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Research Focus

Overview

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Our research team is committed to conducting both applied and basic research addressing issues of mental health resilience in students of all ages. We focus on issues related to mental health in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary educational settings by examining emotion regulatory difficulties, stress, coping, mindfulness, and non-suicidal self-injury. We are very committed to outreach and support of youth/young adults who are struggling; to this end, our team provides workshops and online outreach and training around issues related to students’ mental health and wellness at every age. We commonly use participatory action research approaches, working together as equals with community-based partners and those with lived experience of mental health challenges and/or self-injury.

Current Projects

  • Enhancing Resilience for Students
    1. Anderson, R., Mammen, K., Paul, P., Pletch, A., & Pulia, K. (2017). Using yoga nidra to improve stress in psychiatric nurses in a pilot study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 23(6), 494-495. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2017.0046   2. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). Contexts of child rearing: Problems and prospects. American Psychologist, 34(10), 844–850. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.34.10.844  3. Chellew, K., Evans, P., Fornes-Vives, J., Pérez G, & Garcia-Banda, G. (2015). The effect of progressive muscle relaxation on daily cortisol secretion. Stress: The International Journal on the Biology of Stress, 18(5), 538–44. https://doi.org/10.3109/10253890.2015.1053454 4. Dol, K. S. (2019). Effects of a yoga nidra on the life stress and self-esteem in university students. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 35, 232–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.03.004  5. Dolbier, C. L., & Rush, T. E. (2012). Efficacy of abbreviated progressive muscle relaxation in a high-stress college sample. International Journal of Stress Management, 19(1), 48–68. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027326 6. Emmons, R. A., McCullough, M. E., & Tsang, J.-A. (2003). The assessment of gratitude. In  Positive psychological assessment: A handbook of models and measures (pp. 327–341). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10612-021  7. Feldman, G., Greeson, J., & Senville, J. (2010). Differential effects of mindful breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and loving-kindness meditation on decentering and negative reactions to repetitive thoughts. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 48(10), 1002–1011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2010.06.006  8. Froh, J. J., Sefick, W. J., & Emmons, R. A. (2008). Counting blessings in early adolescents: An experimental study of gratitude and subjective well-being. Journal of School Psychology, 46(2), 213–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2007.03.005  9. Hanley, A., Warner, A, & Garland, E. L. (2015). Associations between mindfulness, psychological well-being, and subjective well-being with respect to contemplative practice. Journal of Happiness Studies, 16, 1423-1436. doi: 10.1007/s10902-014-9569-5 10. Goldin PR & Gross JJ. (2010). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on emotion regulation in social anxiety disorder. Emotion, 10(1), 83–91. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018441  11. Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness (Revised and updated edition.). Bantam Books.  12. Kabat-Zinn, Jon. (2005). Coming to our senses: Healing ourselves and the world through mindfulness (1st ed.). Hyperion.  13. Khoury, B., Sharma, M., Rush, S. E., & Fournier, C. (2015). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for healthy individuals: A meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 78(6), 519–528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2015.03.009  14. Kiken, L. G., Lundberg, K. B., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2017). Being present and enjoying It: Dispositional mindfulness and savoring the moment are distinct, interactive predictors of positive emotions and psychological health. Mindfulness, 8(5), 1280–1290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0704-3  15. Kiken, L., & Shook, N. (2011). Looking up: Mindfulness increases positive judgments and reduces negativity bias. Social Psychological & Personality Science, 2(4), 425–431.  16. Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer publishing company.  17. Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., & Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 111–131. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.111  18. McCraty, R., Barrios-Choplin, B., Rozman, D., Atkinson, M., & Watkins, A. D. (1998). The impact of a new emotional self-management program on stress, emotions, heart rate variability, DHEA and cortisol. Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science, 33(2), 151–170. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02688660  19. Neff, K. D., & Dahm, K. A. (2015). Self-compassion: What it is, what it does, and how it relates to mindfulness. In B. D. Ostafin, M. D. Robinson, & B. P. Meier (Eds.), Handbook of Mindfulness and Self-Regulation (pp. 121–137). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2263-5_10  20. Neff, K. D., Hsieh, Y.-P., & Dejitterat, K. (2005). Self-compassion, achievement goals, and coping with academic failure. Self and Identity, 4(3), 263–287. https://doi.org/10.1080/13576500444000317  21. Neff, K. D., Rude, S. S., & Kirkpatrick, K. L. (2007). An examination of self-compassion in relation to positive psychological functioning and personality traits. Journal of Research in Personality, 41(4), 908–916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2006.08.002  22. Pang, D., & Ruch, W. (2019). The mutual support model of mindfulness and character strengths. Mindfulness, 10(8), 1545–1559. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01103-z  23. Post, S. G. (2005). Altruism, happiness, and health: It’s good to be good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12(2), 66–77. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm1202_4  24. Rippstein-Leuenberger K, Mauthner O, Bryan Sexton J, & Schwendimann R. (2017). A qualitative analysis of the three good things intervention in healthcare workers. BMJ Open, 7(5), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-015826  25. Rozin, P., & Royzman, E. B. (2001). Negativity bias, negativity dominance, and contagion. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 5(4), 296–320.  26. Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness : using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. Free Press. 27. Tang, Y.-Y., Tang, R., & Posner, M. I. (2016). Mindfulness meditation improves emotion regulation and reduces drug abuse. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 163, S13–S18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.041  28. Trew, J. L., & Alden, L. E. (2015). Kindness reduces avoidance goals in socially anxious individuals. Motivation and Emotion, 39(6), 892–907. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-015-9499-5  29. Vaish A, Grossmann T, & Woodward A. (2008). Not all emotions are created equal: The negativity bias in social-emotional development. Psychological Bulletin, 134(3), 383–403. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.134.3.383 
  • Sleep Hygiene
    1. Anderson, R., Mammen, K., Paul, P., Pletch, A., & Pulia, K. (2017). Using yoga nidra to improve stress in psychiatric nurses in a pilot study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 23(6), 494-495. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2017.0046   2. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). Contexts of child rearing: Problems and prospects. American Psychologist, 34(10), 844–850. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.34.10.844  3. Chellew, K., Evans, P., Fornes-Vives, J., Pérez G, & Garcia-Banda, G. (2015). The effect of progressive muscle relaxation on daily cortisol secretion. Stress: The International Journal on the Biology of Stress, 18(5), 538–44. https://doi.org/10.3109/10253890.2015.1053454 4. Dol, K. S. (2019). Effects of a yoga nidra on the life stress and self-esteem in university students. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 35, 232–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.03.004  5. Dolbier, C. L., & Rush, T. E. (2012). Efficacy of abbreviated progressive muscle relaxation in a high-stress college sample. International Journal of Stress Management, 19(1), 48–68. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027326 6. Emmons, R. A., McCullough, M. E., & Tsang, J.-A. (2003). The assessment of gratitude. In  Positive psychological assessment: A handbook of models and measures (pp. 327–341). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10612-021  7. Feldman, G., Greeson, J., & Senville, J. (2010). Differential effects of mindful breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and loving-kindness meditation on decentering and negative reactions to repetitive thoughts. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 48(10), 1002–1011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2010.06.006  8. Froh, J. J., Sefick, W. J., & Emmons, R. A. (2008). Counting blessings in early adolescents: An experimental study of gratitude and subjective well-being. Journal of School Psychology, 46(2), 213–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2007.03.005  9. Hanley, A., Warner, A, & Garland, E. L. (2015). Associations between mindfulness, psychological well-being, and subjective well-being with respect to contemplative practice. Journal of Happiness Studies, 16, 1423-1436. doi: 10.1007/s10902-014-9569-5 10. Goldin PR & Gross JJ. (2010). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on emotion regulation in social anxiety disorder. Emotion, 10(1), 83–91. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018441  11. Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness (Revised and updated edition.). Bantam Books.  12. Kabat-Zinn, Jon. (2005). Coming to our senses: Healing ourselves and the world through mindfulness (1st ed.). Hyperion.  13. Khoury, B., Sharma, M., Rush, S. E., & Fournier, C. (2015). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for healthy individuals: A meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 78(6), 519–528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2015.03.009  14. Kiken, L. G., Lundberg, K. B., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2017). Being present and enjoying It: Dispositional mindfulness and savoring the moment are distinct, interactive predictors of positive emotions and psychological health. Mindfulness, 8(5), 1280–1290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0704-3  15. Kiken, L., & Shook, N. (2011). Looking up: Mindfulness increases positive judgments and reduces negativity bias. Social Psychological & Personality Science, 2(4), 425–431.  16. Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer publishing company.  17. Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., & Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 111–131. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.111  18. McCraty, R., Barrios-Choplin, B., Rozman, D., Atkinson, M., & Watkins, A. D. (1998). The impact of a new emotional self-management program on stress, emotions, heart rate variability, DHEA and cortisol. Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science, 33(2), 151–170. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02688660  19. Neff, K. D., & Dahm, K. A. (2015). Self-compassion: What it is, what it does, and how it relates to mindfulness. In B. D. Ostafin, M. D. Robinson, & B. P. Meier (Eds.), Handbook of Mindfulness and Self-Regulation (pp. 121–137). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2263-5_10  20. Neff, K. D., Hsieh, Y.-P., & Dejitterat, K. (2005). Self-compassion, achievement goals, and coping with academic failure. Self and Identity, 4(3), 263–287. https://doi.org/10.1080/13576500444000317  21. Neff, K. D., Rude, S. S., & Kirkpatrick, K. L. (2007). An examination of self-compassion in relation to positive psychological functioning and personality traits. Journal of Research in Personality, 41(4), 908–916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2006.08.002  22. Pang, D., & Ruch, W. (2019). The mutual support model of mindfulness and character strengths. Mindfulness, 10(8), 1545–1559. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01103-z  23. Post, S. G. (2005). Altruism, happiness, and health: It’s good to be good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12(2), 66–77. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm1202_4  24. Rippstein-Leuenberger K, Mauthner O, Bryan Sexton J, & Schwendimann R. (2017). A qualitative analysis of the three good things intervention in healthcare workers. BMJ Open, 7(5), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-015826  25. Rozin, P., & Royzman, E. B. (2001). Negativity bias, negativity dominance, and contagion. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 5(4), 296–320.  26. Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness : using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. Free Press. 27. Tang, Y.-Y., Tang, R., & Posner, M. I. (2016). Mindfulness meditation improves emotion regulation and reduces drug abuse. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 163, S13–S18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.041  28. Trew, J. L., & Alden, L. E. (2015). Kindness reduces avoidance goals in socially anxious individuals. Motivation and Emotion, 39(6), 892–907. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-015-9499-5  29. Vaish A, Grossmann T, & Woodward A. (2008). Not all emotions are created equal: The negativity bias in social-emotional development. Psychological Bulletin, 134(3), 383–403. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.134.3.383 
  • Managing Expectations & Coping with Academic Challenges
    1. Al-Dubai, S. A. R., Al-Naggar, R. A., Alshagga, M. A., & Rampal, K. G. (2011). Stress and coping strategies of students in a medical faculty in Malaysia. The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences: MJMS, 18(3), 57. 2. Barbouta, A., Barbouta, C., & Kotrotsiou, S. (2020). Growth mindset and grit: How do university students’ mindsets and grit affect their academic achievement? International Journal of Caring Sciences, 13(1), 654. 3. Briggs, S. (2015, February 10). 25 Ways to Develop a Growth Mindset. InformED. https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/develop-a-growth-mindset/ 4. Chen, L., Wang, L., Qiu, X. H., Yang, X. X., Qiao, Z. X., Yang, Y. J., & Liang, Y. (2013). Depression among Chinese university students: prevalence and socio-demographic correlates. PloS One, 8(3), e58379. 5. Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House. 6. Dweck, C. S., & Yeager, D. S. (2019). Mindsets: A view from two eras. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 14(3), 481–496. 7. Québec Confederation for Engineering Student Outreach. (2017). Impacts of excessive workload on student mental health [PowerPoint slides]. EngineersCanada. https://engineerscanada.ca/sites/default/files/board/02-QCESO-CFES-Effects-Excessive-Workload-Student-Mental-Health-Open-Forum.pdf 8. Steptoe, A., Tsuda, A., & Tanaka, Y. (2007). Depressive symptoms, socio-economic background, sense of control, and cultural factors in university students from 23 countries. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 14(2), 97-107. 9. Yeager, D. S., Hanselman, P., Walton, G. M., Murray, J. S., Crosnoe, R., Muller, C., Tipton, E., Schneider, B., Hulleman, C. S., Hinojosa, C. P., Paunesku, D., Romero, C., Flint, K., Roberts, A., Trott, J., Iachan, R., Buontempo, J., Yang, S. M., Carvalho, C. M., … Dweck, C. S. (2019). A national experiment reveals where a growth mindset improves achievement. Nature, 573 (7774), 364–369. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1466-y
  • Effective Communication
    1. Bushman, B. J. (2002). Does venting anger feed or extinguish the flame? Catharsis, rumination, distraction, anger, and aggressive responding. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28(6), 724-73 https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167202289002 2. Cannity, K. M., Banerjee, S. C., Hichenberg, S., Leon-Nastasi, A. D., Howell, F., Coyle, N., ... & Parker, P. A. (2021). Acceptability and efficacy of a communication skills training for nursing students: Building empathy and discussing complex situations. Nurse Education in Practice, 50, 102928. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2020.102928 3. Cohn, K. H. (2007). Developing effective communication skills. Journal of Oncology Practice, 3 (6), 314-7. http://doi10.1200/JOP.0766501 4. Orloff, J. (2017). The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People. Sounds True. 5.Phutela, D. (2015). The importance of non-verbal communication. IUP Journal of Soft Skills, 9(4), 43. 6. Polito, J. M. (2013). Effective communication during difficult conversations. The Neurodiagnostic Journal, 53(2), 142-152. http://doi10.1080/21646821.2013.11079899 7. Suter, E., Arndt, J., Arthur, N., Parboosingh, J., Taylor, E., & Deutschlander, S. (2009). Role understanding and effective communication as core competencies for collaborative practice. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 23(1), 41-51. http://doi10.1080/13561820802338579
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