Research Library

This paper examines the relationship between parents’ sense of coherence (SOC) and children’s oral health outcomes among newcomers (immigrants to Canada). Immigrant parents with children aged 1-12 years who lived in Canada for 10 years or less were recruited. Findings show that parent’s SOC was relatively low among newcomers and not associated with children’s oral health outcomes. This paper examines the relationship between parents’ sense of coherence (SOC) and children’s oral health outcomes among newcomers (immigrants to Canada). Immigrant parents with children aged 1-12 years who lived in Canada for 10 years or less were recruited. Findings show that parent’s SOC was relatively low among newcomers and not associated with children’s oral health outcomes.
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Sport participation is popularly constructed as an effective means for welcoming newcomers into their new country of residence, despite these claims being critiqued by sport scholars. In this study, we critically interrogated Intro to Sport programmes as one approach for welcoming newcomers into the Canadian sport system using Green’s normative theory of sport development to inform our work. Twenty qualitative interviews were conducted with programme administrators, instructors, and parents of newcomer programme participants representing six Intro to Sport programmes. Using thematic analysis, two overarching themes were determined: (1) toward inclusion: negotiating sport participation; and (2) sustainability. We explored how various sport participation barriers were managed towards promoting inclusion across the programmes as well as the pervasiveness of intersectoral community partnerships. We provided a nuanced discussion of the socio-cultural and contextual considerations surrounding Intro to Sport programmes for newcomers, insights that can inform sport development research and practice moving forward. We also offer suggestions to sport administrators involved in Intro to Sport programmes for newcomers and future research directions. Sport participation is popularly constructed as an effective means for welcoming newcomers into their new country of residence, despite these claims being critiqued by sport scholars. In this study, we critically interrogated Intro to Sport programmes as one approach for welcoming newcomers into the Canadian sport system using Green’s normative theory of sport development to inform our work. Twenty qualitative interviews were conducted with programme administrators, instructors, and parents of newcomer programme participants representing six Intro to Sport programmes. Using thematic analysis, two overarching themes were determined: (1) toward inclusion: negotiating sport participation; and (2) sustainability. We explored how various sport participation barriers were managed towards promoting inclusion across the programmes as well as the pervasiveness of intersectoral community partnerships. We provided a nuanced discussion of the socio-cultural and contextual considerations surrounding Intro to Sport programmes for newcomers, insights that can inform sport development research and practice moving forward. We also offer suggestions to sport administrators involved in Intro to Sport programmes for newcomers and future research directions.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Enrollment of international post-secondary students is increasing across Canadian campuses. International post-secondary students may experience challenges in accessing nutritious foods that meet their dietary needs and food preferences. These challenges can pose negative impacts on their health, well-being, and academic achievement. Our aim was to describe international post-secondary students’ perceptions of (1) challenges to attaining food security and (2) consequences of food insecurity on the university experience. We conducted individual semi-structured interviews with 11 international post-secondary students at the University of Alberta who had food insecurity and who had requested emergency foodhampers from the on-campus food bank. Our results revealed the negative impacts that food insecurity can have on international post-secondary students. Findings underscore the imperative to minimize the occurrence of food insecurity while studying in Alberta, Canada by introducing and enhancing support systems on campus and in the community to enable food security. Enrollment of international post-secondary students is increasing across Canadian campuses. International post-secondary students may experience challenges in accessing nutritious foods that meet their dietary needs and food preferences. These challenges can pose negative impacts on their health, well-being, and academic achievement. Our aim was to describe international post-secondary students’ perceptions of (1) challenges to attaining food security and (2) consequences of food insecurity on the university experience. We conducted individual semi-structured interviews with 11 international post-secondary students at the University of Alberta who had food insecurity and who had requested emergency foodhampers from the on-campus food bank. Our results revealed the negative impacts that food insecurity can have on international post-secondary students. Findings underscore the imperative to minimize the occurrence of food insecurity while studying in Alberta, Canada by introducing and enhancing support systems on campus and in the community to enable food security.
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Data on immigrant and refugees’ access to services in Canada does not typically focus on children. To fill this gap, this study explored immigrant and refugee mothers’ perceptions of barriers and facilitators (things that help) for mental health care for their children in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Barriers included financial strain, lack of information, racism/discrimination, language barriers, stigma, feeling isolated, and feeling unheard by service providers. Facilitators included schools offering services, personal levels of higher education, and free services. Nurses can improve access to mental health services by addressing issues related to racism within the health system, by creating awareness related to mental health, and by providing trained interpreters to help bridge barriers in communications. Data on immigrant and refugees’ access to services in Canada does not typically focus on children. To fill this gap, this study explored immigrant and refugee mothers’ perceptions of barriers and facilitators (things that help) for mental health care for their children in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Barriers included financial strain, lack of information, racism/discrimination, language barriers, stigma, feeling isolated, and feeling unheard by service providers. Facilitators included schools offering services, personal levels of higher education, and free services. Nurses can improve access to mental health services by addressing issues related to racism within the health system, by creating awareness related to mental health, and by providing trained interpreters to help bridge barriers in communications.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

African immigrant children and youth have some of the poorest social and mental health outcomes in Canada. Although parenting challenges have been widely documented as a key driver of these outcomes, this issue has not been properly researched. In this paper, we examine parenting challenges among a sample of African immigrant parents in Alberta, Canada. We discovered main parenting challenges, organized around six overarching themes. Specifically, African immigrant parents deal with cultural incompatibility, family tension, state interference, limited social supports, poor access to services, and low socioeconomic status. Thus the state policy regarding child protection needs to change, and social service organization need to tailor their programmes to cultural specificities of African communities. African immigrant children and youth have some of the poorest social and mental health outcomes in Canada. Although parenting challenges have been widely documented as a key driver of these outcomes, this issue has not been properly researched. In this paper, we examine parenting challenges among a sample of African immigrant parents in Alberta, Canada. We discovered main parenting challenges, organized around six overarching themes. Specifically, African immigrant parents deal with cultural incompatibility, family tension, state interference, limited social supports, poor access to services, and low socioeconomic status. Thus the state policy regarding child protection needs to change, and social service organization need to tailor their programmes to cultural specificities of African communities.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Physical activity is essential for healthy aging; however, there has been little exploration of physical activity in Muslim older immigrants in Canada. Over one million Canadians identify as Muslim, the majority is first-generation immigrants, with increasing cohorts entering older age. Interviews and focus groups on physical activity and healthy aging were conducted with 68 older adults and community members from South Asian, Arab, and African Muslim ethnocultural communities in Edmonton, AB. Participants emphasized the importance of physical activity in older age and prioritized the need for physical activity programs. Four themes highlight Muslim older immigrants’ perspectives on physical activity in Canada: (a) values and approaches to staying active; (b) health factors: pain and health limitations; (c) social factors: culture, religion, and belonging; and (d) environmental factors: safety and accessibility. Physical activity is essential for healthy aging; however, there has been little exploration of physical activity in Muslim older immigrants in Canada. Over one million Canadians identify as Muslim, the majority is first-generation immigrants, with increasing cohorts entering older age. Interviews and focus groups on physical activity and healthy aging were conducted with 68 older adults and community members from South Asian, Arab, and African Muslim ethnocultural communities in Edmonton, AB. Participants emphasized the importance of physical activity in older age and prioritized the need for physical activity programs. Four themes highlight Muslim older immigrants’ perspectives on physical activity in Canada: (a) values and approaches to staying active; (b) health factors: pain and health limitations; (c) social factors: culture, religion, and belonging; and (d) environmental factors: safety and accessibility.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Interviews were used to explore the experiences of immigrant parents in accessing Albertan healthcare services for their children. The findings highlight several challenges faced by immigrant families, including long wait times for health services, income inequity, and language barriers. The study emphasizes the importance of increasing the supply of health professionals, addressing income inequity, and providing trained interpreters to assist immigrant populations. Additionally, developing a therapeutic relationship with immigrants is identified as vital for improving access to healthcare. Interviews were used to explore the experiences of immigrant parents in accessing Albertan healthcare services for their children. The findings highlight several challenges faced by immigrant families, including long wait times for health services, income inequity, and language barriers. The study emphasizes the importance of increasing the supply of health professionals, addressing income inequity, and providing trained interpreters to assist immigrant populations. Additionally, developing a therapeutic relationship with immigrants is identified as vital for improving access to healthcare.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Clinical guidelines support exercise in managing osteoarthritis. Physical activity in immigrants is affected by migration-related factors: acculturation, stress associated with settling in a new country, physical environments, and availability of resources. Other challenges are: competing time demands, cultural norms and behaviours, motivation and lack of peer support. Adult physical inactivity rates are high in Muslim majority countries, especially for Arab Muslims and Muslim women. Barriers to Muslim women participating in leisure physical activity, for example, include gendered norms of behavior, religious interpretations of women’s participation in sports, lack of access to gender-segregated spaces, lack of social support, lack of education on physical activity and competing social obligations. Participants of this research emphasized the importance of physical activity in older age and prioritized the need for physical activity programs. The four themes highlight Muslim older immigrants’ perspectives on physical activity in Canada: (a) values and approaches to staying active, (b) health factors: pain and health limitations, (c) social factors: culture, religion and belonging; and (d) environmental factors: safety and accessibility. Lack of effective strategies for pain management was a major concern for many participants and hindered their ability to engage in both daily living activities and more strenuous forms of exercise and recreation activities. Physical activity in older age is valued by older Muslim immigrants but financial, cultural, and environmental barriers to physical activity warrant intervention. One avenue of promoting physical activity in Muslim older immigrants is the development of local, accessible, and culturally sensitive programming that address both the physical activity, education, and socialization needs of this population. Clinical guidelines support exercise in managing osteoarthritis. Physical activity in immigrants is affected by migration-related factors: acculturation, stress associated with settling in a new country, physical environments, and availability of resources. Other challenges are: competing time demands, cultural norms and behaviours, motivation and lack of peer support. Adult physical inactivity rates are high in Muslim majority countries, especially for Arab Muslims and Muslim women. Barriers to Muslim women participating in leisure physical activity, for example, include gendered norms of behavior, religious interpretations of women’s participation in sports, lack of access to gender-segregated spaces, lack of social support, lack of education on physical activity and competing social obligations. Participants of this research emphasized the importance of physical activity in older age and prioritized the need for physical activity programs. The four themes highlight Muslim older immigrants’ perspectives on physical activity in Canada: (a) values and approaches to staying active, (b) health factors: pain and health limitations, (c) social factors: culture, religion and belonging; and (d) environmental factors: safety and accessibility. Lack of effective strategies for pain management was a major concern for many participants and hindered their ability to engage in both daily living activities and more strenuous forms of exercise and recreation activities. Physical activity in older age is valued by older Muslim immigrants but financial, cultural, and environmental barriers to physical activity warrant intervention. One avenue of promoting physical activity in Muslim older immigrants is the development of local, accessible, and culturally sensitive programming that address both the physical activity, education, and socialization needs of this population.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Effective policies are needed to address the issues of precarious status of migrant workers. The experience of migrant workers is highly structured by the policies and systems in destination countries. In Canada, policy changes have affected the experiences of migrants. We sought to examine the impact of changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in 2015 on migrants in Alberta, one of Canada’s western provinces. The findings of our study reveal that the changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Canada in 2015 restricted the rights of these workers, intensified exploitation, and led to mental health strain for temporary foreign workers and their families. To attend to the marginal status of migrant workers, there is a need to broaden pathways to permanent resident status for low-wage temporary foreign workers in destination countries. Effective policies are needed to address the issues of precarious status of migrant workers. The experience of migrant workers is highly structured by the policies and systems in destination countries. In Canada, policy changes have affected the experiences of migrants. We sought to examine the impact of changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in 2015 on migrants in Alberta, one of Canada’s western provinces. The findings of our study reveal that the changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Canada in 2015 restricted the rights of these workers, intensified exploitation, and led to mental health strain for temporary foreign workers and their families. To attend to the marginal status of migrant workers, there is a need to broaden pathways to permanent resident status for low-wage temporary foreign workers in destination countries.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The purpose of this study was to determine Quebec population norms from the questionnaire EQ-5D-5L (a self-assessed, health related, quality of life questionnaire). Among people who completed the questionnaire, those with lower scores were those who had a low or high body mass index; were smokers; were single, divorced, or widowed; had no children; were unemployed or sick; had lower education or lower annual income; and had a family or personal history of serious illness. Immigrants had higher scores. There was no difference in gender and urban or rural population. The score logically decreased with worsening health status. Similar results were observed for subjects’ satisfaction with their health or life. Subjects with lower scores were less willing to take risks. Subjects who declared they were affected by health problems presented significant lower utility scores (utility score reflects the level of physical, mental, and social functioning associated with a particular health state and the preference weight the general population gives to that health state). This is the first study to present utility score norms for EQ-5D-5L for the Quebec population. These results will be useful for comparison with quality-adjusted life-year studies to better interpret their results. Moreover, utility norms were provided for 21 health problems, which was rarely done. The purpose of this study was to determine Quebec population norms from the questionnaire EQ-5D-5L (a self-assessed, health related, quality of life questionnaire). Among people who completed the questionnaire, those with lower scores were those who had a low or high body mass index; were smokers; were single, divorced, or widowed; had no children; were unemployed or sick; had lower education or lower annual income; and had a family or personal history of serious illness. Immigrants had higher scores. There was no difference in gender and urban or rural population. The score logically decreased with worsening health status. Similar results were observed for subjects’ satisfaction with their health or life. Subjects with lower scores were less willing to take risks. Subjects who declared they were affected by health problems presented significant lower utility scores (utility score reflects the level of physical, mental, and social functioning associated with a particular health state and the preference weight the general population gives to that health state). This is the first study to present utility score norms for EQ-5D-5L for the Quebec population. These results will be useful for comparison with quality-adjusted life-year studies to better interpret their results. Moreover, utility norms were provided for 21 health problems, which was rarely done.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly