Psychology Presentation Time: 12:00 – 1:30 p.m

D. MacDonald¹, M. C. Watt¹, L. Bilek²

T. T. MacDonald and M. C. Watt

Department of Psychology
The present study examined relations between levels of anxiety sensitivity (AS) and physical activity in a sample of adolescents. It had been hypothesized that students high in AS would be less likely to participate in physical activity and less likely to use physical activity as a means of coping with stress. Participants included two hundred and twenty-six high school students (119 M, 107 F) ranging in age from 15 to 19 years. Levels of physical activity as well as attitudes toward physical activity were assessed. Measures included the Children’s Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), and the Glyshaw Coping Inventory. As predicted, high AS (vs. low AS) students reported doing significantly less physical activity in an average week and described themselves as being less physically fit. As compared to low AS students, high AS students were significantly more apt to report disliking the tired feeling associated with physical activity and doing such activity in the presence of others. High AS (vs. low AS) students were significantly less apt to use physical activity to cope with stress. Consistent with predictions, females reported significantly higher levels of AS than males.
Psychology
Presentation Time: 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
39. MIND-MINDEDNESS AS A PREDICTOR OF ATTACHMENT IN THE PRESCHOOL YEARS

J. McLaughlin Advisor: Dr. K. MacLean

Department of Psychology
The present study investigates the role of mind-mindedness in the prediction of quality of attachment in the preschool years.  Previous research has shown that the quality of the attachment relationship between a caregiver and their child can be affected by different aspects of cognitive development.  Elizabeth Meins (2001), found that the ability of a primary caregiver to view his or her child as a being with a mind was directly related to the quality of attachment that the child formed.  That is mothers who scored high on the mind-mindedness measure were more likely to have children classified as securely attached than were mothers who scored low on this measure.  The present study used the Geneva Emotion Eliciting Scenario(GEES) as an alternate procedure for measuring preschool attachment.  The resulting scenarios were coded using Crittenden’s Preschool Assessment of Attachment (PAA).  Mind-Mindedness was measured using the Mind-Mindedness Interview developed by Meins.  Results are discussed in terms of their relevance to the extant literature linking attachment and cognition

Visit the Library’s Booth at the Student Research Day and learn more about what your library

has to offer!



ASIN Cards

• 
  Did you know that StFX University Faculty, staff and students may borrow from most university libraries in Canada! Come find out more about this exciting service that your Library offers you!
  

• 
  DLI is designed to provide expanded access to Statistics Canada's wealth of electronic data via the Internet. Library staff is eager to help you intercept the data!
  

• 
  This collection brings together 100 well-known and trusted dictionaries and reference books, plus an Encyclopedia, into a single cross-searchable web database. We can help you to tackle this resource head on!
  

• 
  The Virtual News Library provides full-text, online access to Canadian news sources. The StFX collection offers access to the leading daily newspapers in Atlantic Canada. Check it out!
  

Join us for some tips to help you with your research! Librarians are there to help you!

The St. FX Service Learning Program offers students the opportunity to integrate academic study, experiential learning and community service. Students become involved in Service Learning through academic courses that offer a service learning assignment, through the Immersion Program, or through community-based research as part of an honours thesis, advanced major paper, or independent study.