Contact:
Degree in Progress:
PhD in Psychology (Clinical Psychology Stream), Toronto Metropolitan University
Degrees:
2021, MA in Psychology (Clinical Psychology Stream), Toronto Metropolitan University
2018, BA (Honours) in Psychology and Minor in Ethics, Western University
Research Interests:
Broadly, I am interested in the role of cognitive, affective, and interpersonal mechanisms in the etiology and maintenance of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). My research is particularly focused on the contribution of the self and self-related constructs (e.g., the self-schema) to chronic worry. My Masters thesis examined the associations between self-discrepancies and self-concept clarity to worry, GAD symptom severity, and associated maladaptive processes (e.g., intolerance of uncertainty, negative problem orientation). For my dissertation, I aim to extend this work by examining the structure of the self-schema among individuals high in worry in addition to other components of their self-identity. Outside of the CAP Lab, my other research and professional interests concern the development and evaluation of accessible, low-barrier mental health resources for post-secondary and marginalized populations.
Research Support:
2022: Toronto Metropolitan University Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral Award
2021: Ontario Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral Award
2020: CIHR Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship
Selected Publications:
Ecclestone, A., Linden, B., Monaghan, C., & Zheng, S. (2022). Protocol for a Comprehensive Evaluation of Canada’s Student Mental Health Network [Manuscript submitted for publication].
Gervasio, J., Zheng, S., Skrotzki, C., & Pachete, A. (2022). The effect of oral contraceptive use on cortisol reactivity to the Trier Social Stress Test: A meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendrocrinology, 136, 105626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105626
Zheng, S., Marcos, M., Stewart, K. E., Szabo, J., Pawluk, E., Girard, T. A., & Koerner, N. (2022). Worry, intolerance of uncertainty, negative urgency, and their associations to paranoid thinking. Personality and Individual Differences, 186, 111382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111382
Zheng, S., Stewart, J. G., Bagby, R. M., & Harkness, K. L. (2021). Specific early maladaptive schemas differentially mediate the relations of emotional and sexual maltreatment to recent life events in depression. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 29(3), 1020–1033. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2681
Selected Conference Presentations:
Zheng, S., Cupid, J., Deska, J. C., & Koerner, N. (2022, September). Ideal, Ought, and Feared Self-Identities in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) [Paper presentation]. European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (EABCT) Annual Conference, Barcelona, Spain.
Zheng, S., Rose, J. Monaghan, C., & Linden, B. (2021, August 12–13). Impact of COVID-19 Related Stressors on Canadian Post-Secondary Students’ Mental Health [Conference presentation]. Collaborations for Change: Connecting Research and Practice in Post-Secondary Mental Health, Calgary, ON, Canada.
Zheng, S., Ovanessian, M., & Koerner, N. (2021, May). Shame aversion and fear of other emotional experiences in generalized anxiety disorder [Virtual poster presentation]. Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (CACBT) annual meeting.