Ph.D. Child and Youth Studies

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10464/14961

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Now showing 1 - 9 of 9

Open Access
Three Papers on Patient Experiences with Symptom Persistent Lyme Disease in Canada
(Brock University) Ciotti, Sarah; Department of Child and Youth Studies
This dissertation consists of three empirical papers on patient experiences with symptom persistent Lyme disease in Canada. Lyme disease infection rates are rising across the country, a phenomenon attributed to climate change and the northern migration of ticks. The focus of this dissertation can advance knowledge in this area by addressing a gap in the current academic literature (a lack of patient voices). It is important that researchers continue to seek representation of patients’ embodied experiences in health research to advance equity and inclusion in healthcare. Study 1, an autoethnographic study, explores one researcher’s embodied experiences with co-occurring identities as a researcher, health professional, and patient living with chronic illness (symptom persistent Lyme disease). Study 2, a case study, explores the experiences of one young person, who is a patient with symptom persistent Lyme disease in Canada through collaborative research. Study 3, a qualitative study utilizing descriptive exploratory methodology, explores mothers’ experiences with symptom persistent Lyme disease in Canada. The findings from all three papers suggest that the government and public health agencies across the country should, on an ongoing basis, endeavor to advance public education on the risks of tick-borne illnesses. Further, the findings from each paper suggest that health professionals would benefit from continued education and training on tick-borne illness, and that ongoing collaboration between health professionals can be beneficial in the care and treatment of patients’ persistent Lyme disease symptoms. Finally, this dissertation highlights the benefits of collaborative healthcare (between alternative and Allopathic medicine) and may inform policy and decision-making focused on the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease in Canada.
Open Access
Young People’s Well-Being and their Relationships with their Dogs: Exploring the Role of Perceived Human-Dog Personality Matching and Attachment
(Brock University) da Silva Roma, Renata Paula; Department of Child and Youth Studies
Studies focused on emerging adulthood during stressful periods such as the Covid-19 pandemic can shed light on potential stressors and protective factors involved in shaping young people’s physical and psychological well-being. For instance, in the context of dog ownership, it is important to understand if and how undesired behaviours in dogs are associated with young people’s emotions and quality of life. This analysis is relevant because if can offer a more holistic perspective of dog ownership. This type of analysis helps to understand potential issues associated with dog ownership. My dissertation research examines the impact of dog ownership during the Covid-19 pandemic on young people’s well-being and aspects of the dog-owner relationship. In Study 1, I used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine associations among dog personality, personality matching between dogs and young people, canine attachment and young people’s well-being. The study involved 401 participants. The findings indicated associations between canine attachment and young people’s well-being, but not between personality matching and young people’s well-being. In study 2, I examined two aspects related to dog ownership. This study involved 131 participants. To begin, I used an experimental design to examine associations among canine attachment, perceptions of personality matching between young people and their dogs, and young people’s momentary emotions. Additionally, I used linear regressions to assess the relationship between undesired behaviours in dogs and young people’s perceived quality of life in the context of dog ownership. Importantly, the findings did not support the hypothesis that personality matching or canine attachment would moderate young people’s momentary emotions. In study 3, I qualitatively explored how young people manage their companion dog’s undesired behaviours. The study involved seven participants and employed semi-structured interviews as a key method of data collection The following salient themes were identified through the analysis of the data: 1. Attachment Patterns, supported by the codes connection, kinship, and behaviours; 2. Synchrony/lack of Synchrony, supported by the codes reaction, and communication, and 3. Response to Challenging Situations, supported by the codes emotional reactions, coping styles and what they hope to change when responding to these stressful situations. Collectively, the results of these three studies will meaningfully inform the design of programs aimed at promoting positive relationships between young people and their dogs and the well-being of both young people and the dogs with whom they share their lives.
Open Access
Are We There Yet? An Examination of the Effectiveness of Individual Support Plans in Promoting the Human Rights and Quality of Life for Persons with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities
(Brock University) Bishop, Courtney; Department of Child and Youth Studies
Individual Support Plans (ISP) play a significant role in ensuring that the value-based disability-related goals of international and provincial legislation are brought to fruition—mainly with a focus on promoting Human Rights and improving quality of life (QOL) outcomes. The ISP is a living document that, through person-centered planning practices, guides the day-to-day supports provided to persons labelled with an intellectual and/or development disability (PLWIDD). Literature has demonstrated that ISPs are most effective when there is an alignment between an individual’s identified needs and wants, clearly defined goals with matched support strategies, and measurement tools to monitor and evaluate individual and team progress towards goal attainment. Further, ISPs are more likely to demonstrate improved QOL outcomes when the goals capture and promote the following QOL domains: self-determination, personal development, interpersonal relationships, social inclusion, rights, and physical, emotional, and material well-being. This project aimed to promote improved QOL outcomes for PLWIDD supported by Community Living Haldimand, through a collaborative examination of their current ISP framework and processes. The goal of this project was to provide recommendations for a new ISP framework that was shaped by current research on effective and efficient ISPs, and authentically founded in the expressed concerns and recommendations of those who are responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the effectiveness of the ISP. A document analysis of 9 completed ISPs identified the alignment across the components of an effective ISP and the number and types of QOL domains that were or were not present. A Nominal Group Technique (NGT) and focus group participation from Coordinators and Supervisors assisted in capturing the culturally sensitive language surrounding QOL and the ISP process. Recommendations for the new ISP framework included the use of culturally sensitive language and recommendations from Coordinators and Supervisors, including staff support and training in identified areas of concern such as, how to identify needs and wants of persons they support and how to define ISP goals. The methods used in this study may assist other organizations in the evaluation and improvement of their ISP process.
Open Access
Psychopathy as a Conditional Reproductive Strategy in Boys and Men: An Evolutionary–Developmental Perspective
(Brock University) Brazil, Kristopher; Department of Child and Youth Studies
Psychopathic traits (PTs) are a constellation of traits and behavior that places individuals at-risk for engaging in lifelong chronic and severe antisociality, particularly among boys and men. Evolutionary perspectives have suggested some adaptive benefits (e.g., mating) to expressing PTs, whereas developmental perspectives suggest both genes and environment affect its expression. Bringing evolutionary and developmental perspectives together, my thesis addresses whether the expression of psychopathy in boys and men is developmentally contingent on cues of social relationships that inform the costs and benefits of “deciding” to develop PTs. In Study 1, I use Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory to survey the developmental literature on PTs to examine whether both immediate and broad environmental features contingently affect the development of PTs. Results suggest that the expression of PTs is affected by multiple and interacting levels of the environment. In Study 2, I examine how PTs in boys might have costs and benefits in social relationships and the possible impact behavior with peers may have on peer reactions. Results showed PTs were associated with more coercive and fewer prosocial behavior with peers, the latter having a negative indirect effect on peer reactions in prosocial, social power, and dating domains. PTs also had a direct and positive association with receiving nominations as someone peers would like to date. The findings suggest PTs may have both costs and benefits in adolescence and suggest boys higher in PTs might deceptively manage their reputations with peers despite engaging in fewer prosocial and more coercive behavior. In Study 3, I examine how PTs affect trade-offs across adaptive domains of somatic (e.g., relationships, health), parental, and mating investment in men. Results suggest that men higher in PTs may trade-off somatic and parental efforts for mating effort, which may create a superficial yet effective mating strategy that enhances mating opportunities while foreclosing other opportunities (e.g., building relationships, skills). Overall, my thesis expands our understanding of psychopathy by considering both evolutionary and developmental perspectives together. In particular, the adaptive benefits and costs of expressing psychopathy may be directed by and located within a developmental ecology that contingently affects its expression.
Open Access
Understanding Nepali Youth’s Community Participation in the Post-Disaster Context
(Brock University) Maharjan, Nabin; Department of Child and Youth Studies
As Nepal witnessed the significant contribution of youth in the 2015 earthquake crisis, their community participation received nation-wide attention and acknowledgement (GoN, 2015, and Sherriff, 2016); however, a little attention has been paid to understand their participation practices and perspectives. Witnessing youth active participation in the community, this study has attempted to explore their engagement in the post-disaster context of Nepal by using Cornwall’s (2000a) situated practices, and Stammers’ (2009) paradox of institutionalization as conceptual frameworks. This study adopted Participatory Action Research (PAR) method to explore the nature of youth engagement, factors for their community (dis)engagement, and youth’s conceptualization of participation based on their own lived experiences. 36 Nepali youth, who were actively engaged in the community (seven as co-researchers and 29 as research participants), participated in this study. Data were collected using Cooperative Inquiry (CI) workshops, interviews and focus group discussions, field visits, and social media content analysis. Later, data were analyzed using thematic analysis; and five key themes emerged from the collected data. These themes not only illustrated how youth were engaged in complex and hybrid ways, but also revealed the influence of socio-cultural and economic situation, and institutional practices on youth (dis)engagement in the community. The study exhibits the necessity of incorporating youth’s perspectives on participation and changing youth participation practices rather than mere adult-centric narratives of youth participation or institution-driven, tokenistic and unsustainable youth mobilization practices in Nepal.
Open Access
“Getting Everyone on the Same Page” An Integrated Transition Planning Process for Youths with an Intellectual/Developmental Disability with a Social Return on Investment Perspective
(Brock University) Readhead, Anne; Department of Child and Youth Studies
Transitioning out of high school is a significant step in a young person’s life. The Tri-Sector TAY Planning process in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada has developed a single integrated transition plan for youths with an intellectual and/or developmental disability (I/DD). This plan unfolds collaboratively, with education and community professionals meeting at the same planning table with the family and the youth beginning at the age of 14 years. Notably, no new government funding was provided to support this process. The case study reported herein explored both the potential benefits of the Tri-Sector Planning process and the ways in which this multi-sector planning procedure might be improved. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourteen participants, including youths, parents, and professionals. A qualitative thematic data analysis was conducted. Collaboration was identified as an important component of the multi-sector integrated planning process, critical to promoting successful outcomes for youths, including gainful employment and entry into post-secondary education. On the question of possible improvements to the procedure, promoting increased youth engagement and agency during the planning process emerged as an important consideration. In addition, a Social Return on Investment (SROI) quantitative and qualitative data analysis was completed on the case study data to examine the identified impacts of the process. Even with the investment into the Niagara Region Tri-Sector TAY Planning process based only on an estimate of funding from participating organizations, the net SROI ratio was 1.00:4.92, illustrating that for every $1.00 of funding contributed by participating organizations, the after-cost impact benefit was $4.92.
Open Access
Talking during class, packing up books and name calling: Is it really that big a deal? An exploration of classroom incivility
(Brock University) Spadafora, Natalie; Department of Child and Youth Studies
The main goal of my dissertation was to explore and expand our understanding of the concept of adolescent classroom incivility. Specifically, I wanted to expand the current research on classroom incivility in children and youth using a range of methods. Methods comprised validating a measure of engagement in uncivil behavior, including open-ended responses to understand the experiences and viewpoints of both adolescent students and their teachers and exploring social network position in relation to engaging in classroom incivility. In Study 1, I validated a scale of uncivil behavior in the classroom. This validation confirmed subscales of intentional and unintentional classroom incivility in adolescents. This study also assessed construct validity via the examination of associations between classroom incivility with self- and peer-reported behavior and mental health correlates. As well, I investigated differential personality profiles of adolescents who reported engaging in intentional vs. unintentional uncivil behavior. Study 2 focused on comparing and contrasting the perceptions and experiences of classroom incivility of middle and high school teachers and students. This study used both quantitative reporting and qualitative methods to investigate how middle and high school teachers were experiencing and understanding classroom incivility compared to students. The results of this study indicated that there were differences in how uncivil behaviors were being perceived by students and teachers, depending on the classroom or individual circumstances. Finally, Study 3 was an exploratory study that investigated the association between social network position and self-reported engagement in classroom incivility. Results indicated a curvilinear association between social network position and classroom incivility, such that students who engaged in the highest or lowest levels of classroom incivility had lower social network position, while students who engaged in moderate levels of classroom incivility had the highest levels of social network position. Taken together, these studies have expanded our knowledge and understanding of adolescent classroom incivility. These results can inform intervention of uncivil behavior in the classroom and have highlighted the importance of limiting uncivil behavior in adolescence in an effort to promote a civil society.
Open Access
An examination of self-compassion among Canadian youth with and without a caregiving role
(Brock University) Berardini, Yana; Department of Child and Youth Studies
Self-compassion occurs when people apply the same compassion towards themselves as they would towards others (Neff, 2003a, 2003b). Self-compassion has been shown to relate to positive mental health outcomes, such as reduced depression and lower anxiety (Neff 2003a), as well as increased happiness and optimism (Neff et al., 2007), but has yet to be studied with young carers (YCs), who provide significant care and compassion to family members due to various circumstances (e.g., illness, disability, substance use, language barriers, and age-related needs; Bleakney, 2014; Charles, 2011; Charles et al., 2009), leaving limited time for other activities, friends, or self-care (Sexton, 2017; Stamatopoulos, 2018; Szafran et al., 2016). This dissertation examined 1. Self-compassion in youth ages 12-18 years, by exploring its potential correlates; 2. Self-compassion in the context of caregiving for others via focus groups with 33 YCs; and 3. Self-compassion and Subjective Well-Being (SWB) among YCs (n = 55) in comparison to non-caregiving youth (n = 107). Study 1 found that while sex and age did not relate to self-compassion, positive affect, life satisfaction, honesty and humility, and agreeableness were positively related to self-compassion, and negative affect and emotionality were negatively associated with it. Study 2 revealed that caregiving for others may have reduced YCs’ time for self-compassion, thereby possibly showing lower self-compassion. Finally, Study 3 found that YCs and non-YCs showed similar levels of self-compassion and SWB, which suggested that even though caregiving responsibilities may come in a way of self-compassion, it did not do so significantly. YCs’ SWB was also not any lower than their non-caregiving peers, which could be indicative of some hidden protective mechanism at play, such as resiliency. Implications for interventions and program modifications were discussed.
Open Access
HEXACO Personality Investigation into Parenting: Evolutionary Investment Decisions, Punishment and Real-Time Parenting Behavior
(Brock University) Franklin-Luther, Prarthana; Department of Child and Youth Studies
Parenting is an important and variable job, with a wide range in parents’ behavior and decisions. An important part of this variance comes from the parent themselves. Individuals differences in parenting, such as personality traits, may explain a large portion of the variance in parents’ behavior and decisions. Personality traits may also explain how parenting is related to different child characteristics and behavior. Using evolutionary theories of parenting and personality traits, my dissertation investigated the influence of HEXACO personality traits, in combination with children’s characteristics/behavior, across three parenting contexts. Study 1 examined the personality associations with parental investment versus other investment efforts, at the perceptual and behavioral level using infant images as stimuli to motivate parenting appeal and engagement. Study 2 examined personality links with adults’ punishment toward child misbehavior based on children’s age and intentionality. Study 3 observed the associations between personality and real-time parenting behavior. and how these links fit with children’s personality and behavior on a playground. My results showed that higher Emotionality (emotional attachment toward others), as per its theorized role as the strongest HEXACO trait with parenting, was associated with parenting and sensitivity to certain child characteristics across all three studies. Other HEXACO traits were also associated with more positive as well as harsh parenting behavior and responses that were context specific. Overall, my results depict that personality-related predispositions are flexible to child characteristics and delineate important parenting decisions across various contexts.

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