Psychology - Student Works

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14078/73

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Interdisciplinary supports for student mental health: Pets Assisting With Student Success - PAWSS at MacEwan University
(2025) Oloriz, Abby; Coghill, Shane; Rissanen, Anna
This research study is an evaluation of the Pets Assisting with Students' Success (PAWSS) program at MacEwan University. We need research on the effectiveness of low barrier, interdisciplinary campus services that help students such as animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on campus (Ecclestone et al., 2023). However, there are no studies published specifically that explore the benefits of animal-assisted interventions in post-secondary education such as the PAWSS program. We used qualitative methods, and quantitative methods; specifically online surveys with student and staff participants after their PAWSS sessions. This qualitative phenomenological approach provided data on participants’ experiences and insights on their lived experiences. We identified themes and patterns in participants’ experiences during and after PAWSS sessions. Research participants voluntarily signed up and were provided with an informed consent form and the study has been approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. According to the research project findings, PAWSS program participants reported enhanced mental health, stronger social connections, reduced stress, and increased well being after engaging in sessions with dogs and cats. Participants also recommended broader advertising of the PAWSS program and increased availability of sessions across the campus. Furthermore, we are currently using measures for the levels of stress and mood before interacting with the PAWSS, and after attending sessions over 3 and 6 months (Spielberg et al., 1983; Cohen et al., 1983). The measures are The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-SF), and we will report the result in the poster.
Parental beliefs about children's language and music development: a pilot project
(2025) Kutcher, Ashley; Corrigall, Kathleen
Parents have access to a wealth of information regarding child development; however, much of this information is conflicting, incorrect or misleading, or overwhelming in amount or complexity. We distributed a survey distributed to parents/guardians of children under five years of age (n = 27) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and surrounding areas. Descriptive and correlational analyses were used to address the following: (1) What knowledge and misconceptions do parents have regarding language development? (2) Is knowledge of language development associated with parental demographic variables? (3) What concerns do parents have about language development? Found that only 48% of parents sampled correctly identified the age range at which children tend to produce their first words, and only 53% correctly identified the age at which children begin producing two-word utterances. There were no significant correlations between any of the demographic variables tested and know ledge of milestones; however, correlational values indicate that this is likely due to the study being underpowered. However, this research informs the literature on areas in which parents have concerns regarding their child's language development, with the most common being their child not meeting speech milestones and having difficulty producing and understanding speech. This exploratory study offers insights into parental knowledge of language development, highlighting common misunderstandings and areas in language development in which parents have the most concern that can be addressed in future research.
The effectiveness of buprenorphine-naloxone on opioid use disorder
(2022) McDermott, Emily; Offrey, Laura
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a disorder characterized by extreme opioid misuse which causes issues within all aspects of life. To treat OUD, buprenorphine-naloxone (BNX) is used as a partial opioid agonist paired with naloxone to discourage injection. This medication is often prescribed as a sublingual medication for participants to self-administer. This paper investigates the effectiveness of BNX on treating OUD by examining various empirical studies concerning BNX. The studies suggest BNX has a moderate to strong effectiveness on treating OUD compared to other available treatments. Future directions primarily consist of addressing the common limitation of low retention rates in treatment through a variety of means. Assessment of BNX on OUD is necessary as the opioid crisis present in North America continues to grow.
How to be the best influencer: the impact of personality, audience perceptions, and narcissism on social media influencing
(2024) Saroya, Japkaran
Social media influencers (influencers) are individuals who have built followings on social media platforms by sharing content with their audience and can be paid to do so through promotional posts and partnerships with brands and businesses. Social media influencing has grown into a lucrative career for people worldwide. But which factors are essential to optimize your social media growth online? This paper reviews how specific personality characteristics, audience perceptions, and narcissism play a role in the success of social media influencers and how to utilize social media to create success in social media influencing.
Exploring the efficacy of exposure and response prevention therapy on obsessive compulsive disorder
(2024) Rhodes, Alyssa
Exposure and response prevention therapy (EX/RP) is a well-established treatment method for combatting intrusive obsessions and repetitive, time-consuming compulsions that classify obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Through therapist encouragement and self-monitoring, individuals confront their compulsive fears, in vivo or imaginal, without the ability to alleviate anxiety through obsessive behaviours. The following paper's purpose is to evaluate the efficacy of this therapy and its components for treating individuals diagnosed with OCD. Research showed that response prevention had a promising impact on those as young as 11. Other research emphasized the positive effects of EX/RP on all ages contingent on patients' ability to adhere to the therapy techniques, specifically response prevention. Moreover, studies have found that this singular type of therapy had more effectiveness and fewer disadvantages than other types of anxiety therapies, biological therapies, or integrative therapies. Cumulatively, the studies supported and affirmed EX/RP as a leading treatment method for OCD on the grounds of its efficacy.
The effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation for obsessive-compulsive disorder
(2024) Vera, Patricia De
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety-related disorder. Obsessions are experienced as recurring, unwanted thoughts. In response to obsessions, people feel driven to act with repetitive behaviours, known as compulsions. Obsessions and compulsions cause significant distress and impairment in an individual’s daily life and relationships. OCD is relatively common, with a lifetime prevalence rate between 2%-3%. Thus, research must find an effective treatment for individuals with OCD. This paper examines a relatively new area of research that explores the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to treat OCD. TMS is a non-invasive brain stimulation that has recently shown promising effects in treating psychological disorders. Studies researching TMS on OCD, primarily with individuals who have not responded to previous treatments, have found it to be effective, with symptoms significantly decreasing post-treatment, and with effects lasting up to 3-months post-treatment. Overall, TMS appears to offer an effective alternative for individuals with treatment-resistant OCD. However, while studies on TMS show significant results, participants with greater OCD symptoms and/or sleep disturbances tend to report a decreased response to treatment. Also, studies using TMS typically have limitations with their sample sizes, lack of control groups, and lack of long-term follow-up assessments. Overall, TMS appears to be effective for OCD, but future research needs to address current limitations to determine the true effectiveness of this new treatment.
How neuroticism and disgust influence health anxiety through anxiety sensitivity: a conditional process model
(2024) Styba-Nelson, Kevin; Byam, Layton; Penney, Alexander
Health anxiety (HA) is the persistent worry about one’s health or persistent concerns that one might become seriously ill. Previously, HA has been associated with neuroticism, anxiety sensitivity, and disgust. The present study sought to examine if disgust moderates the relationships between neuroticism, anxiety sensitivity, and HA. An undergraduate sample (N = 552) completed online self-report questionnaires of neuroticism and HA. Participants also completed measures of disgust, which contained propensity and sensitivity subscales, as well as anxiety sensitivity, which contained physical, cognitive, and social subscales. Hayes’ (2023) PROCESS macro was used to conduct a conditional process analysis. We found that neuroticism had an indirect effect on HA through both anxiety sensitivity physical and anxiety sensitivity cognitive. Further, for participants with greater disgust sensitivity, there was a larger indirect effect of neuroticism on HA through anxiety sensitivity physical. Overall, these findings support that neuroticism, anxiety sensitivity, and disgust sensitivity are significant factors that contribute to HA. The findings also suggest that therapeutic techniques like interoceptive exposure to internal sensations may be effective strategies to treat HA, as they would be able to target the anxiety and disgust sensitives that underlie HA.
Pluralistic mating strategies: examining sexual orientation with CNM, jealousy, sex drive, and sociosexuality
(2024) Pavlis, Crystal; Honey, P. Lynne
Studies on jealousy show robust and replicable gender differences in the experience of jealousy toward infidelity, though how bisexuality or CNM affects this remains to be explored. In this study, sexual orientation was explored with sociosexuality, openness to consensual non-monogamy (CNM), and sexual desire, along with predictors of jealousy and openness to CNM. Participants (n=764) from MacEwan University, the Pride Centre of Edmonton, and online groups completed surveys on Qualtrics. Data was analyzed in JASP using correlational, linear regression, and MANOVA models. (H1) Ambiphilics had more permissive sociosexuality and greater openness to CNM than both androphilics and gynephilics, and more solitary sexual desire than androphilics. (H2) Openness to CNM was predicted with the regression equation: Openness to CNM = 22.17 + 0.370*(sociosexuality) +0.269*(solitary sexual desire) -0.095*(dyadic sexual desire). (H3) Sexual jealousy was predicted using the regression equation: Sexual jealousy = 3.295 -0.169*(orientation). Gynephilics had greater sexual jealousy than androphilics and ambiphilics. Sexual jealousy did not differ significantly between ambiphilics and androphilics. People with pluralistic sexual orientation and openness to CNM differ in their mating strategies when compared to monosexual and monogamous people. These findings suggest that bisexual and non-monogamous individuals use differential mating strategies that may increase their mating opportunities.
Pluralistic mating strategies: examining sexual orientation with CNM, jealousy, sex drive, and sociosexuality
(2024) Pavlis, Crystal; Honey, P. Lynne
Studies on jealousy show robust and replicable gender differences in the experience of jealousy toward infidelity, though how bisexuality or CNM affects this remains to be explored. In this study, sexual orientation was explored with sociosexuality, openness to consensual non-monogamy (CNM), and sexual desire, along with predictors of jealousy and openness to CNM. Participants (n=764) from MacEwan University, the Pride Centre of Edmonton, and online groups completed surveys on Qualtrics. Data was analyzed in JASP using correlational, linear regression, and MANOVA models. (H1) Ambiphilics had more permissive sociosexuality and greater openness to CNM than both androphilics and gynephilics, and more solitary sexual desire than androphilics. (H2) Openness to CNM was predicted with the regression equation: Openness to CNM = 22.17 + 0.370*(sociosexuality) +0.269*(solitary sexual desire) -0.095*(dyadic sexual desire). (H3) Sexual jealousy was predicted using the regression equation: Sexual jealousy = 3.295 -0.169*(orientation). Gynephilics had greater sexual jealousy than androphilics and ambiphilics. Sexual jealousy did not differ significantly between ambiphilics and androphilics. People with pluralistic sexual orientation and openness to CNM differ in their mating strategies when compared to monosexual and monogamous people. These findings suggest that bisexual and non-monogamous individuals use differential mating strategies that may increase their mating opportunities.
Interdisciplinary supports for student mental health: Pets Assisting With Student Success - PAWSS at MacEwan University
(2024) Bialowas, Payden; Oloriz, Abby; Rissanen, Anna
Student mental health is a critical concern in academic environments, where the pressures of academic life can significantly impact well-being. This study investigates the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy in alleviating mental health challenges. Collaborating with the Pet Assisting With Student Success (PAWSS) program at MacEwan University, we aimed to understand how interactions with therapy animals could benefit students. Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach, we gathered data on student experiences with the PAWSS program through Qualtrics. Through the survey, we explored the way in which the program influenced students' daily lives and their ease of accessing these therapeutic interactions and considered improvements that could be made to make the program more accessible to students. Participants consistently reported reductions in anxiety and stress after engaging with the PAWSS events or encountering therapy animals in hallways. Our poster includes common themes about students’ experiences with the PAWSS program, which are visually reflective through NVivo. Our findings highlight the profound positive impact of animal-assisted therapy on student stress levels and overall mental health. The human-animal bond fostered through the PAWSS program not only provides immediate relief but also cultivates a supportive campus environment. This research underscores the value of interdisciplinary approaches to mental health support and the transformative potential of integrating animal-assisted therapy into university settings.
Research recast(ed): S2E18 - Student Research Day: student research spotlight - Katryna Yasinski, Madison Karpiak, and Amy Wildeman
(2023) Miskiman, Megan; Schabert, Reinette; Yasinski, Katryna; Karpiak, Madison; Wildeman, Amy
In today’s episode, we are joined by three student researchers here at MacEwan: Katryna Yasinski from the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications, Madison Karpiak from the Faculty of Arts and Science, and Amy Wildeman from the Faculty of Nursing.
Neuroticism to GAD: The influence of thought processes and metacognitions
(2024) Styba-Nelson, Kevin
There are many cognitive thought patterns and individual factors that are known to underly the persistent and wide spread worrying of individuals with GAD. This includes the personality trait of neuroticism, as well as the maladaptive cognitions of AS, and IU. Metacognitive beliefs about worry, people’s beliefs about the impact and controllability of worrying, are also known to be a substantial factor in GAD. The present studies sought to investigate this possible moderating effect, and evaluate its impact on individuals’ worry severity and symptoms of GAD. The first of these studies (N = 573) investigated the moderating effect of metacognitions on the relationships anxiety sensitivity has with worry severity and GAD in an undergraduate sample. The second of these studies (N = 627) expanded upon the first. It investigated the indirect pathways from neuroticism to worry severity and GAD, through anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty. Its primary focus was to then investigate if these indirect pathways would be moderated by metacognitive beliefs. Overall, these studies did not conclude that metacognitions play a moderating role in the relationships neuroticism, anxiety sensitivity, and intolerance of uncertainty have with worry severity and GAD. Despite this, it was still found that anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty were significant mediators in the indirect pathways that connect neuroticism to worry severity and GAD. This would suggest that future research may wish to further investigate these mediational pathways, and possibly incorporate metacognitions as mediating rather than moderating variables.
Do metacognitions have a moderating role in GAD? An investigation with neuroticism, anxiety sensitivity, and intolerance of uncertainty
(2024) Styba-Nelson, Kevin; Penney, Alexander
There are many cognitive thought patterns and individual factors that are known to underly the persistent and wide spread worrying of individuals with GAD. This includes the personality trait of neuroticism, as well as the maladaptive cognitions of AS, and IU. Metacognitive beliefs about worry, people’s beliefs about the impact and controllability of worrying, are also known to be a substantial factor in GAD. The present studies sought to investigate this possible moderating effect, and evaluate its impact on individuals’ worry severity and symptoms of GAD. The first of these studies (N = 573) investigated the moderating effect of metacognitions on the relationships anxiety sensitivity has with worry severity and GAD in an undergraduate sample. The second of these studies (N = 627) expanded upon the first. It investigated the indirect pathways from neuroticism to worry severity and GAD, through anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty. Its primary focus was to then investigate if these indirect pathways would be moderated by metacognitive beliefs. Overall, these studies did not conclude that metacognitions play a moderating role in the relationships neuroticism, anxiety sensitivity, and intolerance of uncertainty have with worry severity and GAD. Despite this, it was still found that anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty were significant mediators in the indirect pathways that connect neuroticism to worry severity and GAD. This would suggest that future research may wish to further investigate these mediational pathways, and possibly incorporate metacognitions as mediating rather than moderating variables.
How to make a good first impression when socially anxious
(2023) Nielsen, Melissa
Making a good first impression is integral to forming and maintaining relationships, which affect nearly every aspect of one's life. Whether interviewing for a job or meeting a partner's friends and family, making positive first impressions can significantly improve one's quality of life. Research shows that social anxiety impedes a person's ability to make a good first impression. Wherein appearing anxious (i.e., tense, fidgeting, unstable vocal pitch) can cause a person to come across as less desirable, more submissive, detached, and less expressive. Social anxiety also contributes to one's negative interpretation of their impressions on others, further perpetuating this fear. However, there are specific strategies that can help people conquer social anxiety and make better first impressions. By creating self-distance (e.g., non-first-person self-talk, reflecting as if watching a stranger), focusing on others (e.g., learning about others, performing acts of kindness), and increasing self-expression, one can decrease social anxiety and make better first impressions.
Research recast(ed): S1E17 - Student Research Day - allyship, e-scooters and criminal psychology
(2022) Ekelund, Brittany; Cave, Dylan; Lakhani, Alysha-Khanu; Bailey, Brady; Thomas, Mackenzie
Today, we learn about three different MacEwan student research projects focusing on the topics of Indigenous allyship, sustainability and criminology. In our first Student Research Day podcast, we speak with three student researchers. First, Alysha-Khanu Lakhani discusses her paper on Indigenous allyship in the Asian Diaspora, touching on implicit bias, challenging perceptions and cognitive imperialism. Next we talk with Brady Bailey, whose award winning research looks at sustainability, e-scooters and the sharing economy. Lastly, we talk with Mackenzie Thomas about her pioneering research into typographies and risk assessment of criminogenic needs of sexual offenders.
Ugh! Don’t get sick: disgust sensitivity contributes to health anxiety
(2023) Styba-Nelson, Kevin; Byam, Layton; Penney, Alexander
Health anxiety (HA) refers to persistent fears about experiencing or developing severe illnesses. HA has been associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and with dysfunctional health beliefs. However, some research has also indicated that the primary emotion of disgust may be associated with HA. The present study sought to investigate if a relationship exists between HA and disgust, even when controlling for OCD symptoms and dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs about health. An undergraduate sample (N=552) completed online self-report questionnaires of HA, OCD symptoms, health-related-metacognitions, disgust propensity, and disgust sensitivity. Disgust propensity refers to the likelihood that a person will experience disgust, while disgust sensitivity refers to how strongly a person experiences disgust. OCD symptoms, health-related-metacognitions, disgust propensity, and disgust sensitivity all showed moderate to strong bivariate correlations with HA. A hierarchical multiple linear regression was conducted with HA as the dependent variable, OCD symptoms entered in the first step, health-related-metacognitions in the second step, and disgust propensity and disgust sensitivity in the third step. It was found that disgust sensitivity, but not disgust propensity, was a unique predicter of HA, even when controlling for both OCD symptoms and health-related-metacognitions. This finding suggests a person’s sensitivity to the emotion of disgust may play a role in HA, and that this relationship is not better accounted for by OCD symptoms or health-related-metacognitions. Techniques targeting disgust sensitivity could be a valuable addition to therapies aimed at HA, with interoceptive exposure to the feelings of disgust being a possible area for future research.
Can’t stop worrying? Examining the mechanisms of generalized anxiety disorder
(2023) Parkinson, Sydney; Penney, Alexander
Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) experience excessive and chronic worry over various daily events. If left untreated, GAD tends to be impairing and chronic. Existing research has shown negative beliefs about worry (NBW), positive beliefs about worry (PBW), intolerance of uncertainty (IU), and fear of emotions to be associated with GAD. However, the existing research is primarily cross-sectional. The present longitudinal study examined whether changes in NBW, PBW, IU, and fear of emotions predict changes in pathological worry and GAD symptoms over time. Undergraduate psychology students (N = 372), pre-screened for high levels of worry, completed a series of online self-report measures assessing worry, GAD symptoms, NBW, PBW, IU, and fear of emotions. Participants completed the questionnaires again 4 months later. Changes in NBW, IU, and fears of emotions predicted changes in worry severity. Additionally, changes in NBW and IU were the only mechanisms to predict changes in GAD symptoms. Further, NBW was the strongest predictor of changes in both worry and GAD. These findings have implications for the understanding and treatment of GAD. Primarily targeting NBW, while incorporating IU and fear of emotions into therapy, may enhance the treatment of GAD.
Do metacognitions contribute to health anxiety when controlling for OCD comorbidity?
(2023) Styba-Nelson, Kevin; Byam, Layton; Penney, Alexander
Previous research has found that dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs about health are associated with health anxiety (HA), even when controlling for depression, anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) overlaps with HA, but OCD symptoms have not been controlled for in prior studies that examined metacognitive beliefs about health. The current study examined if metacognitive beliefs about health remain associated with HA when OCD and anxiety sensitivity were accounted for. An undergraduate sample (N = 400) completed online self-report questionnaires of OCD symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, metacognitive beliefs about health, and HA. OCD symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, and metacognitive beliefs about health all showed moderate to strong bivariate correlations with HA. A hierarchical multiple regression was conducted where OCD symptoms were entered in the first step, anxiety sensitivity was entered in the second step, and metacognitive beliefs were entered in the last step. Metacognitive beliefs about the uncontrollability of illness-related thoughts, along with OCD symptoms and anxiety sensitivity about physical concerns, were found to be uniquely predictive of HA. These findings support previous research establishing a link between metacognitive beliefs and HA, and expand upon them by suggesting the relationship is not accounted for by OCD symptoms.
Anxiety sensitivity, metacognitions, and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms
(2023) Styba-Nelson, Kevin; Penney, Alexander
Previous research has established that anxiety sensitivity (AS) and metacognitions are both associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). AS consists of social concerns, cognitive concerns, and physical concerns about the negative impact of anxiety symptoms. Metacognitions are thoughts and beliefs about one’s cognitions, and both positive and negative beliefs about worry are key metacognitions in GAD. This study examined the unique contributions of these metacognitions and facets of AS on worry severity and GAD symptoms. An undergraduate sample (N = 150) completed self-report questionnaires of GAD symptoms, worry severity, AS, and metacognitions. Moderate to strong bivariate correlations were found between all variables. The results of multiple regression equations revealed that social concerns of AS, positive beliefs about worry, and negative beliefs about worry were uniquely associated with both GAD symptoms and worry severity. Additionally, negative beliefs about worry remained the only significant predictor of GAD symptoms when controlling for worry severity. These findings agree with previous research that negative beliefs about worry are a robust predictor of GAD symptoms. This serves to further highlight negative beliefs about worry’s connection with GAD, and indicates that therapists may wish to focus on negative beliefs about worry more than AS when treating GAD.
Are metacognitions part of the common core cognitive vulnerability?
(2023) Styba-Nelson, Kevin; Penney, Alexander
Hong and colleagues have recently argued that anxiety and depression-related constructs like anxiety sensitivity (AS), intolerance of uncertainty, and ruminative style may be components of a broad general negative repetitive thinking style, known as the common core cognitive vulnerability. Despite similarities between AS and dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs, particularly between AS cognitive concerns and negative metacognitive beliefs about worry, there has been a lack of research examining commonalities between them. Examining AS and metacognitions together may help indicate if dysfunctional metacognitions should be considered another component of this larger cognitive vulnerability. In this study, an undergraduate sample (N=350) completed self-report questionnaires of AS and metacognitive beliefs. AS was assessed using the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3) with its three subscales measuring physically, socially, and cognitively focused concerns. Metacognitive beliefs were assessed using the Metacognition Questionaire-30 (MCQ-30), with its five subscales for positive beliefs about worry, negative beliefs about worry, cognitive confidence, need to control thoughts, and cognitive self-consciousness. An exploratory principal component analysis revealed the model of best fit was a one factor solution, with all eight subscales loading onto the factor. The cognitive subscale of the ASI-3 had the strongest loading on this factor, followed by negative beliefs about worry, and ASI-3 physical concerns. These findings demonstrate that marked similarities exist in the constructs that make up the subscales of the ASI-3 and MCQ-30. Further, the findings suggest that dysfunctional metacognitions may be another aspect of the proposed common core cognitive vulnerability. Implications for treatment and future research will be discussed.

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