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I received my BHSc in Health Sciences with an honours specialization in Health Promotion from Western University in 2019. I went on to complete my MSc (2020) and PhD (2023) in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Health Promotion) at Western University. Prior to joining Laurier, I was a post-doctoral scholar within the Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health at the T. Denny Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion at the University of California San Diego.
I am an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University’s Milton campus. My research has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
My program of research focuses on prosocial behaviours, including kindness, compassion, and self-affirmation, that foster resilience and support positive psychosocial health among equity-denied groups. Using a strengths‑based approach, I examine how positive activity interventions can be leveraged to enhance mental health and well-being within these populations.
- 2024 School of Health Studies Alumni of Distinction Award (Western University)
- 2023 Governor General’s Gold Medal (Western University)
I am currently accepting applications from prospective MA, honours thesis, and directed study students for the 2027–2028 academic year.
Students in my lab will have the opportunity to contribute to research examining strengths-based, positive psychology approaches to promoting psychosocial health and well-being, with a particular focus on equity-denied and vulnerable populations, including children with cancer and their families, historically marginalized students, and youth. If you are interested, please email me with a brief description of your research interests and your CV.
I also welcome students interested in volunteering in my lab. Please get in touch for more information.
Shillington, K. J., Ho, H., Eck, L., Lo, S. M., Creswell, J. D., Dutcher, J., & Patrick, G. (2026). The Impact of a Self-Affirmation Intervention on the Mental and Social Health, and Academic Performance of Minoritized Students in STEM. Acta Psychologica, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106640
Shillington, K. J., Ho, H., Kemberling, J., Kim, H. C., Carmichael Valmadrid, L., Eck, L., Vieten, C., & Patrick, G. (2026). Mentorship Programs to Support Undergraduate Students’ Experiences of Compassion, Empathy, and Belonging: A Scoping Review. Discover Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-00898-5
Shillington, K. J., Yates, J., & Johnson, A. M. (2026). A Scoping Review of Kindness Measurement Tools. Personality and Individual Differences, 253, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2025.113616
Shillington, K. J., Lo, S. M., & Hobbie, L. (2025). A Utility Value Intervention to Support the Academic Outcomes of Undergraduate Students. Frontiers of Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1636446
Bayne, D. & Shillington, K. J. (2025). Prosocial Behaviour Interventions Implemented Among Undergraduate Student Populations: A Scoping Review. Journal of American College Health, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2024.2447826
Shillington, K. J., Yates, J., Jackson, K. T., Tryphonopoulos, P., & Mantler, T. (2024). “It makes me feel good making other people feel good”: How Women Who Experience Intimate Partner Violence Bolster Their Resilience Through Altruism. SN Social Sciences, 4(93). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-024-00891-z
Shillington, K. J., Morrow, D., Meadows, K., Labadie, C. T., Tran, B., Raza, Z., Qi, C., Vranckx, D. J., Bhalla, M., Bluth, K., Cousineau, T. M., Cunningham, D. E., Estrada, M., Massey, J., Ncube, N., & Irwin, J. D. (2023). Leveraging Kindness in Canadian Post-Secondary Education: A Conceptual Paper. College Teaching, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/87567555.2023.2181307
Shillington, K. J., Yates, J., Vanderloo, L. M., Burke, S. M., Ng, V., Tucker, T., & Irwin, J. D. (2023). ‘When you give kindness out, you get it back ten times more’: Ontario adults’ prosocial behaviour during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. PLOS ONE, 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288720
Shillington, K. J., Johnson, A. M., Mantler, T., Burke, S. M. & Irwin, J. D. (2021). Kindness as an Intervention for Student Social Interaction Anxiety, Resilience, Affect, and Mood: The KISS of Kindness Study II. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22(8), 3631-3661. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-021-00379-0
- PS270: Social Psychology
- PS280: Psychopathology
- PS295: Introduction to Research Methods
- PS282: Community Psychology
- PS399: Positive Psychology