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
