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Attunement in virtual counselling: the embodied dyadic process in the psychotherapeutic relationship
No full textDespite general acknowledgement of the significance of attunement within the psychotherapeutic dyad, currently very few studies exist examining this phenomenon as part of an embodied interdependent dyadic process when services are provided virtually. Using a semi-structured interview schedule, five counselling therapists and four counselling therapy clients were interviewed about their experience of embodied attunement in virtual counselling. The resulting qualitative data were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and revealed three superordinate themes and eight subthemes. The superordinate themes of (1) the screen as a shield; (2) making the implicit explicit; and (3) shift in power dynamic, produced an in depth understanding of the phenomenon of attunement in a psychotherapeutic dyad in virtual counselling. The findings offer insight into how implicit, affective, and nonverbal information plays a pivotal role in the development of the therapeutic relationship, and suggests that exploration into this embodied phenomenon is crucial to better understanding the positive mechanisms of change in psychotherapy.</p
Stepping up to the plate: investigating the role of post-secondary institutions in sustainable food system development
No full textFood systems are critical to sustaining humanity; they are also being threatened at a global scale from the climate crisis. By examining the position of post-secondary institutions in the reproduction and transitioning of food systems, this thesis aims to further understanding of the potential role Canadian universities could play in developing more sustainable food systems. My focus is grounded by two guiding questions: What supports strong, resilient, and effective engagement of universities within sustainable food systems? How can universities work to develop and expand sustainable food systems? Using a mixed-methods approach, I conduct a comparative case study between Acadia University in Wolfville, NS and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC to highlight commonalities and differences between the institutions in three categories: Challenges to procuring food sustainably; benefits from sustainable food procurement efforts; and potential leverage points where these institutions have impacted the greater dominant food system. Supported by these case studies and complimented by research on the landscape of food sustainability efforts being implemented by universities across the country, I propose that there are three distinct ways institutions can, and are, influencing sustainable transitional change to the dominant food system: by establishing niche technologies; by developing new sustainable food infrastructure; and by changing the cultural/symbolic meanings that their community's attribute to food systems. This research
contributes to the existing literature by showing how two different institutions have each fostered alternatives to the dominant food system (the global industrial food complex)
A simulation of the costs and firm level incentives in alkanolamine flue gas carbon capture
No full textThis thesis quantifies the firm-level incentives and describes the capital and operating costs of implementing alkanolamine-based flue gas carbon capture systems designed to capture 100 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide (100 % of carbon dioxide generated) per day in a coal-fired power plant. Determining the costs and the areas where firms could be incentivized to engage with alkanolamine flue gas carbon capture systems are both important in assessing the economic viability of this carbon dioxide emission mitigation technology. This thesis takes a simulation approach, assessing the viability of four of the most prevalent alkanolamine molecules currently being used for carbon carpture: monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, methyl diethanolamine, and aminomethyl propanol. Each of these four chemicals are simulated independently in the same conceptual flue gas carbon capture process. Simulating the process with a consistent layout across all four alkanolamines permits a more reasonable direct comparison of the cost and incentive differences arising from the properties unique to each chemical.
Component prices and operating parameters were determined based on available data, with a focus on the chemical and engineering implications associated with all components, parameters, and chemicals involved. Where data was not available, various ad hoc methods were used to derive a given cost. Capture process operation parameters were varied to suit the requirements dictated by the specific chemical properties of each alkanolamine.
The results indicate that monoethanolamine, the most pervasive alkanolamine currently in use for carbon capture, was the least expensive from a capital and operating cost standpoint. Diethanolamine was the second least expensive by capital costs, and third least expensive by operating costs. Aminomethyl propanol was the third least expensive by capital costs, and second least expensive by operating costs. Methyl diethanolamine was the most expensive by capital and operating costs. The degree to which a firm would be incentivized to implement a flue gas carbon capture system was not consistent across all four alkanolamines. In all simulations, firm level incentives were subject to specific prices and parameters, with solvent circulation rate improvements or coal subsidies offering the greatest potential for incentive impacts
The person before the player: is mental health support a missing piece in the eyes of elite athletes?
No full textApart from the extensive research examining athlete mental health, research on the mental health support available for elite athletes is limited. The purpose of the present study is to explore, from the athletes' perspective, (1) how their sport journeys have impacted their mental health, (2) how they have dealt with the stresses and pressures inherent in elite sport, and (3) what supports were or do they feel should have been available to support positive mental health within the sport space. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with both male and female varsity athletes from Acadia University's swim, hockey, basketball, football, and soccer teams. The interview questions covered thematic areas of internal and external pressures, mental health, and formalized support. Over the course of the interviews, 338 meaning units mapped onto 54 codes, resulting in a total of 15 main themes, with 3 of these themes being further divided into 7 subthemes. The participants identified pressures faced as an athlete, the impact sport has had on their mental health, and what supports were available to them. All athletes experienced a lot of pressure and although their parents and coaches have supported them, there was no consistent finding that they provided them with adequate support in response to these pressures. Primarily, it was found that most participants had little to no experience with, or access to professional
support for mental health; however, all participants conveyed the importance of having access to formalized support. It was concluded that although there is plenty of discussion on athletes' mental health, there is a lack of support and professional resources within their environment. This study highlights the importance of implementing formalized support that is positioned for the purpose of helping athletes deal with the pressures and mental health concerns arising within the sport space, and stems from the personal experiences of the athletes themselves
Eastern Hemlock-associated macrofungal diversity at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historical Site
No full textFungi have essential ecosystem roles; many decompose organic matter, while others form symbiotic relationships with plant roots. Ectomycorrhizal fungi provide nutrients and water to forest tree roots.
Saprotrophic and lignicolous fungi are decomposers of organic matter and decaying wood. At Kejimkujik National Park, these three fungal guilds are found within stands of Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière). Hemlock is a foundational tree species that provides a unique shaded habitat for many organisms. However, hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand.; HWA), an invasive insect, is
causing severe hemlock decline in Eastern North America and has recently reached Nova Scotia. This may negatively affect other species within hemlock stands, including fungi. By drawing upon existing
fungal collections from Kejimkujik at Acadia University's E.C. Smith Herbarium, mushrooms collected in 2022 were compared with mushrooms collected between 1990-1995 from the same hemlock study plot
(Plot A) to observe if fungal diversity had changed over the past 30 years. Between 2004-2007, over 1500 hectares of Eastern hemlock at Kejimkujik experienced light to severe defoliation by high densities of
pale winged grey moth (Irodopsis ephyraria Wlk.; PWG) larvae. From August-November 2022, we made 57 field collections of hemlock-associated fungi from our study plot (i.e., after the PWG outbreak, and
during the beginning of HWA infestation). Mushroom DNA barcode sequences we obtained were examined using phylogenetic techniques to determine fungal species' identities. Fifty fungi were identified within our hemlock plot which contained HWA. We discovered 14 fungi not previously documented in our plot, and we re-documented 10 fungi present in the 1990-1995 herbarium collections. From our 2022 fungal collections, 86% of mushrooms collected were ectomycorrhizal, as compared to 82% in 1991 and 59% in 1995. The most common mushroom genus we collected was Cortinarius, which was the second-most collected genus in 1990. Our results suggest the hemlock fungal community did not decline due to the PWG outbreak or the current early HWA infestation. However, the fungal diversity in our plot did change within the last 30 years. The hemlock-associated fungi we documented could aid future studies in determining the effects of HWA on forest fungi
Double tap or comment? The (mis)representation and women within sports social media: an Instagram content analysis of 16 sporting accounts
No full textThe following project analyses and questions women in sport’s representation on the social media platform, Instagram. This thesis is grounded within liberal feminism and works with communication chain information to explain how social media messaging can work to reproduce patriarchal ways of thinking. Methodologically, eight “general” sporting Instagram accounts and eight “women (equal coverage)” specific sporting Instagram accounts were quantitatively targeted through a content analysis of Instagram for two three-day blocs, one in June of 2022, and the other within April of 2023. The two groups of accounts were compared to weigh the amount of coverage dedicated to women’s and men’s sports by each page. These findings shed light on the amount of Instagram coverage women’s sport receive, as well as the impacts of content loading, controversial coverage, LGBTQIA2S+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, Two-spirited, and more) content, and underscores the importance of representation for giving young women role models in a men’s sport dominated world.</p
Detecting the spread of invasive mosquitoes and disease potential in Nova Scotia
No full textShorter, warmer winters linked to climate change in Nova Scotia are inviting the northward expansion of non-native mosquito species and the diseases that they vector. To mitigate the health impacts of mosquito-borne disease, and to understand the ecosystem impacts of these invasions, we must establish regular monitoring of mosquito populations. Using traditional and molecular surveillance methods, alongside vector prediction tools such as disease presence, seasonality, proximity to human populations, temperature, humidity, rainfall, and weather patterns, we can identify at-risk areas for vector-borne disease spread. To assess the current risk from mosquitoes in Nova Scotia, and update the inventory of mosquito species currently residing in Nova Scotia, we sampled adult mosquitoes from 60 CDC light trap locations and collected mosquito larvae from 232 water sources across nine ecozones from May 1st to October 25th, in 2021 and 2022. To determine if we could use eDNA to detect invasive mosquito species using community collected samples, we acquired 21 water samples from potential breeding habitats, including discarded tires and rain barrels, used an Aedes japonicus species detection assay, and compared these results to ten samples collected from similar habitats using standard eDNA collection methods. Of the 13,397 mosquitoes collected using traditional trapping methods, we identified 36 species, including eight species not previously recorded in the province: Aedes decticus, Aedes pionips, Aedes hendersoni, Aedes riparius, Aedes sticticus, Culiseta minnesotae, Culiseta melanura (an important vector of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus and West Nile Virus), and Culex salinarius (a known vector of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus and West Nile Virus). We have also observed the province-wide expansion of Aedes japonicus since the initial detection of the species in Nova Scotia in 2008. Community-acquired water samples were an effective method of molecular detection of Ae. japonicus, even without the visual presence of larvae. Overall, the diversity of mosquitoes in Nova Scotia appears to be increasing, highlighting the potential for increases in vector-borne disease transmission as climate change progresses, furthering the need for continued monitoring.</p
An invisible reflection: elitism, competition, and self-sufficiency in the high school classroom
No full textSome high schools in Nova Scotia practice ability-grouping based education, offering multiple course levels of different difficulty and content. This practice is no longer considered to be a form of educational streaming, as students are given the choice of which courses in which they wish to enroll. However, it is of utmost importance to consider what factors lead students to choose specific courses and how student experiences within these courses differs between level. This thesis delves into the differences in the educational experiences of high school students enrolled in three different course levels within a rural public high school. By conducting seven semi-structured interviews with students enrolled in International Baccalaureate (IB), Academic, and At Work course levels, this study unveils a complex tapestry of student perspectives and experiences. Employing thematic analysis, this study identifies disparities in the experiences of students in differing course levels surrounding the themes of student formality, family influence, fear and accessibility concerns in the classroom, elitism, notions of intelligence, and competition between students, and course levels as isolated, exclusionary cultures. Through discussion and analysis, this thesis offers the assertion that the practice of student streaming has not been eradicated and the education system remains a pivotal contributor to the reproduction of social and economic inequality.</p
Does savouring moderate the relationship between extraversion and positive affect
No full textThe present study examined the relationship between savouring, extraversion, and positive affect. Participants (N = 179) completed an online survey to assess their propensity towards the Big Five personality dimensions, their attitudes and beliefs towards savouring, and their positive affect. It was hypothesized that extraversion and savouring ability would be positively correlated with positive affect and that savouring would moderate the relationship between extraversion and positive affect and moderate the relationship between introversion and positive affect. Pearson correlation analyses and a moderated multiple regression were used to assess these relationships. There were statistically significant, positive correlations between extraversion, savouring, and positive affect as well as between savouring and positive affect. However, there was not a statistically significant moderator effect of savouring for both extraversion and introversion
Relationships between nature immersion, animism, empathy for non-human matter, and environmentalism
No full textDespite worldwide knowledge of climate catastrophe and hundreds of credible scientific studies providing evidence of the importance of climate action, mitigation efforts remain too low to avoid climate disaster. Moreover, environmentally-destructive anthropocentric worldviews (rooted in settler-colonialism) have caused immeasurable environmental and social harm. Emerging research suggests that challenging these worldviews and encouraging Nature connectedness as well as respect and empathy for the Earth (which is in alignment with several Indigenous and other animist cultures' philosophies) inspires love-based, and therefore passionate and sustainable, pro-environmental values and behaviours.
Nature immersion, consciousness beliefs in non-human matter, and empathy for non-human matter can significantly impact pro-environmental motivation. While several studies have found that outdoor immersion positively impacts mental health and relationships between Nature immersion and pro-environmental behaviour, few have explored how timed Nature immersion (especially through timed 'sit-spot' practices) affects animist-inspired empathy for non-human matter that elicits pro-environmental motivation.
This thesis aimed to explore whether reflective time in Nature shifted participants' anthropocentric views of Nature (rooted in settler-colonialism) toward more environmentally conscious perspectives. Nine participants engaged in pre-and post-test interviews before and after engaging in twenty-minute daily 'sit-spot' practices for two weeks to understand how their beliefs about the consciousness of, and empathy for, various forms of non-human matter shifted as a result and how these shifts impacted participants' environmentalist motivation and values. Interviews were further used to explore relationships between the abovementioned concepts and to understand why participants' perceptions shifted due to engaging in their 'sit-spot' practices.
All nine participants reported experiencing mental health benefits from engaging in their 'sit-spot' practices. Moreover, every participant reported changes to their beliefs in the consciousness of non-human matter, empathy for non-human matter, or environmentalist motivation. Eight participants reported increases in their beliefs in the consciousness of non-human matter, eight noted increased empathy for non-human matter, and five reported rises in their pro-environmental values as a result of partaking in their 'sit-spot' practices.
The results of this study demonstrated a marked increase in animistic beliefs, empathy for non-human matter, and pro-environmental motivation after participants completed their 'sit-spot' practices. The results also suggest that Nature immersion elicits reciprocity between people and the Planet, wherein time in Nature encourages pro-environmental values while improving the mental health of individuals. Finally, the results indicate that 'sit-spot' practices can inspire connectedness to Nature, animistic beliefs, and empathy for non-human matter that encourages pro-environmental motivation. The relatively short 'sit-spot' study period amplifies the importance of these results