Muskan Manhas - Thesis Defence
CHUISLE MO CHROÍ: ASSESSING THE PROOF-OF-CONCEPT & FEASIBILITY OF A WRITING EXERCISE AIMED AT DIMINISHING DEATH-RELATED DISTRESS IN PARENTS WITH EARLY-ONSET CANCER
MSc Psychology Candidate: Muskan Manhas
27 August 2025
1:00 PM Atlantic
Hybrid Defence
Horton Hall, Room 215
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Meeting ID: 259 272 916 722 6
Passcode: b29bE2Pk
Thesis Committee:
Dr. Cara MacInnis, Supervisor
Dr. Sophie Lebel, University of Ottawa, External Examiner
Dr. Joseph Hayes, Internal Examiner
Dr. Stephanie Gauvin, Acting Head
Dr. Trevor Avery, Chair of the defence
Abstract
Psychological distress is high among those diagnosed with cancer who are parents of young children. In addition to general cancer-related distress, this population must navigate heightened death anxiety related to fears about their children (e.g., fears of not being there for their children). Considering growing rates of early-onset cancer, providing tools to manage this distress is key. I examined the feasibility/proof-of-concept of one such tool: a mobile application-based writing exercise culminating in a legacy document for one’s children. This application guided participants through writing prompts drawn from well-established social psychology literature on generating interpersonal closeness, with the goal of building closeness between the writer and the (eventual) reader. Feasibility and proof-of-concept research focuses on establishing whether an intervention can be done and whether more explicit research assessing for efficacy and mechanisms is warranted, based on expected signals of change.
Participants (N = 27, M Age = 40.5 years) completed the exercise, with a subset (N = 13) completing an optional, qualitative interview designed to gauge more in-depth reactions. All individuals had children at or under 12 years of age. Preliminary quantitative analyses revealed change in the main study variable from pre- to post-intervention (e.g., significantly lower death anxiety), with increases in sense of meaning falling just below the threshold of 2-tailed significance (but significant at the 1-tailed level). Signals of change were also observed on other variables (e.g., increased self-efficacy; decreased doctor-oriented locus of control and fear of not seeing children grow up). Thematic analysis of interviews demonstrated the strong perceived utility, acceptability, and benefit of the writing exercise. For example, participants described the process as manageable and the experience as highly meaningful.
Considered together, quantitative and qualitative results suggest the feasibility and proof-of-concept of this intervention; thus, further work assessing this exercise is warranted. This work highlights an innovative intervention with the potential to reduce distress and promote meaning-making in broader segments of this vulnerable population. Based on current results, future directions are discussed.
About Muskan…
Muskan Manhas is a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology student working under the supervision of Dr. Cara MacInnis. Her thesis explores the feasibility and utility of a writing exercise designed to diminish death-related distress in parents with early-onset cancer. Exploring this mobile application-based exercise is used to discuss potential future areas of research and next steps for this intervention. Muskan is a proud Punjabi-Canadian, and was born in raised in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Throughout her undergraduate degree she worked with people in a variety of roles, such as a behaviour interventionist for children with autism, as an academic mentor and peer tutor at the University of the Fraser Valley, and as a research assistant working directly with participants. Here, she also completed her Psychology Honours thesis research in the area of romantic relationships. These diverse experiences further motivated her towards her goal of pursuing Clinical Psychology education. Muskan moved to Wolfville, Nova Scotia in 2023, and spent the final year of her degree completing her practicum in Halifax. Here, she has found a place that will always be home. Next, she plans to pursue her doctoral education elsewhere in Canada or in the UK.