Psychology / Psychologie - Master's theses

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://laurentian.scholaris.ca/handle/10219/2083

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Exploring the impact of passion engagement on the resilience of older adults during the covid-19 pandemic
(Laurentian University Library & Archives, 2023-08-29) Charbonneau, Stéphanie; Dr. Bruce Oddson Dr. Josée Turcotte
Engaging in a passionate activity can be helpful. According to the Dualistic Model of Passion (DMP; Vallerand et al., 2003), passionate activities are described as either harmonious or obsessive. Harmonious passion have been associated with beneficial outcomes (e.g., affective and psychological well-being), while obsessive passions have been linked to deleterious outcomes (e.g., high negative affect and ill-being). Resilience refers to the ability to recover from adversity. Many protective factors that bolster resilience are also associated with harmonious passions. It was hypothesized that older adults with a harmonious passion would be more resilient than their obsessively passionate counterparts. Resilience was represented by a multivariate construct, encompassing adversity (i.e., psychological distress), positive adaptation (i.e., well- being), and protective factors. Using a sample of community-dwelling older-adults (n=92), this multivariate model was compared across harmonious and obsessive groups, with results indicating that passion groups did not differ. Additional exploratory analyses were conducted, wherein each component of resilience was compared across passion groups. The harmonious group scored higher on a measure of protective factors and lower on measure of adversity. No differences were noted for positive adaptation. This suggests that the overall resilience and positive mental health of older adults outweighed any differences due to passion orientation.
The effects of message framing on food choice
(2024-03-01) Gardner, Kyle
As unhealthy eating habits and nutrition-linked health problems continue to pose significant public health concerns, understanding the effects of health communications has become crucial in promoting healthier food choices. The current research sought to understand the effectiveness of message framing and evidence type on food choice. The current study exposed participants to messages that described either the gains associated with eating healthy foods, the losses associated with eating unhealthy foods, or non-nutritional messages. Messages also manipulated whether they conveyed information using a narrative or statistical format. Data from the 3 (message framing: gain-framed, loss-framed, and control) x 2 (evidence type: statistical versus narrative) between-subject design showed that both gain-framed and loss-framed conditions promoted more healthy food choices than the control conditions. However, manipulating the evidence type did not persuade participants to make healthier food choices. Moreover, the results did not identify a significant interaction between message framing and evidence type. Implications of the current study are useful for understanding how health communication messages can influence people’s food choices, and aid policymakers in developing persuasive health communication campaigns.
Exploring implicit and explicit judgements in gender expression and sexual orientation
(2023-12-14) Deck, Alexandra
The current study aimed to investigate stereotypes pertaining to individuals’ views of sexual orientation and gender expression. This study investigated these stereotypes through the binary viewpoint of an Implicit Association task in conjunction with open-ended questions, which allow space for more fluid responses in accordance with Queer Theory. One-hundred and forty individuals participated in a modified IAT study with pictures of couples varying in sexuality (i.e. gay or straight) and gender expression (i.e. feminine or masculine). They also judged sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in open-ended questions. Gender expression was found to play a critical role in individuals' perceptions of sexual orientation and their categorization tendencies, regardless of whether the individual was depicted in a homosexual or heterosexual couple. For example, it was found that those with gender non- conforming appearances (i.e. men wearing feminine clothing) tended to be categorized as homosexual. They were also processed slower in the IAT. In addition, within homosexual couples, variations based on gender expressions were also observed (e.g. two feminine women being processed faster, while two masculine men, slower). Overall, results show a clear confusion in understanding gender expression, with a large variation of words used to describe gender based on expression, particularly for individuals with a non-stereotypical presentation. The results suggest that gender expression, which has rarely been included in studies, should be taken into account in research.
Predictors of therapy dropout and psychometric changes in personality in binge eating disorder following cognitive behavioural therapy
(2023-10-06) Andrews, Jordan M.
Binge eating disorder (BED) is a recent addition to the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). There is limited clinical data in research literature about this disorder and how it is treated. Several studies have been done to examine predictors of therapy dropout for other eating disorders but very few have been done on BED specifically. The current study sought to better understand which factors would predict therapy dropout in a population of BED clients. A group with BED took part in a 20-week course of group-based CBT in an eating disorders program and approximately two thirds of these clients did not complete the full course. The clients’ self-reported levels of depression, anxiety, coping strategy preferences for stressful situations, and eating disorder symptomology were measured before and after the CBT course and the goal of this study was to examine if differing levels of pre-treatment symptoms could predict a client’s likelihood for successfully completing CBT. This study also examined the post-treatment changes in binge eating frequency, coping strategies, state and trait anxiety, eating disorder symptomology and depression. Overall, no significant predictors of therapy dropout were identified. Other findings showed that after their treatment the clients who remained in treatment reported less eating disorder symptomology, depression, endorsed fewer emotional coping strategies and more task-oriented coping strategies, and reported fewer binge eating episodes. A correlation between time spent in treatment and a reduction in binge eating episodes was also found. While no predictors of therapy dropout were found in these pre-treatment measures, this study suggests that clients who completed treatment had several positive outcomes, and it highlights the need for further investigation into alternative screening methods for treatment retention beyond quantitative tests.
The effects of nutrition labels on information recall and label preference
(2023-06-30) Desrosiers, Nadia
Throughout the twenty-first century, nutrition and nutrition labelling have played an important role in healthy eating behaviours. The impact a nutrition label can have as a reliable source of nutrition information to help consumers make knowledgeable choices for living a healthy lifestyle has not yet been accepted within Canada. This could be due to the possibility that the current nutrition label employed in Canada is not effective and that an improvement to the label could also increase its use by consumers who want to make healthier choices. The current study (available online) aimed to explore the relationship between different product labels and consumer preference for a certain food label. A sample of two hundred participants (separated into four groups) were included in the analysis; nutrition understanding and accuracy of the Nutrition Facts Panel in portraying health information, label type preference and nutritional information recall were each assessed to determine which label will help consumers make healthier food choices. Overall, it was determined that the most preferred and effective label was the Multiple Traffic Light label, very closely followed by the current Nutrition Facts Panel. However, both the MTL and NFP label performed rather closely and should be considered on par with each other in terms of preference and recall accuracy. In addition, it is important to note the analysis showed that the current Nutrition Facts Panel is not completely effective in communicating nutritional information to consumers. The relevance of these findings in terms of nutrition labelling is outlined below, along with all considerations for future research.
Individual differences of career choice: the role of cognition, personality, executive function, motivation, and career values
(2022-09-09) Carniello, Trevor N.
Values are self-referentially important to the individual reflecting their underlying beliefs related to the meaningfulness placed on experience. Career values are the subjective importance placed on the meaning pursuant to a career. Previous research has identified several factors (e.g., intelligence and personality) shown to be associated with career outcome and success. The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution that reasoning, working memory, executive function, personality, and motivation have on an individual’s self-reported career values. To this end, 42 participants (14 actively employed community members and 28 secondary and post- secondary students) completed a series of performance-based measures and self-reported inventories assessing the domains previously described. Results identified 4 career factors that accommodated approximately 80% pf the variance shared between individuals. The 4 career factors (Self-Directed, General Management, Skillful-Dedication, and Conservative) were predicted by distinct performance-based variables, personality characteristics, and sources of motivation. A strong emphasis on individual differences is discussed with respect to career values.
The effects of different message frames on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and beliefs
(2023-08-02) Huneault, Luc
This survey experiment investigated the effect of differently framed public health messages on COVID-19 vaccine beliefs, and whether their effect was influenced by various individual differences. Participants in a Canadian sample (N=393) were randomly assigned to read a message addressing either the benefits of vaccinating for others, the health consequences of COVID-19 for vulnerable populations, the safety and efficacy of the vaccines with general or specific information, or the widespread willingness of Canadians to be vaccinated. The control group received no messaging. Overall, exposure to messaging did not predict beliefs toward the vaccines, however, participants who read the message addressing the widespread willingness to be vaccinated reported more negative beliefs. The effect of messaging significantly depended on political orientation and conspiracist ideation, which in addition to younger age, male gender, and greater religiosity, predicted negative beliefs toward the vaccines. These findings may inform efforts to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake.
Distinct religious primes and evaluations of religious and non-religious others: the moderating roles of religious quest and fundamentalism
(2022-07-15) Galati, Erika
Research has shown that priming religiosity can have differential effects on attitudes towards religious and non-religious others. However, recent work has suggested that these differential effects may depend on aspects of religiosity that are made salient during the priming task. The present research applied construal level theory to evaluate the effects of abstract and concrete religious priming on evaluations towards religious and non-religious others. The moderating roles of religious quest and fundamentalism were evaluated in the entire sample (N = 197) and for a subsample of Christian participants (n = 125). Multiple moderated regression showed that individual differences in religious quest and fundamentalism significantly interacted with the priming manipulation to predict evaluations towards religious others in the Christian subsample. The findings of the present study suggest that the effects of abstract and concrete religious priming may depend on individual differences in religious quest and fundamentalism.
The socio-sexual knowledge and attitudes assessment tool - revised: the need for updates in assessment for individuals with intellectual disabilities
(2021-07-16) Gessie, Katya
The current document is a paper-based thesis which examined the Socio-Sexual Knowledge and Attitudes Assessment Tool – Revised (SSKAAT-R) for individuals with intellectual disabilities in order to inform the development of a revision. The first paper is a descriptive overview of topics of sexuality that are considered important for assessment and education in the year 2020. Findings revealed that inappropriate physical contact, incest and inappropriate sexual contact, intercourse, homosexuality, and birth control were some of the most important topics to consider for individuals with an intellectual disability in the year 2020. In addition, the first paper compared these findings to the topics which were identified as important twenty and forty years ago in order to note changes that have occurred over time. The second paper examined the content of the SSKAAT-R, specifically. Strengths and weaknesses voiced by professionals who use the tool are highlighted. Overall, the mixed methods findings included in this thesis indicate that many aspects of the SSKAAT-R are appreciated, such as the visual content and its ability to touch on a variety of topics pertaining to sexuality. Conversely, some areas - such as the outdated pictures, as well as the lack of information regarding internet safety and sexual and gender minorities - were highlighted as limitations. Suggestions for future research and clinical implications are discussed.
The efficacy of mobile mental health applications (mHealth apps) in reducing symptoms of anxious and depressive distress in a university population
(2023-04-18) Dufoe, Jennifer
Internet-based self-help interventions, such as mobile mental health applications (mHealth apps), have the potential to enhance mental health service delivery in universities in a cost-effective way. However, the existing literature on mHealth apps is limited and does not sufficiently support their supposed benefits. The present study attempted to evaluate the efficacy of selfguided mHealth apps in reducing symptoms of psychological anxious distress and psychological depressive distress among university students. Students (N = 77; 76.6% female; 17 to 53 years old) completed the Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) prior to being randomized to 6 weeks of intervention with one of three mHealth apps marketed for reducing anxiety (DARE, Mindshift, or Stresscoach), or an active smartphone-based control to rule out the digital placebo effect (Coloring Book for Adults app). After 6 weeks, students completed the HADS again as a follow-up measure of app effectiveness. The results did not support the effectiveness of the mHealth apps in reducing anxious or depressive distress (Pillai’s Trace = .024, F(6, 146) = .290, p = .941). However, the results suggested that over time, students’ levels of depression increased, irrespective of app (mean difference = -.698; 95% CI = -1.364 to -0.33). The results also suggested that students with problematic levels of anxious distress at baseline experienced a decrease in symptoms at follow-up, irrespective of app (mean difference = 1.696; 95% CI = .816 to 2.575). Conversely, students who did not report anxious distress at baseline experienced an increase in anxious distress at follow-up, regardless of app (mean difference = -1.806; 95% CI = -2.878 to -.735).
Investigating how individuals respond to efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ontario: associations with political ideology and perceived stress
(2022-12-16) Scott, Matthew
The COVID-19 pandemic has required individuals to adopt new attitudes and behaviours that promote public health, such as mask wearing, social distancing and vaccination. The current research sought to understanding the factors that influence attitudes and behaviours related to these responses by investigating the association of political ideology and perceived stress on attitudes and behaviours towards COVID-19 in Northern Ontario. Overall, a right-leaning or conservative/libertarian political ideology was associated with decreased support of government measures towards COVID-19, lower levels of perceived concern over COVID-19, and less favorable attitudes and reduced uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, while perceived stress was not found to be related to political ideology, moderate stress was found to be associated with lower levels of perceived severity and concern about COVID-19, and less favorable attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine. Implications of the current study are useful for understanding reactions to future pandemics and public health crises.
Mixed-methods analysis of the predictive effects of personality on stress-related eating behaviour: an exploratory study of perfectionism, impulsivity, and emotional control
(2022-11-11) Battaion, Mira Milena
Most individuals alter overall caloric intake and food choice while experiencing stress and have a relatively consistent pattern of stress-related eating over time. There are many important and contextually dependant factors that should be considered when examining the effects of stress on eating behaviour changes including the recent investigation of the predominant role of personality; however, there is limited research examining the predictive role of personality to determine whether an individual will engage in stress over-eating or undereating behaviours. The present mixed-methods study investigated if personality traits of perfectionism, impulsivity, and emotional control were correlated with stress-over or undereating. Quantitative data was obtained among 169 participants who provided self-reports of individual levels of stress, stress-related eating, perfectionism, impulsivity, and emotional control to explore if there was a correlation between the investigated variables. The findings revealed significant direct predictive effects of emotional control on stress-related eating, however no significant effects were found between stress eating and traits of perfectionism or impulsivity. Qualitative data was obtained among 14 stress-over and under-eaters who were interviewed regarding their stress-eating styles and perceptions of the effect of personality on their stressrelated eating changes to further explore how individuals perceived their personality traits to drive their stress-over or under-eating behaviour. The findings revealed that stress over-eaters may respond by eating to seek control and positive emotions where under-eaters may not respond by eating as it is not a priority and they lack hunger. Future research should continue to investigate the included personality traits using more specific psychometric measures to analyze the variables more thoroughly before validating any conclusions.
Trust in online reviews: effects of valence and exposure to information on deceiver’s distrust and financial incentives
(2022-09-16) Barriault, Jenna
Online deception is prevalent and may have consequences for trust in online reviews. The present research considers the manipulated effects of information exposure and valence on participants’ accuracy in lie detection and trust in online reviews. Undergraduate university students (N = 166) completed an online study where they were exposed to information about deceiver’s distrust, financial incentives, or general information about online reviews (control). Participants were also exposed to the valence manipulation where they were presented with either positive or negative reviews and were asked to identify whether each review was deceptive or truthful. Their trust in online reviews was also assessed through measures of trust and authenticity. Evidence was found for the effect of valence on lie detection accuracy because those in the positively-valenced conditions were better able to detect deceptive reviews than those in the negatively-valenced conditions. Results also demonstrated a high self-reported frequency of leaving deceptive online reviews. This finding establishes the pervasiveness of deception in online reviews. There was no significant main effect of information exposure, nor was there an interaction effect. Results suggest that online deception is commonplace and that positive deceptive reviews may be easier to detect than negative ones. Implications for consumers and businesses are discussed.
Body talk and perfectionism in female and male youth: can we shift the focus from appearance to functionality?
(2022-08-18) Henry, Emily
The current study sought to examine if perfectionism facets that have been linked to body image disturbances in youth predict a higher frequency of body talk with friends, and whether these perfectionistic predispositions influence the extent to which novel educational interventions mitigate the harmful effects of body talk exposure such as lower body satisfaction, self-esteem, higher negative affect and self-objectification. The educational interventions provided education on the dangers of body talk, the opportunity to practice challenging body talk, and exercises to help youth shift away from the harmful appearance focus by appreciating body functionality. An online international sample of youth who self-identified as either female (N = 120) or male (N = 158) between the ages of 13 and 24 years were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 educational intervention conditions that either focused on only body talk, body functionality, both body talk and body functionality, or they received no intervention. Overall, the findings demonstrated that perfectionistic predispositions can influence the degree to which educational interventions might mitigate the effects of body talk exposure. Females higher in perfectionism facets sometimes did not receive the same benefits from the body talk focused interventions as females lower in perfectionism, whereas males higher in certain perfectionism facets at times received benefits from the body functionality intervention. Moreover, female and male youth with higher levels of perfectionistic predispositions were more likely to report engaging in body talk with friends as well as having worse experiences after being exposed to body talk. The results are discussed in terms of future directions.
“These two alibis seem equally as weak compared to those” contrast and condensation effects in inferential judgments
(2022-06-30) Boivin, Eric
Do contrast and condensation effects exist in the cognitive, inferential realm? This study examined the possibility using an existing experimental model designed to assess these effects in the sensory and hedonic fields, replacing hedonic stimuli (juice tasting) with inferential judgment stimuli (alibi strength ratings). In the first experiment, testing for contrast, both test alibis were rated weaker after the participants had read strong context alibis, although only one was significantly affected. In the second experiment, testing for condensation, the inferred difference in strength between the two test alibis did not change after participants read the strong context alibis from when they only rated the test alibis. However, when examining the data from the first experiment, the absolute difference between the two test alibis diminished significantly when the strong alibis were first considered. This provides plausibility that contrast and condensation effects both occur for inferential judgments.
A polysomnographic investigation of the relationship between self-reported anxiety sensitivity and rapid eye movement sleep fragmentation
(2022-07-14) Steadman, Victoria G.L.
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is reported to play several roles in cognitive, memory, and emotion-related processes, and to be sensitive to the effects of anxiety-related disorders. The impact that anxiety sensitivity (AS; i.e. one’s susceptibility to experience beliefs that anxious symptoms will generate harmful physical, cognitive, or social consequences) might have on REM sleep has seldom been investigated. This study explored the relationship between AS (global and subtypes) and REM fragmentation. Fifty-six participants were included in main analyses; polysomnograms were conducted to obtain REM fragmentation data, and the ASI-3 was administered to assess AS. Although global AS was not predictive of higher REM fragmentation, some AS subtypes were significantly linked with the outcomes. Overall, findings suggest that subtypes of AS may be better predictors of overall sleep dysfunction. Further investigating specific components of AS and their influence on sleep may assist with improving psychological treatment interventions designed for sleep.
The impact of social distancing on an aging population during a pandemic: the relationship between social connection and mental health symptomatology
(2022-04-22) Orazietti, Jessica R.
In past research, social connection, as defined by its functional, qualitative, and structural aspects, has been shown to positively impact older adults' mental and physical health. Considering the tremendous public health issue SARS-CoV-2 (also called COVID-19) has become, examining these factors is needed during an active wave of the pandemic. In the current study, two social connection constructs—social isolation assessed with the Social Network Index and loneliness evaluated with the University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale—were administered along with the Geriatric Depression Scale: Short Form and the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory. These surveys, along with a COVID-19 related survey and demographic questionnaire, were completed by 63 older adults. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to evaluate how well the connection measures predicted depression and anxiety scores. Loneliness significantly predicted both mental health variables in the regression analyses; however, social isolation did not, which indicated perceived connection might have more impact on mental health than the number of people in one’s network and frequency of contact. Thus, quality and perception of relationships could be a more efficacious area of focus in intervention plans than structural social connection (i.e., CBT model).
The influence of emotional context scenes on the interpretation of masking smiles
(2022-03-11) Gagné, Zacharie
The current study investigated the effects of emotional context scenes on the interpretation of masking smiles. The study was conducted using 3 groups, a control group (29 participants) and 2 experimental groups (30 and 25 participants respectively). The control group was shown the name of one of 4 emotions (Anger, Disgust, Fear or Sadness), followed by masking smiles with traces of negative emotions. They were then asked to identify the masking smiles that corresponded to the emotion. The first experimental group was shown an emotional context scene meant to convey one of the same 4 emotions in the control group, followed by pictures of the same masking smiles with traces of negative emotions. Finally, the second experimental group followed the same procedure as the first but were presented with an emotional context scene with the name of the emotion that it was meant to convey at the bottom of the screen. Participants in the experimental groups were asked to identify the masking smile that best corresponds to an individual trying to mask the emotion that was previously presented to them. The results showed that the context images did not have any major effects on the interpretation of masking smiles, with anger only being recognized at a below chance level in the first experimental group.
Social dominance orientation and terrorist religious affiliation: predictors of dehumanization and affect toward Muslims
(2022-03-04) Platten, Samantha
Research has strongly evidenced the disparity among media and public attitudes toward nonMuslim and Muslim perpetrators of crimes. Recent research demonstrated this discrepancy, whereby non-Muslim perpetrators are viewed as mentally ill and humanized in the media, while Muslim perpetrators are dehumanized and derogated (Elmasry & el-Nawawy, 2020; Mercier et al., 2018). The present study sought to investigate the influence of the reported religious affiliation of a perpetrator on participants’ (de)humanizing attitudes toward Muslims. NonMuslim undergraduate student participants (N = 122) completed a measure of Social Dominance Orientation before exposure to a randomly assigned article reporting on a vehicle bombing with either a Muslim, Christian, or unspecified religious affiliation perpetrator. Results show moderate to higher SDO participants in the Muslim perpetrator condition displayed more dehumanization toward Muslims, while those in the Christian and unspecified perpetrator conditions displayed the opposite. Interestingly, psycholinguistic analyses demonstrated a similar effect, with those in the Muslim and control perpetrator condition utilizing more negative affect language in their free-writing responses than those in the Christian perpetrator condition. Implications for how media reporting influences attitudes toward Muslims will be discussed, along with future directions.
Resilience as a mediator: examining the relationships between emotional intelligence, daily hassles, resilience, and personal growth initiative in postsecondary students
(2021-06-22) Pagavathsing, Jaffni
The relationship between the experience of daily hassles, emotional intelligence, resilience, and personal growth initiative was examined in a sample of undergraduate, postsecondary students. The mediating role of resilience was also examined. Seventy-one students from four Ontarian universities completed self-report measures of daily hassles, emotional intelligence, resilience, and personal growth initiative. Findings supported the hypotheses. Emotional intelligence was negatively correlated with the experience of daily hassles (r(70) = -.45, p < .01) and was positively correlated with resilience (r(70) = .69, p < .01) and personal growth initiative (r(70) = .52, p < .01). Resilience was positively correlated with personal growth initiative (r(70) = .78, p < .01) and was found to mediate the positive relationship between emotional intelligence and personal growth initiative (b = .80, F(1, 68) = 51.41, p < .001). Resilience also explained a significant proportion of variance in personal growth initiative scores (R 2 = .60, p < .001). The study provides evidence for the significance of emotional intelligence in the ability to use internal and external coping mechanisms (resilience), which in turn promotes personal growth initiative in postsecondary students.

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