My thesis
The world’s population is aging rapidly, with older adults projected to significantly outnumber children below 5 years of age within the next few decades. This demographic shift is occurring even more rapidly in Canada. As of 2024, the number of Canadians who are 65 years of age or older has surpassed the number of children under the age of 15, with older adults now accounting for 18.9% of the total national population compared to 15.2% of children. An increasing aging population is a good indicator of improvements in life expectancy; however, changes in demographics highlight the growing need to promote overall health and well-being to ensure a good quality of life among older Canadians. As individuals age, extreme impairment of executive function is associated with behavioural challenges and loss of independence, which may increase risk of individual’s developing symptoms of depression.
The aim of my study is to investigate the relationship between executive function at baseline and depressive symptoms over time, in middle-aged and older adults, and the moderating role of social connections (functional social support and social isolation). Using data from 30,097 participants aged 45–85 years in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), analyses are being conducted across three time points: baseline, three-year, and six-year follow-ups. It is anticipated that functional social support and social isolation will serve as an effect modifier of the association between baseline executive function and depressive symptoms over time. Individuals with low executive function at baseline will be at increased risk of developing depressive symptom over time. However, this association is hypothesized to vary based on levels of social connection. Social connection is commonly conceptualized through both structural aspects of social connection, reflected by components of social isolation, and functional aspects that are captured by the individual’s perceived level of functional social support. Individuals with low executive function, who report high social connections are expected to report reduced risk of developing depressive symptoms over time, compared to those with low social connections. By understanding the strength of social connections, we can gain a deeper understanding of psycho-social factors that can reduce depressive symptoms among individuals with reduced executive function. Overall, the study will add to new evidence of this pathway and the importance of social connections in promoting healthy aging and cognitive resilience.
My time in the School of Public Health Sciences
During my graduate studies at the University of Waterloo, I’ve had many opportunities to engage with the university and the broader research community. I have served in several executive student roles at UWaterloo: Coordinator for the Graduate Studies Endowment Fund, Event Lead for the Symposium on Aging Research, and currently co-lead on the Peer Mentorship Committee for SPHS. While completing the Fundamentals of University Teaching at the Centre for Teaching Excellence, I was able to use the skills gained to guest lecture for an undergraduate public health class. The Grad Skill Enhancement Program provided me with valuable career preparation and collaborative leadership skills.
Also, as a research assistant on a Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD) funded grant, I am contributing to a study investigating the experiences of personal support workers while performing patient handling, and barriers and facilitators to using equipment to help with patient lifts and transfers. Through this project, I am gaining valuable experience in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting non-numerical data to understand behavior, attitudes, and motivations of participants.
A highlight of my training has been presenting my research at several conferences: Research and Practice in Health Sciences Conference, Symposium on Aging Research, Symposium on Neuroscience Research, Humans in the Loop: Human Factors Academic Day and Symposium.
I am grateful for the mentorship I have received from my supervisor, thesis committee members, staff, and colleagues.