Laurier masters student studies emotional development related to psychopathology
We asked our current Graduate students to tell us a bit about themselves and what kind of things they are researching. Below is an overview of Katrina Abela's research.
Introduction
Name: Katrina Abela
Program: Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Science
Educational Background: Undergraduate: McMaster honours BA. Graduate: Current second-year WLU Master’s student
Current Project/Thesis/Field of Study: Graduate Thesis Title: Early Predictors: The Impact of Childhood Exposure to Interparental Conflict on Developmental Outcomes for Emotional Self-Regulation and Related Problem Behaviour. Broadly, I am studying the impact of early adverse childhood experiences on the developmental trajectory of children’s emotional development and related psychopathology.
Tell me about yourself and how you became engaged inyour field of study?
I am a McMaster 2020 graduate and current second-year WLU master’s student passionate about scientific research with underserved children. I have always been extremely fascinated by clinical and developmental child psychology and neuroscience (and their intersections) and was able to hone this interest during my undergraduate studies where I became involved in several research labs focused on infants through to emerging adults.
I strongly endorse the notion that research and practice should mutually inform one another; thus, I am very passionate about conducting research that can improve the lives and wellbeing of children and families in practice. I have also been extremely fortunate to receive mentorship from researchers and professors such as Dr. Danielle Law and Dr. Kim Roberts, whom both integrate this sentiment into their research programs.
Provide a brief overview about your research
Broadly, I am very interested in the interplay between three factors: family-systems (i.e., dynamics and early childhood experiences), children’s emotional development (i.e., emotion self-regulation), and children’s mental health and psychopathology (i.e., internalizing and externalizing problem behaviour). I am passionate about deepening our understanding of the intersections of these research themes and I wish to continue contributing to research which promotes the development and evaluation of accessible programming intended to foster positive child-rearing practices, adaptive emotion self-regulation strategies and adjustment in children, and improve the psychological wellbeing of children and families.
How do you stay passionate as a graduate student?
As a graduate student, I stay passionate by involving myself in diverse yet related initiatives, such as teaching and mentoring (i.e., graduate mentor, teaching assistant), community outreach (i.e., working with community partners), knowledge mobilization (i.e., converting and mobilizing knowledge derived from the research of myself and others into accessible formats), research collaboration, and clinical work with children and families (i.e., working in hospitals and children centres). In fulfilling these roles, and sharing meaningful interactions with others, I am constantly reminded of why I am so passionate about this field and advocating for underserved children and youth through both research and practice.
What comes next for you after you have completed your studies/program?
I am currently in the process of applying to PhD programs, where I hope to continue my studies. My long-term goals include remaining in acedemia contributing to meaningful and transformative bodies of knowledge as a laboratory director, teaching undergraduate students and mentoring new researchers, and leading community outreach initiatives. I also hope to continue my work in clinical settings, such as children’s centres and hospitals, working with clinical interdisciplinary teams to provide preventative evidence-based intervention to children and families.
What is one piece of advice would you give to other students interested in pursuing graduate studies?
The best piece of advice that I can offer students interested in pursuing graduate studies is to begin researching programs early in order to make an informed decision about which program you wish to apply to and which aligns best with your career goals. I would also strongly encourage students to draw on on-campus and remote resources; I have had fantastic experiences with both McMaster and WLU resources (e.g., workshops and academic advisors) and many universities offer a wide array of resources to support you through the process of identifying a program.