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Mindfulness for Depression? A Critical Analysis of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Get PDFOriginating from Buddhist traditions, mindfulness is intended to cultivate inner peace through non-judgemental observation and acceptance of our moment-to-moment experiences. However, conflicting perspectives emerged as these practices were introduced and proliferated in the West. This article will define mindfulness, elaborate on the controversy surrounding mindfulness in Western wellness spheres, and assess its efficacy when integrated into standardized therapeutic approaches. Specifically, this article will include a literature review evaluating mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for depression. Despite criticisms on mindfulness, there is evidence that mindfulness skills gained in therapy are beneficial and can act as mechanisms for change in patients’ experiences of depression. MBCT has demonstrated success as a supplementary treatment and relapse prevention method for recurrent depression. Compared with other treatments, MBCT significantly decreases depressive symptoms and increases response rates among vulnerable patient groups at a higher risk of relapse and those with treatment resistant depression. A final discussion of implications related to the COVID-19 pandemic will highlight how online MBCT can help address the increasing need for accessible mental health services. Given the significance of these findings, future research should examine the efficacy of MBCT as a stand-alone therapy, and its generalizability to other disorders
Priming Caution Does Not Decrease Receptivity to Fake News
Get PDFFake news is fabricated news content that is presented as factual for the purpose of ideological and financial gain. Much of the existing research seeks to find ways to reduce people’s susceptibility to fake news. The first aim of this study was to replicate findings that suggest higher scores on the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) are linked with lower receptivity to fake news. The second aim was to test whether this relationship would be affected by priming cautions, either General or Specific, about the possibility that the information in question may be fake. It was predicted that exposure to a General caution would reduce the receptivity to fake reports, and that a Specific caution would lead to a further decrease in susceptibility. A total of 55 males and 56 females first completed the CRT, then evaluated a series of three true and three fake news articles through a set of four questions via an online survey. The results showed that indeed higher CRT scores were correlated with lower receptivity to fake news; however, using priming cautions did not have an effect on reducing susceptibility to fake news. It was concluded that analytical ability is the most important predictor for being able to recognize false media content. Implementing workshops or developing apps to improve critical thinking skills might help to improve the analytical abilities of individuals, thus making them less vulnerable to fake news
Under her headscarf: Exploring the work-life balance of Hijab-wearing post-graduate students
Get PDFThis research project explores how the amount of education a Hijab-wearing woman has affects the extent to which she conforms to traditional gendered responsibilities within her domestic life. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two female doctoral students, during which they were asked about their personal experiences with the Hijab, and whether they felt any pressure to adhere to traditional gendered responsibilities. The interview transcripts were then coded and analyzed, and it was found that most positive associations were made when participants spoke about the supportiveness of their families in terms of their careers. Conclusions suggest that Hijab-wearing post-graduate students are not pushed to conform to traditional gendered responsibilities by their families, but may face criticism from friends and community members
Climate change solutions; Electric mobility at York University
Get PDFOur intention is to ensure that York University transitions to 100% renewable energy sources over the course of the next few years in light of Canada’s climate emergency declaration. We aim to mitigate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions on campus through innovative transportation methods, infrastructure, culture, and art. To enhance this research, we reviewed scholarly literature and used geographic information system (GIS) mapping and Helioscope to calculate the possibility of photovoltaic energy. We conclude that the transition to renewable energy sources is not only possible, but entirely feasible, and will move the university toward carbon-free status. Suitable means of transport include electric bicycles, electric mobility charging stations, and micro grid solutions. Based on simulation results, we design a pilot plan and locate the most efficient places on campus for locating renewable facilities. Current research suggests that humanity has approximately ten years to mitigate and reverse the effects of climate change to ensure the future of our planet, its biodiversity, and the human species
Smart drugs? Cognitive enhancing drugs and the consequences on healthy populations
Get PDFCognitive enhancing drugs (CEDs) are prescription medicines that facilitate cognitive performance. CEDs commonly refer to the pharmaceutical treatments for deficits and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) through the prescription of Adderall (amphetamine), Ritalin (methylphenidate), or Modafinil. These drugs strengthen levels of alertness, allocation of attention, formation of working memory and long-term memory, and operation of executive functioning such as problem-solving and decision-making. In 2018, the Global Drug Survey revealed both the prevalence of and significant increase in the use of pharmacological cognitive enhancement since 2011. Cognitive enhancement refers to the misuse of prescribed CEDs for non-medical performance enhancement. Some scholars argue that neuroenhancement is beneficial for the general population by improving personal achievement and life quality. Others contend that the non-medical use of CEDs poses significant risks to the cognition (brain development) and behaviour (addiction, poor self-monitoring) of users. This paper reviews the literature on the practice of cognitive enhancement and argues that its usage should not be permitted in the healthy population as it causes detrimental neural effects on consumers and legal and ethical issues for society
Does being confident matter equally for women and men?
Get PDFBeing confident matters, but does it matter equally for women and men? Extending research on the gender gap in confidence, we consider whether the economic return of being self-confident is gendered. Analyzing data from Statistics Canada’s 2016 General Social Survey (N= 19,294), we find that not only are women less self-assured than men but the earning power of being confident is also less strong among women than men. In other words, gender moderates the impact of confidence on personal income. The economic return for being self-confident is lower among women than men, while compensation for men is higher than what should be observed in a non-discriminatory world. The fact that being confident is rewarded unequally between genders suggests that social bias against women is one major source for women’s lack of confidence. If left unaddressed, the unequal economic return of self-confidence will continue to obstruct the movement toward equal pay for equal work and lead women to accept that their underestimation is a normalized aspect of personal and community life
Healthcare organization employees and influenza vaccination
Get PDFThrough ethical reasoning, this paper will demonstrate several ways in which a mandatory requirement for all health-care staff to obtain the annual influenza vaccination, unless medically or religiously unable, can improve patient and health-system outcomes. The influenza virus vaccination is provided to protect individuals from obtaining various strains of the influenza virus. Health care workers staffed in organizations aimed at providing optimal person-centred care are vulnerable to viral infection. The results of an extensive literature review showed that, when health-care staff are protected against influenza, patients are better able to trust their care providers, thanks to staff commitment to duty of care. In addition, when health-care staff in an organization receive the influenza vaccination, patients have better health outcomes. Lastly, results show that, when staff are protected against influenza, there is less absenteeism and the financial costs of care are reduced. The paper concludes that, when health-care staff are protected against influenza with the influenza vaccination, individuals are able to receive optimal, patient-centred care