Associate Professor, Ph.D.
(University of Toronto)

Office: CRN 326
905-688-5550 x4557
ctardifwilliams@brocku.ca
Dr. Tardif-Williams is a developmental psychologist whose main research interests include the social emotional development of children and youth within the context of family relationships. Specifically, Dr. Tardif-Williams is interested in the role of companion animals in the lives of children and youth, the quality of parent-child interactions, and trauma and abuse in the lives of children and youth. Dr. Tardif-Williams is currently conducting research that adopts a relational developmental systems framework and that employs both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to examine the role of children’s interactions with companion animals (within family- and school-based contexts) on children’s academic, social and emotional outcomes. This latter research project reflects Dr. Tardif-Williams’ burgeoning interest in children’s close relationships with animals.
Graduate Students:
Dr. Tardif-Williams is currently accepting graduate students at both the MA and PhD levels in Child and Youth Studies.
Dr. Tardif-Williams is currently supervising the following Child and Youth graduate students.
Renata Roma is examining the role of perceived personality matching in owner-dog dyads on social emotional and physical well-being among university students.
The role of companion animals in the lives of children and youth (e.g., the child-animal bond and animal/child abuse, empathy, mental health and coping, and disabilities and therapy)
Parent-child relationships, attachment and conflict
Child maltreatment; trauma and abuse in the lives of children and youth
Tardif-Williams, C. Y., & Binfet, J. T. (2023). Virtual Human-Animal Interactions: Supporting Learning, Social Connections and Well-Being. [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Routledge.
Roma, R., Tardif-Williams, C. Y., Moore, S., & Pendry, P. (under review). My ‘perfect’ dog: Undesired dog behaviours and owners’ coping styles. Human-Animal Interactions.
Panchyshyn, V., Tekok-Kilic, A., Frijters, J., Tardif-Williams, C. Y. (accepted). Sensory sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty and sex differences in anxiety: A moderated-mediation model. Heliyon.
Roma, R., Tardif-Williams, C. Y., & Bosacki, S. L. (accepted). “Because they are a part of life:” Children’s ideas about the welfare, rights, and protection of animals and ecosystems. Journal of Moral Education. 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. (accepted). When therapy dogs provide virtual comfort: Exploring university students’ insights and perspectives. People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice.
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. (2022b). 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 DOI: 10.1080/08974454.2020.1741486 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
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).
Dr. Tardif-Williams is currently teaching:
- CHYS 3P12 – Emotions in Children and Youth
- CHYS 4P08 – Companion Animals in the Lives of Children and Youth
- CHYS 4P50 – Trauma and Abuse in the Lives of Children and Youth
- CHYS 3P09 – Culture and Mental Health in Children and Youth