Browsing by Author "Sangster, Sarah"

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Open Access
Biases in adults’ truth and lie judgments of Black children’s statements: An examination of anti-Black attitudes and unawareness of racial inequalities
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2024-07) Hagi Hussein, Siham Ali; Zanette, Sarah; Sharpe, Donald; Sangster, Sarah
A growing body of literature has sought to examine factors that impede adults’ abilities to detect children’s lies. The current study extends previous research that found that adults demonstrate a racial bias when evaluating statements made by children and that these judgements are related to their motivations to respond without prejudice. The goal of the current study was to explore whether adults’ veracity judgments of Black and White children’s statements differ as a function of adults’ anti-Black attitudes and their unawareness of racial privilege, institutional discrimination, and racial issues within society. Participants reviewed fictitious transcripts of a child who denied committing a misbehaviour, judged whether they believed the child to be lying or telling the truth, and completed questionnaires assessing their prejudicial attitudes. Consistent with previous research, adults displayed a general truth bias when judging the veracity of children’s statements. The strength of this truth bias was dependent on the race of the child, such that Black children were more likely to be labelled as telling the truth compared to White children. After controlling for participants’ race and overall willingness to label a child as truthful, participants’ prejudicial attitudes predicted their deception scores for Black children, such that participants with lower prejudicial attitude scores rated Black children to be more honest compared to participants with higher prejudicial attitudes. The results of this study carry the potential to enhance our understanding of cross-race deception detection and may help identify factors that interfere with our ability to accurately detect children’s lies.
Open Access
Examining the impact of gender-based microagressions and institutional betrayal on women holding multiple marginalized statuses
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2023-09) Anstey, Hannah Jaymes; Klest, Bridget; Gordon, Jennifer; Sangster, Sarah; Carter, Claire; Delker, Brianna C.
Microaggression refers to subtle, often indirect, discriminatory behavior committed against members of marginalized groups. The subtle nature of microaggressions can often make them seem innocuous, however, they can have a determinantal impact on those who experience them. Women are a marginalized group who experience microaggressions on the basis of gender, rooted in sexism. Further, many women hold multiple marginalized statuses based on their race, sexuality, disability, age, religion, body size, or socioeconomic status. As such, they may also experience microaggressions based on these intersectional identities. While microaggressions in themselves have been shown to be negatively related to mental health, it has been suggested that how that initial microaggression is responded to by an institution can cause the mental health impact to be exacerbated through institutional betrayal (i.e., the failure of an institution to proactively prevent harm, or to be supportive following harm). Further, if institutions can respond with courage and support, the impact of a microaggression might also be changed. Despite the potentially dangerous impact of microaggressions, no research, to my knowledge, has experimentally investigated the impact of a microaggression directly after it was perpetrated. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach and investigated the impact of a single gender-based microaggression with institutional betrayal or support on state affect in women. Further, the impact of holding multiple marginalized statuses was investigated. The study took place via Zoom, and participants completed an unobtrusive measure of state mood directly before and after a male confederate perpetrated a microaggression consistent with sexual objectification. The experimenter then responded to said microaggression with institutional support or institutional betrayal. Once participants recompleted the mood measure, they were asked to complete a number of questionnaires focused on past experiences of gender-based discrimination and mental health symptoms and they were asked to respond to qualitative questions regarding their experience of the microaggression. Results showed that women in the institutional betrayal condition had a decrease in negative mood after experiencing the microaggression and women in the institutional support condition had an increase in negative mood after experiencing the microaggression. Furthermore, regardless of condition all women showed an increase in positive mood. Future directions and implications are discussed.
Open Access
Exploring grief among Canadian Indigenous women who have experienced perinatal loss: Interactions with the healthcare system
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2023-01) Hagerty, Julia; Sasakamoose, JoLee; Salm, Twyla; Pandey, Mamata; Sangster, Sarah
This study aimed to understand the experiences of Canadian Indigenous women who experienced perinatal loss and how their interactions with the healthcare system impacted their healing process. Perinatal loss can lead to unacknowledged grief, and the lack of specialized support within the healthcare system often leaves women to grieve alone. Women from low income families are more vulnerable to pregnancy loss, adding to the stressors that this population already endures. A qualitative approach was used to interview four women and two healthcare workers about their experiences receiving and providing care for perinatal loss. The findings highlighted the importance of acknowledging and validating perinatal loss as a legitimate reason to grieve, ensuring a supportive environment through adequate communication and resources, providing quality care that is attentive, genuine, and compassionate, and offering education on pregnancy loss and the grief that follows. Keywords: perinatal loss, grief, Indigenous women, healthcare
Open Access
Formula Feeding Stigma and Perceived Controllability: How different rationales for formula feeding impact judgements
(2024-11-06) UnRuh, Lauren; Sangster, Sarah
Open Access
Mindful self-compassion (MSC) as an intervention for infertility related distress: A pilot self-help version of MSC
(Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina, 2022-09) Halleran, Maria Grace; Gordon, Jennifer; Gallant, Natasha; Sangster, Sarah; Baydoun, Mohamad
Approximately one in six Canadian couples who are attempting to conceive experience infertility or the inability to conceive a child despite frequent attempts. This infertility is a significant public health concern since it appears that the experience of infertility, particularly in women, has been associated with increased levels of depression, anxiety, and distress along with decreased levels of resilience. Additionally, no evidence-based treatment has been identified to treat infertility related distress. Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is a relatively novel treatment that involves learning mindfulness techniques with an explicit focus on self-compassion. Previous literature has indicated that women report lower levels of self-compassion than men. Increased levels of self-compassion have also been shown to have moderate and significant effects on people’s reports of depression, stress, anxiety, and selfcriticism. These results suggest that exploring the benefits of a self-compassion intervention such as MSC in a sample of individuals who are attempting to become pregnant and also distressed by the psychological impacts of infertility is a worthwhile endeavor. The current study implemented an 8-week self-help MSC intervention for individuals who were experiencing infertility related distress. In the current study, the MSC intervention yielded significant improvements in fertility related quality of life, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, and self-compassion. These findings suggest the clinical utility of an 8-week self-help MSC intervention and elucidates a clearer path forward for individuals experiencing the psychological impacts of infertility.