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Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health.
No full textThis study provides a descriptive overview of the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Canada, across sociodemographic characteristics, mental health-related variables and negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.Data were obtained from cycles 1 and 2 of the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health (SCMH), collected in fall 2020 (N = 14 689) and spring 2021 (N = 8032). The prevalence of PTSD was measured using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Cross-sectional associations were quantified using logistic regression, while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics.The overall prevalence of PTSD was 6.9%. Factors associated with higher PTSD prevalence were female gender; younger age; lower income (females only); living in an urban area; frontline worker status or not being at work in the past week (males only); fair or poor mental health; a weak sense of community belonging; symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder; suicidal ideation; heavy alcohol use; daily cannabis use; increased alcohol and cannabis use since the start of the pandemic; decreased alcohol consumption since the start of the pandemic (males only); concerns about violence in the home; and negative impacts of the pandemic.PTSD prevalence in Canada varies significantly across sociodemographic groups and is more common among those with indicators of lower mental health and well-being, as well as those more adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing and enhanced surveillance of PTSD in Canada is important to better understand and address the burden and impacts of this condition.Cette étude donne un aperçu descriptif de la prévalence de l’état de stress post-traumatique (ESPT) au Canada, en fonction des caractéristiques sociodémographiques, des variables liées à la santé mentale et des effets négatifs de la pandémie de COVID-19.Les données ont été obtenues à partir des cycles 1 et 2 de l’Enquête sur la COVID-19 et la santé mentale (ECSM), recueillies à l’automne 2020 (N = 14 689) et au printemps 2021 (N = 8 032). La prévalence de l’ESPT a été mesurée à l’aide de la liste de contrôle de l’ESPT pour le DSM-5 (PCL-5). Les associations transversales ont été quantifiées à l’aide d’une régression logistique tenant compte des caractéristiques sociodémographiques.La prévalence globale de l’ESPT était de 6,9 %. Les facteurs associés à une prévalence accrue de l’ESPT étaient le genre féminin, un âge plus jeune, un revenu inférieur (uniquement chez les femmes), le fait de vivre en milieu urbain, le statut de travailleur de première ligne ou l’absence de travail au cours de la semaine écoulée (uniquement chez les hommes), une santé mentale passable ou mauvaise, un faible sentiment d’appartenance à la communauté, des symptômes d’un trouble d’anxiété généralisée ou d’un trouble dépressif majeur, des idées suicidaires, une forte consommation d’alcool, une consommation quotidienne de cannabis, une consommation accrue d’alcool et de cannabis depuis le début de la pandémie, une diminution de la consommation d’alcool depuis le début de la pandémie (chez les hommes seulement), des préoccupations concernant la violence à la maison et des répercussions négatives associées à la pandémie.La prévalence de l’ESPT au Canada varie considérablement selon les groupes sociodémographiques, et elle est plus fréquente chez les personnes présentant des indicateurs d’une faible santé mentale ou d’un faible état de bien-être, ainsi que chez les personnes qui ont été plus durement touchées par la pandémie de COVID-19. Il est important d’effectuer une surveillance continue et accrue de l’ESPT au Canada pour mieux comprendre et traiter le fardeau associé à cet état pathologique ainsi que les répercussions associées.According to pooled cross-sectional data from fall 2020 and spring 2021, the overall prevalence of PTSD in Canada was 6.9%. PTSD prevalence was higher among younger individuals, females, frontline workers, those with lower income (females only) and those living in urban areas. PTSD prevalence was higher among individuals with poor or fair mental health or mental health that worsened relative to before the pandemic, a weaker sense of local community belonging, symptoms of anxiety and depression, suicidal thoughts, and heavy or increased use of alcohol and cannabis. Individuals who expressed concerns about family violence, particularly females who considered themselves the target of violence, had a higher prevalence of PTSD. Prevalence of PTSD increased with the number of reported negative COVID-19 pandemic impacts.Selon les données transversales regroupées de l’automne 2020 et du printemps 2021, la prévalence globale de l’ESPT au Canada était de 6,9 %. La prévalence de l’ESPT était plus élevée chez les plus jeunes, les femmes, les travailleurs de première ligne, les personnes à faible revenu (uniquement les femmes) et les personnes vivant en milieu urbain. La prévalence de l’ESPT était plus élevée chez les personnes dont la santé mentale était mauvaise ou passable ou s’était détériorée par rapport à la situation antérieure à la pandémie, dont le sentiment d’appartenance à la communauté locale était plus faible, qui présentaient des symptômes d’anxiété et de dépression, qui avaient des pensées suicidaires et qui consommaient beaucoup ou davantage d’alcool et de cannabis. Les personnes ayant exprimé des inquiétudes au sujet de la violence familiale, en particulier les femmes qui se sont identifiées comme victimes de ce type de violence, présentaient une prévalence accrue d’ESPT. La prévalence de l’ESPT augmentait en fonction du nombre d’effets négatifs signalés en lien avec la pandémie de COVID-19.Public Health Agency of Canad
ADHD risk and protective factors in CJS
No full textA Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology, University of Regina. 24 p.Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been consistently associated with increased risk of criminal justice system (CJS) involvement. This study aimed to explore the relationship between ADHD symptom severity, subtypes, and associated social and systemic moderators, such as social support, educational disruptions, and mental health service access, on interactions with the CJS. Utilizing linked administrative data from Statistics Canada’s Criminal Justice Relational Database (CJRD), specifically the Integrated Criminal Court Survey (ICCS) and Ontario Mental Health Reporting System (OMHRS), this study examined data from 9,010 adults who had previous interactions with the CJS. Due to significant limitations, including a small ADHD subgroup, data suppression, and inconsistent reporting of key variables, planned complex analyses were simplified. A one-way ANOVA indicated that individuals diagnosed with ADHD had significantly more CJS interactions compared to those without ADHD; however, regression analyses examining severity and mediation models exploring moderating factors could not be robustly conducted. Results highlighted methodological and infrastructural challenges, limiting deeper analytic exploration. Despite these limitations, findings align with prior research emphasizing the need for standardized ADHD screening and targeted intervention strategies within the CJS to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism. Recommendations for improved data collection practices, systemic reforms, and future research directions are discussed
Imagined and auditory directionality and spatial bias
No full textA Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology, University of Regina. 55 p.Representational pseudoneglect refers to a tendency for neurotypical individuals to show a leftward bias when recalling or imagining spatial layouts. This phenomenon is thought to reflect the right hemisphere dominance in visuospatial processing. A related bias, known as perceptual pseudoneglect, is often observed when individuals bisect lines slightly to the left of center on the line bisection task. In contrast, auditory cues have shown rightward spatial bias. Spatial biases were examined in eighty participants using a computerized line bisection task where trials were either uncued or preceded by left-to-right (LTR) or right-to-left (RTL) directional auditory or imagination vignette cues. Prior to the blocks, participants completed VVIQ2, handedness and footedness questionnaires. I hypothesized that LTR-Imagination cues would produce the strongest leftward deviation while RTL-Auditory cues would produce the strongest rightward deviation on the line bisection task. Imagination cues were predicted to induce stronger deviations than auditory cues. A significant leftward bias in the non-cued condition confirmed inherent spatial bias. Paired-sample t-tests showed this bias was significantly attenuated under LTR-Imagination and LTR-Auditory cues. One-sample t-tests revealed that leftward deviation persisted in all conditions except LTR directionalities, contradicting the initial directional hypotheses. Multiple regressions showed handedness significantly predicted deviation under Neutral (N) directionalities and RTL-Auditory cues. Overall, imagination cues produced greater leftward deviation than auditory cues, except in the LTR directionalities, partially supporting one of the hypotheses. These findings highlight modality-specific effects of directional cues on spatial bias and offer potential applications for environmental design and navigational training
Developing Recommendations to Improve Crisis Line Supports for Public Safety Personnel in Canada: Protocol for a Multimethod National Study
No full text©Gisell Castillo, Chantalle Clarkin, Thiyake Rajaratnam, Fatima Ahmad, Susan Anderson, Gil Angela Dela Cruz, Nadia Aleem,
R Nicholas Carleton, Matthew Charbonneau, Adam Crewdson, Danielle Dubé, Max Gomez, Jenny Hardy, Chris Hargreaves,
Simon Hatcher, Fardous Hosseiny, Brian Mishara, Eva Serhal, Daisy R Singla, Mark Sinyor, Caitlin Tavares, Karen VanderSluis,
Yolanda Wolfgram, Juveria Zaheer, Allison Crawford. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols
(https://www.researchprotocols.org), 26.Sep.2025. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in JMIR Research Protocols, is properly cited. The
complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://www.researchprotocols.org, as well as this
copyright and license information must be included.Background
Public Safety Personnel (PSP) in Canada experience disproportionately high rates of mental distress and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. PSP mental health is a critical public health issue with far-reaching implications for both individual well-being and the effectiveness of emergency response systems. Crisis lines are an evidence-based public health intervention; however, knowledge gaps remain regarding PSP crisis line use, barriers to accessing services, and the appropriateness of crisis line service models for meeting PSP mental health needs.
Objective
This study aims to address these knowledge gaps using a participatory approach to better understand the crisis line needs and preferences of PSP communities. We also aim to apply our learnings and co-design actionable recommendations for crisis line service improvements and to support PSP who may wish to contact a crisis line.
Methods
This Canada-wide study uses multiple methods across three iterative phases. Phase 1 involves community engagement with PSP to better understand their crisis needs and existing supports. Instrumental to our engagement ethic is the formation of a co-researcher group, composed of PSP with lived experience, who will guide the research process. We will review deidentified crisis line interactions to identify patterns in service use and call outcomes to identify possible points of intervention to enhance service efficacy. We will launch a national web-based anonymous survey to understand the crisis line needs, barriers, and preferences of PSP. Phase 2 focuses on deepening our understanding of PSP experiences with crisis lines through in-depth interviews with those who have accessed or thought about accessing crisis lines and those without crisis line experience who wish to share their views. We will conduct focus groups with crisis sector staff to learn about desired training and resources for improving service delivery to PSP. Phase 3 focuses on developing and conducting co-design workshops to generate evidence-based recommendations with PSP, crisis line responders, researchers, and clinicians. Collaborating across sectors will allow us to codevelop feasible strategies for improving crisis line services to better meet the needs of PSP in crisis who may be inclined to access crisis lines for support.
Results
As of December 2024, the crisis line dataset has been identified and study recruitment for the national survey was completed. Data collection for all other research activities is expected to conclude by May 2025. We anticipate that study findings will be available by the end of 2025.
Conclusions
By identifying barriers to crisis line use and codeveloping solutions, this research will inform policy, service design, and training to enhance services. Ensuring PSP can access crisis line supports that are equitable, evidence-based, and integrated within mental health care systems is crucial to fostering a resilient public safety workforce and emergency response capacities at a societal level.
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)
DERR1-10.2196/75285Canadian Institutes of Health Researc
Learning hypertrees with shortest path queries
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Computer Science, University of Regina. vii, 56 p.One branch of computational learning theory focuses on algorithms for learning
discrete structured objects from queries. In this context, we consider the problem of
learning a labeled hypergraph from a given family of hypergraphs using shortest path
(SP) queries. An SP query specifies two vertices and asks for their distance in the
target hypergraph. For various classes H of hypertrees, we present bounds on the
number of queries required to learn an unknown hypertree from H. Matching upper
and lower asymptotic bounds are presented for learning hyperpaths and hyperstars.
Moreover, inspired by Hein’s algorithm for learning evolutionary trees with bounded
vertex degrees, we develop an efficient algorithm for learning any hypertree. The
query complexity of the algorithm is bounded from above by a function linear in the
edge degree. As part of this research, we also introduce the notion of bag graph,
which is a new way to generalize a graph, and provide an efficient algorithm for
learning certain bag trees with SP queries. The query complexity of the algorithm
for learning bag trees is bounded from above by a function linear in the bag degree.
This algorithm allows us to carry over ideas from Hein’s algorithm for learning trees
to our task of learning hypertrees.Studentye
Dynamic user motion prediction using advanced Kalman filtering in 5G mmWave systems
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Applied Science in Electronic Systems Engineering, University of Regina. xvi, 102 p.Achieving reliable communication in high-data-rate applications and densely populated
environments remains a significant challenge for next-generation wireless networks. Millimeterwave
(mmWave) technology offers substantial bandwidth and data rate advantages but necessitates
precise beam steering to maintain connectivity. The dynamic nature of mobile
environments, coupled with diverse user behaviors and trajectories, complicates this task.
Traditional beamforming approaches struggle to adapt to such scenarios, often leading to
signal degradation, connectivity drops, inefficient resource utilization and more power consumption.
This research presents an advanced framework that integrates historical user trajectories
through beam sweeping, user tracking via sensor-based information combined with
beam sweeping, and Kalman Filter-based prediction to address these challenges effectively.
By leveraging key measurements such as Angle of Arrival (AoA), Received Signal Strength
(RSS) and Signal-to-Noise-and-Interference Ratio (SINR), the system dynamically tracks
and predicts user locations based on data gathered by beam sweeping. This research introduces
a sophisticated framework that leverages historical user movement patterns, collected
via IMEI-based tracking with beam sweeping over time, to define prototype trajectories.
These trajectories are subsequently refined using advanced trajectory identification algorithms.
Additionally, multiple sensors installed along the pathway provide approximate user
positions as they move along their trajectories. The Kalman Filter, particularly its nonlinear
models (Advanced Kalman Filters), significantly enhances prediction accuracy, enabling
real-time tracking and prediction of user movements. This capability facilitates future beam
steering and adaptive beamforming to optimize signal transmission. The proposed framework
addresses several critical challenges. It effectively manages dynamic user behaviors
and nonlinear trajectories through Kalman Filter-based prediction. By dynamically allocating
channels to users, even in overlapping paths, it ensures efficient resource management,
reducing interference and enhancing connectivity. Moreover, the integration of trajectorybased
tracking preemptively predicts user positions, allowing for seamless beam adjustments,
particularly at curves and cell edges, thereby preventing connectivity drops and maintaining
robust communication links. The simulation results demonstrate the robustness of the
proposed approach in complex indoor environments, showcasing significant improvements in
user tracking, enhanced system awareness of user motion, accurate estimations within an
acceptable range, and overall system reliability. The results of this study serve as a valuable
asset for the adaptive beamforming framework, not only enhancing RSS and SINR but
also reducing power consumption by activating idle-mode antennas. These improvements
collectively enhance user experience and ensure seamless connectivity in high-density environments.
This study offers a scalable and efficient solution for next-generation wireless
networks in diverse indoor scenarios such as smart cities, shopping malls, large public venues
and mining tunnels. The findings provide a strong foundation for the development of robust
and reliable communication systems in the era of mmWave technology.Studentye
Determinants of food choice: The role of nudging, affective forecasting, habitual behaviour, and values
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental and Applied Psychology, University of Regina. ix, 125 p.Modern eating habits have created a tremendous burden of disease in Canada and
other western countries. There is a large research literature that has investigated interventions
for improving dietary health in the population, including work that focuses on rational or
conscious factors (e.g., the provision of health information) and heuristic factors (e.g., social
norms and priming healthier food choices). More broadly, researchers have worked to identify
determinants of food choice to better understand why people select particular foods, resulting
in an array of known factors that in some way predict food choice. The current research was
designed to examine and compare empirically supported predictors to inform future
interventions and to test a possible priming intervention in an online meal selection context
that presents both healthy and unhealthy meal options to participants. Participants were
exposed to one of two primes, or a control condition, and then made either a whole or
processed food meal selection. Participants also rated their affect towards the foods and
completed questionnaires that measured food choice values and meanings, habitual behaviour,
typical meal sources, and demographics. Results indicated that affect ratings and familiarity
were the strongest predictors of food choice, although other meanings and values, such as
health values and habitual behaviours were also important. Priming did not influence meal
selection in the current study. The current results suggest that interventions focusing on
developing positive feelings, familiarity, and habitual behaviour towards healthy whole foods
are likely to be more successful than interventions focusing on rational factors; however, values
and meanings were also statistically significant predictors of whole food meal selections and
may also be useful for improving food choice.Studentye
The illusion of affection: unravelling the process of love bombing
No full textA Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology, University of Regina. 48 p.Love bombing is a new term that has emerged in the discussion of emotional abuse and modern dating culture. The current study explores the relationship between love bombing, ghosting, attachment styles, and narcissism among female undergraduate students. Participants completed surveys and answered questions assessing their experiences with love bombing, ghosting, attachment styles, and narcissistic traits in their partners. Many participants have experienced love bombing and ghosting. A relationship was found being love bombed and using ghosting as a tactic to end the relationship. Attachment styles also played a role, with anxious attachment being associated with being a recipient of love bombing and avoidant attachment being related to one being less likely to ghost. Recipients of love bombing rated their partners as higher in narcissistic traits, consistent with previous research that found love bombing is driven by those who have narcissistic traits. The present study’s findings contribute to the growing literature on manipulative relationship behaviors, shining light on ghosting as a potential response to being overwhelmed in a relationship or toxic relationship patterns. Future research should explore these behaviors across a larger and more diverse sample to better understand their impact on romantic relationships and emotional well-being
Towards root cause analysis in hybrid dynamic domains
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Computer Science, University of Regina. x, 138 p.Reasoning about actual causes of observed effects is fundamental to the study of
rationality. As such, this important problem has been studied since the time of Aristotle,
with formal mathematical accounts emerging recently. We live in a world where
change due to actions can be both discrete and continuous, i.e., hybrid. Yet, while
there has been extensive research on actual primary and indirect causes in discrete
dynamic domains, only few recent studies address causation in such hybrid domains.
Building on recent progress, in this thesis I propose a first definition of primary cause
in a hybrid temporal action-theoretic framework. My proposal is limited to primitive
observations/effects. I also show how a variant of my definition can be interpreted
from a counterfactual perspective and hint how the account can be modified to work
with conjunctive/disjunctive effects. My proposal is set within a hybrid variant of the
situation calculus. I show that my formalization has some basic intuitive properties.Studentye
Children’s emotional reactions to being lied to
No full textA Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology, University of Regina. 70 p.Whether they realize it or not, children are frequently lied to (Heyman et al., 2009). Previous research has used hypothetical scenarios and vignettes to explore children’s beliefs surrounding lying (Bussey, 1999; Cheung et al., 2015; Smith & Rizzo, 2017) and emotions as lie-tellers (Smith & Rizzo, 2017), rather than children’s everyday experiences with being deceived. The current study explored children’s lived experiences with being deceived, particularly their emotional experiences. Child participants (n = 509, ages 6-11, 56% boys) were asked to recall a time when they were lied to and how being lied to made them feel. Specifically, the emotion(s) they felt and how intensely they felt those emotions. As anticipated, children were significantly more likely to report feeling negative emotions (e.g., sadness, anger, disappointment) after being lied to than neutral (e.g., fine, normal, okay; p < .001) or positive emotions (e.g., happiness, amusement; p < .001). Children who reported experiencing negative emotions tended to be younger than children who reported neutral emotions (p = .005). Younger children also reported more intense emotions (r = -0.13, p = .005). Girls were more likely than boys to feel negative emotions (p = .016) and reported feeling their emotions more intensely than boys (p = .001), whereas boys reported more neutral emotions than girls (p = .003). This has implications for parenting practices, as parents are frequent sources of deception in childhood (Heyman et al., 2009)