Our work is informed by research-based evidence.
Research Projects and Studies.
The Mohammad H. Mohseni Foundation Chair in Men's Health, Integrity and Wellbeing has led research on men and masculinity in the workplace, and in our society and culture.
Fathers and Father Figures
Research suggests that positive father involvement contributes to a child’s emotional and social development, cognitive and language development, success in school, prevention of risky behaviours and situations, and other positive outcomes in adolescence and adulthood.
A father’s positive participation in a child’s life is also seen to create gender-equitable men and empowered women.
The Mohammad H. Mohseni Foundation Chair in Men's Health, Integrity and Wellbeing has established an interdisciplinary Fatherhood Research Initiative to build and mobilize new models that strengthen the role of fathers and father figures in children’s lives.
Outcomes from research undertaken by Dr. Kuhl and Dr. Shields informs the development of a program aimed at supporting the nurturing roles of current and soon to be and future fathers, as well as father figures (including mentors, coaches, and people with significant influence on public opinions and norms in the ‘parasocial realm’, such as social media).
Miltary and First Responder Resiliency
Military to Civilian Transition
The Mohammad H. Mohseni Foundation Chair in Men's Health, Integrity and Wellbeing conducted a literature report and review for Veterans Affairs Canada on the health and well-being of Veterans in transition out of the military. This research is now in use by internationally recognized organizations, including Veterans Affairs Canada, NATO, and the US Veterans Administration. Download the report.
Leaders & Team Culture
After The Game — Understanding The Experience of Athletes in Transition
A study developed for NHL Alumni Association to support professional hockey player retirement transition.This study seeks to shed light on the experiences of professional NHL hockey players after they retire from sports. Professional athletes approaching retirement often resist engaging in programs that address the increased incidence of stress and adjustment difficulties that come with retirement, such as identity loss or disruption, problematic substance abuse, relationship dysfunction, depression, withdrawal and suicide.
The first study of its kind conducted on how professionals can support athletes in developing effective coping strategies during the career transition process, The Mohammad H. Mohseni Foundation Chair in Men's Health, Integrity and Wellbeing conducted a series of semi-structured in-depth interviews with ex-professional hockey players who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).
This research project identified key themes in the transition experience, with the objective of informing future transition services for this population.
Leading in the Wake of #MeToo and Black Lives Matter
Recent gender- and race-based social protest movements led us to wonder about the extent to which they changed attitudes among all genders about equity and inclusion, and particularly how leaders lead and think.
In partnership with RBC, from June to September, 2021, The Mohammad H. Mohseni Foundation Chair in Men's Health, Integrity and Wellbeing conducted focus groups and a survey of C-suite leaders, to learn about how these movements impacted relationships between genders, such as sponsorship and mentoring, and especially between men who are leaders and people of other genders.
The final report showed that the social movements related to gender and racial and ethnic inclusion have had a significant impact on workplace attitudes and behaviours as well as how leaders are both perceived and acting, and that the workplace has changed in meaningful ways. Download the report.
Men and Boys
In a partnership with Equimundo, The Mohammad H. Mohseni Foundation Chair in Men's Health, Integrity and Wellbeing is investigating domestic decision-making in a post-Covid world. Part of the upcoming 2025 State of the World’s Fathers report, the study looks at the extent to which gender norms and the hegemonic construct of masculinity can lead to an asymmetrical division of unpaid labour in Canadian households, as well as time spent on physical and emotional self-care.
It is expected that this study’s final report will address shifts towards equality in housework due to an increase in the participation of fathers, particularly in tasks which are normatively linked with fatherhood, such as playing with children.