Psychology (Functional Area: Clinical-Developmental)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10315/27657

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Access status: Open Access ,
Examining the Relationship and Neural Underpinnings of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Substance Use, and Mental Health in Emerging Adults
(2025-11-11) Wilson, Alyssia Dawn; Wojtowicz, Magdalena
Substance use is increasingly more common among emerging adults and is often linked to poor mental health, though the direction of this relationship remains unclear. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is also a known risk factor for both substance use and mood disorders, potentially due to its impact on brain regions involved in decision-making and emotional regulation. University athletes are especially vulnerable due to higher exposure to mTBI, placing them at increased risk for both substance misuse and mental health challenges. The complex interplay between these factors, along with observed sex differences, underscores the need for more targeted research and intervention. The overall objective of this research program was to examine the relationship between mTBI history and recent substance use, while exploring how mental health and mTBI interact and vary by sex and athlete status. Across four studies, important links emerged between substance use, mental health, and brain connectivity in both athletes and non-athletes. Study 1 found that in female athletes, cannabis use was associated with higher depression and altered resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in brain regions related to emotional regulation and self-monitoring, including reduced OFC-fusiform and increased hippocampus-cerebellum connectivity. Study 2 showed that among university athletes, mTBI and anxiety predicted alcohol and polysubstance use, with polysubstance users reporting the highest levels of depression, anxiety, and mTBI history. Study 3 extended these findings to a larger non-athlete sample, where hazardous substance use was linked to mTBI, anxiety, and depression. Sex-specific patterns emerged: in females, cannabis use was closely tied to mood symptoms, especially when combined with mTBI; in males, depression predicted both alcohol and cannabis use, with mTBI moderating alcohol use. Study 4 found that athletes with mTBI reported greater depression, anxiety, stress, and substance use, along with increased DMN-striatum connectivity related to anxiety, although no direct rsFC changes were associated with substance use. These findings emphasize the need for early screening, tailored mental health support, and integrated care. Further research into the temporal and causal relationships between mTBI, mental health, and substance use, particularly across sexes, is essential for developing effective interventions.
Access status: Open Access ,
Validating the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool to Improve Surveillance of Mental Health Issues Among Canadian Varsity Athletes
(2025-11-11) Fabiano, Giulia Filomena; Wojtowicz, Magdalena
Varsity athletes experience an array of stressors as they are expected to excel in their schooling and athletic competition. This study examined the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-5 (SCAT-5) symptom evaluation scale as a potential screening tool for anxiety and depression symptoms among varsity athletes at baseline. The sample consisted of 436 varsity athletes from York University. Two model structures of the SCAT-5 symptom evaluation scale were compared to identify which model best represents varsity athlete’s symptom profiles at baseline. Structural equation modelling and receiver operating characteristic analysis were conducted to assess construct validity and discriminative ability in identifying mental health concerns across both models. Anderson’s model provided a better model fit, structure, and discriminative ability than the ICD-10 PCS model. These findings support the SCAT-5 as a dual-purpose tool for concussion assessment and mental health screening, facilitating earlier support for athletes and informing future sport policies on mental health.
Access status: Open Access ,
Investigating Neuropsychological and Mental Health Outcomes After Surgical Intervention in Pediatric Moyamoya Vasculopathy
(2025-11-11) Isaacs, Tamiko Alia; Desrocher, Mary E.
Moyamoya vasculopathy (MMV), a rare and progressive cerebrovascular disorder, is an important cause of pediatric stroke. This retrospective study explored post-revascularization neuropsychological and mental health outcomes. Eighteen patients from the Canadian Pediatric Stroke Registry at the Hospital for Sick Children (MAge=10, SD=4.073) who had revascularization surgery and completed neuropsychological assessments between 2012 and 2024 were selected. Outcome measures included academics, executive functioning, and mental health. Predictor variables were age at revascularization surgery, age at stroke/moyamoya diagnosis, and moyamoya diagnosis (confirmed or presumed). Two significant associations emerged: a strong positive relationship for children with a moyamoya diagnosis and caregiver-reported BASC-3 anxiety scores; and a strong positive correlation between moyamoya diagnosis and caregiver-reported BRIEF2 BRI total score. Age at revascularization and moyamoya diagnosis significantly predicted BRIEF2 caregiver-reported BRI total scores. These preliminary findings suggest our selected variables may predict caregiver and self-reported behavioural dysregulation and anxiety, requiring early intervention and ongoing support.
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Understanding Maternal Perspectives of Skin-To-Skin Contact for the Management of Acute Pain in Very and Extremely Preterm Infants
(2025-11-11) Hashemi, Haleh; Pillai Riddell, Rebecca
Skin-to-skin care (SSC) and skin-to-skin contact for pain (SSCP) offer physiological and emotional benefits in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). However, little is known about how birthing parents of very and extremely preterm infants (V/EPT; < 32 weeks gestation), a significantly challenging preterm infant population to enact SSCP, perceive this intervention. This study explores birthing parents’ experiences and perceptions of SSC and SSCP in the NICU through virtual interviews with 38 mothers of V/EPT infants admitted to Canadian NICUs within the past five years. Data were synthesized around eight themes relating to SSC and SSCP. Mothers also evaluated a priori concepts and proposed interventions. Although most described their experiences as rewarding, barriers such as inconsistent staff support, practical challenges, and emotional strain often hindered use of SSCP. Findings suggest staff training, standardizing protocols, mental health support, and flexible, family-centred policies appear key to improving SSCP engagement with V/EPT infants.
Access status: Open Access ,
Examining Neuropsychological Outcomes and Neural Correlates of Children Diagnosed with Congenital Heart Disease and Children Born Very Preterm
(2025-11-11) Samantha Dawn Roberts; Wojtowicz, Magdalena
Congenital heart disease (CHD) and very preterm (VP) birth are two distinct and high-risk neonatal conditions that independently affect a significant number of newborns each year. Both conditions share common risks for altered brain development and long-term neuropsychological challenges. CHD is one of the most common congenital defects worldwide, affecting ~1 in 80-100 newborns in Canada each year, and approximately 11% of infants are born preterm. Despite medical advances that have improved survival rates in both populations, children remain vulnerable to a range of neurodevelopmental difficulties. Past research has shown that newborns with CHD and VP newborns without CHD have similar brain anomalies. To date, few studies have compared infants born with CHD to infants born VP and there is little research examining the association between neuropsychological outcomes and brain metabolites in these populations. This dissertation examined cross-sectional and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants with CHD and infants born VP, and examined associations with neurological, medical, and psychosocial characteristics. Using a large clinical sample, a series of 3 studies were conducted: 1) comparison of 18-month neurodevelopmental outcomes of children with CHD to children born VP; 2) examination of longitudinal neurodevelopmental outcome trajectories among these groups between 18-to-36 months of age; and 3) exploration of the relationship between neurometabolic concentrations of these groups and neurodevelopmental outcomes. This dissertation is one of the few to examine short and longer-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of children with CHD as compared to children born VP. Findings from the current dissertation may help inform clinical practice and direct surveillance and intervention initiatives to optimize neuropsychological outcomes.
Access status: Open Access ,
An In-Depth Analysis of Daily Interpersonal Emotion Regulation, Well-Being, and Psychopathology Among Emerging Adults
(2025-11-11) Bakken, Kaja Linette; Rawana, Jennine
Emotion regulation underlies the well-being and psychopathology of emerging adults; however, there is a substantive gap in the literature regarding interpersonal emotion regulation (IER). Recent moves to daily methodologies have increased the ecological utility of emotion regulation research. Thus, this novel study investigates which IER strategies emerging adults use in daily life, whether emotions influence strategy selection, and the relationships between IER, emotions, psychopathology, and well-being. Emerging adults utilized a wide range of IER strategies in response to their complex emotional lives. Differences in IER strategy selection emerged between state and trait emotion, positive and negative affect, and high and low arousal emotions. Baseline depression and well-being moderated the relationship between select emotions and the tendency to use IER. Study findings demonstrate the need for innovative emotion regulation interventions for emerging adults that incorporate a repertoire of daily emotions and emotion regulation strategies.
Access status: Open Access ,
Skin-To-Skin Contact for Painful Procedures in Very and Extremely Preterm Infants: A Meta-Analysis and Narrative Synthesis Review
(2025-11-11) Cohen, Estreya Rachel; Pillai Riddell, Rebecca
Skin-to-skin contact for pain (SSCP) has been recommended as a pain management strategy broadly for infants but no systematic reviews have focused exclusively on the youngest of preterm infants. Thus, the objective of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis and narrative synthesis to examine the effectiveness of SSCP in these infants. Twenty-three studies were included in our review. In our meta-analyses, SSCP showed mixed evidence of significantly reduced pain-related outcomes, but magnitude of the effects varied significantly according to outcome and time point. Our narrative synthesis results suggest SSCP may not provide better pain management than sweet-tasting solutions. Overall, the certainty of the evidence base, using GRADE criteria, ranged from very low to moderate. These findings call for better quality trials. This vulnerable group deserves special attention as the evidence is unclear about the benefits of SSCP, a critical pain management intervention for infants of a higher gestational age.
Access status: Open Access ,
The Experience of Mental Effort in ADHD: A Phenomenological Approach
(2025-11-11) Bold, Gary Nathaniel; Toplak, Maggie E.; Eastwood, John D.
Background: Mental effort is essential in academic, occupational, and daily life, yet its subjective experience remains less understood, particularly in ADHD, where difficulty sustaining effort is a diagnostic criterion. While prior research highlights cognitive aspects, this study examined lived experience, exploring how individuals with ADHD perceive mental effort and its influence on persistence and disengagement. Methods: Five emerging adults (16–24; 2 female, 3 male) with confirmed ADHD were recruited through clinical practices. Semi-structured interviews probed thoughts, feelings, and emotions regarding mental effort. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used. Results: Participants described mental effort as unpredictable and emotionally charged. Six themes emerged: (1) All-in or bored, (2) Stars needing to align, (3) Fearful approach, (4) Caught in a thought spiral, (5) Potential out of reach, (6) Struck by difference. Discussion: Findings show mental effort in ADHD is intertwined with affect and motivation, particularly autonomy, competence, and connectedness.
Access status: Open Access ,
Examining the Role of Cognition in the Risk of Lower Extremity Musculoskeletal Injuries and Concussions Among Elite Athletes
(2025-11-11) Sewell, Isabella Jordan; Wojtowicz, Magdalena
Risk factors for lower extremity musculoskeletal (LEMSK) injury and concussion have largely been examined in isolation. This thesis sought to elucidate the associations between cognition, concussion, and LEMSK injury. Cognition was measured by the Vienna Test System (VTS) and injuries (LEMSK and concussions) were documented prospectively among elite athletes. Study 1 (N = 58) assessed the test-retest reliability (9-21-month period) and temporal stability of the VTS. Across cognitive tests, reliability ranged from poor to good (0.34-0.83). Cognition significantly changed across time points, most notably in cognitive flexibility. Study 2 (N = 145) explored cognition and concussion history as risk factors of injury. Concussion history and slower reaction time on a working memory test significantly predicted LEMSK injury. Concussion history and cognition did not significantly predict concussion. Moreover, no cognitive measures mediated the relationships between concussion history and subsequent injury. Therefore, future research should explore alternative mechanisms that underly these associations.
Access status: Open Access ,
Childhood Maltreatment And Caregiver Sensitivity: Exploring The Mediating Role Of Emotion Regulation
(2025-07-23) Abdelmaseh, Marette; Bohr, Yvonne M.
Childhood maltreatment is believed to have intergenerational effects through its impact on caregiving behaviour, however the mechanisms underlying this relationship are still unclear. The current study aimed to investigate how emotion dysregulation and postpartum depressive symptomology may mediate the relationship between a caregiver’s experiences of maltreatment in childhood and their sensitivity towards their own children in infancy. One hundred and twelve caregivers completed questionnaires related to their subjective experiences of maltreatment in childhood, their difficulties with emotion regulation, and their symptoms of postpartum depression. Caregivers also attended a virtual session during which a sample of dyadic interaction with their infants was obtained and coded for maternal sensitivity using the mini–Maternal Behaviour Q-sort. The Emotional Stroop Task was employed as a measure of implicit emotion regulation, however data from this task were excluded from analyses as an interference effect was not successfully demonstrated. No study variables were found to significantly predict caregiver sensitivity in this study, calling into question the validity of collecting samples of dyadic interaction virtually. Self-reported difficulties with emotion regulation were found to partially mediate the relationship between self-reported experiences of maltreatment in childhood and symptoms of postpartum depression. These findings lend support to the development and implementation of interventions focused on fostering adaptive emotion regulation among caregivers and caregivers-to-be, especially those who have experienced childhood maltreatment. Additional research is needed to further understand these relationships, including studies with different measures employed within more controlled settings, as well as diverse participant samples that are more representative.
Access status: Open Access ,
Parents With Adverse Childhood Experiences: Exploring Buffering Effects Of A Brief Couple Intervention
(2025-07-23) De Luca, Paul; Prime, Heather
Adults with Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) report greater relational distress and lower relationship satisfaction. Enhanced risk amongst those with ACEs may be due to increased stress sensitization. The transition to parenthood (and years thereafter) is therefore an important window for intervention. The ‘Love Together, Parent Together’ (L2P2) program was designed to support couples by teaching conflict reappraisal strategies. The current study used piecewise growth curve modelling to assess whether participation in L2P2 buffers against the risk of ACEs in the prediction of parent mental health and relationship quality, respectively. One hundred forty couples (N = 280) were recruited to participate. ACEs did not predict weekly changes in relational or psychological outcomes in our sample, nor did the effectiveness of L2P2 differ as a function of ACEs. This study furthers our understanding of the complex relationship between ACEs, parents’ mental health, and relationship quality.
Access status: Open Access ,
Engaging Caregivers In The Service Of Their Child?s Mental Health: An Examination Of Emotion Focused Family Therapy In Relation To Parental Reflective Functioning
(2025-07-23) Radosavljevic, Dorde; Muller, Robert Tom
This study examined parental reflective functioning (PRF - a genuine interest in understanding a child’s mental states and ability to recognize the inherent complexity, and separation of these states from that of the parents) withing the context of a brief, 2-day intensive Emotion- Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) intervention. We also examined how PRF impacts therapeutic outcomes for caregivers and their children. PRF has been noted to be a key factor in parent-child dyad functioning and subsequent child development, however, there have been no studies to date examining its role as a potential mechanism of therapeutic change in EFFT. Method: Symptom change was assessed among 243 participants undergoing a brief 2-day intensive EFFT caregiver workshop. The average age of participants was 44.93 years (SD = 7.59), approximately 68.8% identified as female, and 87.6% identified as Caucasian. Data were collected at six timepoints: registration, pre-treatment, post-treatment, 4 months, 8 months, and 12 months following treatment. Participants completed questionnaires about child psychological symptoms and emotion regulation, as well as parental self-efficacy, parental blocks, and parental reflective functioning. Results: Significant improvements in levels of parent mentalization (a component of PRF) were found, confirming that EFFT is effective in improving parental mentalizing capacity. Additionally, moderate interactions were found between various components of PRF (mentalizing capacity, and parents’ interest & curiosity) and level of fears surrounding parenting in reducing child symptomatology. However, the findings are variable and warrant further investigation.
Access status: Open Access ,
Maternal Substance Use Treatment During a Time Of Crisis: The Effect Of COVID-19 Restrictions on Programming, Family Functioning, and Community Service Engagement
(2025-07-23) Janus, Monika Kamila; Pepler, Debra
Substance use among pregnant and parenting women is a problem in Canada which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stressors that drive and sustain maternal substance use can be understood through a domain-specific conceptualization of risk and protection. Although integrated treatment promotes positive outcomes in substance-involved families, there is limited understanding of how the pandemic affected clients referred to treatment. Methods: This study used qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate the influence of the pandemic and its related health restrictions on families referred to Breaking the Cycle (BTC), an integrated treatment program for maternal substance use. In Study 1, interviews from three BTC staff members were analysed using thematic analysis to investigate changes to BTC programming, client engagement and psychosocial functioning, and access to partnering agencies, from pre-pandemic to during the pandemic. Subsequently, quantitative analyses were completed to compare clients referred to BTC pre-pandemic vs. during the pandemic using the profiles of 68 families (Study 2) and to evaluate cumulative risk and protection profiles of 30 families (Study 3). Results: Thematic analyses in Study 1 yielded 2 primary themes, 5 secondary themes, and 12 tertiary themes. Marginalized, substance-involved families referred during the pandemic, compared to pre-pandemic, were found to have increased rates of displacement, interpersonal violence, substance use, and reduced access to family supports, among others. In turn, protective intervention factors, including the relational and predictable nature of programming, emerged as critical to service engagement. Study 2 indicated that women referred during the pandemic, compared to pre-pandemic, reported less engagement with services, more depressive symptoms, lower self-efficacy around their substance use and a trend suggesting increased use during pregnancy. Study 3 revealed that 7% of pre-pandemic families vs. 50% of pandemic families were characterized by more domains of risk relative to protection. A mixed-methods investigation revealed specific factors of risk and protection that characterized moderate-to-high-risk vs. low-risk families. Conclusions: The findings revealed exacerbated levels of adversity experienced by these families during the pandemic. This research contributes to an evolving understanding of the interplay of cumulative risk and protective factors, with clinical and policy implications for early intervention work.
Access status: Open Access ,
The Acculturation of Maternal Sensitivity: A Comparison of South Korean, Korean American, European American Mother-Infant Dyads and Variation in Korean American Mothers' Traditional South Korean Parenting Values
(2025-07-23) Lee, Yookyung; Bohr, Yvonne
This study explored the relations between acculturation and the maternal sensitivity of Korean American mothers and examined how Confucian-derived values of hyo might be associated with maternal sensitivity. Mean-levels of maternal sensitivity in native South Korean, South Korean immigrants in the United States (Korean American), and U.S.-born European American mothers and their 5.5-month-old infants were compared. In addition, this study examined the associations between maternal sensitivity and acculturation in Korean American mothers, specifically the extents to which Korean American mother maintain South Korean cultural values and/or adapt the dominant cultural values in the United States (U.S.). Maternal sensitivity was assessed using three popular Western observational maternal sensitivity measures, namely the Ainsworth Maternal Sensitivity Scales (AMSS; Ainsworth, 1969), Mini Maternal Behaviour Q-Sort-VR (Mini MBQS-VR; Moran et al., 2009), and the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale (NCAFS; Oxford & Findlay, 2015). Altogether 181 mother-infant dyads participated: 57 South Korean, 74 Korean American, and 50 European American. South Korean mothers showed statistically greater (< 2-point), but perhaps not meaningful, mean-level AMSS Acceptance subscale score than European American mothers. Additionally, South Korean mothers showed meaningfully greater (.20), but not statistically significant, difference in Mini MBQS-VR scores than European American mothers. No associations were found between maternal sensitivity, as measured by AMSS, MBQS, and NCAFS, and acculturation level in Korean American mothers. This study suggests that, depending on the measure used to assess maternal sensitivity, there may be some differences observed in the scores of mothers from different cultures. However, overall, there appear to be few differences in observed maternal sensitivity across South Korean, Korean American, and European American mothers. Furthermore, this study suggests that there may be no relations between acculturation and maternal sensitivity in Korean American mothers. This study provides insight into maternal sensitivity behaviours in South Korean, Korean American, and European American mothers in different cultural contexts.
Access status: Open Access ,
Screening for Sex Trafficking Within Child Welfare: Addressing the Challenges by Constructing a Child Welfare Specific Screening Tool
(2025-07-23) Asghari, Melody; Connolly, Jennifer A.
Strong evidence suggests that children and youth in care of the child welfare system have a particularly high risk of being trafficked for sex. Accordingly, child welfare workers are likely to encounter individuals at a greater risk of sex trafficking and therefore have a greater responsibility in identifying and supporting these victims. While the literature suggests challenges and barriers to the identification of sex trafficking, little is known about the experience of child welfare workers when assessing youth in their care, especially compared to frontline workers in other human service sectors. Furthermore, few validated screening tools comprehensively assess risk, and none are specifically targeted for youth in the child welfare system. The present dissertation sought to address challenges related to the screening of sex trafficking in partnership with child welfare experts. Chapter 1 introduces the issue of sex trafficking amongst youth in child welfare through a brief review of the relevant literature. Chapter 2 draws on interviews with child welfare experts to uncover challenges experienced during their assessment of sex trafficking risk and involvement. Findings revealed challenges unique to the child welfare context highlighting the transactional nature of the Social Ecological Model. Chapter 3 focuses on the construction of a sex trafficking screening tool in partnership with child welfare experts. This study also explores preliminary validation of the items included using interviews with survivors of sex trafficking as minors. Based on feedback obtained from child welfare experts, items were deleted, added, and modified. Child welfare experts were supportive of the screener. Survivors endorsed 40 of the items included in the screening tool when describing their experience of being trafficked. The interim version of the York Sex Trafficking Screening Tool used for this study includes 52 indicators of sex trafficking that are relevant to the child welfare context. Chapter 4 concludes the dissertation through a review of the study findings, integrative summary, review of the theoretical models, and clinical implications. In summary, this dissertation contributes to clinical research and current practice by investigating ways to support child welfare workers, and youth involved in the system, when screening for sex trafficking.
Access status: Open Access ,
Randomized Controlled Trial of the Arson Prevention Program for Children (TAPP-C)
(2025-07-23) Ruttle, Erin Mary; Desrocher, Mary
Despite the serious consequences that can derive from youth fire involvement, and the extensive use of fire intervention programs, efficacy data for existing treatments is limited and includes only one randomized controlled trial (RCT). The current RCT examined the relative benefits of a multimodal, collaborative firesetting intervention by comparing a modified protocol of The Arson Prevention Program for Children (TAPP-C), which included fire service and mental health components, to the standard treatment, which is fire safety education only (FSE). The study examined change in fire-specific safety knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, and is the first to examine change across broader indices of behavioural and emotional well-being, and parenting constructs. The study sample comprised 27 fire-involved youth, aged 6-16, referred to the TAPP-C program at a large teaching hospital, and their caregiver. Caregiver-youth dyads were randomly assigned to a modified TAPP-C or FSE intervention with data collected at pre- and post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Results showed both interventions were effective in reducing firesetting, fire interest, and behavioural and emotional difficulties. No recidivism was reported for either group post-intervention or at 3-month follow up. Results for the parenting constructs revealed negative perceptions of the caregiver-child relationship. Preliminary results suggest fire-involvement may be associated with externalized parental locus of control (PLOC) orientation, and significant relationships were found among parental cognitions, PLOC, and perceived parental competence. Novel findings showed youth deficit in executive function (EF), and that greater EF deficit was significantly related to greater youth-reported fire-interest and behavioural difficulties. Youth participants performed poorly on an impulsivity task, suggesting great impairment in this area. Only youth who received the modified TAPP-C intervention showed significant improvement on the impulsivity task, highlighting a unique benefit for interventions including a mental health component. Finally, results showed readiness to change significantly improved post-treatment for caregivers and youth in both groups. As only the second RCT of a firesetting intervention, the results represent a significant contribution to the existing literature and establishment of best practice intervention by providing preliminary data on the relative efficacy of FSE and combined, collaborative approaches.
Access status: Open Access ,
The Indirect Effect of a Brief Couple Intervention on Child Mental Health via the Interparental Relationship
(2025-07-23) Koven, Maya Rachel; Prime, Heather
Child mental health challenges (CMHC) have long-term implications for social and emotional functioning. The quality of the interparental relationship (IPR) is an important contributor to children’s mental health challenges. Evidence supports the use of brief couple interventions (BCI) to enhance couple functioning, though secondary benefits to child outcomes are unknown. The current study examines whether changes to IPR following participation in a BCI, in turn, lead to changes in CMHC. Participants come from a secondary dataset from a randomized controlled trial of Love Together, Parent Together, a BCI, and included 267 parents (140 couples) with at least one child under 6 years old. Parents reported on ten indicators of the IPR and their CMHC at baseline, 1-week post-intervention, and 1- and 3-month follow-up. Based on an exploratory factor analysis, a two-factor model emerged, which included interparental conflict and relationship quality. Structural equation modelling was used to test indirect effects with interparental conflict and relationship quality, respectively, as mediators, and CMHC at 1- and 3-month follow-ups, respectively, as outcomes. The intervention did not significantly predict couple’s T2 conflict, nor did T2 conflict predict follow-up CMHC. The intervention significantly improved the couple’s T2 relationship quality, though there were no reliable effects found on CMHC. In sum, though findings are consistent with the idea that conflict and relationship quality are unique factors of the IRP, there is no evidence for benefits of a BCI to CMHC. Future studies should carefully consider measurement selection and assessment schedules to detect developmental cascades following couple interventions.
Access status: Open Access ,
Left in the Waiting Room: A Virtual Intervention for Siblings of Youth with Disabilities
(2025-07-23) Hooper, Marie Diane; Desrocher, Mary E.
Evidence-based, psychosocial interventions for siblings of youth with disabilities are rare, but those that do exist typically occur in-person. Research is lacking on the impact of virtual support groups for siblings. This dissertation comprises two studies that describe the adaptation of an in-person intervention- SibWorks- into a virtual format (iSibWorks) and the psychosocial functioning of siblings before and after participating in the six-week iSibWorks intervention. The objectives of Study One included: (1) Adapt the in-person SibWorks group intervention for use on a virtual healthcare platform; and (2) Assess the acceptability of the adapted intervention, iSibWorks. Siblings were youth aged 8 to 12 years who had a sibling with a disability, and their caregivers. One week after the final session, siblings and their caregivers participated in separate semi-structured interviews, which were analysed using qualitative content analysis to examine intervention acceptability. The adaptation was successful, and iSibWorks was deemed acceptable and beneficial. Suggestions were provided to enhance the intervention’s future delivery, content, and engagement. The objective of Study Two was to evaluate the impact of participating in iSibWorks on psychosocial functioning at three time-points: before the intervention, one-week post-intervention and three-months post-intervention. Symptom severity at baseline was examined in relation to changes in psychosocial functioning over time. Validated measures were employed: Youth Self-Report (YSR; siblings) or Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; caregivers) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; siblings and caregivers). Participants (12 siblings and 13 caregivers) reported significant improvements in psychosocial functioning from baseline to post-intervention and these gains were maintained at three-month post-intervention. Participants reporting a high level of psychosocial difficulties at baseline demonstrated greater gains at follow-up. Overall, iSibWorks is a promising intervention to support the psychosocial functioning of siblings. Further research using control groups and comparing delivery models directly is recommended.
Access status: Open Access ,
Exploring Thriving of Inuit Youth Through an Engagement Lens: A Strengths-Based Focus on Factors Related to Nunavummiut Youth's Participation in a Psycho-Educational Mental Health Project
(2025-07-23) Thomas, Alaina Frances MacInnis; Bohr, Yvonne
Few studies have investigated strategies to support Inuit youth engagement in mental wellness using a strengths-based, culturally grounded approach. Existing literature primarily focuses on environmental science and addresses solely physical and educational barriers. The current study aimed to identify multi-systemic factors that may directly or indirectly support Inuit youth leaders and participants engagement in two mental wellness research initiatives: the Making I-SPARX Fly in Nunavut [I-SPARX] and the Virtual Qaggiq projects. For Inuit youth leaders/ research assistants, this was explored through semi-structured interviews. For Inuit youth testers in the I-SPARX game evaluation trial, demographics and response patterns on a pre/post intervention wellness questionnaires were analyzed. Thematic analysis identified common themes in the qualitative data, while multiple linear regression and an adaptive lasso analysis extracted key factors from the quantitative data. The findings revealed multiple interrelated individual, contextual, relational, and cultural influences on youth’s engagement. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
Access status: Open Access ,
Autism Spectrum Disorder In Girls: Sex Differences, Subtypes, And Symptom Structure
(2025-04-10) Rourke, Melissa Laurie-Anne; Perry, Adrienne
The present study investigated how autism spectrum disorder manifests in female children through three separate studies. Two separate datasets were used. The Surrey Place (SP) dataset (N=1725) was composed of children screened to participate in an intensive treatment program. The SFARI dataset (N=2757), is a collection of data representing autistic children who participated in the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC; Fischbach & Lord 2010). Each study boasts a large sample of autistic females (n=301, and n=375, respectively). The datasets differed from one another in many important ways, such as the characteristics of the sample, method of data collection, and the measures used. Study 1 comprised an investigation of sex differences between female and male autistic children across a wide range of developmental and diagnostic characteristics. Groups of male and female children were compared using frequency data, correlations, and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance. Results of this study showed significant differences based on sex. That is, boys tended to have higher FSIQ, Non-Verbal IQ and adaptive abilities than girls. No differences were found in terms of total autism symptom scores. Boys were found to have higher levels of RRBIs and Self Injurious Behaviour. Study 2 used Latent Profile Analysis to explore subtypes within the sample of girls; that is, autistic girls with specific characteristics that cluster together, and likewise within the samples of boys. Results indicated three distinct profiles (or classes) for the SP dataset and these were similar in boys and girls. Class 1 consisted of children who were slightly younger than the sample mean, with adaptive scores close to the sample mean, and autism scores that showed mild to moderate symptoms of autism. Class 2 again consisted of younger children with better adaptive skills, and mild to no autism symptoms. Class 3 consisted of older children, with lower adaptive skills, and more severe autism symptoms. The SFARI sample included more developmental variables and allowed for a more nuanced analysis. As a result, many possible combinations of profiles emerged. Using LPA fit statistics and clinical judgement, a five-profile solution was deemed to best fit the data. Visual comparison across the profiles for girls and boys found that four of the five profiles were largely similar across boys and girls. One of the five profiles showed unique and distinct profiles for girls and boys. Study 3 used confirmatory factor analysis to investigate the symptom structure of autism between females and males, based on factor structures reported in previous research. Overall, the factor structure was found to be largely consistent for males and females. These results suggest that sex differences in the current study were minimal, although some subtle differences were noted. More research is needed to better understand the unique qualities of autistic females. Neuro-affirming diagnostic measures and more representative research samples may allow for the discovery of more sex differences.

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