Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

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Open Access
Supporting resilience: investigating social support as a mediator of resilience in RCMP members
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2000-08-26) Abrams, Ailesh R.
Background: In a Canada-wide survey of public safety personnel, Royal Canadian Mounted Police members (RCMP) scored especially high on screening measures of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder (PD), and major depressive disorder (MDD) (Carleton et al, 2018; Di Nota et al; 2020). Social support and resilience have been linked across multiple studies to symptom reduction in the aforementioned disorders (Batinić et al, 2009; Beadel et al, 2016; Bitsika et al, 2010; Lee et al, 2014; McCanlies et al, 2018; Pietrzak et al, 2010; Sangalang & Gee, 2012). Researchers suggest that resilience is a trait factor, whereas social support can vary across the lifespan; therefore, the current study was designed to identify a hypothesised mediation effect of social support in the relationship between resilience and symptom measures. Method: There were 1207 RCMP members who completed the web-based Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) prevalence survey. Self-report measures of GAD, PTSD, PD, MDD, resilience (BRS), and social support (SPS) were used as independent variables in regression analyses assessing mediation effects of social support in the relationship between resilience and symptom measures. All analyses were bootstrapped with 5,000 samples to provide robust probability estimates and confidence intervals. Results: For the GAD model, GAD symptoms were significantly associated with SPS (b = -.11, all ps < .001) and BRS scores (b = .34) and there were significant total (β = -.60) and indirect effects of the model (b = -.03; 95% CI [-.05, -.02]). For the PTSD model, PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with SPS (b = -.60, all ps < .001) and BRS scores (b = .35) and there were significant total (β = -2.29) and indirect effects of the model (b = -.05; 95% CI [-.07, -.03]). For the PD model, PD symptoms were significantly associated with SPS (b = -.10, all ps < .001) and BRS scores (b = .36) and there were significant total (β = -.46) and indirect effects of the model (b = -.04; 95% CI [-.06, -.02]). For the MDD model, MDD symptoms were significantly associated with SPS (b = -.22, all ps < .001) and BRS scores (b = .34) and there were significant total (β = -.70) and indirect effects of the model (b = -.06; 95% CI [-.08, -.04]). Discussion: Social support significantly mediated the relationship between resilience and symptoms measured in each of the models; however, greater variance was explained by the relationship between resilience and each symptom measure. The current results suggest that resilience is a key correlate of symptom variation, and social support may be a critical facet of resilience; accordingly, resilience may be impacted by environmental factors.
Open Access
Parental perspectives on the utility of a parent-administered program to treat anxiety in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017) Waiting, Shanelle
Anxiety symptoms are common in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD; White, Oswald, Ollendick, & Scahill, 2009). Evidence suggests that modified Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) programs can reduce anxiety symptoms in children with ASD, but these programs are not widely accessible (Chalfant, Rappee, & Carroll, 2007). The aim of the present study was to explore parents’ perspectives of the feasibility of a parent-guided, Internet-delivered CBT (ICBT) program for the treatment of anxiety in children with ASD. Two primary research questions were explored: 1) what are potential obstacles or barriers to parents’ being able to participate in this type of program and 2) what aspects should be in place in order to help parents successfully deliver this program? Four parents of children with ASD and anxiety participated in individual interviews. Data was coded using thematic analyses. Analyses identified 4 potential barriers to success: time commitment, challenges in teaching and engaging their child, consistent delivery of the program across parents and environment, and having a good fit of program for individual and children. Parents identified 5 program features that should be provided for successful delivery: therapist support, clear explanation of terms and strategies, background and rationale for the program, inclusion of the child in the treatment, and the ability to deliver the program through multiple devices. Our findings suggest that ICBT is a feasible treatment option for parents to administer to their child with ASD and anxiety. Results will inform program development to increase the success of parents in delivering the intervention.
Open Access
Centrality bias for rejecting lineups: examining the impact of wildcard positioning on youth eyewitness choosing behaviour
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04) Adams, Alyssa
Eyewitnesses can be extremely important figures in the criminal justice system. However, there are many factors that can affect their abilities to make correct decisions when viewing photographic lineups. The age of an eyewitness can greatly impact their ability to view, comprehend, and ultimately make a decision when viewing a lineup. Zajac and Karageorge (2009) discovered that by placing a wildcard (a salient rejection option) in a lineup, children are more likely to correctly reject target-absent photo arrays. This simple technique allows children to reject a lineup, while still being able to make a choice. The present study focused on the physical location (positioning) of the wildcard in the photo array to determine if the placement of the wildcard impacted youth witness identification decisions. Further, this study sought to examine if older children (aged 11-to-15 years) benefited from the inclusion of the wildcard in a lineup, as younger children have. Participants were recruited from a summer science camp to view a brief video. After a day delay, youths were shown two lineups (one male, and one female). Results demonstrated the salient placement of the wildcard did not have an effect in either lineup, however target presence was a factor in selection rates for the female lineup. In the female lineup, the correct target was selected significantly more often than the innocent suspect, a trend not found with the male lineup.
Open Access
Teaching diverse students: exploring factors contributing to multicultural efficacy
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04) Chahar Mahali, Saghar
The rapid increase in immigration in different parts of Canada calls for the implementation of effective teaching practices that accommodate cultural diversity. Many White teachers enter classrooms with limited cross-cultural awareness and low levels of confidence. Teachers’ lack of confidence may enhance their anxiety levels and negatively impact diverse students’ academic achievements. Therefore, teaching a heterogeneous body of students requires teachers to have multicultural efficacy (ME). This notion is the extent to which teachers believe in themselves as capable and confident individuals to deal with the challenges that teaching in multicultural environments imposes upon them. The investigation of many factors (e.g., ethnicity, political orientation, cross-cultural experiences, and extraversion) impacting ME have produced mixed results. The purpose of the current study was to explore the ME of preservice teachers at different academic years, the contributing factors to ME, and the relationship between ME and anxiety levels. 110 preservice teachers enrolled in the Faculty of Education at the University of Regina were asked to complete measures of political orientation, ME, cross-cultural experiences, extraversion, and teacher burnout. Senior and junior students did not vary in terms of their ME levels. There was a negative association between preservice teachers’ ME and anxiety levels. Higher levels of preservice teachers’ ME were predicted by lower anxiety levels and more frequent cross-cultural experiences in their childhood and adolescence. By better understanding ME and its determining factors, appropriate training practices for preservice teachers can be offered in order to create positive school climates for diverse students and teachers.
Open Access
Development of mathematical concepts in grade 4 students
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04) Klisowsky, Krissie
Mathematical concepts help build a knowledge base for children to learn more complex mathematical skills, such as algebra (Alibali, Knuth, Hattikudur, McNeil, & Stephens, 2007). The goals of this study were to observe the development of mathematical concepts and study their relationship with working memory. The additive and multiplicative mathematical concepts investigated were inversion (a + b − b, d × e ÷ e), associativity (a + b − c, d × e ÷ f), and equivalence (a + b + c = a + _, d × e × f = d × _). The study was the first phase of a longitudinal study. The participants consisted of 50 students in Grade 4. Two sessions were completed: solving mathematical equations (12 additive problems, 12 multiplicative problems) and a working memorytest battery. Accuracy was highest on addditive and multiplicative versions of inversion, followed by associativity, then equivalence. There were significantly higher results for additive problems compared to multiplicative problems. Shortcut use was highest on additive versions of inversion, followed by equivalence, then associativity. When comparing scores for multiplicative problems to additive problems, equivalence was the only strategy to increase in shortcut use; inversion and associatively both decreased for multiplicative problems. The results showed that as working memory increased the accuracy increased. This research provides a better understanding of how mathematical concepts develop and allows for a clear portrayal of the differences between problem types at this developmental age.
Open Access
The effect of trauma history on mood sensitivity to perimenopausal estradiol fluctuation
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04) Wozniak, Rashell
A woman’s risk of depression increases 2-3 times during the menopause transition (i.e., ‘perimenopause’), which constitutes the five or so years leading up the last menstrual period. It is hypothesized that the increased estradiol fluctuation, which accompanies the menopause transition, may play a role. Women who display an increased sensitivity to such fluctuations may be particularly vulnerable to developing depression during this time. A history of abuse has been found to predict increased sensitivity to hormonal fluctuation across the menstrual cycle; however, it has never been examined as a predictor of mood sensitivity to the hormonal fluctuations associated with the menopause transition. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to examine perimenopausal estradiol fluctuation in relation to weekly mood in women with and without a history of sexual or physical abuse. Fifteen perimenopausal women were recruited, 9 with a history of sexual or physical abuse, and 6 without. Participants provided twelve weekly urine samples for the measurement of a metabolite of estradiol, and completed two scales to measure mood and depressive symptoms. Results suggested a nonsignificant interaction between trauma history, absolute change of E1G, and the direction of change on CES-D and PANAS-X scores. After further examination, there was a significant interaction when examining those with a history of early abuse (before age 13), on CES-D and PANAS-X scales. Therefore, women with a history of early abuse, during perimenopause, may be at greater risk of depressed mood due to E1G fluctuation.
Open Access
The relationship between child and parent health anxiety and associated constructs in children and adolescents with congenital heart defects
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04) Llewelyn-Williams, Jessica
Health anxiety refers to worries about one’s health, often based on the worry that changes in bodily sensations are indicative of a serious illness. It was originally thought that health anxiety originated in adulthood, however a limited body of research has suggested the origin is likely much earlier. Little is known about the etiology or the experience of health anxiety in specialized child health populations. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between self-reported health anxiety and associated constructs (i.e., intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety sensitivity, DSM-IV anxiety disorder symptom categories) in children and adolescents with congenital heart defects (CHD) and that of one of their parents. We hypothesized that there would be a significant positive relationship between child health anxiety, parent health anxiety, and the associated constructs. Twenty-one children with CHD, ages 7 to 15 years (mean age = 11. 67, SD = 2.57) and 21 parents completed a battery of measures designed to assess health anxiety and associated constructs. Results demonstrated a trend toward a significant negative association between parent health anxiety and child health anxiety. A significant negative association was observed between an aspect of child health anxiety (i.e., CIAS treatment experiences subscale) and parent health anxiety. Significant positive associations were observed between child health anxiety and associated constructs and a similar pattern was observed within parent measures. This is the first study of its kind to examine the parental transmission of health anxiety within a medical population. The knowledge obtained from this study can facilitate an increase in our understanding of the psychological needs and possibly shed some light on the etiology of health anxiety within children with CHD.
Open Access
Sex differences in the effects of stress on emotion recognition
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04) Ennis, Alexandra
Research suggests that females are generally better at emotion recognition than males, but emotion type may moderate this difference. Stress responses may also be moderated by sex, and may affect emotion recognition. Minimal research has examined the effect of stress on sex differences in emotion recognition. The present study examined the moderating effects of sex, stress (high/low), cortisol reactivity (responders/non-responders), and emotion type (threat/non-threat) on auditory and visual emotion recognition accuracy and reaction time (RT). A psychosocial stress task was used to effectively induce stress, as demonstrated by significant stress group differences in subjective stress, cortisol, and heart rate (HR) increases. For facial emotion, a significant interaction showed that females who demonstrated a cortisol stress response were slower than non-responders, whereas male responders were faster than non-responders. An interaction trend emerged for facial emotion when controlling for RT, in which females were faster than males in the low stress condition, but slower than males in the high stress condition. For auditory emotion, cortisol responders demonstrated increased accuracy and decreased RT for threat emotions, but sex did not moderate these effects. Collectively the results suggest that stress and cortisol reactivity may improve emotion recognition, but only in males on facial tasks.
Open Access
Client correspondence in internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy: an examination into client communication with therapists and symptom improvement
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04) Couture, Catherine A.
Background: Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) is an efficacious treatment for anxiety and depression. Most ICBT programs include therapist assistance in the form of secure online messaging; however, a high degree of variability has been found in the content of client and therapist correspondence. Recent research conducted by Svartvatten et al. (2015) found that client statements suggesting alliance bolstering and text expressing a positive change in mood after the implementation of a suggested skill or exercise appear to correlate with greater symptom improvement. Purpose: The current study sought to examine: (1) if previously identified themes in client communication with their Internet therapist (Svartvatten et al., 2015) would replicate in a transdiagnostic ICBT program for depression and anxiety; and (2) if these themes correlated with symptom improvement and treatment completion. Method: The present study used data from 80 randomly selected patients from a previously published trial of ICBT for depression and or anxiety. Client emails (on average 5.69 per client) were examined for the presence of 10 themes reported by Svartvatten et al. (2015). Results: Statistically significant differences were found in the frequency of all themes between the two studies. Further, in the current study, greater frequency of statements classified as maladaptive repetitive thinking and problems with treatment content correlated with smaller improvements in symptoms of anxiety from pre- to post-treatment. Limitations: Different material was presented to clients in the current study compared to clients in Svartvatten et al.’s (2015) study. Implications: This research provides a better understanding of the parameters of client communication and information for future therapists regarding the content of clients’ correspondence in ICBT.
Open Access
Memory unitization and retrieval-induced forgetting for DRM word lists
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04) Stewart, Kaiden M.
As a target memory is recalled or practiced, its competitors are suppressed, making them more difficult to recall in future attempts. This is called retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF; Anderson, Björk, & Björk, 1994), and is evidenced by lesser recall for unpracticed members of a partially practiced list (RP- items) than for members of an unpracticed list (NRP items). The RIF effect, while extremely robust, is not immutable. Directed integration of items into a unified knowledge structure has been shown to greatly reduce or even eliminate the RIF effect (Anderson & McCulloch, 1999). Additionally, high associate word lists, those with greater semantic relatedness, have been shown to result in spontaneous integration (Bäuml & Kuhbandner, 2003). In this study, we combined these factors, along with delay, into a 3 x 2 x 2 x 2 (integration x associativity x delay x set) mixed-model design, using Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) word lists (Stadler, Roediger, & McDermott, 1999), in order to examine the operation of these mediating factors. While set (RIF effect) and delay were statistically significant, we observed no main effects of either integration or associativity. Additionally, there were no statistically significant interactions, indicating that RIF can be robust even to those factors, like integration and associativity, which under certain circumstances reduce its effects.
Open Access
Adults’ perceptions of children who disclose a transgression to peers or adults
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04) Harvey, Madison B.
Children who witness or experience a transgression often do not disclose the event to anyone. There are a variety of reasons why a child may not disclose this event, such as being asked to keep it a secret, fear that they will not be believed, or concerns about their safety. When children do disclose, it may be to an adult or another child. Yet, it has not been established how these peer- to-peer disclosures are perceived by adults. The present study examined adult perceptions of children who disclose (or not) to a peer and children who disclose (or not) to an adult. Participants rated children on measures of credibility, honesty, and accuracy after hearing a recorded conversation of a child discussing an event to either a peer or an adult. Results indicate that children who disclosed a transgression were perceived as less credible, less honest, and less accurate when talking to another child. This has significant implications for the justice system, as it demonstrates that children who disclose a transgression may be seen as less credible witnesses.
Open Access
Effects of motor involvement on memory performance for pictorial and 3D objects
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04) Seilman, Stephanie
Recent research indicates that memory for real objects is superior to memory for matched pictures (Snow, Skiba, Coleman, & Berryhill, 2014). Although there are several possible explanations for this memory difference, this study was specifically interested in assessing the role of motor involvement. Since real objects offer affordances for action, they may unconsciously engage the motor system when they are viewed. If the motor involvement explanation is correct, I hypothesized that fully engaging the motor system by having individuals interact with the objects should further enhance memory for objects but not for pictures. The study used a 2 (stimuli: object vs picture) x 2 (task: motor vs non-motor) between-subjects design. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to each of the four conditions. Participants engaged in a simple judgment task which involved making a decision by grasping the stimuli (motor) or writing the decision on paper (non-motor). Following the task, recall and recognition scores were assessed. As hypothesized, recall for objects was further enhanced in the motor condition relative to the non-motor condition, and no such improvements were found across the picture conditions. The results of this study suggest that motor system involvement facilitates enhanced memory for objects.
Open Access
Mental health outcomes for children in YMCA of Regina physical literacy programs: a pilot study
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04-17) Reid, Miranda
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (2006), mental health disorders are the most common health problems affecting children and youth in Canada; meanwhile, only 20% of children diagnosed receive treatment. Mental health symptoms that go untreated are associated with negative developmental outcomes in adolescence and adulthood. For instance, children who display symptoms of hyperactivity have higher rates of depression in adolescence (Weeks et al., 2016). Statistics on mental health in Canadian children indicate a need for not only appropriate treatment but also prevention programs. Physical activity is well established as a determinant of psychological health; thus, it can be a protective factor against the development of mental disorders (e.g., Reid et al., 2015). The YMCA has taken steps to support youth in achieving a lifetime of physical activity, specifically with the introduction of physical literacy courses. In order to ensure program quality and improved wellbeing, evaluation of YMCA programming is necessary. The current study aims to evaluate children’s change in hyperactivity, emotional symptoms, conduct problems, peer relationship problems and pro-social behavior after participating in one of four physical literacy programs offered at the YMCA of Regina. Both parents and children completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997) during the first class and last class of the program. We found that parents reported an increase in conduct problems, while children reported a decrease. A decrease in hyperactivity, peer relationship problems and internalizing behavior was noticed by parents, while children identified a decrease in hyperactivity following the physical literacy intervention. There was no effect for emotional symptoms and pro-social behavior. This research will help inform a stable youth mental health prevention curriculum at the YMCA of Regina.
Open Access
Understanding the experiences of women who stay in abusive relationships
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04-22) Hamilton, Ashley
The choice to stay a relationship affected with intimate partner violence (IPV) is not one that is well understood. IPV is defined as physical, sexual, or psychological abuse against an intimate partner (Mason, Hyman, Berman, Guruge, Kanagaratnam, & Manuel, 2008). IPV goes beyond socioeconomic status and culture, and has a global prevalence of 20%, but the majority of research available does not take into account the reasoning for why women stay with an abusive partner. The purpose of this qualitative study was to obtain an understanding for why women stay with abusive partners and to determine what eventually helped them to leave the relationship. The theory was developed by employing grounded theory methodology. Purposive and snowball sampling were utilized to recruit a sample of four adult female participants who had experienced IPV and had successfully left. The data was acquired through open-ended interviews, which were later transcribed verbatim. Coding the data has been done using open, axial, and selective coding recommended in Creswell (2007). Through the coding process, a model emerged for why women leave abusive relationships, and therefore, The Acknowledgement of Abuse model was formed. The model consists of three steps that can occur in any order for a woman to reach her breaking point, and leave the relationship. These steps include gaining education to acknowledge red flags, awareness of quality of alternatives, and realizing individual unhappiness. The information gained from this research can be used to help women leave abusive relationships.
Open Access
Can perceptual averaging really occur in the absence of change localization?
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04-24) Giesinger, Candice
Noticing the location of an object that causes a change to the mean of a set relies on the ability to determine the mean of the set, and detect that a change has occurred (Rensink, 2002). Previous research suggests that people are able to retain information about the mean emotion of a set of faces even when they are unsure which items changed between the two sets (Haberman & Whitney, 2011). Subjects in that study, however, could use a strategy of localizing the most emotionally extreme face in the set to reliably determine the correct response in the mean discrimination task. In the present study, the utility of this strategy was eliminated. Subjects completed 4 blocks of trials consisting of 48 trials per block. On each trial, subjects viewed two consecutive displays of faces contained within circles. Four items increased (or decreased) in size or emotional intensity. In Experiment 1, subjects first determined whether average size or emotion increased or decreased from the first display to the second, then localized one of the four changed items. In Experiment 2, the order of responding was reversed. The results suggest that when performing both a mean discrimination and localization task, subjects use their knowledge of which stimulus in the set changed to guide their response on the mean discrimination task. Focusing attention to a local region of a display prevents the global distribution of attention necessary for perceptual averaging (Chong & Treisman, 2003). Thus, averaging is not possible when change detection fails.
Open Access
The effects of a single bout of aerobic exercise on spider fear treatment outcomes
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04-24) Rudichuk, Chloe
Specific phobia involves severe fear or anxiety of a particular object or situation (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The disorder is associated with disruptions in functioning and often occurs in combination with other mental disorders. Aerobic exercise has not yet been explored as a potential adjunct to therapy for specific phobia, despite its success in facilitating the treatment of other psychological disorders. For example, researchers have recently demonstrated reductions in anxiety constructs through aerobic exercise treatments (Broman-Fulks, Berman, Rabian, & Webster, 2004). It is possible that exercise may have similar therapeutic effects in individuals with specific phobia. This study served to examine the impact of aerobic exercise on spider fear treatment outcomes. Forty-two individuals from the Regina community and University of Regina participant pool were screened for the study and 11 were invited to participate based on eligibility requirements. Seven individuals came into the lab and were randomly assigned to complete an aerobic exercise session (n = 4) or a placebo stretching session (n = 3). Following their exercise treatment, all participants engaged in a one-hour exposure intervention that included viewing images of spiders and watching a spider documentary. Their improvements in fear severity were assessed across the treatment. Subsequent analyses revealed that the groups did not experience significantly different outcomes following the study such that aerobic exercise was not able to enhance the effects of the brief exposure treatment. Recruitment proved to be more challenging than originally anticipated, leading to a small sample size. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Open Access
Impact of reproductive history on mood sensitivity to hormone fluctuations during the menopause transition
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2017-04-25) Ziemer, Julie
The risk of depression in women increase 2-4 times in the years leading up to the last menstrual period, known as the menopause transition (i.e., ‘perimenopause’). Excessive perimenopausal estrogen fluctuation has been hypothesized to play a role, though the factors predicting sensitivity to perimenopausal hormone flux are not well known. Research from animal models suggests that past exposure to pregnancy and childbirth and the immense hormonal flux that accompanies it can lessen mood sensitivity to hormonal fluctuations. The current study aimed to examine whether the number and recency of a woman’s past pregnancies would be associated with altered sensitivity to estrogen fluctuation in the context of the menopause transition. To test this, 100 perimenopausal women were recruited for a 12-week study: once a week, participants answered a mood survey and collected their first-morning urine sample to allow for the measurement of urinary metabolites of estrogen and progesterone. Details about their reproductive history, including the number and timing of any previous pregnancies, were assessed. Results revealed a significant interaction between number of pregnancies and weekly estrogen fluctuation on mood, such that women with a greater number of pregnancies were less sensitive to increases in estrogen. Length of time since last pregnancy did not significantly predict sensitivity to hormonal fluctuations. These findings suggest that women with few or no previous pregnancies may be at greater risk for developing depressive mood in the menopause transition.
Open Access
Understanding student teachers’ attitiudes to inclusive education: an application of the theory of planned behaviour
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2018-04) Ward, Taylor Lauren
Inclusive Education (IE) can be defined as providing children with the opportunity to learn alongside their peers within their appropriate school community and be treated as a contributing individual to the community (Saskatchewan Ministry of Education, 2017). In Saskatchewan the aim is to incorporate all children into the mainstream educational system. Inclusive policies within school systems have placed extra pressure on teachers to implement these policies. Educators’ issues with IE are often the result of severity of disability and practical concerns with implementation in the classroom (Avramidis & Norwich, 2002; Burke & Sutherland, 2004). The purpose of the current study was to examine student teachers’ attitudes towards IE utilizing the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Participants for this study were student from the University of Regina Psychology Participant Pool who were registered with the Faculty of Education or are intending to pursue a career in Education. Participants completed the online questionnaire assessing their current knowledge of IE, personal experiences with children with exceptionalities, and TPB measures. Once data collection was complete, two hierarchical multiple regressions were run using direct and indirect measures for attitudes, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control to predict behavioural intention. By understanding student teachers’ attitudes towards IE, their concerns can be addressed at an early stage and appropriate knowledge for implementation can be provided.
Open Access
Understanding the experiences of females’ who engage in hook up culture
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2018-04) Heintz, Madison
Hooking up can be defined as the act of kissing, touching, oral sex, or sexual intercourse with little to no expectation of forming an emotional connection or romantic relationship of any kind (Kooyman, Pierce, & Zavadil, 2011). Hook up culture has many positive and negative consequences to female’s perception of self. While many studies have clearly outlined the consequences that hook up culture can have on an individual, few studies have explored how female’s experiences in hook up culture affect their sense of self. The purpose of this study was to develop a model for understanding the impact of hook up culture on self-identity. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 5 female participants who took part in an open-ended interview. Following the interviews, the data were transcribed and a grounded theory approach was used to develop a model using open, axial and selective coding methods as described by Corbin and Strauss (1998). By constantly comparing codes and categories a model of hook up self-identity was formed. The Hook Up Self Identity Model presents four stages that participants described as being part of their journey to recognizing the effect hook up culture has had on their sense of self: Engagement stage, Assessment of Risks and Benefits stage, Reflection stage and Impact of Reflection stage. Throughout each stage themes emerged that were essential to understanding how hook up culture has affected their sense of self. The Reflection stage is the central category of this model where participants were able to recognize that through a process of self-exploration, hook up culture overall has affected their sense of self in a positive manner.
Open Access
The relationship between vasomotor symptoms and the cortisol awakening response during the menopause transition
(Faculty of Arts, University of Regina, 2018-04) Sauer, Tianna
Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) – hot flashes and night sweats – are one of the most frequent symptoms of the menopause transition. While moderate to severe VMS have been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not fully understood. One possibility may involve VMS’ link with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the body’s primary stress system, which releases the stress hormone cortisol. VMS have been related to an altered cortisol profile, including decreased morning cortisol, though the direction of the VMS-cortisol relationship is unknown. The current study aimed to determine the direction of this relationship. Of 82 healthy women ages 45-55 from the community, 13 women who were quite a bit or extremely bothered by VMS were included in the analysis, in the menopause transition. Once a week for 12 weeks, participants completed questionnaires on their hot flashes, mood, and sleep and provided two saliva samples for the measurement of cortisol: one immediately after waking up and one 30 minutes after waking up. A linear mixed model (PROC MIXED in SAS 4.3) indicated that although past-week CAR change was predictive of the number of severe VMS, past-week VMS change was a better predictive of the CAR. Past-week severe VMS change, total VMS change, and VMS score change was a statistically significant predictor of weekly morning cortisol. The current study indicates that treating the VMS directly rather than HPA axis dysregulation would better reduce the severity of the symptoms and reduce the HPA axis dysregulation.