Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Sexual health education (SHE), specifically formal SHE, can play a key role in offering individuals the necessary information, motivation, and skills needed to maintain and improve their sexual health. This study used a survey-based approach to explore the relationship between Canadians' (N = 675) perceived quality of SHE and their feelings and behaviours related to sexual consent… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Despite the extensive application of Baumrind's parenting style typology, some argue that it may not adequately capture the implicit warmth Chinese parents embrace. This study attempted to examine whether mind-mindedness could be a key indicator for helping children understand the benevolent intentions behind their mothers' authoritarian parenting practices. Specifically, this… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Sexual agency is receiving more attention in sexuality research though its contribution to sexual well-being has yet to be determined. Sexual agency has been theorized as an overarching concept comprised of both internal and external components. Both feelings and behaviours in the sexual domain can be impacted by prevalent culturally prescribed sexual scripts. The present study assessed… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Previous researchers have linked lower levels of stress and greater ability to mobilize energy toward a goal (self-motivation); confidence in their ability to complete/achieve a particular task or goal (self-efficacy), and ability to willfully control their thoughts, emotions and behaviour (self-control) to regular physical activity (PA). In an effort to provide further insight into the… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>AbstractOral Language and the Approximate Number System – A Preliminary Study
Janice Shewen
The approximate number system (ANS) involves the processing of rudimentary quantity and is
thought to be an innate developmental building block for mathematics and its sister construct, the
symbolic system. The conventional belief is that the ANS is language independent; however, this
notion is… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Sorzano, Samantha, Thesis advisor (ths): Brown, Liana, Degree committee member (dgc): Peters, Kevin, Degree committee member (dgc): Bernardi Bagesteiro, Leia, Degree committee member (dgc): Humphreys, Terry, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Positive coaching techniques are gaining prominence in the sport of Gymnastics. Coaches are focusing on positive reinforcement, encouragement, and constructive feedback rather than relying solely on traditional, more authoritarian coaching methods. Furthermore, technology is being used to enhance coach-athlete relationships. Video analysis tools and performance tracking software allow… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>It is widely believed that basic mental processes involved in skilled reading are automatic in the sense that they occur without intention. Evidence that reading occurs without intention comes from the observation that the meaning of a colour word (e.g., "red") affects the time to name the ink-colour of the word in the Stroop task. Evidence also suggests that non-colour words (… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>ABSTRACT
Patients who undergo chemotherapy often complain of a persistent 'brain fog' that can be present up to years after treatment ends. This fog is expressed as marked impairments in areas of learning, memory and mental health. As it stands, researchers have yet to determine the mechanism at fault for these impairments. The present experiment investigates if the… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Transracial adoption places the child with a family of a different ethnicity than their own. In the current study we qualitatively examine concerns associated with transracial adoption and investigate the relation between parent-child relationships and child social-emotional problems. Twenty-two adopted girls from China, 20 nonadopted Caucasian girls, and 23 nonadopted Chinese-Canadian… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The traditions of spirituality and meditation have been found to connect to psychological health in the form of increased happiness, empathy, and decreased anxiety. The present study aimed to better understand how these practices might connect to such beneficial outcomes. A sample of 363 undergraduate student participants completed a questionnaire that measured their meditation practice… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Pharmacological cognitive enhancement is the use of prescription drugs to improve cognitive functioning in healthy individuals. Multiple ethical concerns have been raised by such use. The purpose of this project was to develop a reliable and valid measure to assess public attitudes about this issue. Participants were university students in Studies 1 (N = 465), 2 (N = 580) and 3 (N = 156… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Authenticity has been demonstrated as an important factor in relationships and sexual health (Impett et al., 2006; Impett, Breines, & Strachman, 2010). Although authentic behaviour is generally beneficial, sharing our true thoughts, feelings, and desires may be especially difficult in sexual contexts. Existing research has demonstrated that individuals find sexual communication… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Children may be spending less time outdoors in nature than in previous generations, with one potential reason being parents in their role as 'gatekeepers' to the outdoors. This study investigated how families are spending their time during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how parents may influence children's outdoor nature experiences. Parents (N = 121) from across Canada… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Researchers have found associations between attachment, childhood adversity, and posttraumatic stress symptoms; however, the underlying mechanisms between these variables remains unknown. The present study explored the moderating effects of childhood adversity on the relationship between adult attachment and posttraumatic stress symptoms in two samples. In total, 533 undergraduate… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Ego-depletion refers to the observation that using self-control at Time 1 (T1) in the sequential-task paradigm leads to worse self-control at Time 2 (T2; Baumeister et al., 1998). Self-control is often manipulated by varying the difficulty of the task used at T1. Recently, Wolff and colleagues (2020) suggested that failures to replicate the ego-depletion phenomenon may arise because… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Concerns about climate change means that there is an urgent need to understand teachers' role in educating students about environmental issues and sustainability. However, little is known about teachers' environmental leadership and how that affects their competencies in the classroom, their general well-being and connections with nature, or what kinds of personality… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The Minority Stress Model proposes that LGBTQ+ people experience stressors unique to their identity that negatively impact their mental well-being. The model also outlines that, in the case of the LGBTQ+ community, two minority coping resources - social support and connection to the LGBTQ+ community – may act as potential minority stress buffers; however, research has been unable to… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>To examine comorbid pain sensitivity, temporal lobe epilepsy was modeled with a 42-stimulation amygdala kindling paradigm using rats. Sham and kindled rats' mechanical allodynia was not different before the formalin conditioned place aversion (FCPA) test. FCPA behaviour was not different, but twenty-four hours later kindled rats showed mechanical allodynia. Thermal sensitivity 48… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Background: Researchers who study both attachment and criminal thinking propose that perceptions of the self and others explain why individuals engage in illegal behaviour (e.g., Bowlby, 1944; Mitchell & Tafrate, 2012). The purpose of this study was to combine these areas of research and examine how attachment views of self and others are associated with self and other models of… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Past research on parents' knowledge of concussion has shown that they understand the severity and consequences associated with the injury but have existing gaps in their knowledge for its management. This is a cause for concern due to the critical role parents play in their child's management process. This present study sought to address this area of concern with semi-… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Social scientists have debated whether religious involvement is associated with differences in deviant behaviours for over a century. Religious practices and beliefs are often associated with less deviant behaviours in young adults, such as less frequent drug use and law-breaking. Empirical results on these associations, though, have been mixed, possibly due to heterogenous measures.… more Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Human-wildlife interactions are inevitable and lead to decisions about wildlife. The current research investigated what demographic and psychological factors influence decisions in wildlife management. Also, a new measure, the Tolerance for Wildlife Scale, was developed. A student sample (n = 329) and a community sample (n = 213) completed measures on their nature relatedness,… more Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Physical activity and classroom design changes are beneficial means to reduce stress, and enhance well-being. Results across some studies however, are mixed. Shanker Self-Reg™ supports the use of physical equipment and design as a means of managing arousal and tension levels. Previous research lacks rich description of educators' understanding of equipment and design, Self-Reg, and… more Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Epilepsy is associated with a variety of cognitive, emotional, and pain-related symptoms, such as impaired memory and learning, increased risk of anxiety and depression, and increased pain sensitivity. Unfortunately, these symptoms are generally untreated with typical pharmacological interventions, which tend to target seizure activity (i.e., ictogenesis) and not the subsequent… more Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Memories which typically require the hippocampus (HPC) can become represented in structures outside of the HPC, and therefore resistant to HPC damage, but, the properties of these memories are poorly understood. Some research has suggested that the HPC continually contributes to memories that are resistant to hippocampal damage, and without this support, they are weaker and more… more Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The present study investigated the lived-experiences of individuals with workplace mental health injuries to better understand the thoughts, emotions, and behavioural processes that promote or inhibit help-seeking. This research investigated the interactions and relationships with relevant stakeholders and how they influence help-seeking. Qualitative methodology was employed by… more Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Studies that have investigated the relation between social anxiety and theory of mind or executive function have shown that individuals with deficits in these cognitive processes have high levels of social anxiety. However, methodological problems make past findings questionable and difficult to interpret. The current study investigated whether deficits in theory of mind and executive… more Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Adolescence is a time when young people focus their attention on setting and pursuing long-term goals. Contemporary approaches of identity development focus on three pivotal processes underlying the identity formation process and the maintenance of one's identity (e.g., core values, etc.). These processes are commitment (commitments to a goal), in-depth exploration (exploration of… more Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Memories pertaining to fearful events are some of the most salient and long-lasting memories, as they are critical to the survival of an organism. Seizures induce aberrant changes within temporal lobe and limbic brain structures that are critical for supporting fear memories. Seizures can occur at any time; therefore, it is imperative that research address how seizures impact previously… more Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Background: Researchers have provided evidence that attachment may be independently linked to early adversity and criminal behaviour. In this study, I examined the combined associations among these variables in a student and community sample. Method: The first study consisted of undergraduate students (n = 590) who completed surveys to assess early adversity (Felitti, et al., 1988),… more Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Ghahremani, Roya S, Thesis advisor (ths): Keefer, Kateryan, Degree committee member (dgc): Parker, James, Degree committee member (dgc): Nisbet, Lisa, Degree committee member (dgc): Fournier, Neil, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Recently, equine assisted learning (EAL) has emerged as a novel approach to building resiliency competencies in at-risk youth. This mixed-methods study presents evaluation results for an 8-week community-based EAL program with 83 young women (age 13-18 years) with a history of interpersonal trauma. Analyses examined changes in self-reported mental health symptoms (posttraumatic,… more Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Trait Emotional Intelligence (TEI) plays an important role in the health and wellness of children and adolescents. Not surprisingly, the literature on TEI and youth has expanded dramatically. Although the quality of this work continues to be uneven due to the continued proliferation of TEI-related measures with questionable psychometric features. One over-looked TEI measure in the field… more Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Past research has predominately supported an association between insecure attachment and substance use. More recent research has found that while individuals with secure attachment may use substances, they do so with less risk. The current study attempted to replicate the finding regarding secure attachment and substance use and examined the motivational drives behind why students use… more Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>This study examined the relation between complexity of pretend play during preschool and early academic skills two years later. Preschool children (n =19), aged 3 years, were observed during self-directed free play, which was then coded for complexity of symbolic thought with respect to symbolic agent (ability to direct self or other's play) and symbolic substitution (abstractness… more Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Social anxiety often co-occurs with substance use disorders – various psychological variables, contextual factors, and implicit cognitions may help explain their relationship. This thesis examined whether social anxiety and psychological variables (jointly and independently) helped predict substance use and related problems. It also explored whether social anxiety group membership helped… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Academic procrastination is analogous to a common cold: pervasive and with no established cure. Students experience repercussions that are not inclusive to academic performance, but rather, are experienced across mental, physical, social and emotional domains as well. While this necessitates treatment, much of the behaviour has yet to be explained. In the current study, a state approach… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Connecting with nature benefits human and environmental health, however it is unclear whether certain types of nature influence people differently. Research has primarily focused on green spaces (vegetation-rich areas), but recent cross-sectional studies suggest that green spaces with blue space (natural water elements) may have additional well-being benefits. A quasi-experimental design… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, treatment and outcomes in women remain largely inequitable globally. Unique sex-specific stages of life, including pregnancy conditions, and their influence on cardiac risk is a growing area of research (Norris et al., 2020). For example, preeclampsia is strongly associated with CVD risk. This connection has led to prevention interventions such as… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Research shows spending time in nature can result in many positive effects, including improving mood, connection to nature, and environmental concern. Certain activities may increase these positive effects of nature exposure. Citizen science (non-scientists collecting data to contribute to science) and environmental education (receiving information about the environment) are two… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Past research has indicated a relationship between attachment and mindfulness; however, less is known about the behavioural outcomes of this relationship. The purpose of the present study was to test a new, more in-depth structural model of the relationship between attachment and mindfulness, and further explore the effects of attachment and mindfulness session type (group or individual… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Substance use disorder (SUD) is a pervasive psychological disorder detrimentally impacting both individuals and society on a psychological, economic, and social level. The best protocol for treating SUD as well as what defines success in treatment is often debated in the research. However, researchers agree that different psychosocial factors can influence outcomes. The literature… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Guidelines regarding social skills interventions for children with ASD suggest incorporating a holistic approach. This includes increasing the family's understanding of deficits associated with ASD, integrations of natural environments, and parents as active agents while supporting their well-being. The current availability of holistic parent-mediated interventions for children with… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Callousness, deceit, and manipulativeness have been identified as common characteristics of the Dark Triad. Researchers have argued that empathy and Theory of Mind underlie these characteristics. This study aimed to (a) examine the relationships between the Dark Triad, empathy, and Theory of Mind, (b) determine if empathy and Theory of Mind explain the overlap between the Dark Triad… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Aging is associated with a multitude of changes, including changes in the motor system. One such change that has been documented is increased levels of inherent movement variability (the inability to consistently replicate movements over time) with increasing age. Previous research has had controversial findings regarding the effect that movement variability has on motor learning and… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Self-regulation skills have been connected to positive school success and increased academic achievement (McClelland, Acock, & Morrison, 2006). One recently explored method to aid students in their ability to self-regulate is physical activity (Becker, et al., 2011). The purpose of this study was to explore the facilitation of self- regulation through physical activity via access to… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>While there is substantial research on the influence of adverse childhood experiences on sexual offending behaviours and attachment representations on sexual offending behaviours, few studies to date have explored how adverse childhood experiences and attachment representations act together to influence the development of rape attitudes in a non-clinical population. The purpose of this… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The purpose of the current study was to explore virginity loss experiences in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals (LGB), specifically those who have had both a sexual experience with a member of a different sex and a member of the same sex. This phenomenon is what the current study is defining as second virginity loss. Participants consisted of 645 LGB self-identified individuals, the… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>For currently-debated reasons, perception of visual stimuli is enhanced in near-hand space compared to far-hand space. According to the action potentiation hypothesis, near-hand effects result from automatically generated potential motor responses produced upon viewing objects presented in near-hand space. This hypothesis was tested by crossing hand manipulations with two separate… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Ill-structured problems have changing components that solvers need to adapt their solutions to. Well-structured problems have strict, well-defined procedures, and solvers must know which procedures to apply and when. Research has suggested that these two types of problems utilize different problem-solving skills. The current study focused on the relation between ill-structured… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Temporal lobe epilepsy increases risk for developing major depression, and conversely, depression increases risk for development of epilepsy. The mechanisms responsible for the widely observed bi-directional relationship between epilepsy and depression are currently poorly understood. One reason why our understanding of shared etiology has had little improvement is due to the lack of… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The Continuity Hypothesis states that dreams reflect waking day cognition and experiences, which reflect one's mental health status. As such, dreams are, by extension, cognitions that occur during sleep. To date, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is deemed the most efficacious method of social anxiety treatment by working with cognitions. The current study utilized both CBT and… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Current literature on concussion management focuses primarily on the return to physical activity, while the return to learn process is less clearly understood. This knowledge gap is particularly problematic for adolescents, whose primary responsibility is academics. The present study sought to develop a more in-depth understanding of the return to learn process through the perspectives… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Young children learn their emotion regulation skills by modeling and internalizing their caregivers' emotional competencies. Inadequate or problematic emotional competencies in parents can result in insufficient development of these competencies in children, which can</p><p>have severe consequences on multiple domains of their lives, including physical wellbeing. This… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Although Canada's healthcare system is designed for everyone to access services regardless of the person's gender, age, or income, there are significant barriers for individuals accessing substance abuse services that live in areas outside of urban centres (Adbool, et al., 2017; Hardill, 2011). Women are particularly stigmatized by the lack of anonymity in smaller communities… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Evidence suggests that visuomotor system behaviour may be more sensitive to the prolonged effects of mild brain injuries than neuropsychological tests. We evaluated whether participants with a mild closed head injury (CHI) would show lingering visuomotor deficits, but not cognitive deficits, up to three years post-injury compared to participants with an orthopaedic injury and healthy… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The risks and benefits of sexting within an intimate relationship were explored. The present study focused on sexual gratification, relationship benefits, and sexual communication as benefits and risky sexual behaviour, unethical forwarding, and infidelity as risks. A cross-sectional online survey of both undergraduate students and a community sample was used. Results indicated that… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Three experiments examined whether semantics is activated automatically by testing whether Arabic digits (e.g., 4), number words (e.g., four), and non-number words (e.g., rat) activate semantics in the absence of central attention within the Psychological Refractory Period (PRP) paradigm. In all three experiments, subjects performed colour discriminations as Task 1. In Task 2, subjects… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Cognitive impairments, such as memory loss, are a frequent and devastating co-morbidity associated with epilepsy. The neurobiological mechanisms through which recurrent seizures induce cognitive impairments are not well understood. New neurons born after seizures develop abnormal morphological and functional characteristics that promote network hyperexcitability and hippocampal… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Seizures induce long-term changes in gene expression in the hippocampus. Experimental evidence has demonstrated a significant effect of epileptic activity on the activity of neurons that participate in complex cognitive and behavioural processes. The present series of experiments involving kindling with subconvulsive doses of PTZ demonstrates a link between seizures and altered immediate… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Distributing contextual fear episodes makes the memory become HPC-independent, meaning increasingly reliant on non-HPC memory structures. It is unclear, however, whether distribution of the conditioning episodes alone is sufficient or whether a combination of distribution and high conditioning saliency is necessary to make the memory become HPC-independent. To resolve this issue, rats… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Sexting was explored in relation to cohabitation status, general and sexual communication, as well as the anxious and avoidant dimensions of attachment. The present study was focused the distinction between lifetime and recent sexting, in an attempt to more accurately assess the relationships between the examined factors and sexting behaviours. Individuals in long-distance relationships… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The purpose of the current study was to explore the relationships between sexting, perceptions of sexual consent, and nonconsensual sexual experiences (NSEs). Participants consisted of 100 community members and 851 undergraduate students enrolled at Trent University. It was found that males were more likely than females to interpret ambiguous sexual scenarios as consensual, but consent… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Mild sauna dehydration and fluid abstinence were investigated as weight loss strategies for lightweight rowers. Rowers (N=12) performed a power test, an incremental VO2max test, and a visuomotor battery: once euhydrated, once following sauna dehydration (SAU), and once following fluid abstinence and then sauna dehydration (FA). The percent body mass change (%BMC) achieved, %BMC… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The use of threats to feelings of intimacy and belonging, also known as</p><p>relational aggression, has been previously explained using attachment representations</p><p>and attributions in childhood. However, the combined role of attachment</p><p>representations and attributions in explaining relational aggression in adult peer and</p><p>… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Typically task interference is studied using reaching adaptation tasks (visuomotor rotation and/or force-field learning). Participants in these experiments are already experts at the base task (point-to-point, planar reaching) and their ability to adapt reaching to the imposed perturbation is studied. The pattern of data induced by the perturbation is used to make inferences about the… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>It is well-established that alexithymia in adulthood is a critical risk factor for numerous negative mental health and well-being outcomes. Although this area of research has begun to receive interest in earlier developmental stages, significant methodological limitations have been noted with current measures of alexithymia for adolescence. As such, the aim of the current thesis was to… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Research to date on social problem solving typically focuses on elementary school aged children. However, adolescents and young adults may experience more novel and emotionally complex social conflicts that require different skills to navigate them successfully. Previous research has highlighted executive function (EF) and emotion regulation as possible skills that help with social… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Eating Disorders (ED) are notoriously difficult to treat due, in part, to commonly observed inefficiencies in cognitive flexibility and central coherence, which are believed to maintain disordered cognitions and behaviours and negatively impact prognosis. Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) has recently been used effectively with adults with ED; however, evidence among adolescents is… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>While preferences for symmetry are seemingly universal, they can be seen at their most extreme among individuals high in trait incompleteness. As yet, it is unclear why incompleteness yields heightened symmetry preferences. Summerfeldt et al. (2015) speculated that individuals high in incompleteness may develop heightened preferences for symmetry due to its greater perceptual fluency.… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Prior research has examined social anxiety, emotional competence (EC) and life adjustment (i.e., loneliness and life satisfaction) using cross-sectional designs, although there is limited information on their association over time. The present study examined the impact of social anxiety on life adjustment and assessed if EC could mediate this relationship from young to middle adulthood.… more Year: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Although years of research have established that attachment representations are not </p><p>consistently transmitted from parent to child (also known as the transmission gap), the </p><p>reasons for this gap remain relatively unknown. This transmission gap exists between </p><p>parents and peers as well. The purpose of this thesis was to examine the… more Year: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The strong relationship between poverty and poor health has been well-established for millennia; however, the mechanisms through which this relationship manifests are only recently becoming understood. Perceptions of relative wealth and status, chronic stress, and immunodeficiencies are implicated in recent research studying the social determinants of health. The purpose of the current… more Year: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Media has had a significant influence on how individuals living with and at risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) care for their health. This research builds on previous research to explore the link between HIV related media messaging and HIV related health behaviours using a mixed methods approach. To investigate the access to and perceptions of HIV related media, a sample of 129… more Year: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Sexual script theory suggests that sexual behaviours have social meaning, and that individuals perceive certain behaviours as normative and expected. Previous research has indicated that there is a common belief in a cultural sexual script for (hetero)sexual behaviour sequences (CSSHS). Study 1 compared perceived norms with behaviours in first ever penile-vaginal intercourse (PVI) sex… more Year: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Although a wealth of research supports nature's beneficial effects on well-being, a lack of attentiveness and appreciation for nature may prevent people from fully experiencing nature's benefits. A mindfulness-based nature intervention was tested across two studies to investigate whether gratitude and mindfulness can boost nature's effects for well-being. Students… more Year: 2017, 2017
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The study aimed to examine the association between different components of executive function (EF) and emotional, behavioural, and social competence problems (EBSP) in children with epilepsy. Although there is evidence of an association between EBSP and EF in typically developing children, little research has examined this relation in children with epilepsy. The sample comprised of 42… more Year: 2017, 2017
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of mental health and illness in Kuwait. Twenty-six participants were interviewed, including mental health professionals, family physicians, and service users. Findings suggest that inequality, oppression, and human rights violations may drive mental health issues in Kuwait. However, rather than addressing these factors,… more Year: 2017, 2017
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The present thesis entails a qualitative investigation of the unique notion to transition media change from the current paper-based system to the potential use of information technology innovation for communication between health care providers and employers during return to work. Stakeholder perspectives on relevant communication phenomena were gathered from workers, employers, and… more Year: 2017, 2017
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Children of incarcerated parents are an understudied at-risk population. However, this thesis was designed to advance our understanding of the effects of parental incarceration and factors that may influence the impact. Using quantitative methods, possible moderating roles of gender, number of incarcerated parents, and contact frequency on the associations between attachment… more Year: 2017, 2017
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Autistic traits are characterized by difficulties with socialization, preference for order, and rigid and repetitive behaviour patterns. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of two measures of autistic traits, the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Sub-threshold Autistic Trait Questionnaire (SATQ), and their associations with the HEXACO personality framework. The… more Year: 2017, 2017
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Previous research has found that bullying and victimization is related to poor socioemotional competencies. The present study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and bullying and victimization in a large community-based sample of adolescents. Specifically, we explored the EI of bullies, victims, bully-victims, and those uninvolved. We also examined whether the… more Year: 2017, 2017
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Sexual assertiveness encompasses skills in refusing unwanted sexual situations and bringing about wanted sexual situations. Measures of sexual assertiveness typically assess both refusal and initiation aspects, yet there is a dearth of research examining these skills in relation to one another. The present study examined the relationship between these skillsets in women, exploring… more Year: 2017, 2017
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Athletes' concussion risk is part of a complex system of personal and contextual factors. This study differentiated athletes based on attitudes and intentions towards protective behaviours. A cross-sectional survey design was used to sample varsity athletes. Three intention response subgroups (indifferent, reactive, and proactive) were identified. The indifferent group (28%)… more Year: 2017, 2017
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Many consumers purchase sweatshop products, despite the hazardous conditions for workers. The psychological factors that influence (un) ethical garment purchasing are not well understood. Two studies explored consumers' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour. University students (Study 1; N = 130) said they would pay more for ethically-labelled garments, particularly students who were… more Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>It is universally accepted that human motor performance is variable in both its timing and spatial qualities. However, it is unclear to what extent motor variability impedes performance when learning a new skill and to what extent it enables our ability to learn. The first experiment examined whether performance during a test task depended on whether participants practiced to constrain… more Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Past research suggests that taking a process oriented approach, setting clear and concrete goals, and using both conscious planning and proactive coping are the best methods to be successful with goal pursuit. Also the literature has found that individuals scoring higher in general resourcefulness tend to be more successful at achieving goals than their less resourceful counterparts. My… more Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The goal of the present study was to explore the overall discourse within media articles regarding Aboriginal health issues. The present research aimed to answer the following questions: What Aboriginal health issues are being discussed in the media? How are Aboriginal health issues being discussed in the media? And, does the media propagate power imbalances between Aboriginal and non-… more Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The assessment of visuomotor function can provide important information about neurological status. Several visuomotor tasks exist for testing in the laboratory, although attempts to make these tests portable to allow quick and reliable assessment have been limited. We developed an assessment tool using two laboratory visuomotor tests as a tablet application: the double-step task, and an… more Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Previous research has suggested that childhood sensory sensitivity may predict adult obsessive compulsive (OC) behaviours. To date, however, research has not addressed how the separate dimensions – harm avoidance and incompleteness - may influence this relationship or why it exists. The current study used a retrospective design to test a) if sensory sensitivity in childhood predicts… more Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>After active tool-use visual stimuli near a tool are processed more quickly and accurately than those farther away from a tool. Can these near-tool effects be modulated by training demands? To investigate this we asked the participants to complete a tool training task followed by a cross-modal interference task. During the training task the participants performed quick and accurate… more Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The purpose of this study was to determine whether students at the Royal Military College (RMC) preferred electronic or print texts, their reasoning for this preference, and whether preference was related to student characteristics. Students (N=139) in a core course were provided with both formats. Due to a limited number of e-text users, statistical analyses of most variables were not… more Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Men who become fathers undergo a transitional period during which they adjust to their new role as the caregiver of a child, a time that is usually viewed as a major life transition (Lamb, 2010). Much of the published literature focuses on fathers with identified issues (e.g., divorced fathers); therefore, there is a need for research that looks at the experiences of more typical fathers… more Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), while providing many benefits, presents challenges to clinicians such as predicting the stability of symptoms. Accurately predicting symptom severity allows clinicians to confidently diagnose and assign the most appropriate treatment. Little research exists to date to predict symptom severity in children with ASD who have not been… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>We investigated whether hand-proximity effects arise from the recruitment of visual-tactile bimodal cells. In Experiment 1, we executed right-hand open-loop reaching movements to targets, presented either near or far from the resting left-hand, and after applying repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to suppress neuronal activity in the PMd and AIP, in Experiment 2. Results… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>How one identifies their nonconsensual sexual experiences (NSE) and</p><p>cognitively integrates the experience into their sexual schemas may affect how individuals perceive and negotiate sexual consent. Previous research has demonstrated that both the method of quantifying NSEs and the labels used to describe NSEs yield different results in psychosexual outcomes associated… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>It has been proposed that individuals often form a romantic attachment to their sexual partners. However, there is little understanding of the role of sexual behaviours in an attachment relationship. This study aims to explore the effect of attachment representations on sexual behaviours during foreplay, intercourse, and afterplay. In two studies, individuals (N = 478) and couples (N =… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Past research suggests that students who are more academically resourceful tend to attain higher grades and feel more socially and academically adjusted at university. These same studies also show that students' general resourcefulness and academic self-efficacy are strong, positive and direct predictors of their academic resourcefulness. My thesis expands upon this line of research… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The purpose of this thesis was to explore the role of attachment in university students' help-seeking process using both a cross-sectional and mixed methods study. In the cross-sectional study, I explored whether help-seeking attitudes mediated the relationship between attachment and help-seeking behaviour. As expected, the relationship between secure and preoccupied attachment and… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>A mixed-methods' approach was designed to explore the marital impacts </p><p>following weight-loss surgery (WLS). In Phase 1, ten individual interviews with spouses </p><p>of five couples were conducted; two of the couples had the wives preparing for WLS, two </p><p>of the couples consisted of wives who had WLS, and one couple had both received… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Damage to the hippocampus (HPC) typically causes retrograde amnesia for contextual fear conditioning. Reinstating the conditioning over several sessions, however, can mitigate the retrograde amnesic effects. Reinstatements, thus, establish a sufficiently strong memory in non-HPC systems to no longer require the HPC for expression, meaning that it has become HPC independent. This thesis… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Recently, a distinction has been made between cognitive theory of mind, the ability to make inferences about other's beliefs and thoughts, and affective theory of mind, the ability to make inferences about other's emotional states. The purpose of this study is to determine if the distinction between cognitive and affective theory of mind is developmentally appropriate and… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The present study examined the understanding and behaviours relating to sexual consent on, and offline among men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexual men internationally using a convergent parallel mixed-methods approach. Men of both sexual orientation groups presented challenges with negotiating sexual consent, and this was especially true if they scored higher on aggressive… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Past research has examined the influence of cultural scripts on our first coital experience, but the impact of virginity scripts on precoital sexual behaviour remains unknown. The purpose of this study sought to examine the link between Carpenter's (2001) cognitive frameworks of virginity and precoital sexual behaviour. Two hundred and forty eight participants (32 men, 215 women,… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Strategies to reduce youth crime have been extensively researched and custody is not found to be effective. In the past, custody was a frequently used sentence, and while under the YOA the number of youth in custody was four times higher than that of adults in Canada. The use of custody sentences in Ontario has decreased in recent years, however; it remains above the Canadian average.… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>With the expansion of the internet, there are a number of opportunities to engage in cyber-bullying behaviour, however, to date, only a few studies have examined interpersonal predictors of cyber-bullying. The purpose of this research study was to explore relationship and personality factors associated with being a bully and/or a victim. The first goal of this study was to develop a… more Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The relationship between siblings is unique in both its history and duration across the lifespan. Previous relationship researchers have examined siblings in childhood, but few have explored this distinctive relationship in adulthood. In this study, the adult sibling relationship was explored from an attachment perspective to determine the effect of an individual's attachment on… more Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Near-hand benefits are seen when individuals are able to process targets more quickly, accurately, and with greater precision when a hand is placed near, rather than far from a target. One possibility is that near-hand stimuli recruit visual-tactile bimodal cells. Research reports that placing a hand near a target delayed immediate saccade onset and speeded delayed saccade onset. Study 1… more Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Dreams that occur in bereavement have been mainly overlooked in the psychological literature. This study focuses on the most memorable dreams of the bereaved that contain imagery of the deceased. There were 52 participants who completed the study via email. The main goal of the study was to investigate the occurrence of common themes in the dreams that have the deceased as a character.… more Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Addiction can lead to a plethora of health, social and economical problems. Substances are used for mood regulation, and therefore, waking day mood is extremely important during recovery of alcohol and drug addiction. The current study examined the effects of Meditation and Sleep Mentation Therapy on mood levels. All participants were male, and currently in treatment programs or early… more Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The present study examined the role of multiple nights of sleep in the consolidation of a complex motor learning task. Participants were 24 Trent undergraduates, 12 in the learning group (Mage = 20.33, SD = 1.87, 10 female) and 12 in the control group (Mage = 21.92, SD = 3.42, 7 female). Participants underwent 5 consecutive nights of polysomnographic recordings, with a Rock Band learning… more Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Using rodent models, it is possible to study the behavioural and physiological outcomes of early life stress and the influences on normal mammary gland development and carcinogenic risk. Results demonstrate that the experience of three weeks of prolonged maternal separation (LMS; 4 hrs/day) increased the susceptibility of adult, but not pubertal, female BALB/c mice to engage in higher… more Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>This thesis examined the applicability of the sexual self-control model to men, which resulted in the creation and analysis of a new two-dimensional sexual double standard scale. In Study 1, a sample of 124 men completed the Self-Control Schedule assessing general learned resourcefulness, the Sexual Resourcefulness Inventory, Sexual Self-efficacy Scale, Reasons for Consenting to Unwanted… more Year: 2013, 2013
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>In the past few years there has been increasing attention paid to the influence of the motor system on numerical cognition. A 2010 study by Domahs, Moeller, Huber, Willmes and Nuerk tested German and Chinese university students. Number processing time was influenced by cross cultural differences in finger counting habits</p><p>This thesis replicated and elaborated on the… more Year: 2013, 2013
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>This research project focused on the positive behaviour changes in First Nations youth as a result of participation in a community-based recreation program. The study was a secondary analysis based on a qualitative data set. Both adults and youth were interviewed in one-on-one and focus group settings in 12 First Nations communities across Ontario. The data was analyzed using a grounded… more Year: 2013, 2013
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The literature to date that investigates the development of social perspective taking in children primarily focuses on preschool aged children. These studies provide evidence that implicates language as being crucial for social perspective taking in young children but less is known about the importance of language to social perspective taking during middle childhood and early adolescence… more
