Browsing by Author "Carleton, R. Nicholas"

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Open Access
Anxiety-related psychopathology and chronic pain comorbidity among public safety personnel
(Elsevier, 2018-03-28) Carleton, R. Nicholas; Afifi, Tracie, O; Taillieu, Tamara; Turner, Sarah; El-Gabalawy, Renee; Sareen, Jitender; Asmundson, Gordon
Canadian Public Safety Personnel (PSP; e.g., correctional service officers, dispatchers, firefighters, paramedics, police officers) regularly experience potentially traumatic, painful, and injurious events. Such exposures increase risk for developing mental disorders and chronic pain, which both involve substantial personal and social costs. The interrelationship between mental disorders and chronic pain is well-established, and both can be mutually maintaining; accordingly, understanding the relationship between mental health and chronic pain among PSP is important for improving health care. Unfortunately, the available research on such comorbidity for PSP is sparse. The current study was designed to provide initial estimates of comorbidities between mental disorders and chronic pain across diverse PSP. Participants included 5093 PSP (32% women) in six categories (i.e., Call Center Operators/Dispatchers, Correctional Workers, Firefighters, Municipal/Provincial Police, Paramedics, Royal Canadian Mounted Police) who participated in a large PSP mental health survey. The survey included established self-report measures for mental disorders and chronic pain. In the total sample, 23.1% of respondents self-reported clinically significant comorbid concerns with both mental disorders and chronic pain. The results indicated PSP who reported chronic pain were significantly more likely to screen positive for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and alcohol use disorder. There were differences between PSP categories; but, the most consistent indications of comorbidity were for chronic pain, PTSD, and major depressive disorder. Comorbidity between chronic pain and mental disorders among PSP is prevalent. Health care providers should regularly assess PSP for both symptom domains.
Open Access
Assessing Relative Stressors and Mental Disorders among Canadian Provincial Correctional Workers
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2021-09-23) Konyk, Katy; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Taillieu, Tamara; Afifi, Tracie, O; Groll, Dianne; Carleton, R. Nicholas
In the current study, we quantified the mean stress levels of 43 occupational stressors for 868 Correctional Workers (CWs) and analyzed the relationships between occupational stressors, exposure to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs), and mental health disorders. Our findings emphasize the importance of the occupational environment in relation to CW mental health and indicate that occupational stressors (e.g., staff shortages, inconsistent leadership style, bureaucratic red tape) are more salient contributors to CW mental health than exposure to PPTEs. Finding strategies to ameliorate staff shortages, improve leadership style and communication, and support CWs to maintain physical, mental, and social well-being would be interventions tied to significant organizational and operational stressors within the current study.
Open Access
Assessing the impact of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) protocol and Emotional Resilience Skills Training (ERST) among diverse public safety personnel
(BMC, 2022-12-09) Carleton, R. Nicholas; McCarron, Michelle; Krätzig, Gregory, P.; Sauer-Zavala, Shannon; Neary, Patrick, J.; Lix, Lisa, M.; Fletcher, Amber, J.; Camp II, Ronald, D.; Shields, Robyn, E.; Jamshidi, Laleh; Nisbet, Jolan; Maguire, Kirby, Q.; MacPhee, Renée, S.; Afifi, Tracie, O.; Jones, Nicholas, A.; Martin, Ronald, R.; Sareen, Jitender; Brunet, Alain; Beshai, Shadi; Anderson, Gregory, S.; Cramm, Heidi; MacDermid, Joy, C.; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Rabbani, Rasheda; Teckchandani, Taylor, A.; Asmundson, Gordon, J. G.
Public safety personnel (PSP; e.g., border services personnel, correctional workers, firefighters, paramedics, police, public safety communicators) are frequently exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events. Such events contribute to substantial and growing challenges from posttraumatic stress injuries (PTSIs), including but not limited to posttraumatic stress disorder.
Open Access
Assessing the Perceptions and Impact of Critical Incident Stress Management Peer Support among Firefighters and Paramedics in Canada
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022-04-20) Price, Jill, A. B.; Landry, Caeleigh, A.; Sych, Jeff; McNeil, Malcolm; Stelnicki, Andrea, M.; Asmundson, Aleiia, J.N.; Carleton, R. Nicholas
Relative to the general population, public safety personnel (PSP) appear at an increased risk of developing mental health challenges as a result of repeated exposure to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs). To help mitigate the impact of PPTEs on PSP mental health, many PSP agencies have implemented diverse peer support despite limited empirical evidence. The current study was designed to expand the empirical evidence surrounding peer support by investigating one of the most widely used and structured peer support resources: Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). Specifically, the current study with integrated firefighters and paramedics assessed (a) the prevalence of mental disorders; (b) perceptions of high fidelity CISM peer support; and (c) the comparative associations of CISM with high fidelity (n = 91) versus unknown fidelity (n = 60) versus no CISM (n = 64) and mental health. Results indicated that (a) mental disorders are prevalent among PSP irrespective of gender, age, and years of service; (b) participants perceived CISM peer support as offering beneficial and valuable tools (e.g., skills and coping strategies); and (c) high fidelity CISM environments offer some mental health benefits to individuals who screen positive for alcohol use disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Overall, the current study offers novel information that can inform future directions for evidence-based peer support and policy decisions designed to support the mental health of PSP.
Open Access
Assessing the Relative Impact of Diverse Stressors among Canadian Coast Guard and Conservation and Protection Officers
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022-12-07) Andrews, Katie, L.; Jamshidi, Laleh; Nisbet, Jolan; Teckchandani, Taylor; Price, Jill, A. B.; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Anderson, Gregory, S.; Carleton, R. Nicholas
Public Safety Personnel (PSP), including members of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and Conservation and Protection (C&P) officers, are regularly exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs) and other occupational stressors (organizational and operational stressors). The current study quantified occupational stressors among CCG and C&P and assessed relationships with PPTEs and mental health disorders. Participants (n = 341; 58.4% male) completed an online survey assessing self-reported occupational stressors, PPTEs, and mental health disorder symptoms. CCG and C&P Officers reported significantly lower mean overall and item-level organizational and operational stress scores compared to other Canadian PSP. Mean operational stress scores were statistically significantly associated with increased odds of screening positive for all mental disorders and organizational stress scores were statistically significantly associated with increased odds of screening positive for all mental disorders except social anxiety disorder. Participants reported several item-level occupational stressors associated with screening positive for posttraumatic stress disorder, general anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and alcohol use disorder, even after accounting for diverse PPTE exposures. Exposure to PPTEs may be a regular part of employment for CCG and C&P PSP; however, bureaucratic red tape, staff shortages, excessive administrative duties, physical conditioning, healthy eating, and fatigue are occupational stressors that appear significantly related to mental health. Ongoing mental health efforts are needed to mitigate and manage the impact of occupational stressors among CCG and C&P.
Open Access
Assessing the Relative Impact of Diverse Stressors Among Public Safety Personnel
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2020-02-14) Carleton, R. Nicholas; Afifi, Tracie, O.; Taillieu, Tamara; Turner, Sarah; Mason, Julia, E.; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; McCreary, Donald, R.; Vaughan, Adam, D.; Anderson, Gregory, S.; McCreary, Rachel; Donnelly, Elizabeth, A.; Camp II, Ronald, D.; Groll, Dianne; Cramm, Heidi, A.; MacPhee, Renée, S.; Griffiths, Curt, T.
Public Safety Personnel (PSP; e.g., correctional workers and officers, firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and public safety communications officials (e.g., call center operators/dispatchers)) are regularly exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs). PSP also experience other occupational stressors, including organizational (e.g., staff shortages, inconsistent leadership styles) and operational elements (e.g., shift work, public scrutiny). The current research quantified occupational stressors across PSP categories and assessed for relationships with PPTEs and mental health disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression). The participants were 4820 PSP (31.7% women) responding to established self-report measures for PPTEs, occupational stressors, and mental disorder symptoms. PPTEs and occupational stressors were associated with mental health disorder symptoms (ps < 0.001). PSP reported substantial difficulties with occupational stressors associated with mental health disorder symptoms, even after accounting for diverse PPTE exposures. PPTEs may be inevitable for PSP and are related to mental health; however, leadership style, organizational engagement, stigma, sleep, and social environment are modifiable variables that appear significantly related to mental health.
Open Access
Associations Between Trauma Exposure and Physical Health Conditions Among Public Safety Personnel.
(Canadian Psychiatric Association, 2020-04-10) Sommer, Jordana; El-Gabalawy, Renée; Taillieu, Tamara; Afifi, Tracie, O; Carleton, R. Nicholas
Open Access
Beliefs about the Healthfulness of Common Foods
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2016-07) Wallace, Jamie Charles Terrence; Arbuthnott, Katherine; Oriet, Christopher; Carleton, R. Nicholas
The primary focus of this research was to evaluate beliefs about the healthfulness of common foods. There is widespread agreement that a whole foods, plants-based diet, such as that depicted by Canada’s Food Guide, promotes optimal health. However, many processed foods are marketed with nutrition messages that are purportedly designed to assist people in making healthier food choices, but may in fact be misleading. This study evaluated beliefs about the healthfulness of 30 common foods across three categories, whole, processed, and highly processed foods, and compared them to an objective measurement of nutritiousness. An array of food choice items, including values such as health, price, and convenience, as well as physical health and fitness questions, were included in the current study to explore relationships with ratings of healthfulness and frequency. Results indicate that participants underestimated the healthfulness of whole foods, were reasonably accurate when rating processed foods, and overrated the healthfulness of highly processed foods. Participants rated whole foods as being included in their diets more frequently than either processed or highly processed foods. Correlation analyses indicated relationships between ratings of healthfulness, frequency, food choice values and health and fitness items. Consumers must be able to understand the relative healthfulness of foods in the marketplace in order to choose a healthy diet. The current study suggests that consumer understanding of the healthfulness of common foods, especially whole and highly processed foods, is questionable. Additionally, food and nutrition information sources were not related to healthfulness ratings. These findings have implications for healthy eating policies because they suggest the need for other strategies beyond information interventions.
Open Access
Brief mental health disorder screening questionnaires and use with public safety personnel: A review
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2021-04-03) Shields, Robyn, E.; Korol, Stephanie; Carleton, R. Nicholas; McElheran, Megan; Stelnicki, Andrea, M.; Groll, Dianne; Anderson, Gregory, S.
Brief mental health disorder screening questionnaires (SQs) are used by psychiatrists, physicians, researchers, psychologists, and other mental health professionals and may provide an efficient method to guide clinicians to query symptom areas requiring further assessment. For exam- ple, annual screening has been used to help identify military personnel who may need help. Nearly half (44.5%) of Canadian public safety personnel (PSP) screen positive for one or more mental health disorder(s); as such, regular mental health screenings for PSP may be a valuable way to support men- tal health. The following review was conducted to (1) identify existing brief mental health disorder SQs; (2) review empirical evidence of the validity of identified SQs; (3) identify SQs validated within PSP populations; and (4) recommend appropriately validated brief screening questionnaires for five common mental health disorders (i.e., generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive depres- sion (MDD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol use disorder). After reviewing the psychometric properties of the identified brief screening questionnaires, we recommend the following four brief screening tools for use with PSP: the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (screening for MDD and GAD), the Brief Panic Disorder Symptom Screen—Self-Report, the Short-Form Posttraumatic Checklist-5, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption.
Open Access
Can a Single Bout of Aerobic Exercise Reduce Anxiety Sensitivity? A Randomized Controlled Trial
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2014-07) LeBouthillier, Daniel Marc; Asmundson, Gordon; Carleton, R. Nicholas; Klest, Bridget; Watt, Margo C.
A growing body of research supports the benefits of exercise for a variety of mental disorders, including anxiety. Several mechanisms have been posited for the anxiolytic effects of exercise, including reductions in anxiety sensitivity (i.e., fear of arousalrelated sensations, based on the beliefs that these sensations may have harmful or negative consequences) through exposure to these feared bodily sensations. Studies on aerobic exercise lend support to this hypothesis; however, research comparing exercise to placebo controls and evidence for the dose-response relationship between exercise and reductions in anxiety sensitivity are lacking. The present trial was designed to investigate reductions in anxiety sensitivity following a single session of exercise. A total of 41 participants were randomized to complete either a 20-minute session of aerobic exercise or a placebo stretching control. Anxiety sensitivity was measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at approximately 3-day and 7-day followup using the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3). Individuals in the aerobic exercise group experienced significant decreases in ASI-3 Total and on the Cognitive Concerns and Social Concerns dimensions from baseline to 3-day follow-up and on all four dimensions of anxiety sensitivity at 7-day follow-up. Individuals in the control group had increases in ASI-3 Total and Social Concerns scores from baseline to posttreatment, 3-day follow-up, and 7-day follow-up. Clinically significant change in ASI-3 Total scores was observed in several individuals in the aerobic exercise group, but not in the control group. The present trial included individuals with a wide range of anxiety sensitivity severity and the results suggest that reductions in anxiety sensitivity following aerobic exercise are not exclusive to individuals with high levels of the trait. Additionally, the magnitude of reduction in anxiety sensitivity did not vary according to individuals’ level of the trait at baseline. The results of the present trial have important implications for aerobic exercise as a potential adjunct to or temporary substitute for psychotherapy aimed at reducing anxiety.
Open Access
Can Patient Characteristics at Intake Predict Patient Response to Therapist-Assisted, Transdiagnostic Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2018-07) Edmonds, Michael Robert; Hadjistavropoulos, Heather; Asmundson, Gordon; Carleton, R. Nicholas; Furer, Patricia
Internet-delivered interventions for anxiety and depression show promise in both their effectiveness at reducing symptoms and their efficiency in routine practice. Still, some patients do not benefit from these programs, and there is limited understanding of factors that predict patient response. The current study investigates predictors of patient response to the Wellbeing Course, a transdiagnostic, therapist-assisted internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy designed to treat depression and anxiety. Case files from 1201 patients who participated in a recent open trial of the Wellbeing Course were analyzed to examine predictors of dropout (i.e., withdrawing from the course before completing all modules) and symptom change, which was measured weekly using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, a measure of depressive symptoms, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, a measure of general symptoms of anxiety. Logistic regression identified younger age and higher initial scores of psychological distress as significant predictors of dropout. Autoregressive latent trajectory modelling was used to assess the value of various patient characteristics as measured at screening for predicting symptom trajectories over the course of treatment. Patients who reported being on disability and those who do not hold a university degree were found to have higher initial symptoms and experience greater reductions in symptoms over treatment. Cases were then classified as either unsuccessful (dropout or no significant symptom reduction) or successful (course completion and significant symptom reduction). Using these criteria for success as an outcome criterion, a clinical decision tree was created to guide program referrals and help therapists assess risk. Future research directions are discussed.
Open Access
Canadian Public Safety Personnel (PSP) and Occupational Stressors: How PSP Interpret Stressors on Duty
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2020-07-01) Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Czarnuch, Stephen; Carleton, R. Nicholas; Gacek, James; Shewmake, James
Canadian public safety personnel (e.g., correctional workers, firefighters) experience potential stressors as a function of their occupation. Occupational stressors can include organizational (e.g., job context) and operational (e.g., job content) elements. Operational stressors (e.g., exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events) may be inevitable, but opportunities may exist to mitigate other occupational stressors for public safety personnel. Research exploring the diverse forms of stress among public safety personnel remains sparse. In our current qualitative study we provide insights into how public safety personnel interpret occupational stressors. We use a semi-grounded thematic approach to analyze what public safety personnel reported when asked to further comment on occupational stress or their work experiences in two open-ended comment fields of an online survey. We provide a more comprehensive understanding of how public safety personnel experience occupational stress and the stressors that are unique to their occupations. Beyond known operational stressors, our respondents (n = 1238; n = 828) reported substantial difficulties with organizational (interpersonal work relationship dynamics; workload distribution, resources, and administrative obligations) and operational (vigilance, work location, interacting with the public) stressors. Some operational stressors are inevitable, but other occupational stressors can be mitigated to better support our public safety personnel.
Open Access
CCWORK Protocol: The longitudinal study of Canadian Correctional Workers’ Wellbeing, Organizations, Roles and Knowledge
(BMJ Publishing Group, 2021-10-26) Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Andres, Elizabeth; Mitchell, Meghan, M.; Quirion, Bastien; Groll, Dianne; Adorjan, Michael; Siqueira Cassiano, Marcella; Shewmake, James; Herzog-Evans, Martine; Moran, Dominique; Spencer, Dale, C.; Genest, Christine; Czarnuch, Stephen; Gacek, James; Cramm, Heidi; Maier, Katharina; Phoenix, Jo; Weinrath, Michael; MacDermid, Joy; McKinnon, Margaret; Haynes, Stacy; Arnold, Helen; Turner, Jennifer; Eriksson, Anna; Heber, Alexandra; Anderson, Gregory; MacPhee, Renee; Carleton, R. Nicholas
Introduction Knowledge about the factors that contribute to the correctional officer’s (CO) mental health and well-being, or best practices for improving the mental health and well-being of COs, have been hampered by the dearth of rigorous longitudinal studies. In the current protocol, we share the approach used in the Canadian Correctional Workers’ Well-being, Organizations, Roles and Knowledge study (CCWORK), designed to investigate several determinants of health and well-being among COs working in Canada’s federal prison system.
Open Access
The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale: A Review with a Theoretical and Empirical Examination of Item Content and Factor Structure
(Public Library of Science, 2013-03-01) Carleton, R. Nicholas; Thibodeau, Michel, A.; Teale, Michelle, J. N.; Welch, Patrick, G.; Abrams, Murray, P.; Robinson, Thomas; Asmundson, Gordon, J. G.
The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; Radloff, 1977) is a commonly used freely available self-report measure of depressive symptoms. Despite its popularity, several recent investigations have called into question the robustness and suitability of the commonly used 4-factor 20-item CES-D model. The goal of the current study was to address these concerns by confirming the factorial validity of the CES-D.
Open Access
Child Maltreatment History, Deployment-Related Traumatic Events, and Past 12-Month Cannabis Use Among Veterans in Canada
(Sage, 2023-08-11) Afifi, Tracie O.; Taillieu, Tamara; Salmon, Samantha; Stewart-Tufescu, Ashley; Sareen, Jitender; Enns, Murray W.; Mota, Natalie; Bolton, Shay-Lee; Carleton, R. Nicholas; Heber, Alexandra; VanTil, Linda
Objective Cannabis use among veterans in Canada is an understudied public health priority. The current study examined cannabis use prevalence and the relationships between child maltreatment histories and deployment-related traumatic events (DRTEs) with past 12-month cannabis use including sex differences among Canadian veterans. Method Data were drawn from the 2018 Canadian Armed Forces Members and Veterans Mental Health Follow-up Survey (response rate 68.7%; veterans only n = 1,992). Five child maltreatment types and 9 types of DRTEs were assessed in relation to the past 12-month cannabis use. Results The prevalence of lifetime and past 12-month cannabis use was 49.4% and 16.7%, respectively. Females were less likely than males to report lifetime cannabis use (41.9% vs. 50.4%; odds ratio [OR] 0.71; 95% CI, – 0.59 to 0.86). No sex differences were noted for past 12-month cannabis use (14.1% vs. 17.0%; OR 0.80; 95% CI, 0.60 to 1.07). Physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, any child maltreatment, most individual DRTEs, and any DRTE were associated with increased odds of past 12-month cannabis use after adjusting for sociodemographic and military variables. Some models were attenuated and/or nonsignificant after further adjustments for mental disorders and chronic pain conditions. Sex did not statistically significantly moderate these relationships. Cumulative effects of having experienced both child maltreatment and DRTEs compared to DRTEs alone increased the odds of past 12-month cannabis use. Statistically significant interaction effects between child maltreatment history and DRTE on cannabis use were not found. Conclusions Child maltreatment histories and DRTEs increased the likelihood of past 12-month cannabis use among Canadian veterans. A history of child maltreatment, compared to DRTEs, indicated a more robust relationship. Understanding the links between child maltreatment, DRTEs, and cannabis use along with mental disorders and chronic pain conditions is important for developing interventions and improving health outcomes among veterans.
Open Access
Chronic pain among public safety personnel in Canada
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2017-12-18) Carleton, R. Nicholas; Afifi, Tracie, O.; Turner, Sarah; Taillieu, Tamara; El-Gabalawy, Renée; Sareen, Jitender; Asmundson, Gordon, J. G.
Chronic pain is highly prevalent in the general population and may be even higheramong public safety personnel (PSP; e.g., correctional officers, dispatchers, firefighters, paramedics,police). Comprehensive data on chronic pain among diverse Canadian PSP are relatively sparse.Aims: The current study was designed to provide initial estimates of chronic pain frequencyand severity among Canadian PSP.
Open Access
Compromised Conscience: A Scoping Review of Moral Injury Among Firefighters, Paramedics, and Police Officers
(Frontiers Media, 2021-03-31) Lentz, Liana; Smith-MacDonald, Lorraine; Malloy, David; Carleton, R. Nicholas; Brémault-Phillips, Suzette
Background: Public Safety Personnel (e.g., firefighters, paramedics, and police officers) are routinely exposed to human suffering and need to make quick, morally challenging decisions. Such decisions can affect their psychological wellbeing. Participating in or observing an event or situation that conflicts with personal values can potentially lead to the development of moral injury. Common stressors associated with moral injury include betrayal, inability to prevent death or harm, and ethical dilemmas. Potentially psychologically traumatic event exposures and post-traumatic stress disorder can be comorbid with moral injury; however, moral injury extends beyond fear to include spiritual, cognitive, emotional or existential struggles, which can produce feelings of severe shame, guilt, and anger.
Open Access
A controlled investigation of continuing pain education for long-term care staff
(Hindawi, 2013) Ghandehari, Omeed, O; Hadjistavropoulos, Thomas; Williams, Jaime; Thorpe, Lilian; Alfano, Dennis, P.; Dal Bello-Haas, Vanina; Malloy, David, C.; Martin, Ronald, R.; Rahaman, Omar; Zwakhale, Sandra, M.G.; Carleton, R. Nicholas; Hunter, Paulette, V.; Lix, Lisa, M.
The underassessment and undertreatment of pain in residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities has been well documented. Gaps in staff knowledge and inaccurate beliefs have been identified as contributors.OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effectiveness of an expert-based continuing education program in pain assessment/management for LTC staff.METHODS: Participants included 131 LTC staff members who were randomly assigned to either an interactive pain education (PE) program, which addressed gaps in knowledge such as medication management, or an interactive control program consisting of general dementia education without a specific clinical focus. Participants attended three sessions, each lasting 3 h, and completed measures of pain-related knowledge and attitudes/beliefs before, immediately after and two weeks following the program. Focus groups were conducted with a subset of participants to gauge perception of the training program and barriers to implementing pain-related strategies.RESULTS: Analysis using ANOVA revealed that PE participants demonstrated larger gains compared with control participants with regard to pain knowledge and pain beliefs. Barriers to implementing pain-related strategies certainly exist. Nonetheless, qualitative analyses demonstrated that PE participants reported that they overcame many of these barriers and used pain management strategies four times more frequently than control participants.CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to previous research, the present study found that the interactive PE program was effective in changing pain beliefs and improving knowledge. Continuing PE in LTC has the potential to address knowledge gaps among front-line LTC providers.
Open Access
Correctional Work: Reflections Regarding Suicide
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2021-04-17) Genest, Christine; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Carleton, R. Nicholas
The Public Health Agency of Canada declared suicide a public health problem in Canada (2016). Employees working in correctional services, researchers find, experience high rates of life-time suicidal ideation in comparison to other public safety professionals and the general population. Suicide behaviours (i.e., ideation, planning, attempts, death) are a multifactorial phenomenon, explained in part by the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide that suggests attempted suicide is facilitated by perceived burdensomeness, a lost sense of belonging, a feeling of hopelessness, and a progressively reduced fear of death, as well as capacity and planning to engage a lethal attempt. In the current study, we unpack the factors that can influence suicide behaviours as reported by correctional workers. Our intent is to make explicit the experiences of a small sample (n = 25) of correctional workers in relation to suicidal behaviours, highlighting stories of recovery and acknowledging the importance of facilitating psychologically safe workplaces. Analysis entailed an inductive semi-grounded emergent theme approach. Participants identified certain risk factors as being able to induce suicidal ideation, such as marital or family problems as well as difficulties at work (i.e., bullying or difficult working conditions). Having children and a partner may act as factors preventing suicide for those with ideation. Participants sought help from professionals, such as their family doctor, a psychologist, or the Employee Assistance Program (EAP); however, the lack of perceived organisational supports and recognition of the issue of suicide by the employer are two elements that can hinder the search for help.
Open Access
A Correlational Analysis of the Relationships among Intolerance of Uncertainty, Anxiety Sensitivity, Subjective Sleep Quality, and Insomnia Symptoms
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2019-09-05) Lauriola, Marco; Carleton, R. Nicholas; Tempesta, Daniela; Calanna, Pierpaolo; Socci, Valentina; Mosca, Oriana; Salfi, Federico; De Gennaro, Luigi; Ferrara, Michele
In this study, we used structural equation modeling to investigate the interplay among Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU), Anxiety Sensitivity (AS), and sleep problems. Three hundred undergraduate students completed the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, the Intolerance of Uncertainty Inventory, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index, the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Insomnia Severity Index. 68% and 40% of the students reported poor sleep quality or sub-threshold insomnia problems, respectively. Depression and anxiety levels were above the cut-off for about one-fourth of the participants. Structural equation modeling revealed that IU was strongly associated with AS, in turn influencing both insomnia severity and sleep quality via depression and anxiety. Significant indirect effects revealed that an anxious pathway was more strongly associated with insomnia severity, while a depression pathway was more relevant for worsening the quality of sleep. We discussed the results in the frameworks of cognitive models of insomnia. Viewing AS and IU as antecedents of sleep problems and assigning to AS a pivotal role, our study suggested indications for clinical interventions on a population at risk for sleep disorders.