PhD Student, Psychology (Vanier Scholar)
Email: aliciamcvarnock@cmail.carleton.ca
Twitter: @aliciamcvarnock
Previous Degrees:
Master of Science, Applied Science, Saint Mary’s University
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Saint Mary’s University
Research Interests:
I am a third-year PhD student in Developmental Psychology, working under the supervision of Dr. Robert Coplan. My research currently focuses on experiences of solitude during adolescence and emerging adulthood. I am specifically interested in looking beyond time alone to consider how the “what” (i.e., solitary activities), “why” (i.e., internal motivations), and “where” (i.e., environmental context) of solitude interact to predict well-being. I am also enthusiastic about advanced statistical techniques and hope to graduate with a concentration in Quantitative Methodology.
As a secondary line of research, I use participatory action, mixed (qualitative/quantitative) research methods to examine how community-based interventions can be leveraged to enhance ecological resilience in violence-affected youth.
Undergraduate Honours Thesis Title: Social withdrawal and academic achievement in emerging adulthood
Master of Science Thesis Title: Service quality, resilience, and social-emotional competence in vulnerable youth: What’s LOVE got to do with it?
Doctoral Dissertation Title: TBA
Selected Publications:
Bekkhus, M., McVarnock, A., Coplan, R. J., Ulset, V. V., & Kraft, B. (2022). Developmental changes in the structure of shyness and internalizing symptoms from early to middle childhood. Child Development, 94(4), 1078-1086. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13906
Closson, L. M., & McVarnock, A. M., & Cook, L. E. (2022). Is there an upside to social withdrawal? Considering well-being among socially withdrawn emerging adults. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 17, 3131-3149. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-022-10056-w
Coplan, R. J., & McVarnock, A., Hipson, W. E., & Bowker, J, C. (2022). Alone with my phone? Examining beliefs about solitude and technology use in adolescence. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 00(0), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/01650254221113460
McVarnock, A., Cheng, T., Polakova, L., & Coplan, R. J. (2023). Are you alone? A review of measures of solitude in childhood, adolescence and emerging adulthood. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1179677
McVarnock, A., & Closson, L. M. (2022). Subtypes of social withdrawal and academic adjustment in emerging adulthood. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 40(2), 352-367. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12411
Closson, L. M., McVarnock, A., & Sanford, K. (2019). Social withdrawal and social surrogacy in emerging adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48, 717-730. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0932-4
Zhu, J., McVarnock, A., Polakova, L., Xiang, S., Li, Y., & Coplan, R. J. (2023). Shyness and socio-emotional adjustment among young Chinese children: The moderating role of screen time. Behavioral Sciences, 13(9), 763. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13090763