Browsing by Author "Murry, Adam"
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- ItemOpen AccessAdvancing health equity for Indigenous peoples in Canada: development of a patient complexity assessment framework(2024-04-29) Sehgal, Anika; Henderson, Rita; Murry, Adam; Crowshoe, Lynden (.; Barnabe, CherylAbstract Background Indigenous patients often present with complex health needs in clinical settings due to factors rooted in a legacy of colonization. Healthcare systems and providers are not equipped to identify the underlying causes nor enact solutions for this complexity. This study aimed to develop an Indigenous-centered patient complexity assessment framework for urban Indigenous patients in Canada. Methods A multi-phased approach was used which was initiated with a review of literature surrounding complexity, followed by interviews with Indigenous patients to embed their lived experiences of complexity, and concluded with a modified e-Delphi consensus building process with a panel of 14 healthcare experts within the field of Indigenous health to identify the domains and concepts contributing to health complexity for inclusion in an Indigenous-centered patient complexity assessment framework. This study details the final phase of the research. Results A total of 27 concepts spanning 9 domains, including those from biological, social, health literacy, psychological, functioning, healthcare access, adverse life experiences, resilience and culture, and healthcare violence domains were included in the final version of the Indigenous-centered patient complexity assessment framework. Conclusions The proposed framework outlines critical components that indicate the presence of health complexity among Indigenous patients. The framework serves as a source of reference for healthcare providers to inform their delivery of care with Indigenous patients. This framework will advance scholarship in patient complexity assessment tools through the addition of domains not commonly seen, as well as extending the application of these tools to potentially mitigate racism experienced by underserved populations such as Indigenous peoples.
- ItemOpen AccessArt as Cultural Practice: Voices of Kainai Nation Educators on Students’ School Engagement and Wellness following a Community-led Art Workshop(2018-09-14) Van Bavel, Marisa Sylvia; Schwartz, Kelly Dean; Fellner, Karlee D.; Murry, Adam; Brandon, JimThis thesis examines the role of an art workshop in releasing Indigenous youth’s creativity and connecting them to school in a culturally appropriate way. My research questions consider how cultural and artistic engagement address student wellness and educational engagement in order to consider how pedagogy and curriculum can be adapted to better serve Blackfoot students. Following research conversations with school personnel, Storywork analysis was used to explore the importance of art-as-therapy, self-representation, art as a voice, traditional examples of art in culture, and contemporary Indigenous art politics. This study found that art connected youth to their culture, their peers and their school. Art was also described as a method for rediscovering voice, empowering students, and developing a positive identity. The findings are intended to support schools’ capacities to respond to Indigenous student wellness and educational needs. Findings will support a larger initiative that seeks to articulate a framework that other Indigenous communities and schools may draw upon.
- ItemOpen AccessCollective Action Undertaken by Advantaged Group Members: Examining the Potential Role of Cross-Group Friendship(2023-07) Buliga, Elena; MacInnis, Cara C.; Boon, Susan; Murry, Adam; Exner-Cortens, DeineraIn order to promote social change and improve conditions for disadvantaged social groups it is important for both advantaged and disadvantaged group members to engage in collective action. What motivates heterosexual and cisgender individuals to engage in collective action in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual and other sexual orientation and gender identity groups (LGBTQIA+)? I examined intergroup contact (e.g., contact between people belonging to different groups) as a possible motivation using a mixed-method approach. Close intergroup contact, such as cross-group friendship has been found to lead to positive intergroup outcomes and in this mixed-method research, I explored it as a pro-outgroup collective action factor. Study 1 included conducting structured interviews with 22 heterosexual and cisgender university students (21 female, 1 male; Mage = 22.59) who have engaged in pro-LGBTQIA+ collective action. Thematic analysis was used to construct the following themes: 1) being motivated by experienced discrimination, 2) the critical importance of values, 3) driven by their beliefs, 4) feeling a sense of responsibility and 5) having intergroup contact. A focus of this study included understanding how cross-group friendships can motivate collective action engagement. When participants discussed their cross-group friendship experiences, the following subthemes were constructed: 1) becoming aware of group inequality, 2) discussing opposite experiences and plans, 3) learning about and / or witnessing discrimination and prejudice, 4) having a high relationship quality with their cross-group friend, and 6) supporting their cross-group friend. Findings from this qualitative study were used to inform Study 2, a cross-sectional study. Heterosexual and cisgender participants (158 female, 176 male; Mage = 35) completed a survey including a social network questionnaire for assessing cross-group friendships, recognition and condemnation of group inequality, negative emotions toward the ingroup, intergroup attitudes and collective action past engagement and intentions. Mere cross-group friendship (e.g., having any cross-group friends versus no cross-group-friends) was associated with more past engagement in collective action, but not with future intentions. Recognition and condemnation of inequality was expected to moderate the relationship between intergroup contact and collective action, but instead was found to play more of a direct role. Recognition and condemnation of inequality was associated with past and future collective action, both directly and indirectly through more positive intergroup attitudes. Findings from both studies suggest that there are various motivations for engaging in pro-LGBTQIA+ collective action among heterosexual and cisgender individuals, with recognition and condemnation of group inequality being a critical factor in driving pro-outgroup collective action.
- ItemOpen AccessDecolonizing Settler Workspace: Insights from an Indigenous Meaning of Work Perspective(2024-01-26) Yuan, Nan Hung; Murry, Adam; Voyageur, Cora; Lee, KibeomThe present study conducted a literature review on divergent streams of research in the ‘Meaning of Work’ (MW) literature and proposed a theoretical model that encapsulates existing knowledge. I explored the links and relevance of the mainstream MW (Meaning of Work) literature, as represented by the proposed model, to the literature on Indigenous employment. Using this model as an analytical foundation, I conducted qualitative content and thematic analyses on interview data from 18 Indigenous employees of Western Canadian universities, representing diverse professions, seniority levels, and genders. My analyses show that the criteria for meaningful work for my Indigenous employee participants were linked to their cultural identities.
- ItemOpen AccessDecolonizing the Conceptualization of Trauma: An Indigenous Focusing-Oriented Approach(2021-09-24) Tipple, Stephanie Danielle; Fellner, Karlee; Wada, Kaori; Murry, Adam; Wada, Kaori; Fellner, Karlee; Vandenborn, ElisaCounselling psychology prides itself on social justice and diversity in treatment modalities. Yet, many Indigenous clients continue to receive culturally irrelevant treatment, as evidenced by high dropout rates and mistrust of the health care system. In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) released 94 calls to action directly addressing the unlawful treatment of Indigenous Peoples throughout Canada. In response to the TRC and with the goal of decolonization, reconciliation, and reclamation, a jointly-struck task force was created on behalf of the Canadian Psychological Association and the Psychology Foundation of Canada. The task force highlighted the need for ethical Indigenous research and culturally relevant approaches to psychological treatment for Indigenous Peoples; hence, this research is a direct response to both documents. Utilizing a relational methodology and Indigenous research methods of conversation, witnessing, and reflexive journaling, this study sought to understand the conceptualization of trauma within Indigenous Focusing-oriented therapy (IFOT). Grounded in land and an Indigenous ontology, IFOT is a holistic, decolonizing approach to health and wellbeing. Resulting from the wisdoms shared by four knowledge holders versed in the teachings of IFOT, the conceptualization of trauma is understood through the Trauma Wisdom Tree and Medicine Roots. Indigenous Peoples hold centuries of wisdoms having survived through intergenerational trauma and cultural genocide. Thus, through connection with our Medicine Roots, clients can restore healing, balance, and harmony. Moreover, reflecting on the concept of survivance, intergenerational trauma and resistance to colonialism is honoured. In addressing decolonization, cultural appropriation, and the issue of “evidence”, these findings present implications for practice, research, and social justice within education, counselling psychology, and related fields.
- ItemOpen AccessFactors Influencing the Effectiveness of Third-Party Online Organizational Reviews(2021-09-24) Morgan, Jenelle Alissa; Chapman, Derek; Bourdage, Joshua; Pogacar, Ruth; Murry, AdamOnline reviews of organizations through portals such as Glassdoor and Indeed are growing in popularity and have the potential to influence organizational attractiveness. This study examined how the various components of online organizational reviews affect helpfulness ratings. We examined the relationship between the sentiment of the reviews (i.e., the extent to which reviews vary from positive to negative attitudes) and helpfulness ratings, as well as the roles of organizational image, deviation from consensus in attitudes and employee status as moderators of this relationship. Part two of this study evaluated, through automated text analysis using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and Structural Topic Modeling, the type of topics discussed in reviews, their influence on helpfulness votes, and how they differ based on employee status. After extracting and analyzing 24,687 reviews on Glassdoor, we found that negative reviews generally received higher helpfulness ratings which was more pronounced when they were provided by former employees and deviated from a consensus in attitudes. The topics revealed through the LDA, addressed both the instrumental and symbolic images of organizations that would facilitate inferring need-supplies and supplementary fit. They also presented differential effects on helpfulness ratings, and uniquely interacted with sentiment. These findings illustrate the impact that negative attitudes can have on helpfulness ratings, and they further highlight the need for organizations to consider the implications of how their brand images are portrayed online.
- ItemOpen Access“I would rather be here than anywhere else”: A Case Study of Awo Taan Healing Lodge(2022-01) Magnussen, Jacey; Voyageur, Cora; Tézli, Annette; Murry, AdamThis thesis focuses on Awo Taan Healing Lodge (ATHL) - an Indigenous women’s emergency shelter located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This research assesses how ATHL serves the needs of Indigenous women (and other women) who seek refuge in times of distress. What are ATHL successes and its shortfalls? By analyzing numerous quantitative and qualitative data sources, this research takes the form of an explanatory mixed methods case study of ATHL across three time periods: 2010, 2015, and 2019. This research intends to expand the literature on Indigenous women’s experiences with homelessness and service access. There is a lack of research regarding Indigenous women’s experiences of homelessness and domestic violence and how these impact their interactions with service agencies and service providers. This lack of attention leads to invisibility, ineffective service delivery, and inadequate funding for specific groups and their needs. This research found certain trends that impact ATHL and their clients, such as increased instances of mental health concerns for clients, clients staying for longer periods of time at ATHL, and increasingly violent instances of domestic violence. Longitudinal trends found in the quantitative data created a framework for qualitative data analysis. Four key themes emerged from the qualitative data, including: (1) ATHL’s cultural services were beneficial to their clients, (2) clients’ needs were changing, (3) clients needed continued support after they exited ATHL, and (4) ATHL needed more funding and support. Based on the findings of this research I propose recommendations for improvement to services accessed by Indigenous women seeking shelter.
- ItemOpen AccessImpressions and Experiences of Blackfoot Artists Involved in a Community-Led Art Intervention for Student Wellness and Educational Engagement(2018-09-14) St. Pierre, Shannon Michelle; Fellner, Karlee D.; Murry, Adam; Kassan, AnushaSince the initiation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, there has been increasing demand for culturally-rooted interventions to support the wellness of Indigenous youth. The context of colonialism in Canada has serious implications for the wellbeing of Indigenous people. To address the source of illness, this study used a decolonizing, community-based approach in both the implementation of an intervention and the study of that intervention. An Indigenous approach was considered throughout the research process to support the centring of Indigenous voices in research. In the present study, the purpose was to gain an understanding of Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) artists’ experiences and impressions of an art workshop/intervention as it related to student wellness and educational engagement. For this purpose, an Indigenous storywork method was used to analyze research conversations with Niitsitapi artists who took part in facilitating the art workshop. The findings of this study have practical implications for the integration of art in a pedagogical framework to improve student wellness and educational engagement.
- ItemOpen AccessImproving the health of Indigenous peoples: Exploring patient health complexity among urban Indigenous patients in Canada(2023-04-20) Sehgal, Anika; Barnabe, Cheryl; Crowshoe, Lindsay (Lynden); Henderson, Rita; Murry, AdamPatient complexity is deemed to arise from a combination of personal, social, and external factors that can complicate medical approaches to care. Formal tools called patient complexity assessment tools (PCATs) have been developed to help identify and address these factors. However, current PCATs are not inclusive of the unique determinants of health impacting Indigenous peoples, including those which arise from a legacy of colonialism. The current thesis aimed to address this gap by identifying the domains and components that should be included in a PCAT designed specifically for Indigenous patients. The first study of this thesis was a scoping review that explored the extent to which existing PCATs are inclusive of the realities that shape the health of Indigenous peoples. Findings identified a major gap in the capacity of existing PCATs to effectively address the realities that shape the health of Indigenous patients. The second study of this thesis was a qualitative study that explored how health complexity is experienced by urban Indigenous peoples and the contexts that allow health complexity to persist. Findings revealed material resource disparities and adverse interpersonal interactions within the healthcare environment to be sources of health complexity. The third study of this thesis aimed to determine the critical components that are indicative of health complexity among Indigenous patients. An Indigenous-centered patient complexity assessment framework was developed to serve as a source of reference for healthcare providers, and policy/decision makers. This thesis presents a framework to understand the root causes of health complexity among Indigenous patients, identify where there may be gaps in healthcare systems to effectively address complexity, and provide reference for future clinical tools that will assess complexity among Indigenous patients.
- ItemOpen AccessIndigenous Mentorship for the Health Sciences(2021-09) Atay, Elaine; Murry, Adam; MacInnis, Cara; Madsen, Joshua; Barnabe, CherylThe present study aimed to establish the credibility and attributed outcomes of an existing Indigenous mentorship (IM) model from the perspective of Indigenous mentees in health sciences and community research. Six mentees from mentorship networks associated with the Canadian Institute of Health Research’s IM Network Program participated in 1-2 hour long semi-structured interviews inquiring: 1) their resonance with the IM model, 2) personal stories related to the behavioural constructs in the model, 3) outcomes their mentors’ behaviours had on them, and 4) components they felt were missing from the model. Overall, the model resonated with participants. Of the model constructs, mentees discussed mentor behaviours associated with practicing relationalism the most frequently (26%), followed by fostering Indigenous identity development (23%), mentee-centered focus (21%), and imbuing criticality (16%). Advocacy (9%) and abiding by Indigenous ethics (5%) were addressed, but not given as much attention as the other constructs. Outcomes included positive career and work attitudes, engaging in more helping behaviours, motivation, overall well-being, and enhanced criticality. Recommendations to expand the model included incorporating: 1) additional mentor behaviours (transference of traditional knowledge, prayer, modeling resiliency, and engaging in trauma-informed practices), 2) higher-order dimensions (e.g., institutional impact), 3) specific mentee characteristics (e.g., age and gender), and 4) additional types of mentoring relationships (e.g., peer, multiple mentors). This research provides valuable insight to the IM model and IM theory more generally. This information can be applied to refine culturally appropriate mentorship practices, mentor selection and support, and evaluation of mentorship programs.
- ItemOpen AccessShift in Masculine Status after Migration and Its Impact on Muslim Immigrant Men’s Integration in Canada(2022-03) Akbary, Sayed Hamid; Kazemipur, Abdie; Nelson, Fiona; Murry, AdamThe involvement of some Muslim men in terrorist attacks and the so-called ‘honour killings’ since the 9/11 incident has generated a popular narrative in the West, in which Muslim immigrant men are viewed as unable or unwilling to integrate into Western societies due to the inconsistency they experience between the gender norms in their old and new countries. A corollary of this is another argument that Muslim immigrant men do experience an inconsistency between their lived experiences and expectations regarding their masculinity, and that this inconsistency manifests in the form of relationship conflicts in their private lives. However, scholars have overlooked Muslim men’s abilities to rid themselves of such inconsistencies and adapt to host society’s cultural gender norms. As such, this lack of knowledge has created an oversimplified image of Muslim men as individuals who are emotionally vulnerable and consistently choose to resist the idea of changing their attitudes after migration to Western countries. This research attempts to address this shortcoming. Using data from 33 semi-structured interviews with Afghan Muslim men in Canada, the results show that the participants are diverse in their reactions to Canadian societies’ liberal and egalitarian gender norms, despite coming from one of the world’s most conservative countries. The data reveal three typical responses to such conflicts – Traditionalist, Assimilationist, and Integrationist – and that their choice of any of these responses has a lot to do with their socioeconomic experiences in the broader society. These findings show a complex, multidimensional, evolving, and diverse process of cultural adaptation for Muslim men after migration, a process that is not adequately captured through a discussion of jurisprudential rulings. Specifically, I highlight a) the diversity of these Muslim men’s responses to their perceived conflicts between the gender norms in their old and new homes; b) the changing nature of those responses; and c) the significant impact of their broader socioeconomic experiences on the responses they adopt. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of the debates on political correctness and a new surge in the out-migration of Afghans to Western countries after the recent Taliban takeover.
- ItemOpen AccessThe Role of Sport in Promoting Wellness Among Indigenous Youth: A Qualitative Study for Policy and Practice(2023-09-25) Mortimore, Emma; Henderson, Rita; Crowshoe, Lynden (Lindsay); Roach, Pamela; Murry, AdamThis work builds on a multi-year community outreach platform led by the Indigenous, Local and Global Health Office at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, to investigate how sport may be supportive of wellness in Indigenous youth. It builds on literature that has shown the promise of sport as a population-level approach for promoting wellness among youth. For this qualitative study, we interviewed eight Indigenous individuals involved in sport, either in their youth or in a leadership capacity as an adult, asking: how do sports support Indigenous youth wellness? Two rounds of iterative thematic analysis were conducted, first investigating how participants described wellness, then assessing how sport acted to promote their concepts of wellness. Participants described the concept of wellness through four core components: i) belonging to something greater than yourself, ii) developing identity, iii) overcoming adversity, and iv) belonging and contributing to a community of support. In investigating how sport supports wellness, one major theme emerged that crosscut all others: connectedness. This manifested at the personal, interpersonal, and wider social levels in the lives of participants. This work culminates in considering how existing frameworks for youth wellbeing can be expanded to better include Indigenous perspectives. Findings are oriented to policy action in the Cumming School of Medicine, as well as aim to influence change of practice for those working with Indigenous youth in sport more broadly.
- ItemOpen AccessTruth and Reconciliation in the Workplace: Indigenous Employment Experiences and Perceptions of Organizational Support(2023-09-22) Grier, Melanie Ann; Murry, Adam; Bourdage, Josh; Markides, Jennifer; Henderson, RitaBackground: Truth and reconciliation with Indigenous people in Canada is of paramount importance, but despite initiatives like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action in 2015, progress is sluggish, particularly in sectors related to employment. Since poverty and underemployment directly impact disparities in all other sectors (e.g., education, health, and criminal justice), employment must remain a focus of truth and reconciliation efforts. Unfortunately, barriers like organizational ignorance of how to support Indigenous employees impede meaningful Indigenous participation in the workforce, highlighting the need for intervention. Responding to these calls, this pragmatic, action research-oriented qualitative investigation identifies sources of organizational support for Indigenous post-secondary employees using theoretical concepts from organizational psychology to support leaders in effectively and appropriately supporting Indigenous employees. Methods: Using a purposive sampling approach, 18 self-identified Indigenous staff and faculty members at public post-secondary research institutions in southwestern Canada agreed to participate in the study. I conducted semi-structured interviews with participants to discuss their work experiences and perceptions of organizational support. Iterative inductive and deductive thematic analysis was used to describe common themes within the interview transcripts. Results: Three prominent themes emerged: Stay Factors (encompassing Reciprocity and Belonging), Retention Factors (comprising Institutional, Cultural, Individual, and Relational Support Factors), and Leave Factors (consisting of Workload, Discrimination, and Organizational Dysfunction). Participants reported supportive attributes of their work directly from their institution, such as monetary rewards and benefits, as well as indirect supports that provide new ideas for organizationally supportive policies and services, such as culturally responsive performance review and advancement policies. These findings highlight various retention factors, emphasizing opportunities for organizational leaders to strengthen support for Indigenous post-secondary employees. Conclusion: This study offers theoretical contributions and provides concrete recommendations for how organizations can support Indigenous employees in post-secondary institutions and beyond. Using these findings as a stepping stone, organizations can more effectively support Indigenous employees and contribute to tangible truth and reconciliation progress.