The National University System Repository exists to increase public access to research and other materials created by students and faculty of the affiliate institutions of National University System. Most items in the repository are open access, freely available to everyone.
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Item The Impact of Sexual Violence on the Sexual Well-Being of Adult Survivors of Sexual Assault(2025-12-15)This literature review seeks to answer the question: how does sexual violence impact sexual well-being in survivors of sexual assault? Sexual assault has wide-reaching impacts on sexual well-being, and it is important for clinicians to know how to best support this population (Dworkin et al., 2017). Despite its pervasiveness, research on sexual well-being of survivors of sexual violence is limited by inconsistent definitions and emphasis on biological outcomes of sexual health (Mitchell et al., 2021; Pulverman et al., 2018). This paper will review and synthesize recent literature findings which explore this question, and summarize the themes derived from recent studies. From doing so, additional clinical implications and therapeutic recommendations will be explored as they are currently suggested in the literature. Relevant studies were collected from various databases, including the City University library, Google Scholar, and ProQuest. A review of the literature generated significant themes through thematic analysis, and examined key studies for methodological strengths and limitations. Significant findings from this thematic analysis note that the intersection of biological, social, and psychological impacts can impair sexual well-being in a myriad of ways. Recent literature explores behavioural responses to sexual trauma, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and cognitive and affective components of sexual well-being. Through this review, it is clear that there is a paucity of research on the positive and affective components of sexual well-being, such as sexual self-determination, agency, safety, trust, and pleasure. Clinicians can help support survivors of sexual assault through awareness of the intersections of biological, psychological, and social impacts which impair sexual well-being, providing psychoeducation, and engaging in the supported interventions for addressing sexual concerns in survivors of sexual assault.Item How Does Parental Rejection Impact Relational Dynamics in Same-Sex Relationships?(2025-12)Early parental rejection in childhood influences attachment, romantic satisfaction, and resilience for 2SLGBTQ+ couples. This study aims to bridge the gap in current research and address the needs of minority populations by integrating developmental, emotional, and sociocultural perspectives to understand how family relationships influence adult intimacy. This literature review seeks to answer the guiding question: How do early parental acceptance or rejection experiences affect adult attachment and romantic satisfaction in 2SLGBTQ+ populations? This study employed thematic analysis to code the qualitative data, which supported the development of a conceptual framework and the identification of emergent patterns related to attachment and relationship outcomes. Because thematic coding is a qualitative method, the focus was on interpreting themes rather than on identifying variables, as is characteristic of quantitative research. Research has shown that insecure attachments are associated with reduced relationship satisfaction and well-being, while family acceptance, secure attachment, and resilience promote more positive relational outcomes. Integrating Attachment Theory, Interpersonal Acceptance–Rejection Theory (IPARTheory), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), and Queer Theory provides a multidimensional understanding of how early family experiences and societal factors interact to shape adult relationships. The research shows that therapeutic approaches focused on the 2SLGBTQ+ community need to be implemented into clinical practice that are gender affirming and all-inclusive. The findings highlight the importance of addressing both developmental and sociocultural contexts in promoting resilience and relationship satisfaction among 2SLGBTQ+ individuals.Item Recontextaulizing Cannabis Research(2025-11-19)Cannabis is widely consumed among Canadian emerging adults, yet research examining its risks has been fundamentally decontextualized. While studies link specific use patterns to cognitive deficits, psychosis, and cannabis use disorder, they cannot explain why these patterns emerge, for whom they are most harmful, or how life circumstances influence use trajectories. This decontextualization reflects a deliberate historical trajectory spanning colonial epistemologies, racist drug policies, and restricted research paradigms. This literature review traces cannabis history from Ayurvedic medicine through British colonization, which displaced traditional knowledge with Western empirical science, to 20th-century American prohibition and the War on Drugs, which weaponized cannabis policy against minority populations while constraining research to focus exclusively on harms. Contemporary quantitative research successfully identifies risk factors but isolates variables from lived realities. Qualitative research reveals that cannabis use is embedded in personal motivations (self-medication, stress relief), social roles (student, parent), and environmental factors (legalization, COVID-19), yet examines static contexts rather than how these evolve over time. This review argues that understanding how emerging adults' cannabis attitudes and behaviours develop requires a narrative approach capturing use as a dynamic, contextualized process. The proposed study will conduct semi-structured interviews with 20 emerging adults in Calgary, exploring how use patterns emerge and change through shifting contexts. This approach has significant clinical implications, enabling counsellors to situate client cannabis use within lived contexts and develop effective, context-sensitive harm reduction interventions.Item Exploring Labour Division and Parental Stress During Early Parenthood(2025-11)The transition to parenthood is a critical period marked by high stress, particularly when caregiving and household responsibilities are unequally divided. This capstone explores how the equitable division of unpaid labour between partners impacts chronic stress and mental well-being in new parents. Guided by the question How does an equitable distribution of co-parenting tasks impact chronic stress in new parents? The author synthesises empirical studies from psychology and family research. Using thematic analysis of 13 peer-reviewed articles selected through comprehensive database searches, the author identifies recurring themes related to gendered labour inequities, their psychological effects on mothers and fathers, and the central role of partner support. Major findings indicate that unequal labour division elevates parental stress, emotional exhaustion, and depressive symptoms, which in turn affects family functioning and child development. The review highlights a notable gap in the literature concerning the protective and relational benefits of equitable labour sharing. In response, in Chapter Four the author examines clinical interventions and recommendations for counsellors who support clients who are navigating these inequities and their associated mental-health impacts. Drawing on feminist and systemic frameworks, the author emphasises that relational therapy models can help couples to recognise and renegotiate the power dynamics embedded in caregiving roles. The author concludes by underscoring the importance of integrating these perspectives into research and practice to promote relational equity, reduce chronic stress, and enhance family well-being, with implications for adaptation across diverse family structures.Item Invisible Distress: Understanding the Cultural and Structural Barriers Shaping Alcohol Use and Help-Seeking Among Punjabi-Sikh Men in Canada(2025-12)Drinking rarely exists in isolation, as sociocultural norms around alcohol often shape how it is experienced, discussed, and understood across different communities and cultural contexts. Cultural identity and stigma collectively form barriers that limit both Punjabi-Sikh men and the effectiveness of support services. Although harmful drinking is a global concern, culture and religion intensify the challenges Punjabi-Sikh men face when trying to manage alcohol. Sikhism prohibits drinking as a moral and spiritual sin, yet it is frequently normalized in Punjabi-Sikh social gatherings. The cultural-religious contradictions are notably evident in Western contexts such as Canada, where diaspora communities commonly associate drinking with a sense of collective identity and celebration. Personal beliefs can begin to conflict with external expectations, and abstinence or autonomy may be seen as defiance. As a result, cultural norms contribute to higher rates of drinking as Punjabi-Sikh men navigate a cycle perpetuated by loyalty, respect, and honour. Research involving South Asian adults in Canada remains limited, and the unique realities of subgroups such as Punjabi-Sikh men are neglected. The lack of depth and specificity in the literature is reflected by support services that predominantly centre around Western psychological paradigms. Common interventions often overlook the cultural beliefs of Punjabi-Sikh men that shape views on health and wellness. Therefore, support services can reduce accessibility barriers by considering how religious expectations, cultural identity, and familial responsibilities coincide. Focusing on the voices and lived experiences of Punjabi-Sikh men may increase the effectiveness of interventions, as unique sociocultural factors will likely provide context for the barriers that perpetuate alcohol use and limit help-seeking.
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