Although young adult (YA) survivors of child cancer comprise a unique group from a developmental standpoint, in most treatment and research settings either child or general adult measures of quality of life (QL) are used to measure adjustment and functioning. Studies have relied heavily on survey methods, and though many hint at a variety of specific problems that a subset of YAs may experience, most identify YA survivors as relatively well adjusted. Interview studies with survivors and care-providers and interactions in survivor support venues paint a more complex and problematic picture of adjustment. To better understand the QL concerns unique to YAs this study employed grounded theory methodology to build a model of survivorship from participant perceptions. Four focus groups were conducted (N=15) with survivors between the ages of 18 and 30 years recruited from in-person and online support group settings. Themes emerged describing a larger extent of struggles than prior studies have identified. The grounded theory model detailed that having cancer can fundamentally change an individual, and these changes and resulting struggles do not end with remission. Survivors described constantly pursuing normalcy in the context of being fundamentally different, while balancing the dual roles of young adult and survivor. Survivors revealed difficulties in essentially every area of their lives (school, work, friendships, family, romance, self-esteem, outlook and attitudes, etc.), and though many could identify strategies for addressing these problems, maladaptive coping techniques dominated and survivors were left feeling overwhelmed, under-supported, and misunderstood. Results suggest that YAs could benefit from QL measures developed specifically with their unique concerns in mind. While progress has been made in developing YA-specific measures, such measures have not become widespread practice in clinical and research settings. Furthermore, this study suggests that collecting such information in a conversational, semi-structured interview format may elicit a fuller scope of survivors’ concerns than pencil and paper methods, though further research is recommended in this area.

Stigma prevents individuals with serious mental illness from seeking assistance (Fung et al., 2007; Vogel et al., 2006). Self-Determination Theory (SDT) seeks to explain how individuals are motivated by environmental factors and how these elements affect their well-being (Deci & Ryan, 1985). Limited information is available about how young adults with mental illness experience stigma, and how this affects their self-determination and ability to recover. This study explores factors that facilitated recovery and thriving behaviors in nine young adults (ages 18-25) with psychosis, by using a combination of interviews and questionnaires. Findings suggest that having a variety of supports and a determination to recover facilitates high self-determination and thriving behavior in these individuals. By identifying factors that assist these individuals ability to thrive, it is anticipated that professionals will intervene with young adults experiencing psychosis more effectively.

The purposes of this study were to: 1) evaluate the effect of walking speed on gait, balance and cognitive task performance and 2) examine the effect of dual task (cognitive load) on gait balance and cognitive task performance. Twenty young healthy adults (24+6 years of age) were recruited and each participant walked on a motorised treadmill at two speeds(0.5m/s and 0.8m/s), first without performing cognitive tasks, then while performing three types of cognitive loaded tasks. The speed had a significant effect on average and coefficient of variation of temporal gait parameters (P<0.001), cognitive task performance (P<0.001) and center of pressure excursion (P<0.001). No statistically significant effect of speed was found ML trunk displacement. However, dual task (cognitive load) had significant effect on COV of temporal gait (P<0.001), cognition (P<0.001) and trunk motion (P<0.001). In conclusion, the speed and dual task had significant effect on locomotors rhythm, balance, and cognitive performances.

Objectives: To describe utilization of specialised prenatal care by high-risk survivors and evaluate echocardiogram use in echocardiogram-need survivors, as per survivorship guideline recommendations. Methods: Retrospective population-based matched survivor:control study utilizing Ontario health administrative data. Survivors were classified as high-risk/low-risk for obstetrical outcomes, and as echocardiogram-need (yes/no) for echocardiogram outcomes. Associations were tested using logistic regression. Results: 11% (n=363) of 3,204 pregnant survivors were classified as high-risk. Over 90% received specialized prenatal care. Living in a rural area was associated with lower use. (AOR 0.51; 95% CI 0.44-0.59). Since 2003, 32% (560/1,737) of survivors had an echocardiogram-need. Only 14% (77/560) had ≥1 echocardiogram, this was not associated with rurality nor neighbourhood income quintile. Conclusions: Although the majority of high-risk survivors receive specialized prenatal care, geographic inequality in care persists. Despite survivorship guidelines, >85% of echocardiogram-need pregnant survivors do not have an echocardiogram performed; future work should address this gap in care.

Objectives: To describe utilization of specialised prenatal care by high-risk survivors and evaluate echocardiogram use in echocardiogram-need survivors, as per survivorship guideline recommendations. Methods: Retrospective population-based matched survivor:control study utilizing Ontario health administrative data. Survivors were classified as high-risk/low-risk for obstetrical outcomes, and as echocardiogram-need (yes/no) for echocardiogram outcomes. Associations were tested using logistic regression. Results: 11% (n=363) of 3,204 pregnant survivors were classified as high-risk. Over 90% received specialized prenatal care. Living in a rural area was associated with lower use. (AOR 0.51; 95% CI 0.44-0.59). Since 2003, 32% (560/1,737) of survivors had an echocardiogram-need. Only 14% (77/560) had ≥1 echocardiogram, this was not associated with rurality nor neighbourhood income quintile. Conclusions: Although the majority of high-risk survivors receive specialized prenatal care, geographic inequality in care persists. Despite survivorship guidelines, >85% of echocardiogram-need pregnant survivors do not have an echocardiogram performed; future work should address this gap in care.

The aim of this qualitative research was to contribute to a richer understanding of the everyday life music information-seeking behaviour of young adults. The objectives were (1) to uncover the strategies and sources young adults use to discover new music artists or genres, (2) to understand what motivates young adults to engage in information-seeking activities, and (3) to explore what clues young adults look for in music items to make inferences about the relevance or utility of these items.Fifteen young adults (18 to 29 years old) of the French-speaking Montreal Metropolitan community participated in this study. The data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews. Drawing on the research on shopping behaviour and music behaviour, Wilson's 1996 model of information behaviour has been revised and used to guide data collection and analysis. The data were analyzed inductively, using the constant comparative method.The analysis revealed that the participants had a strong penchant for informal channels (i.e., friends, colleagues, relatives) and low trust of experts (i.e., librarians, reviewers, music store staff). It also emerged that music discoveries were often the result of passive behaviour. When music was actively sought, it was rarely a goal-oriented activity. Indeed, it was mostly the pleasure they took in the activity itself – the hedonic outcome – that motivated them to look for music rather than an actual information need. Related to that, browsing, which is best suited for non-goal oriented information seeking, was a very common strategy among participants.The study also revealed that rich metadata, such as bibliographic information, associative metadata, recommendations, and reviews, were highly valued by the participants. In addition to allowing people to browse music in different ways, these metadata represent valuable information that is used to make inferences about the type of experience a music item proposes. Participa / Le but de cette recherche qualitative est de contribuer à une meilleure compréhension du comportement dans la recherche de musique des jeunes adultes dans la vie de tous les jours. Les objectifs étaient de comprendre (1) les stratégies et les sources que les jeunes adultes utilisent pour découvrir de nouvelles musiques; (2) ce qui les motive à entreprendre des recherches afin de découvrir de nouvelles musiques; et (3) la façon dont ils s'y prennent pour évaluer la pertinence ou l'utilité d'enregistrements musicaux.Quinze jeunes adultes (âgés entre 18 et 29 ans) francophones de la région du Montréal métropolitain ont participé à cette étude. Les données ont été collectées au moyen d'entretiens semi-structurés en profondeur. En s'appuyant sur la recherche sur les habitudes de magasinage et sur le comportement musical, le modèle de comportement informationnel développé par Wilson en 1996 a été modifié. C'est ce modèle qui a guidé la collecte et l'analyse des données. Les données ont été analysées de façon inductive, en utilisant la méthode d'analyse par comparaison constante.L'analyse a montré que les participants avaient une préférence marquée pour les sources d'information informelles (amis, collègues, famille) et une confiance limitée envers les experts (bibliothécaires, critiques, disquaires). Il est également apparu que leurs découvertes musicales étaient souvent le résultat d'un comportement passif. De plus, quand ils recherchaient activement de la musique, il s'agissait rarement d'une activité orientée vers un but précis. En effet, il s'est avéré que c'était davantage le plaisir qu'ils prenaient dans l'activité – le résultat hédonique – qui les motivait à entreprendre des recherches plutôt qu'un véritable besoin d'information. De la même façon, le bouquinage, qui constitue une méthode particulièrement appropriée pour rechercher de l'information sans but précis, était très populaire chez

Psykisk ohälsa är vanligt bland ungdomar och unga vuxna, och mycket forskning stöder alliansens betydelse för utfallet av terapi (Shirk et al. 2011). Dock saknas en del kunskap om hur allians skapas i terapi med gruppen ungdomar och unga vuxna (Karver et al. 2008). Syftet med denna kvalitativa studie var därför att undersöka hur psykologer beskriver att de går tillväga för att skapa och återskapa allians i psykoterapi med ungdomar och unga vuxna. Sju semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes och analyserades med hjälp av tematisk analys. Studien baserades på en tidigare studie av Binder et al. (2008a; 2008b) där terapeuter intervjuats om alliansarbete med tonåringar. Resultatet indelades i fem huvudteman utifrån resultatet i Binder et al.: Förstå problemet, trygg och förstådd, auktoritet och förtroende, motivation samt ambivalens. Att metakommunicera beskrevs som centralt både för att ungdomen ska känna sig trygg och förstådd och för att reparera alliansbrott. Psykologerna beskrev även hur de arbetar med motivation på flera sätt än vad de själva benämner som motivationsarbete. Dessutom beskrivs personkemi som betydelsefullt för att skapa allians. Svårigheten att konkretisera alliansarbete diskuteras, liksom hur resultaten kan förstås utifrån utvecklingspsykologiska teorier. / Mental health problems is common among adolescents and young adults. A lot of research supports the alliance's importance for outcome (Shirk et al. 2011) but there is a lack of knowledge about how alliance in therapy is created with adolescents and young adults (Karver et al. 2008). The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate psychologists’ descriptions of how they create and re-establish alliance in psychotherapy with adolescents and young adults. Seven semi-structured interviews were executed and analyzed using thematic analysis. The study was based on a previous study by Binder et al. (2008a; 2008b) where therapists were interviewed about working with alliance in therapy with adolescents. The result was divided into five main themes based on the result from Binder et al.: Understanding the problem, secure and understood, authority and trust, motivation and ambivalence. It was described that 'meta-communication' was central for youths to feel both secure and understood, and to re-establish alliance. The psychologists described how they worked with motivation in several ways that they themselves wouldn’t define as motivational work. Furthermore personal chemistry is mentioned as important for creating alliance. The difficulty to find concrete descriptions of alliance work is discussed, as well as how the results can be understood from the perspective of developmental psychology theories.

The purpose of this study is to find out how social workers in one medium and one small municipality in central Sweden perceive the need of financial support for young adults for more than one year and what the causes might be. To answer our research questions a qualitative research method was used and four social workers were interviewed. The result has been analyzed based of social exclusion, stigma, as well as on structural and individual level and linked to previous research. Our results show that although young adults are an exception for long duration for financial support, there are those who lack other means of support for a long time. The results also show that young adults often are recurring in the social services, and they are long-lasting. The reasons for the need have been shown to be similar in the medium and the smaller municipality, even if it appears differences seen to affect the clients. The result shows that the absence of school results, mental illness, security and organization of social services are causes of long- term need for income support. The study shows that the long-standing young adults often lack a secure social network and social workers perceive that they are often a security, a stable contact in the young adults' lives that may be difficult for these young adults to leave.

This study was designed to examine the effect of perceived family functioning on social self-esteem in early adulthood. It was hypothesized that 1) there would be significant differences in level of social self-esteem based on categories of family functioning (as indicated by FACES-III scores), A) subjects with both moderate cohesion and moderate adaptability will report the highest social self-esteem, B) subjects with mixed levels of cohesion and adaptability, e.g. moderate cohesion/extreme adaptability and extreme cohesion/moderate adaptability, will report mid-level social self-esteem, and C) subjects with both extreme cohesion and adaptability will report the lowest social self-esteem. Data were analyzed by conducting a one-way ANOVA. Results did not provide support for the hypotheses. Implications of these findings and future directions for research are discussed. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The construct of repression has received a resurgence of experimental attention in the past 20 years, due in large part to the development of the typology method of classification (Weinberger, Schwartz, and Davidson, 1979). According to the typology method, individuals are classified as repressors if they self-report low anxiety and high social desirability. Since the typology method of classification does not differentiate between the two factors comprising social desirability (impression management and self-deception), it is important to determine which component is actually characterizing repressors, or whether it is a combination of the two. The present study examined two questions; (1) are repressors engaging in self-deception, impression management, or both and (2) does the construct of repression change as a function of age? Results suggest that in a college age population self-deception characterized the repressor memory; in an elderly population present negative mood state was the only variable predicting repressive memory. / Department of Psychological Science