Current Research Projects

Student Researchers

Jean King

Projects: Adolescent Mothers II: An Investigation of the Experiences of Adolescent Mothers in Nanaimo BC. Funded by the VIU-BC Student Lead Research Grant.

Courtenay Crucil

Projects: Adolescent Mothers II: An Investigation of the Experiences of Adolescent Mothers in Nanaimo BC. Funded by the VIU-BC Student Lead Research Grant.

Kristy Tymos

Projects: Resilience in Paralympians: Funded by the Centennial Flame Research Award.

Amy Moyer

Projects: An Investigation of the Experiences of Adults Living with Celiac Disease and Promoting Resilience in Family Practice Residents.

Research Projects Summary

Adolescent Mothers II: An Investigation of the Experiences of Adolescent Mothers in Nanaimo BC.

Principal Investigators: Jean King and Courtenay Crucil.
Research Poster

In 2009, a student in the Resilience Research Lab conducted a needs assessment of perinatal services for adolescent mothers in the City of Nanaimo, however, it focused solely on the perspective of service providers (Stinson, 2009). In an effort to understand that which contributes to resilience in adolescent mothers and their children, this research project extends and focuses on an imperative and missing piece in the perinatal service research in Nanaimo; the voice of the adolescent mothers themselves and their experiences with the perinatal services in this community.

Promoting Resilience in Family Practice Residents

Principal Investigator: Dr. Kathryn King – UBC Dept of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine.

Co-Investigators: Caroline Burnley and Ruth Kirson, Directors, Resilience Research Lab, Dept of Psychology, Vancouver Island University

Research Goal: To identify capacity and need in educational programming that supports Family Practice Residents. Research Question: What are the internal and external factors that support Family Practice Residents in successfully meeting the demands of their training? More specifically, this study will examine the strengths and stresses of residency training, residents’ self-awareness of health, and explore current and potential coping mechanisms and resources.

An Investigation of the Experiences of Adults Living with Celiac Disease

Principle Investigator: Amy Moyer
Research Poster

The purpose of this project is to discover the experiences of adults living with celiac disease (CD), which is an autoimmune disorder that compromises the digestive system. A reality is that only 1 in 40 persons suffering from CD are diagnosed and many people suffer from gluten (wheat, rye, barley) sensitivites. There is no cure and the only treatment is a strict life-long avoidance of gluten. Raising awareness about CD is important so that the chance of early intervention is increased. Undiagnosed CD can create a risk for secondary complications including type 1 diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer. Once a person is diagnosed, they may face environmental, cultural, and social barriers when living with a gluten-free diet. The significance of resilience factors and adapting to chronic illness will be addressed in this study.