Christine Tardif-Williams

Professor, Ph.D.

Christine Tardif-Williams posing in front of bookshelves in an office.

CRN 326
905-688-5550 x4557
ctardifwilliams@brocku.ca

Christine Yvette Tardif-Williams received her PhD from the University of Toronto in Human Development and Applied Psychology. She is currently a professor in the Department of Child and Youth Studies at Brock University. Her research adopts both basic and applied approaches and is informed by the interdisciplinary fields of child and youth studies and human-animal interactions. Dr. Tardif-Williams’ research focuses more broadly on how close bonds between humans and animals shape the social and emotional lives of children and youth. Specifically, her research examines human-animal interactions, children’s interactions with animals (within family, school, and virtual contexts), and various aspects of parent-child relationships. Dr. Tardif-Williams’ research on children’s and dog handlers’ experiences with animals and therapy dogs in a variety of contexts has been published in Anthrozoös, Society and Animals, Human-Animal Interactions, and Pet Behavior Science. Dr. Tardif-Williams is the co-author of two recently published books, one titled Virtual Human-Animal Interactions: Supporting Learning, Social Connections and Well-Being (Tardif-Williams & Binfet, 2023) and one titled Optimizing Therapy Dog-Handler Team Welfare: A Guide for Practitioners and Researchers (Binfet & Tardif-Williams, 2024, forthcoming).

Research and Teaching Areas

  • Children’s interactions with animals
  • The benefits of therapy dog interactions for children and youth
  • Children’s family-based relationships
  • Children’s social and emotional functioning

Selected Publications and Presentations

Books

  • Binfet, J. T., & Tardif-Williams, C. Y. (2024, forthcoming). Optimizing Therapy Dog-Handler Team Welfare: A Guide for Researchers and Practitioners. UK: Routledge.
  • Tardif-Williams, C. Y., & Binfet, J. T. (2023). Virtual Human-Animal Interactions: Supporting Learning, Social Connections and Well-Being. UK: Routledge. Virtual human-animal interactions: Supporting learning, social connections and well-being.
  • Marinos, V., Tardif-Williams, C. Y., Zinga, D., Pomerantz, S., Raby, R. (2021). Exploring Agency in Children and Youth: Expressions and Constraints. Athabasca University Press, Edmonton, Alberta.

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles & Book Chapters

  • Tardif-Williams, C. Y., Binfet, J. T., Green, F. L. L., Godard, R. J. P., Singal, A., Rousseau, C. X., & Roma, R. (revise & resubmit). On and beyond the campus context: Reducing student and community member stress through virtual canine comfort modules. Human-Animal Interactions.
  • Ciotti, S., Moore, S. A., & Tardif-Williams, C. Y. (under review). “Doctors…listen to your patients, believe your patients”: Patient Experiences of Motherhood, and Symptom Persistent Lyme Disease in Canada. Journal of Patient Experience.
  • Roma, R., Tardif-Williams, C. Y., Moore, S., & Pendry. (2024). Lots of love and a little hate: A qualitative exploration of young Canadians’ experiences of undesired dog behaviours. Pets, 1(1), 33-43, https://doi.org/10.3390/pets1010005
  • Varadi, A-L., Raby, R., Tardif-Williams, C. Y. (2024). “I don’t really have many”: Student parents navigating social supports. Canadian Journal of Family and Youth, 16(3),115-133. http://dx.doi.org/10.29173/cjfy30068
  • Ciotti, S., Moore, S. A., & Tardif-Williams, C. Y. (2023). “I can do anything if I’ve overcome that”: A collaborative case study of an adolescent with symptom with Lyme Disease in Canada. Adolescents, 3(3), 524-537. https://doi.org/10.3390/adolescents3030037
  • Panchyshyn, V., Tekok-Kilic, A., Frijters, J., Tardif-Williams, C. Y. (2023). Sensory sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty and sex differences in anxiety: A moderated-mediation model. Heliyon, 9(3). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36923830/
  • Roma, R., Tardif-Williams, C. Y., Moore, S., & Pendry, P. (2023). My ‘perfect’ dog: Undesired dog behaviours and owners’ coping styles. Human-Animal Interactions. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/hai.2023.0011
  • Roma, R., Tardif-Williams, C. Y., & Bosacki, S. L. (2023). “Because they are a part of life:” Children’s ideas about the welfare, rights, and protection of animals and ecosystems. Journal of Moral Education, 52(4), 511-525. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2023.2176835
  • Tardif-Williams, C. Y., Binfet, J. T., Green, F. L. L., Roma, R., Akshat, S., Rousseau, C. X., & Godard, R. J. P. (2023). When therapy dogs provide virtual comfort: Exploring university students’ insights and perspectives. People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 6(1), Article 5. Available at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/paij/vol6/iss1/5
  • Tardif-Williams, C. Y., & Roma, R. (2022). Exploring children’s insights about participating in recreational activities with horses and farm animals: Social emotional experiences and belief in animal mind. People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 5(1), Article 14. Available at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/paij/vol5/iss1/14
  • Bosacki, S. L., Tardif-Williams, C. Y., & Roma, R. (2022). Children’s pet attachment, empathy, and compassionate responding to self and others. Adolescents, 2, 493–507. https://doi.org/10.3390/adolescents2040039
  • Binfet, J. T., Tardif-Williams, C. Y., Draper, Z. A., Green, F. L. L., Singal, A., Rousseau, C. X., & Roma, R. (2022). Virtual canine comfort: A randomized controlled trial of the effects of a canine-assisted intervention supporting undergraduate wellbeing. Anthrozoӧs, 35(6), 809-832. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2022.2062866
  • Howell, T. J., Nieforth, L., Thomas-Pino, C., Samet, L., Agbonika, S., Cuervas-Pavincich, F., Ekholm Fry, N., Hill, K., Jegatheesan, B., Kakinuma, M., Macnamara, M., Mattila-Rautiainen, S., Perry, A., Tardif-Williams, C. Y., Walsh, E., A., Winkle, M., Yamamoto, M., Yerbury, R., Rawat, V., … Bennett, P. (2022). Defining terms used for animals working in support roles for people with support needs. Animals, 12(15), 1975. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12151975
  • Rousseau, C. X., Binfet, J. T., Green, F., Tardif-Williams, C. Y., Draper, Z., & Maynard, A. (2020). Up the leash: Exploring canine handlers’ perceptions of volunteering in canine-assisted interventions. Pet Behavior Science, 10, 15-35. https://doi.org/10.21071/pbs.vi10.12598
  • Roma, R., Tardif-Williams, C. Y., Moore, S. A., & Bosacki, S. L., (2020). A
    transdisciplinary perspective on dog-handler-client interactions in animal assisted activities for children, youth and young adults. Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, 9(2), 62-91. https://habricentral.org/resources/73517/supportingdocs
  • Varadi, A-L., Raby, R., & Tardif-Williams, C. Y. (2020). Discourses of good motherhood and the policing of young parenthood. Women & Criminal Justice, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/08974454.2020.1741486
  • Bosacki, S. L., & Tardif-Williams, C. Y. (2019). Children’s mental state talk, empathy and attachments to companion animals. Psychology of Language & Communication, 23(1), 284-301. https://doi.org/10.2478/plc-2019-0013
  • Rousseau, C. X., & Tardif-Williams, C. Y. (2019). Turning the page for Spot: The potential of therapy dogs to support reading motivation among young children. Anthrozoӧs, 32(5), 665-677. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2019.1645511
  • Tardif-Williams, C. Y., Binfet, J. T., & Rousseau, C. X. (2019). Shifting preservice teachers’ views of animal welfare and advocacy through a human-animal relationships course. Society & Animals: Journal of Human-Animal Studies, early online edition. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685306-12341640
  • Tardif-Williams, C. Y., Bosacki, S. L. (2017). Gender and age differences in children’s perceptions of self-companion animal interactions expressed through drawings. Society and Animals: Journal of Human-Animal Studies, 25(1), 77-97. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685306-12341433
  • Tardif-Williams, C. Y., Tanaka, M., Boyle, M., & MacMillan, H. (2015). The impact of childhood abuse and current mental health on young adult intimate relationship functioning. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515599655
  • Tardif-Williams, C. Y., & Bosacki, S. L. (2015). Evaluating the impact of a humane education summer camp program on school-aged children’s relationships with companion animals. Anthrozoӧs, 28(4), 587-600. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2015.1070001

Academic and Professional Conference Presentations

Over 75 peer-reviewed presentations (paper & poster) at regional, national and international conferences (e.g., International Society for Anthrozoology, Jean Piaget Society, Canadian Society for the Study of Education, International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development, Society for Research in Child Development, Canadian Psychological Association, American Psychological Association).