Browsing by Author "Buliga, Elena"

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    Collective 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, Deinera
    In 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.
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    Exploring cross-group relationships among students at a Canadian university: what factors promote lasting relationships and positive university experiences?
    (2018-09-11) Buliga, Elena; MacInnis, Cara C.; Boon, Susan; Lee, Kibeom; Bierman, Alex
    Cross-group friendships, defined as close and meaningful relationships among individuals belonging to different social groups (e.g., different nationality groups) are associated with positive outcomes but are more likely to dissolve relative to friendships between individuals belonging to same social group. The aims of this research project are to examine potential conditions under which cross-group relationships last and promote positive outcomes among students at a Canadian university. Based on previous literature, several qualities that may promote lasting cross-group friendships were examined: closeness (both subjective and inclusion of other in self), perceived similarity (both subjective and personality similarity), social network integration and salience of group membership. In Study 1 the extent to which these qualities existed in self-reported current and past cross-group friendships was explored in a sample of 325 students. The friendship qualities listed above were present to a greater extent in current than in past same- and cross-group friendships, although there were some differences based on cross-group friendship type. Thus, these qualities may contribute to cross-group friendships lasting versus dissolving. In Study 2 outcomes of cross-group relationships between international students and students at a Canadian university registered in a peer mentoring program were explored as well as the influence of friendship promoting qualities in these relationships. Although sample size was lower than anticipated for this study (mentee N = 16, mentor N = 29, control N = 30), some promising outcomes were observed. For new international student mentees, mentoring relationships promoted university engagement and for domestic student mentors mentoring relationships reduced intergroup anxiety. Friendship qualities were associated with more positive attitudes toward the partner. Findings from this research can inform efforts to promote the development of cross-group friendships.
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    Trajectories of Sleep Quality and Associations with Mood during the Perinatal Period
    (SLEEP, 2015-08) Tomfohr, Lianne; Buliga, Elena; Letourneau, Nicole; Campbell, Tavis; Giesbrecht, Gerald
    Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate trajectories of sleep quality and associations with mood in the perinatal period. Although it is commonly accepted that subjective sleep quality declines during pregnancy and the transition to parenthood, some women may follow qualitatively distinct trajectories. Design, Setting, and Participants: Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were collected from 293 women at four time points: during early pregnancy, at Time 1 (T1;< 22 w gestational age [GA]; late pregnancy, at Time 2 (T2; 32 w GA); during the postnatal period at Time 3 (T3; 3 mo postpartum); and Time 4 (T4; 6 mo postpartum). A group-based semiparametric mixture model was used to estimate patterns of sleep quality throughout the perinatal period. Results: Four trajectory groups were identified, including patterns defined by high sleep quality throughout (21.5%), mild decrease in sleep quality (59.5%), significant decrease in sleep quality (12.3%) and a group with poor sleep quality throughout (6.7%). Women who had the worst sleep quality at Time 1 and those who experienced significant increases in sleep problems throughout pregnancy were also the groups who reported the highest levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms in early pregnancy and the lowest levels of social support. After controlling for covariates, the groups with worst subjective sleep quality during pregnancy were also the most likely to experience high symptoms of depression in the postpartum period. Conclusions: Most of the women in our sample reported mild sleep disturbances through the perinatal period. A subgroup of women reported a significant decline in sleep quality from early to late pregnancy and another reported poor subjective sleep quality throughout pregnancy; these groups had the greatest risk of experiencing high symptoms of depression in the postpartum period. Key Words: depression, postpartum, pregnancy, sleep, trajectories