their educational levels after they immigrate and may experience a downward shift both in their career and in their quality of life. This has particular implications for highly skilled immigrant women who strive to maintain their professional identities and balance the demands of family and work. Using a scoping review methodology, this thesis explored the settlement experiences of professional immigrant women in Canada, USA, UK and Australia and how these influence their health and well being. Close readings of the peer-reviewed literature revealed seven themes that relate to the experience …

A Phenomenological Study Of Prescription Drug Abuse Among Children And Youth, Eric A. Collins

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Prescription drugs ranked as the third highest substance used/abused among Canadian youth (Health Canada, 2014). This research is a retrospective phenomenological study on child and youth prescription drug abuse. Currently, there is a lack of qualitative research in this area. The primary goal of this study is to understand the lived experiences of child and youth prescription drug abuse in order to provide greater depth and breadth into the complexities of this behaviour. Based on the aim of this study, I developed the following research question: what are the lived experiences of prescription drug abuse during childhood and adolescence? Six …

Comparison Of Housed And Homeless Patients With An Orthopedic Diagnosis, Susan M. Williams

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Studies on homelessness have shown that people who are homeless are admitted to hospital more frequently, for longer periods of time, and at a younger age than people who are housed. Once admitted to hospital, discharge planning is difficult and resource intensive, often leading to discharge back to the streets or a shelter. This puts this population at risk for complications and readmission. Although people who are homeless are prone to orthopedic injuries, there is no research on the outcomes of patients who are homeless with orthopedic injuries. This retrospective, case control study, based on the social determinants of health, …

Experiences Of Biphobia, Anxiety, And Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among Ontarian Bisexuals: A Cross-Sectional View Of Potential Moderators, Melissa A. Macleod

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The literature largely shows that bisexuals are at greater risk for poor mental health compared to heterosexual, gay, and lesbian people. This increased risk has been linked to the 'double' discrimination (e.g. biphobia) that bisexuals face from both the heterosexual and gay communities. This study used previously collected data (n=405) to examine the relationship between biphobia from these sources and two mental health outcomes: anxiety and posttraumatic stress (PTSD) symptoms. Community identification and involvement, positive bisexual identity, and volunteerism/advocacy/activism were tested as moderators. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the measure used for PTSD symptoms (PCL-C) did not perform well in …

The Stress Process Model For Community-Dwelling Adults With Mental Disorders, Samantha Davie

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: Although stress has been linked to poor mental health outcomes for various populations, less is known about the impact of stress on individuals already diagnosed with mental disorders. Objective: Explore the association between stress and general psychological distress (GPD), using the stress process model. Design: Data were collected in 2011 from community-dwelling adults who have had at least one diagnosed mental disorder for at least one year in their lifetime (n=380), and are cross-sectional in nature. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the association between stress and GPD, with various psychological resources, such as coping, social support, and …

Managing Uncertainty In Young-Onset Parkinson's Disease, Michael J. Ravenek

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Typically considered a disease of old-age, Parkinson’s disease can affect those younger in life, i.e., before the age of 55, when it is referred to as young-onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD). Using constructionist grounded theory, this research sought to understand how, and why, individuals with YOPD became informed about their disease over time. A total of 39 individuals, who self-identified as living with YOPD, took part in this study which was organized according to four cycles of data collection. These cycles utilized focus groups, in-depth interviews and a private online discussion board, supplemented by 14 autobiographies written by individuals living with …

Releasing The Self From The Diagnostic Straitjacket: Making Meaning & Creating Understanding Through Dialogic Autobiography, Marnie L. Wedlake

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

ABSTRACT

To understand just one life, you have to swallow the world.

(Rushdie, 2006, pg. 121)

Mental health care in the Western world is situated firmly within a biomedical paradigm. Disorder is assumed, and symptoms are viewed as dis-abling deviations from normal. A disease-based model of care informs the treatment options that are most available and accessible.

I argue that bio-medical care separates the person from her/his experiences, the self from the individual. I advocate for the addition of a non-biomedical approach to health education that enables a connection between the individual and her/his experiences; one that does not …

Resilience As Health Promotion In Action: University Students Who Grew Up Amid Violence Directed Towards Their Mothers, Tatiana Murkin (Zdyb)

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Abstract

Violence against women is among the greatest threats to the health of our population. An estimated three hundred and sixty thousand children in Canada, and over two million worldwide are exposed to violence in their homes (UNICEF, 2006). Growing up amidst such violence seriously compromises children’s capacities for healthy development. Violence against women is not limited by culture, geography or socioeconomic status. It constitutes one of the most pervasive and yet least openly discussed human rights violations and public health issues known today.

Researchers and allied health professionals generally agree that children whose development has been interfered with by …

A Pilot Study To Investigate Concerns In Patients Undergoing Neck Dissection Surgery, Daniel Sundar Raj Arulananda Doss

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Abstract:

This study investigates concerns in patients undergoing neck dissection surgery. Forty patients were recruited at Pre-surgery, Discharge and 1-month Post-surgery. The Patient Concerns Inventory - Level of Importance questionnaire (PCI-LOI), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Neck Dissection Impairment Index (NDII) and the University of Washington - Quality of Life questionnaire (UWQOL) were used.

The study identified "Anxiety" at Pre-surgery and "Appearance" at Discharge and 1-month Post-surgery as the important patient concerns. Patients’ concerns were found to change over time. Support for cross-sectional convergent validity of the PCI-LOI was evidenced by significant correlations between the PCI-LOI and the UWQOL …

Re-Cognizing Power In The Culture Of Dementia Care Knowledge, Ryan T. Deforge

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In light of increasing system demands, system regulations, and constrained resources, those living and working with dementia in the long-term care sector are vulnerable to oppressive care practices. This is true so long as our understanding of how social power affects the ways in which dementia care knowledge is created, shared, and enacted remains limited. Based on prolonged field observations and on informal and formal interviews with care recipients, family members, and staff, the aim of this critical qualitative research was to examine the culture of dementia care knowledge in two sites: a specialized dementia care unit in a long-term …

Measuring The Sixth Vital Sign: A Descriptive Analysis Of Distress In Individuals With Head And Neck Cancer And Their Caregivers, Catherine C. Bornbaum

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction: Distress has become so problematic in oncology that it has been recognized as the “sixth vital sign” implying that distress monitoring should occur as routinely as the monitoring of one’s temperature or blood pressure. The research reported herein investigated the impact of head and neck cancer on levels of distress, commonly reported problems, and perceptions of quality of life in individuals with head and neck cancer and their caregivers.

Method: Two distinct studies were conducted; the first explored the patient experience of distress and quality of life while the second assessed the caregiver experience of these same constructs. A …

The Impact Of Social Integration On The Lived Experience Of Resilience Among Women Who Lived In Poverty During Childhood, Nedra R. Peter

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis is a study of the lived experience of poverty and resilience among women who lived in poverty during childhood. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of social integration on resilience to the adverse effects of poverty. This investigation was conducted as a retrospective study. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, seven women who lived in poverty during childhood were interviewed in semi-structured interviews lasting 60 to 90 minutes. These interviews, along with a member-checking meeting, were the primary method of data collection. Data was analyzed through thematic analysis informed by van Manen (1990, 1997). The …

The Effectiveness Of Gain- Versus Loss-Framed Advertisements To Minimize Hazardous Drinking Among University Students: A Test Of Regulatory Fit, Barlas Gunay

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

University binge drinking is a concern. Traditionally, social norms marketing campaigns have been employed. Regulatory focus theory – based on the premise that behavior is driven either by the motivation to maximize gains (promotion) or to minimize losses (prevention) – offers an alternative approach to crafting persuasive appeals in this population. This study investigated the effectiveness of gain-framed versus loss-framed advertisements in lowering drinking intentions in a university sample. It further explored whether the effects were moderated by regulatory focus – primed and dispositional – and trait reactance. Online surveys were completed by 208 Introductory Psychology students (51.7% female, mean …

Motivational Interviewing Via Co-Active Life Coaching As An Intervention For Tobacco Control, Tara Mantler

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this Motivational Interviewing (MI) via Co-Active Life Coaching (CALC) research program in tobacco control was to assess the effectiveness of this individualized, interactive intervention. This was achieved through a critical appraisal and literature review of the individual dimensions of MI currently used in cognitive-behavioural smoking cessation interventions, as well as MI applied via CALC intervention studies at both the individual- and population-levels.

Article 1 provides the critically appraised and systematic review of literature exploring three dimensions of MI (social support, motivation, and tailored interventions) which were implemented independently in cognitive-behavioural cessation interventions. The effectiveness of these dimensions …

Exploring The Iranian-Canadian Family Experience Of Dementia Caregiving: A Phenomenological Study, Sevil Deljavan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Presently in Canada, there are approximately 500,000 individuals living with dementia, which is expected to increase to over one million by 2038. With Canada’s minority elderly population growing, the number of Iranian-Canadian older adults living with dementia is expected to rise as well. Family caregivers are a significant source of help among Iranian-Canadians and the provision of informal care by adult children for parents with dementia in the Iranian culture is an expression of love and dedication.

This study explored the meaning of the experience of Iranian adult children in Canada caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s disease, the values …

Semantics-Based Automated Quality Assessment Of Depression Treatment Web Documents, Yanjun Zhang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The past decade has witnessed a dramatic expansion in the amount of publicly available health care information on the Web. The health care information on the web, however, is of extremely variable quality. The evaluation of content quality is a big challenge because non-automated methods for information content rating can be easily overwhelmed by the huge data volume. This study proposes an automated approach for assessing the quality of web health care information through comparing the text content with evidence-based health care recommendations. This method relies on semantic analysis and text classification to identify the presentation of evidence-based recommendations in …

Screening For Adult Adhd In Ontario: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Sex Differences, Mental Health Correlates And Substance Use, Deanne Daigle

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The vast majority of studies on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are based on samples with inherent age, sex, and referral biases. Therefore, the current study used population-based data to 1) estimate the prevalence of adult ADHD (as well as previous diagnosis and medication use using an ADHD screener) and co-occurring psychiatric distress and substance use in Ontario 2) examine the sex differences in ADHD screening status and co-occurring psychiatric distress and substance use and 3) model ADHD screening status as a risk factor for psychiatric distress using the 2011 cycle of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Monitor. A positive …

Investigating Meaning In Life, Perceived Social Support, And Suicide Ideation Among Community-Residing Older Adults, Joyce L. Cheng

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Older adults have high rates of suicide, necessitating enhanced models of suicide risk in later life. Previous cross-sectional findings suggest that suicide ideation is positively associated with psychological risk factors and negatively associated with resilience factors, including recognition of meaning in life (MIL) and perceptions of social support (PSS). We designed the current longitudinal study to replicate and extend these findings and to test a multidimensional model of suicide ideation (SI), which incorporates consideration of risk and resilience factors, among a sample of 173 community-residing older adults. Using Structural Equation Modeling, both MIL and PSS, which were measured at the …

A Critical Analysis Of Discursive Practices In Personal Accounts Of “Drug” Use: Implications For Health Professional Education, Niki Kiepek

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In this thesis discourses of drug use are explored outside therapeutic and self-help settings to inform health professional education. A discursive narrative methodology identifies multiple discourses of drugs embedded in individual accounts. A critical analysis investigates how the concept of drugs is put into discourse and the influence of discursive practices on how people act and how they are acted upon.

The findings are presented in three sections: i) The term “hiding” conveys either “concealment” or “non-disclosure” of drug use. Being able to talk openly about drug use was desirable and has the potential to be beneficial; ii) Disclosing drug …

Social Support As A Determinant Of Health Related Quality Of Life In Breast Cancer Survivors In California, Faiza Rab

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Objective:

To evaluate the relationship between perceived social support and HRQOL (physical and emotional) in low SES breast cancer survivors.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study design was used to measure perceived social support at 18 months and HRQOL at 3 years after breast cancer diagnosis using MOS SS and MOS SF-36, respectively. Multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship.

Results:

Menopause at the time of diagnosis, adjunct chemotherapy, adjunct radiation therapy, co-morbidities, treatment side effects and depression were negatively associated with PCS scores (p < 0.01). Treatment side effects, anxiety and depression were negatively associated with MCS scores (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

Perceived social support was not associated with HRQOL in low SES breast cancer survivors …

Under A Bridge, At Missions And Shelters, In Alleyways, Wherever I Woke Up: An Exploration Of How Structural And Everyday Factors Impact Mental Health Issues And Survival Strategies Among Young Homeless Women In London, Ontario, Louise M. Vesanen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis examines how structural and everyday factors impact the survival strategies and mental health issues of young homeless females in London, Ontario. Data were gathered through secondary analysis of information from a larger study of service utilization and mental illness among homeless youth in London, and fieldnotes were also collected. The most important findings pertain to how these youth navigate the complicated terrain of daily life and the multitude of social and health-related services that they struggle to obtain and desperately need. The participants’ experiences with healthcare, justice, and social support systems, reveal a multitude of intersecting structural barriers …

Measuring And Understanding Distal And Proximal Determinants Of Mentoring Relationship Quality In Big Brothers Big Sisters Community-Based Programs, Annalise L. Ferro

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) community-based mentoring programs have been shown to positively impact children’s health and well-being. A fundamental component of these successful mentoring outcomes is mentoring relationship quality (MRQ). While some research has examined the association between MRQ and child outcomes, little research has examined antecedents of MRQ. The mentoring literature suggests that mentor self-efficacy (MSE) may act to mediate the relationship between environmental supports, specifically, parent support of the mentoring relationship and mentor training satisfaction, and MRQ. However, these relationships have not been simultaneously tested in a single model. Furthermore, a necessary prerequisite to examining these relationships …

Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv) And The Social Determinants Of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health: A Case Study Of First Nations Women’S Resilience, Resistance, And Renewal, Julie A. George

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Worldwide, First Nations women are among the most vulnerable to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV); and yet, their lived experiences of violence are lacking in the literature. Using Photovoice methodology and a community-based, participatory action approach, this project addresses multiple questions pertaining to First Nations mothers’ experiences of IPV, including: What are the health and social consequences of IPV and how do the social determinants of Aboriginal peoples’ health shape the capacities of women survivors to manage and overcome IPV? Drawing on decolonization theory, a social determinants of Aboriginal peoples’ health framework, and aspects of feminist theory, this project was designed …

Physical Activity Among Latino Children In London, Ontario: An Assessment Of Physical Activity Levels, Sedentary Behaviours, And Physical Activity-Related Barriers And Facilitators, Gillian E. Mandich

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of the study was to assess the physical activity (PA) levels, sedentary behaviours, and PA-related barriers and facilitators of a sample of Latino children in London, Canada. Forty boys and 34 girls (mean age = 11.4 years) completed questionnaires related to PA levels, sedentary behaviours, and PA-related barriers and facilitators, and 64 of these children wore an accelerometer for 4 consecutive days. Children spent an average of 53 minutes per day in moderate-to-vigorous PA. The average daily sedentary time for participants was 8.6 hours, and subjective measures revealed that participants spent 3.8 hours per day in front of …

Effects Of Methamphetamine On Sexual Behavior, Karla S. Frohmader

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Methamphetamine (Meth) is a highly addictive psychostimulant associated with enhanced sexual desire, arousal, and sexual pleasure. Moreover, Meth abuse is frequently linked with the practice of sexual risk behavior and increased prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Currently, the neurobiological basis for this drug-sex nexus is unknown. Moreover, there is a lack of studies investigating the effects of Meth on sexual behavior and more importantly, compulsive sex-seeking behavior, under controlled experimental settings in animal models. First, using immuhistochemistry for mating- and Meth-induced neural activation it was demonstrated that Meth administration in male rats activates neurons in brain regions of the …

Motivational Coaching: Its Efficacy As An Obesity Intervention And A Profile Of Professional Coaches, Courtney E. Newnham-Kanas

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Abstract

The primary purpose of this dissertation was to examine Motivational Interviewing (MI) using Co-Active life coaching (CALC) skills as an intervention for individuals struggling with obesity. The secondary purpose was to investigate the characteristics of the interventionists, the Certified Professional Co-Active Coaches (CPCCs).

Study 1 quantitatively assessed the immediate and six-month-post intervention impact of receiving six-months of MI, administered via CALC skills, on weight and waist circumference and psycho-social outcomes of eight women struggling with obesity. Study 2 qualitatively assessed participants’ and the volunteer CPCC’s experience of the intervention. The purpose of Study 3 was to develop a comprehensive, …

Depressive Symptoms In Mothers Of Children With New-Onset Epilepsy: A Prospective Study, Mark Anthony Ferro

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Having a child diagnosed with a chronic illness such as epilepsy is a major source of stress for caregivers. Up to half of mothers of children with epilepsy are at increased risk for clinical depression and symptoms of maternal depression are associated with poorer health outcomes in these children. The purpose of this study was to: 1) estimate the prevalence and course of depressive symptoms over 24 months among mothers of children with new-onset epilepsy; 2) identify subgroups of mothers that share similar trajectories of depressive symptoms; and, 3) assess the family factors involved in the causal pathway between maternal …