Stephanie Zito | Dr. Nancy Heath Research Team

STEPHANIE ZITO, M.ED.

School/Applied Child Psychology

Research Interests: mindfulness, mental health in schools, emotion regulation

Email Address: stephanie.zito@mail.mcgill.ca

Awards

2022-2025 – Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) Doctoral Scholarship, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC, $105,000; held)
2022 - Principal's Prize for Public Engagement Through Media, McGill University ($5,000)
2020-2021 – Canadian Italian Business & Professional Association (CIBPA) Meritorious Bursary ($2,000)
2020 – Judy Fish Graduate Award in Inclusive Education, McGill University ($2,417)
2020 – Graduate Excellence Fellowship, McGill University ($3,500)
2020 – Adolescent Wellness and Community Engagement Award, McGill University ($2,000)
2019 – John A. Bryant Memorial Award ($1,000)

Publications

Zito, S., Petrovic, J., Böke, B. N., Sadowski, I., Carsley, D., & Heath, N. L. (revisions requested). Exploring the stress management and well-being needs of pre-service teachers. Journal of Teaching and Teacher Education.

Mettler, J., Zito, S., Bastien, L., Bloom, E., & Heath, N. L. (in press). How we teach mindfulness matters: Adolescent development and the importance of informal mindfulness. Journal of School Psychology.

Böke, B. N., Petrovic, J., Zito, S., Sadowski, I., Carsley, D., Rodger, S., & Heath, N. L. (2023). Two for one: Effectiveness of a mandatory personal and classroom stress management program for pre-service teachers. School Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000611

Mettler, J., Khoury, B., Zito, S., Sadowski, I., & Heath, N. L. (2023). Mindfulness-based programs and school adjustment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of School Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2022.10.007

Bastien, L., Böke, B. N., Mettler, J., Zito, S., Di Genova, L., Romano, V., Lewis, S. P., Whitley, R., Iyer, S., & Heath, N. L. (2022). Comparing a peer-presented vs. mental health service provider-presented mental health outreach program for university students: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.2196/34168

Golt, R., Zito, S., Böke, B. N., & Heath, N. L. (2021). The acceptability and effectiveness of mental illness anti-stigma programs at the high school and university level. In A. Nordstrom & W. Goodfriend (Eds.) Innovative Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Programs. Taylor & Francis Routledge.

Conferences

Mettler, J., Zito, S., Bastien, L., Bloom, E., & Heath, N. L. (2024, August). How we teach mindfulness matters: Adolescent development and the importance of informal mindfulness. Talk submitted for presentation at the International Conference on Mindfulness, Bangor, UK.

Zito, S., Riondino, G., & Heath, N. L. (2024, June). Group-based mindfulness interventions for neurodiverse youth: A scoping review. Talk accepted for presentation at the 85th annual Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) conference, Ottawa, ON.

Milad, J., Mettler, J., Petrovic, J., Zito, S., Rogers, M. A., Bloom, E., & Heath, N. L. (2024, June). “Am I doing it wrong?”: A qualitative exploration of formal and informal mindfulness activities for university students with ADHD. Talk accepted for presentation at the 85th annual Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) conference, Ottawa, ON.

Bastien, L., Zito, S., Böke, B. N., Mettler, J., Di Genova, L., Romano, V., Lewis, S. P., Whitley, R., Iyer, S. N., & Heath, N. L. (2022, June). Participatory action research for effective knowledge mobilization. Poster presented at the Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum, Virtual Conference.

Kiafar, A., Nordine, A., Zito, S., Bastien, L., Mettler, J., Böke, B. N., & Heath, N. L. (2021, October). University students’ perspectives on coping before and during the pandemic. Poster presented at the Société Québécoise pour la Recherche en Psychologie (SQRP) virtual conference.

Bastien, L., Böke, B. N., Zito, S., Mettler, J., Di Genova, L., Romano, V., & Heath, N. L. (2021, August). Evaluating peer versus professional video outreach to enhance mental health resilience in university students. Talk presented at the virtual Canadian Post-Secondary Mental Health Conference.

Mettler, J., Khoury, B., Zito, S., Sadowski, I., & Heath, N. L. (2021, July). Mindfulness-based programs and school adjustment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Oral presentation presented at the International Conference on Mindfulness (ICM) 2021, Aarhus, Denmark.

Bastien, L., Zito, S., Mettler, J., Di Genova, L., Romano, V., Lewis, S. P., Whitley, R., Iyer, S. N., & Heath, N. L. (2021, June). Stress and Coping: Online Outreach Program (SCOOP). Concurrent session presented at the Canadian Association of College & University Student Services (CACUSS) virtual conference.

Di Genova, L., Thannhauser, J., Bastien, L., Zito, S., Romano, V., Duffy, A., Nalder, E., & Kirsh, B. (2021, June). Innovative perspectives on university student mental health: Student and patient-oriented research - year 2 project updates (CIHR-SPOR Collaboration Grants). Concurrent session presented at the Canadian Association of College & University Student Services (CACUSS) virtual conference.

Petrovic, J., Böke, B. N., Zito, S., Argento, A., Rodger, S., & Heath, N. L. (2021, June). Supporting university students' mental health during COVID-19: The effectiveness of a virtual wellness program for pre-service teachers. Poster session presented virtually at the 48th annual Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS) conference.

Kiafar, A., Nordine, A., Zito, S., Bastien, L., Mettler, J., & Heath N. L. (2021, April). University student perspectives on changes in coping during onset and early Covid-19. Poster session presented virtually at McGill University's 5th Annual Human Development Conference.

Petrovic, J., Böke, B. N., Zito, S., Bastien, L., Washer, S., McAuley, L., Carsley, D., Di Genova, L., Romano, V., & Heath, N. L. (2020, November). The development, pilot, and evaluation of a tiered service provision model to build mental health resilience in undergraduate engineering students. Poster session presented at the University of Waterloo Virtual Conference on Student Mental Health Research.

Böke, B. N., Argento, A., Zito, S., Petrovic, J., Sadowski, I., Carsley, D., & Heath, N. L. (2020, June). Multi-media approaches in teacher education: An initiative to support pre-service teacher well-being. Talk accepted for presentation at the annual Supporting Active Learning & Technological Innovation in Studies of Education (SALTISE) conference, Montreal, QC. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19)

Sadowski, I., Böke, B.N., Zito, S., Petrovic, J., Carsley, D., Argento, A., Rodger, S., Heath, N.L. (2020, May). Tracking the trajectory of integrating well-being education in a teacher preparation program. Paper accepted for presentation at the 48th Canadian Society for the Study of Education Conference, London, ON. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19)

Zito, S., Simundic, A., Argento, A., & Heath, N. L. (2020, May). The mediating role of emotion regulation for university students with a history of non-suicidal self-injury. Poster session accepted for presentation at the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) annual convention, Montreal, QC. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19)

Zito, S., Simundic, A., Argento, A., & Heath, N. L. (2020, April). The relationship between mindfulness, emotion regulation, and non-suicidal self-injury. Poster submitted to the 5th annual Human Development Conference, Montreal, QC. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19)

Zito, S., Simundic, A., & Heath, N. L. (2020, April). Mindfulness in the classroom: Strategies to support students living with autism spectrum disorder. Workshop accepted for presentation at the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Association (CASDA) 2020 Leadership Summit, Ottawa, ON. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19)

Zito, S., Bastien, L., Mettler, J., Heath, N., & Di Genova, L. (2019, June). Peer versus Professional Video Outreach to Enhance Mental Health Resilience in University Students. Concurrent Session Presented at the Canadian Association of College & University Student Services (CACUSS) Conference, Calgary, AB.

Di Genova, L., Czarnuch, S., Cornish, P., Duffy, A., Nalder, E., Kirsh, B., Thannhauser, J., Zito, S., & Romano, V. (2019, June). Innovative Perspectives on University Student Mental Health: Student and Patient-Oriented Research Project Updates (CIHR-SPOR Collaboration Grants). Concurrent Session Presented at the Canadian Association of College & University Student Services (CACUSS) Conference, Calgary, AB.

Zito, S., Böke, B. N., Sadowski, I., Carsley, D., Petrovic, J. & Heath, N. L. (2019, June). Supporting pre-service teachers’ mental health and well-being. Poster session presented at the Canadian Association of College & University Student Services (CACUSS) Conference, Calgary, AB.

Zito, S., Simundic, A., Argento, A., Charlebois., F., & Heath, N. L. (2019, June). Patterns of initiation and cessation of non-suicidal self-injury in university students. Poster session presented at the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury (ISSS) annual convention, Orlando, FL, USA.

Böke, B. N., Zito, S., Sadowski, I., Carsley, D., & Heath, N. L. (2019, June). A national survey on pre-Service teachers’ stress-management and well-being needs. Paper presented at the 47th Canadian Society for the Study of Education Conference, Vancouver, BC.

Zito, S., Simundic, A., Argento, A., Charlebois, F. & Heath, N. (2019, April). Initiation and cessation patterns of non-suicidal self-injury: What are the characteristics? Poster session presented at McGill’s 4th Annual Human Development Student Research Conference, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Zito, S., Böke, B. N., Sadowski, I., Petrovic, J., Carsley, D. & Heath, N. L. (2019, March). Regulating emotions and stress in pre-service teachers (RESST): A stress management and well-being program. Oral presentation presented at the 18th Annual Education Graduate Students’ Society Conference, McGill University. Montreal, QC.

Zito, S., Böke, B. N., Sadowski, I., Carsley, D., Petrovic, J. & Heath, N. L. (2019, March). Supporting pre-service teacher’s mental health and well-being: A needs assessment. Poster session presented at the Department of Education Graduate Symposium, Concordia University. Montreal, QC.

Etoubashi, N., Böke, B. N., Zito, S., & Heath, N.L. (2018, March). Going to the source: Pre-service teachers’ specific stressors, needs, and coping strategies. Poster session presented at the 17th Annual Education Graduate Students’ Society Conference, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Invited Talks

Heath, N. L., Zito, S., Mettler, J., & Bastien, L. (2021, February) Parenting in difficult times: Supporting our children during unprecedented stress. Invited talk presented to the Montreal Centre for Learning Disabilities, Montreal, QC.

Heath, N. L., Böke, B. N., & Zito, S. (2020, November). Enhancing resilience during difficult times. Invited talk presented to communications staff at McGill University, Montreal, QC.

Heath, N. L., Böke, B. N., & Zito, S. (2020, November). Faculty matters: Practical strategies for difficult and uncertain times. Invited talk presented to Faculty members at McGill University, Montreal, QC.

Heath, N. L., Böke, B. N., & Zito, S. (2020, November). Enhancing resilience during difficult times. Invited talk presented to the Emergency Operations Committee at McGill University, Montreal, QC.

Zito, S. (2020, February). Effective Education Tools: Infographics. Invited guest lecture presented in the Adolescence and Education course [EDPE377] at McGill University. Montréal, QC.

Mettler, J., Bastien, L., Zito, S., Kiafar, A., Voutu, D., Simundic, A., & Heath, N. L. (January, 2020). Mindfulness and school adjustment in adolescence. Invited talk at Royal West Academy, Montreal, QC.

Zito, S., Mettler, J., & Heath, N. L. (2019, December). Mindfulness in the classroom: Addressing potential challenges for teachers and their students with neurodevelopmental conditions. Invited talk presented to teachers, support staff, and administration at Summit School, St. Laurent, QC.

Zito, S., Carsley, D., & Heath, N. L. (2019, November) Mindfulness in the Classroom: Practical strategies for teachers and their students with neurodevelopmental conditions. Invited talk presented to teachers, support staff, and administration at Summit School. St. Laurent, QC.

Zito, S., Böke, B. N., Sadowski, I., Petrovic, J., Carsley, D., & Heath, N. L. (2019, February) Brief overview of the Regulating Emotions and Stress in pre-Service Teachers (RESST) program. Invited guest lecture presented in the Fourth Year Professional Seminar course [EDSL415] at McGill University. Montréal, QC.

Workshops

Heath, N. L., Mettler, J., Zito, S., & Bastien, L. (2020, December). Unprecedented parenting: Supporting our teens in troubled times. Invited workshop presented at Trafalgar's Parent Community Network, Montréal, QC.

Zito, S., Bastien, L., Simundic, A., Mettler, J., & Heath, N. L. (2020, November). Mindfulness for Teens. Invited workshop presented to at École Maïmonide, Montreal, QC.

Böke, B. N., Zito, S., Sadowski, I., Petrovic, J., Carsley, D., & Heath, N. L. (2018, December). Regulating Emotions and Stress in pre-Service Teachers (RESST) instructor workshop. Presented to Fourth Year Professional Seminar course [EDSL415] Instructors at McGill University. Montréal, QC.