Shelly Russell‐mayhew
Biographic Data
| ID | 4871738 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Shelly Russell‐mayhew |
| GIVEN NAMES | Shelly |
| FAMILY NAME | Russell‐mayhew |
| SIGNATURE | MAYHEW S R |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Calgary |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5103-8031 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 25 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 23 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 25 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Going against everything society has told me”
Feminist understandings of newcomer women's embodiment
In recent years, numerous scholars have advocated for the concept of embodiment—defined as the experience of engaging one's body with the world ( Allan, 2005 ; Piran & Teall, 2012 )—as a valuable framework for understanding women's experiences of their bodies. However, there is a paucity of research on embodiment specifically among newcomer women (including immigrants, refugees, and non-permanent residents) who belong to racialized groups in Cana…
Taking Weight Out of the Equation
Weight-neutral approaches emphasize improving individuals’ relationships with food and prioritizing emotional and physical well-being over the pursuit of a lower weight as well as support the reduction of stigma experienced by persons with larger bodies. Discourse about health in schools needs to consider students of all sizes as well as the complexities of the relationship that individuals develop with their bodies. A comprehensive school health…
“Teacher Burnout Is One of My Greatest Fears”
Teacher burnout is often positioned as a common result of the complex demands of the teaching profession (García-Carmona et al., 2019). While there is no denying the demanding nature of teaching, in this article we present an alternative perspective on the widespread burnout discussion that distinguishes between burnout and the complexities of teacher attrition, and offer a more hopeful and strengths-based approach to the teaching profession. In …
Changes in Pre-Service Teacher Personal and Professional Attitudes Following a Comprehensive School Health Course
Comprehensive school health (CSH) is a framework that can support teachers in the delivery of health-related content as well as supporting health promotion within the school community. In this study, 222 Bachelor of Education students completed surveys at the beginning and end of a mandatory six-week course on CSH with a body weight-neutral focus. Following the course, participants had significantly positively increased attitudes toward CSH, self…
Working Together? A Situational Analysis of Combining Prevention Efforts Targeting Obesity and Eating Disorders in Schools
The serious consequences and difficulties with treatment of obesity and eating disorders have prompted many to suggest focusing on prevention. Although most often considered distinct conditions with competing needs, some have advocated for an integrated approach to the prevention of a spectrum of weight-related issues including obesity and eating disorders. Despite a strong rationale for focusing prevention on the spectrum of weight-related issue…
One-size-fits-none’
Many researchers have explored the impact or effectiveness of eating disorder (ED) and obesity (OB) prevention in schools. Few, however, have investigated integrated prevention, and despite recommendations to shift the individual focus of prevention to environmental or systemic change, even fewer researchers have considered the broader situation. In this study, we explored how weight-related issues are negotiated in Canadian schools, and what ins…
“My Whole World Fell Apart”
This was the first study to examine the experience of parents who discover their child was living with anorexia nervosa (AN), thus fulfilling a critical gap in the eating disorder literature. Gadamerian hermeneutic inquiry was the guiding philosophy and method used to investigate this topic. Dialogues with parents revealed the ambiguity inherent within discovery; the isolation, betrayal, and loss felt by parents; and the complicated family dynami…
Capturing the Shadow and Light of Researcher Positionality
Acknowledging researcher positionality and engaging in ongoing reflexivity are important components of qualitative research. In this manuscript, we share our experiences of examining our positionality and engaging in reflexive practice related to a research project with newcomer women in Canada. As a team of researchers from diverse backgrounds, we engaged in a picture-prompted poly-ethnographic conversation to better understand our attitudes, as…
Regarding obesity as a disease is associated with lower weight bias among physicians
Adapting Descriptive Psychological Phenomenology to Include Dyadic Interviews
Dyadic interviews are an approach to qualitative data collection designed to understand the meaning pairs of individuals make from experiences. The greatest benefit of dyadic interviews, and perhaps a reason for their gaining momentum in the literature, is that they encourage participants to interact, resulting in detailed and complex descriptions of phenomena. However, dyadic interviews pose challenges to qualitative researchers. Researchers mus…
By the Water’s Edge
Weight Bias and Social Justice
Becoming new together
This article proposes an arts-based ethnographic research design as a means of engaging in ethical, meaningful, and culturally sensitive research with newcomer communities. Moving away from the manner in which culture has traditionally been defined and studied in psychology, this research design uses cultural probes and subsequent qualitative interviews to collect data about newcomers’ everyday experiences in Canada. Cultural probes are sets of c…
Exploring newcomer women’s embodied selves
In recent years, several scholars have called for the construct of embodiment as a meaningful way to explore the ways in which women experience their bodies. However, limited research has explored embodiment specifically amongst newcomer women who are part of visible minority groups in Canada. Although embodiment theories acknowledge the central role of culture in shaping the ways individuals experience their bodies, it remains unclear if and how…
Disclosing an Eating Disorder
Disclosing a mental illness can be difficult, especially for those affected by eating disorders. Individuals impacted by eating disorders often worry that disclosing their situation may lead to fear, judgment, and stigmatization. Online eating disorder communities have become increasingly popular, hosting thousands of users worldwide, and may be safe places for individuals with eating disorders to communicate and connect. In this postmodern study…
Is there more to the equation? Weight bias and the costs of obesity
Employing Polyethnography to Navigate Researcher Positionality on Weight Bias
Researchers often focus on the content of their research interests but, depending on the research approach, may pay less attention to the process of locating themselves in relation to the research topic. This paper outlines the dialogue between an interdisciplinary team of researchers who were at the initial stages of forming a research agenda related to weight bias and social justice. Using a polyethnographic approach to guide our discussion, we…
Health and Weight Beliefs and Behaviours of Pre-Service Teachers
This project explored primary and secondary pre-service teachers’ (i.e., bachelor of education [B.Ed.] students) beliefs about health behaviours as well as health and weight during their university education at a large research-intensive university in Alberta. Although many studies claim that there is a need for teacher education in the areas of health and weight, recommendations for what such curricula might include are lacking. The present stud…
Recruiting Ethnically Diverse Participants into Qualitative Health Research
The inclusion of ethnically diverse populations in health research is crucial for addressing ethnic disparities in health status and care. Despite this need, non - dominant ethnic groups continue to be under - represented in health studies. The reasons may be at least partly du e to the difficulties inherent in recruiting such groups for research. In this article, we attempt to assist researchers , who are seeking to conduct inclusive qualitative…
The Impact of Professional Development About Weight-Related Issues for Pre-Service Teachers
Many teachers do not have a working knowledge of body image or weight issues. This pilot project examined body image satisfaction and eating/weight-related behaviours before and after a professional in-service with physical education pre-service teachers (N = 16). At the three- month follow-up, measures were repeated and qualitative data (critical incidents and a focus group) about the impact on teaching practice was collected. Results showed no …
What Counsellors Need to Know About Resiliency in Adolescents
Community Capacity-Building in Schools
A pilot research study to examine the effect of a wellness-based intervention on improving students’ body image, personal attitudes, and eating behaviors highlighted the importance of a healthy school environment. Parent and teacher focus groups were conducted to explore the perceived influences of wellness-based interventions designed for parents, teachers, and students. Results support movement toward wellness-based programming and suggest that…
Eating Disorders and Obesity as Social Justice Issues
The purpose of this paper is to explore the usefulness of considering eating disorders and obesity as social justice issues. Looking at systemic issues opens possibilities for new approaches to practice and research. By connecting at the root of eating issues, proposed as social justice, perhaps real change can occur
Key Concepts From Health Promotion Evaluations
Capturing the Shadow and Light of Researcher Positionality
Acknowledging researcher positionality and engaging in ongoing reflexivity are important components of qualitative research. In this manuscript, we share our experiences of examining our positionality and engaging in reflexive practice related to a research project with newcomer women in Canada. As a team of researchers from diverse backgrounds, we engaged in a picture-prompted poly-ethnographic conversation to better understand our attitudes, as…
Becoming new together
This article proposes an arts-based ethnographic research design as a means of engaging in ethical, meaningful, and culturally sensitive research with newcomer communities. Moving away from the manner in which culture has traditionally been defined and studied in psychology, this research design uses cultural probes and subsequent qualitative interviews to collect data about newcomers’ everyday experiences in Canada. Cultural probes are sets of c…
Recruiting Ethnically Diverse Participants into Qualitative Health Research
The inclusion of ethnically diverse populations in health research is crucial for addressing ethnic disparities in health status and care. Despite this need, non - dominant ethnic groups continue to be under - represented in health studies. The reasons may be at least partly du e to the difficulties inherent in recruiting such groups for research. In this article, we attempt to assist researchers , who are seeking to conduct inclusive qualitative…
Disclosing an Eating Disorder
Disclosing a mental illness can be difficult, especially for those affected by eating disorders. Individuals impacted by eating disorders often worry that disclosing their situation may lead to fear, judgment, and stigmatization. Online eating disorder communities have become increasingly popular, hosting thousands of users worldwide, and may be safe places for individuals with eating disorders to communicate and connect. In this postmodern study…
Is there more to the equation? Weight bias and the costs of obesity
Exploring newcomer women’s embodied selves
In recent years, several scholars have called for the construct of embodiment as a meaningful way to explore the ways in which women experience their bodies. However, limited research has explored embodiment specifically amongst newcomer women who are part of visible minority groups in Canada. Although embodiment theories acknowledge the central role of culture in shaping the ways individuals experience their bodies, it remains unclear if and how…
Key Concepts From Health Promotion Evaluations
Eating Disorders and Obesity as Social Justice Issues
The purpose of this paper is to explore the usefulness of considering eating disorders and obesity as social justice issues. Looking at systemic issues opens possibilities for new approaches to practice and research. By connecting at the root of eating issues, proposed as social justice, perhaps real change can occur
Community Capacity-Building in Schools
A pilot research study to examine the effect of a wellness-based intervention on improving students’ body image, personal attitudes, and eating behaviors highlighted the importance of a healthy school environment. Parent and teacher focus groups were conducted to explore the perceived influences of wellness-based interventions designed for parents, teachers, and students. Results support movement toward wellness-based programming and suggest that…
What Counsellors Need to Know About Resiliency in Adolescents
The Impact of Professional Development About Weight-Related Issues for Pre-Service Teachers
Many teachers do not have a working knowledge of body image or weight issues. This pilot project examined body image satisfaction and eating/weight-related behaviours before and after a professional in-service with physical education pre-service teachers (N = 16). At the three- month follow-up, measures were repeated and qualitative data (critical incidents and a focus group) about the impact on teaching practice was collected. Results showed no …
Recruiting Ethnically Diverse Participants into Qualitative Health Research
The inclusion of ethnically diverse populations in health research is crucial for addressing ethnic disparities in health status and care. Despite this need, non - dominant ethnic groups continue to be under - represented in health studies. The reasons may be at least partly du e to the difficulties inherent in recruiting such groups for research. In this article, we attempt to assist researchers , who are seeking to conduct inclusive qualitative…
Employing Polyethnography to Navigate Researcher Positionality on Weight Bias
Researchers often focus on the content of their research interests but, depending on the research approach, may pay less attention to the process of locating themselves in relation to the research topic. This paper outlines the dialogue between an interdisciplinary team of researchers who were at the initial stages of forming a research agenda related to weight bias and social justice. Using a polyethnographic approach to guide our discussion, we…
Health and Weight Beliefs and Behaviours of Pre-Service Teachers
This project explored primary and secondary pre-service teachers’ (i.e., bachelor of education [B.Ed.] students) beliefs about health behaviours as well as health and weight during their university education at a large research-intensive university in Alberta. Although many studies claim that there is a need for teacher education in the areas of health and weight, recommendations for what such curricula might include are lacking. The present stud…
By the Water’s Edge
Weight Bias and Social Justice
Becoming new together
This article proposes an arts-based ethnographic research design as a means of engaging in ethical, meaningful, and culturally sensitive research with newcomer communities. Moving away from the manner in which culture has traditionally been defined and studied in psychology, this research design uses cultural probes and subsequent qualitative interviews to collect data about newcomers’ everyday experiences in Canada. Cultural probes are sets of c…
Exploring newcomer women’s embodied selves
In recent years, several scholars have called for the construct of embodiment as a meaningful way to explore the ways in which women experience their bodies. However, limited research has explored embodiment specifically amongst newcomer women who are part of visible minority groups in Canada. Although embodiment theories acknowledge the central role of culture in shaping the ways individuals experience their bodies, it remains unclear if and how…
Disclosing an Eating Disorder
Disclosing a mental illness can be difficult, especially for those affected by eating disorders. Individuals impacted by eating disorders often worry that disclosing their situation may lead to fear, judgment, and stigmatization. Online eating disorder communities have become increasingly popular, hosting thousands of users worldwide, and may be safe places for individuals with eating disorders to communicate and connect. In this postmodern study…
Is there more to the equation? Weight bias and the costs of obesity
Regarding obesity as a disease is associated with lower weight bias among physicians
Adapting Descriptive Psychological Phenomenology to Include Dyadic Interviews
Dyadic interviews are an approach to qualitative data collection designed to understand the meaning pairs of individuals make from experiences. The greatest benefit of dyadic interviews, and perhaps a reason for their gaining momentum in the literature, is that they encourage participants to interact, resulting in detailed and complex descriptions of phenomena. However, dyadic interviews pose challenges to qualitative researchers. Researchers mus…
“My Whole World Fell Apart”
This was the first study to examine the experience of parents who discover their child was living with anorexia nervosa (AN), thus fulfilling a critical gap in the eating disorder literature. Gadamerian hermeneutic inquiry was the guiding philosophy and method used to investigate this topic. Dialogues with parents revealed the ambiguity inherent within discovery; the isolation, betrayal, and loss felt by parents; and the complicated family dynami…
Capturing the Shadow and Light of Researcher Positionality
Acknowledging researcher positionality and engaging in ongoing reflexivity are important components of qualitative research. In this manuscript, we share our experiences of examining our positionality and engaging in reflexive practice related to a research project with newcomer women in Canada. As a team of researchers from diverse backgrounds, we engaged in a picture-prompted poly-ethnographic conversation to better understand our attitudes, as…
Working Together? A Situational Analysis of Combining Prevention Efforts Targeting Obesity and Eating Disorders in Schools
The serious consequences and difficulties with treatment of obesity and eating disorders have prompted many to suggest focusing on prevention. Although most often considered distinct conditions with competing needs, some have advocated for an integrated approach to the prevention of a spectrum of weight-related issues including obesity and eating disorders. Despite a strong rationale for focusing prevention on the spectrum of weight-related issue…
One-size-fits-none’
Many researchers have explored the impact or effectiveness of eating disorder (ED) and obesity (OB) prevention in schools. Few, however, have investigated integrated prevention, and despite recommendations to shift the individual focus of prevention to environmental or systemic change, even fewer researchers have considered the broader situation. In this study, we explored how weight-related issues are negotiated in Canadian schools, and what ins…
“Teacher Burnout Is One of My Greatest Fears”
Teacher burnout is often positioned as a common result of the complex demands of the teaching profession (García-Carmona et al., 2019). While there is no denying the demanding nature of teaching, in this article we present an alternative perspective on the widespread burnout discussion that distinguishes between burnout and the complexities of teacher attrition, and offer a more hopeful and strengths-based approach to the teaching profession. In …
Changes in Pre-Service Teacher Personal and Professional Attitudes Following a Comprehensive School Health Course
Comprehensive school health (CSH) is a framework that can support teachers in the delivery of health-related content as well as supporting health promotion within the school community. In this study, 222 Bachelor of Education students completed surveys at the beginning and end of a mandatory six-week course on CSH with a body weight-neutral focus. Following the course, participants had significantly positively increased attitudes toward CSH, self…
Taking Weight Out of the Equation
Weight-neutral approaches emphasize improving individuals’ relationships with food and prioritizing emotional and physical well-being over the pursuit of a lower weight as well as support the reduction of stigma experienced by persons with larger bodies. Discourse about health in schools needs to consider students of all sizes as well as the complexities of the relationship that individuals develop with their bodies. A comprehensive school health…
Feminist understandings of newcomer women's embodiment
In recent years, numerous scholars have advocated for the concept of embodiment—defined as the experience of engaging one's body with the world ( Allan, 2005 ; Piran & Teall, 2012 )—as a valuable framework for understanding women's experiences of their bodies. However, there is a paucity of research on embodiment specifically among newcomer women (including immigrants, refugees, and non-permanent residents) who belong to racialized groups in Cana…
Going against everything society has told me”
Psychology (24 works) · Sociology (12 works) · Medicine (11 works) · Obesity and Health Practices (11 works) · Social Psychology (11 works) · Social Psychology (11 works) · Political science (8 works) · Eating Disorders and Behaviors (7 works) · Pedagogy (7 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (6 works)