MSVU Theses
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This community features undergraduate and graduate theses authored by students at Mount Saint Vincent University.
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- ItemA CLASSROOM OF ONE’S OWN? THE RE-DOMESTICATION OF FEMALE TEACHERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY(Mount Saint Vincent University, 2022) McKinstry, ReneeFeminist philosophy continues to challenge gendered divisions of labour; however, at this particular moment in time, some female teachers appear to be embracing a re-domestication of the professional space. A preoccupation with traditional feminine stereotypes risks creating an exclusionary profession that further perpetuates the dominant culture. I take up a critical feminist approach through the conceptual analysis of autotheory and a fictional case study to explore the historical, philosophical, and sociological influences of this phenomenon. The feminization, professionalization, and intensification of teaching has left some female educators confused about the roles and responsibilities of the ‘good’ and ‘caring’ teacher. The relatively new trend of social media teacher influencers and hyper commercialized, stylized, and feminized classrooms suggests that, when all else fails, ‘good teaching’ can be bought. We might consider this gender performativity and consumer-oriented culture of education as strategies of survival within an intensified system.
- ItemA Critical Assessment of Mental Health Discourse among Young Adults on TikTok(Mount Saint Vincent University, 2023-08) Horridge, RicardoIn the rapidly evolving digital age, TikTok emerges as a significant platform influencing young adults' perceptions and discourses. This research delves deep into the nuances of how mental health is discussed amongst young adults on TikTok. Despite the recognized relationship between social media and mental health, there exists a large research gap regarding the discourse patterns, especially on newer platforms like TikTok. This study begins to fills that void, setting out to explore more than just the existence of a relationship between social media and mental health, but also the intricacies of the discourse – how it is facilitated, stigmatized, and the role of community-building, education and contrastingly negative elements in the conversation. Through detailed thematic and content analysis of 120 TikToks using hashtags #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters, #DepressionAnxiety, and #MentalIllness and 20 random sampled comments, this research uncovers the multifaceted nature of TikTok as a medium: from sharing personal experiences and seeking advice to challenging the prevalent stigmatization surrounding mental health. The findings shed light on TikTok's potential for both positive and negative influences on mental health discourse, highlighted by instances of misinformation, emotional expression, and the delicate balance between support and negativity in the conversation. The study's conclusions offer actionable insights for researchers and other academics looking to further analyze discussions on the platform. Additionally, by pinpointing existing limitations and gaps, this research sets the stage for future investigations in this critical area of study.
- ItemA cross-cultural assessment of the feeding environment and maternal-child interactions during breastfeeding in the first 6 months(2022-06-22) Hillary FryHuman milk is the sole recommended food for infants for the first 6 months of life. Despite this, little is known about whether breastfeeding practices, such as feeding responsiveness, differ across cultures. Responsive feeding practices are based on the cues and responses of a caregiver and infant and are associated with more intuitive eating patterns later in life. However, economic, cultural, and sociodemographic differences between high- and lowand middle-income countries may result in differing responsiveness of caregivers. However, there is a lack of cross-cultural research on responsiveness, particularly among infants under six months.
- ItemA mixed-methods exploration of peripartum food taboos and food additions in rural Cambodia(Mount Saint Vincent University, 2022-08-25) Labonté, JocelyneFood taboos are culturally driven food avoidances that go beyond personal taste or preference. These avoidances are particularly prevalent throughout pregnancy and lactation. In Southeast Asia, common peripartum food taboos include seafood, meats, and various vegetables. Such avoidances could negatively impact the health of women and children if foods of similar nutritional value do not replace avoided foods. There is a paucity of information on dietary modifications during pregnancy and lactation in Cambodia.
- ItemA Multi-Tiered System of Support for Teacher Professional Development in Social-Emotional Learning in Nova Scotia(Mount Saint Vincent University, 2022) Lewis, SarahThis thesis will propose a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) for sustainable and embedded teacher professional development in social-emotional learning in the province of Nova Scotia. Since teachers in Nova Scotia are now responsible for supporting the well-being of their students after the implementation of the Inclusive Education Policy in Nova Scotia in 2020, there exists a gap in available teacher professional development for social-emotional learning. This thesis will provide an overview of MTSS models, including critical components like being data-driven and using evidence-based practices. After explaining the importance of evidencebased practices, it will provide an overview of the literature on effective professional development and social-emotional learning. The proposed model will consider the resources and structures already in place in Nova Scotia, including the specialization of school psychologists.
- ItemA SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT ANALYSIS OF ANXIETY-RELATED INFORMATION ON PINTEREST(Mount Saint Vincent University, 2022-08) Deveau, StéphanieThe Internet, including social media sites, is increasingly being used as a health resource for various health conditions. One of the social media sites being used as a source of health information is Pinterest, which uses primarily images to disseminate information. Anxiety disorders are the most common category of mental disorders in the general population and are also discussed on Pinterest. The present study examined the type of anxiety-related information on Pinterest, as well as its accuracy. Results of this study demonstrated that a large proportion of anxiety-related pins presented information on interventions for anxiety disorders, with over half of these referencing alternative or complementary treatments. Intervention-related pins were overwhelmingly positive in tone, regardless of whether the intervention cited was evidencebased. It was found that the sources of information for anxiety-related pins were most often blogs as opposed to more trusted sources of information. Infographics were the most used embedded visual communication tool in anxiety-related pins. The findings of the current study as well as implications for consumers and practitioners are discussed.
- ItemAboriginal children's perceptions of their urban living environments(2010-04-28T18:15:17Z) Farris, Jillian; Fitzgerald, MichaelContemporary research in the field of child and youth study continues to examine the experiences of children living within urban environments. This research has tended to examine challenges to child development present within city living, such as freedom of movement and mobility, use of built space, and safety concerns related to strangers. A recent trend within this research has been the increased inclusion of children's voices and perspectives in discussions related to the planning of urban environments, and of municipal programs and services for children and their families. Lacking within recent study, however, has been the inclusion of the perceptions of urban Aboriginal children related to their lived experiences within Canadian urban centres. Given the historical context in which this population exists, as well as the contemporary context including, a relatively young, growing population, increased urbanization and high birth rates, it is apparent that a consideration of the place and space available to Aboriginal children within cities is of growing concern and significance. The present research, utilizing qualitative inquiry, elicited the views and perspectives of Aboriginal children currently residing within the Halifax Regional Municipality, for the purpose of exploring, discovering, and understanding their perceptions of their outdoor living environments. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven children of various First Nation affiliations, between the ages of 8-12 years. Children were given personal, single-use cameras to document their neighbourhoods and outdoor experiences over the course of one week. Photographs were used during individual interviews as a resource for children to describe their thoughts, feelings, meanings and understandings related to their daily living experiences. Interviews were audio-taped and collected data were transcribed and analyzed using systematic, cross-comparative methods that resulted in the identification of four major organizing categories: Neighbourhood Characteristics; Neighbourhood Activities; Neighbourhood Safety; and Neighbourhood Mobility. Recommendations are presented for future research, parents and families, child and youth care providers, governments, and community planners and developers.
- ItemAcademic predictors of achievement in children with ADHD and clinical-referred comparisons(Mount Saint Vincent University, 2013-08) Waldon, Jessica; Corkum, PennyWhile previous studies have examined the relationship between the symptoms of ADHD and academic achievement, as well as cognitive ability and academic achievement, fewer studies have simultaneously examined the relative contribution of demographic, cognitive and behavioural factors to academic achievement. The current study examined the predictors of academic achievement in a large, rigorously diagnosed sample of clinical-referred school-age children. Participants in the study included 288 school-age children, between the ages of 6-12 years, referred to a regional ADHD Clinic that operates under a formal partnership between the local health authority and regional school board. The results of the present study indicated that a number of demographic, cognitive and behavioural factors were related to achievement; however, after controlling for known risk factors, the symptoms of ADHD did not predict academic performance. Overall, children with a diagnosed learning disability, regardless of comorbidity, were most academically impaired. Findings from the study hold important implications for the practice of school psychology and educational professionals involved in the identification of and intervention with students at risk for, or currently experiencing academic underachievement.
- ItemAccessing Nutritious Food: The Realities of Lone Senior Women in Urban Nova Scotia(2008-03) Green, Rebecca; Williams, PattyThis is the first qualitative study in Canada specifically focused on food insecurity in the senior population. Food insecurity is associated with poverty, increased risk of chronic disease, and poor physical and mental health. With the Canadian population steadily aging, and food security being recognized as one of the social determinants of health, it is imperative decision makers understand how food insecurity affects the growing number of senior citizens so that appropriate programs and policies can be implemented to ensure access to food for this vulnerable population. This thesis had three research objectives, to 1) explore how lower income senior women living alone in urban HRM experience food insecurity and uncover the meanings embedded in their experiences; 2) discover participant- and researcher-identified enablers and barriers to accessing nutritious foods; and, 3) explore how accurately hypothetical household scenarios detailing senior’s public pension incomes and monthly expenses to assess the affordability of a nutritious diet reflects the realities of the participants. To address the above objectives, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and data were managed using NVIVO 7 software. The data were analyzed using a phenomenological approach to arrive at a structural description of the experience of food insecurity and expose the underlying and precipitating factors that account for what is being experienced. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory was used to examine the environment shaping the seniors’ lives at various levels of influence. Eight women meeting study criteria (over 65 years of age, living alone in Halifax Regional Municipality and in receipt of the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)) were interviewed to inform the results of this study. These women were recruited using sitebased recruitment methods through community organizations and a governmental housing program. All women rented their dwellings and seven lived in income-geared housing. Four of the women received a personal pension from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) while two received a survivor’s benefit. Only one woman reported income from a private pension. Seven themes emerged as the women talked about their experiences with accessing food, including: 1) World View, 2) Health and Health Problems, 3) Use of Community Programs, 4) Transportation, 5) Adequacy of Income, 6) Other Food Management Strategies and, 7) Availability of Family & Friends. World view and health appeared to have the most influencial role on their food security status. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory provided a model to examine the enablers and barriers to accessing food in relation to the fiver layers of the environment (micro-, meso-, exo-, macro- and chronosystems) influencing the participants’ individual food-related behaviours. Enablers and barriers were both participant and researcher identified
- ItemAcculturation stressors and facilitators for African international students at a Canadian university: Racialization, Pragmatic competence, and Intercultural Friendships(Mount Saint Vincent University, 2022) Laseinde, Ajoke M.“When it comes to adjusting, I would take the race path, I guess. In Ghana, I was just female but when I came here (to Canada), I slowly realized that I'm not just a woman. I'm a Black woman. There's a difference with how you are related to, so I think that was one of the things that I had to slowly adjust to.” Ruth (from participant data) Above is an excerpt from the participant data to foreground the overarching effect of African International Students’ (henceforth AIS) racialized identities on their acculturation experiences. Learning to adapt to a different culture and develop meaningful relationships is challenging for anyone. More so for AIS in Canada who must navigate a new cultural and academic context characterized by limited research to better understand and improve their acculturation experiences and educational outcomes. It is like being visible yet unheard. By adopting a qualitative method of inquiry with a theoretical framework that includes Africentricity, language socialization, intercultural pragmatics, and critical race theory, this study examined acculturation stressors and facilitators for six AIS at a small urban-based Canadian university. Focus groups and semistructured individual interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis revealed challenges that AIS encountered with accessing pragmatic knowledge relevant to their academic acculturation and their experiences as they developed pragmatic competence. Findings also shed light on factors that facilitate and those that inhibit intercultural friendships between AIS and Canadians. Further, analysis revealed the intersection between AIS’ racialized identities and their acculturation experiences, providing evidence for the complexity of AIS’ acculturation experiences. These findings point to the pivotal role that universities must play in providing relevant instruction and supporting the AIS population.