Vancouver Island University CREATE Conference (2023)
Anissa Jahromi presented her research, Faith and Resilience: Exploring Baha'i Multiracial Emerging Adults' Experiences of Resilience, Identity, and Belonging in a poster session at VIU's 2023 CREATE Conference.
CREATE 2023 Poster: Faith and Resilience
Vancouver Island University CREATE Conference (2022)
Emmerson Pollard presented her research, A Love-Heat Relationship: An Analysis of Relationship Satisfaction, Stress, and Resilience, in Firefighters in a poster session at VIU's 2022 CREATE conference.
CREATE 2022 Poster: A love Heat-Relationship
Vancouver Island University CREATE Conference (2021)
Jordyn Monaghan presented her research, Resilience in Those Who Are Homeless: A Perspective from Those Who Work with People Who Experience Homelessness, in a poster session at VIU's 2021 virtual CREATE conference.
Vancouver Island University CREATE Conference (2018 and 2019)
Katie Eichar presented her research, The Relationship Between Resilience, Gratitude, and Spirituality in Older Adults, in a research slam at VIU's 2018 CREATE conference.
Bronwyn Wydeman presented her research, Understanding the Connections Between Green Space and Resilience Through the Study of Community Attachment and Social Support within Communities, in a poster session and research slam at VIU's 2018 CREATE conference.
Chihori Tsukura presented her research, Resilience of Spouses and Adult Children Caregiving for Individuals with Dementia, in a poster session at VIU's 2019 CREATE conference.
Tarryn Robinson presented her research, Investigating Resilience of Adult Children of Alcoholics, in a poster session at VIU's 2019 CREATE conference.
Pathways to Resilience Conference III (2015)
Caroline Burnley and Ruth Kirson presented their research, Resilience in Families Affected by AIDS, in a Powerpoint presentation at the Pathways to Resilience Conference at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres Conference (2014)
The Resilience Research Lab was an invited speaker to the Annual Conference of the Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres in Calgary, AB in 2014. Caroline Burnley gave a Powerpoint presentation, Building Resilience in Our Children and Youth: Bringing Research to Practice and Practice to Policy, which was followed by a panel discussion.
Canadian Psychological Association - CPA Annual Conference (2013)
In the summer of 2013, the lab facilitated a symposium entitled Resilience in Context. This symposium included the presentation of three papers: (1) A Positive Transition to Adulthood: An Investigation into the Experiences of Adolescent Mothers in Nanaimo, B.C. (Jean King) (2) Resilience in Families Affected by Aids: Interviews with Ugandan Mukaakas (Grandmothers) (Caroline Burnley) and (3) Cultivating Resilience in Family Practice Residents (Ruth Kirson).
Family Medicine Forum (2011)
In November of 2011, Kathryn King (UBC Dept of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine), Caroline Burnley and Ruth Kirson (Resilience Research Lab Directors) presented their research on Cultivating Resilience in Family Practice Residents in Montreal, PQ. The study identified the internal and external factors that support Family Practice residents in successfully meeting the demands of their training. The goal was to identify capacity and need in one specific Family Practice residency program. This research was funded by the UBC Family Practice Residency Program.
King, K., Burnley, C. & Kirson R. Cultivating Resilience in Family Practice Residents. Family Medicine Forum, Montreal, PQ, November, 2011.
Psychology Students of Vancouver Island Poster Session (2009 and 2011)
Courtenay Crucil and Jean King
Adolescent Mothers II: An Investigation of the Experiences of Adolescent Mothers in Nanaimo BC (2011)
Amy Moyer
An Investigation of the Experiences of Adults Living with Celiac Disease (2011)
Colleen Stinson
A Needs Assessment of Perinatal Programs for Adolescent Mothers in the City of Nanaimo, BC (2009)
Pathways to Resilience II Conference (2010)
Ruth Kirson and Caroline Burnley (Resilience Research Lab Directors) presented a Powerpoint presentation at the Pathways to Resilience II Conference at Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS. As the Western Canadian research site for the International Resilience Project (IRP), the Resilience Research Lab (RRL) in the Psychology Department of Vancouver Island University completed a study on at-risk youth in Nanaimo, BC. Participants were 64 youth (aged 14-19) and 9 adults who work with youth.
Youth were accessed via local youth drop-in centres, mental health facilities, youth housing and through referrals. Unlike other IRP sites, which used the The Child and Youth Resilience Measure this study used the Pathways to Resilience Youth Measure (PRYM), which has the CYRM embedded within it.
Twelve site-specific questions were also used. In addition, interviews were conducted with youth and adults who work with youth. Descriptive data from the questionnaire was analyzed. This questionnaire data was compared with data from other sites. This quantitative data was also compared with the qualitative data from the adult interviews and youth interviews (which were content analyzed).
Similarities and differences emerged between the quantitative data and qualitative data and between the adult interviews and youth interviews. Detailed results, challenges with the research and directions for future research were discussed.
Conference highlights included keynote speaker Sir Michael Rutter, who spoke of causal pathways and social ecology as they relate to resilience, and featured speaker Jo Boyden, who is the director of the Young Lives Research Centre at Oxford University.
Kirson, R. & Burnley C. International Resilience Project: Studying at-risk youth in Nanaimo, BC. Pathways to Resilience II Conference. Resilience Research Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, June 2010.
Canadian Psychological Association - CPA Annual Conference (2008)
In the summer of 2008, Caroline Burnley and Ruth Kirson presented its data-to-date from the International Resilience Project to the Canadian Psychological Association. The purpose was to discover the status of youth faced with adversity in Nanaimo. The methods included the Pathways to Resilience Youth Measure (PRYM) questionnaire and qualitative interviews.
The findings indicated that youth faced challenges such as peer difficulties, substance abuse, and violence. In terms of coping strategies, youth tended to withdraw from the adverse situation and turn to family for problem-solving assistance. When the topic of transitioning to adulthood was mentioned, youth did not recognize rites of passage, and generally did not see impending responsibilities as part of entering adulthood.
Youth who demonstrated resilience appeared to possess goal setting, problem solving skills, and a sense of self awareness. Adults mentioned these characteristics as being important factors when youth develop and grow up. A risk factor can occur when adults are not involved with youth, or when the adult has issues with stress or substance abuse.
Nanaimo offers many professional resources for youth, yet some feel they are unnoticed and uncared for by the community. Many youth are not aware of the programs and services available to them.
This presentation of data-to-date was based on a small sample size of 24 youth. Data collection continued into the Spring of 2009.