Deanne Simms

I completed my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at UNB in 2011 under Sandi's supervision. My research at UNB  focused on gender differences in interpersonal perceptions of sexual aspects of the relationships of dating partners. In my first study, we found gender differences in the way men and women appraised their sexual relationship. We also found that relationship variables were related to the accuracy of partner perception--i.e., to understanding. In my second research project, I explored the association between interpersonal perception of specific sexual desires and sexual satisfaction of dating couples. We found gender differences in daters' perceptions of their partner’s sexual desires. We also found an association between some of these perceptions and sexual satisfaction. 

My dissertation examined the utility of the Theory of Planned Behaviour in explaining the sexual initiation behaviours of men and women in dating relationships. More frequent sexual initiations by an individual or by their partner was associated with greater sexual satisfaction for both men and women. As predicted, the more favourable the perceived social norms and attitudes toward initiating sexual activity, and the greater perceived behavioural control over initiating, the stronger were individuals' intentions to initiate sexual activity. In turn, stronger initiation intentions were associated with more frequent initiation behaviours. That is, sexual initiation intentions mediated the relationship between the predictors and sexual initiation behaviours. Further, compared to women, men initiated sexual activity more frequently, had stronger sexual initiation intentions, and perceived more positive social norms regarding their sexual initiation However, the men and the women did not differ in their attitudes toward sexual initiation or their perceived competence to initiate sex. This suggests that cognitive aspects of the initiation script are equalitarian whereas initiation intentions and behaviours continue to be guided by gender-discrepant sociosexual norms.

In addition to the research I complted  for my Ph.D., I served as a researcher at the National Research Council of Canada. Here I have investigated the use of information and communication technologies (e.g., videoconferencing) in providing mental health services to clients in remote and rural locations (specifically to First Nations and Operational Stress Injury clients). The research aims to improve these technologies and augment service delivery to these underserved populations.

While  at UNB, in keeping with my interest in human sexuality, I co-taught the Human Sexuality course. I  also had the opportunity to supervise the research of an undergraduate student in the Honours Psychology program. 

I  also had the opportunity to complete two practica while attending UNB: one  at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario and one at Counselling Services at UNB. I also worked as  a Clinical Associate in the private practice of  Dr. Larry Heinlein and Dr. Sandra Byers and saw couples and individuals dealing with relationship and sexual problems. Finally, I completed my predoctoral internship at the London Clinical Psychology Residency Consortium in London, Ontario. From 2011 to 2013 I worked in primary are at two family medical centres for London Health Services in London, Ontario.

Currently, I am working as a clinical psychologist on an inpatient psychiatric unit at the IWK in Halifax, working with  youth who present with a broad spectrum of acutl psychiatric conditions. My role includes assessment, individual and group treatment, case coordination, outcome evaluation, and program development.

Here are my publications from my work while at UNB:

Simms, D. C., & Byers, E. S. (2013). Heterosexual daters' sexual initiation behaviors: Use of the Theory of Planned Behavior. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 42, 105-116

Simms, D. C., Gibson, K., & O'Donnell, S. (2011). To use or not to use: Clinicians' perceptions of telemental health. Canadian Psychology, 52, 41-51. doi: 10.1037/a0022275

Simms, D. C., & Byers, E. S. (2009). Interpersonal perceptions of ideal sexual frequency within dating partners.  Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 18, 15-25.

Simms, D. D., O'Donnell, S., & Molyneaux, H. (2009). The use of virtual reality in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Virtual and Mixed Reality, 5622, 615-624.

O'Donnell, S., Perley, S., Simms, D. C., & Hancock, B. R. (2009). Video communication roadblocks facing remote indigenous communities.  Technology and Society, (IEEE), 28 (2), 16-22.

Simms, D. C., Fournier, H., Molyneaux, H., & O'Donnell, S. (2008) Perspective taking and attitude change change among adolescent participants using video technologies: A case study.  Proceedings of the International Communications Association Annual Conference. Chicago, Ill.

O'Donnell, S., Perley, S., & Simms, D. C. (2008). Challenges for video communication in remote and rural communities. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Techology and Society, Fredericton, NB. Chicago, Ill.

Molyneaux, H., Gibson, K., Simms, D. C., O'Donnell, S., Oakley, P., Kondratova, I., McIver, W., Lumsden, J., Fournier, H., & Hagerman, V. (2009). Information and communication technolgies fo rassessing and treating operational stress injury.  Fredericton: National Research Council. ERB-1159. NRC 50740.

Molyneaux, H., O'Donnell, S., Gibson, K., Simms, D. C., Oakley, P., Kondratova, I., Lumsden, J., McIver, W., Milliken, M., Pinelle, D., & Hagerman, V. (2009). Patient portal technologies.  Fredericton: National Research Council. ERB-1164. NRC 50795.

Simms, D. C., Milliken, M., O'Donnell, S., Fournier, H., & Emond, B. (2008). BVCam in the virtual classroom. Fredericton: National Research Council. ERB-1154. NRC 50411.

Simms, D. C., O'Donnell, S., & Perley, S. (2008). Attitudes toward and use of video communications by educators in First Nations schools in Atlantic Canada. Fredericton: National Research Council. ERB-1154. NRC 50411.

Simms, D. C., O'Donnell, S., Milliken, M., Fournier, H., & Emond, B. (2008). Technology update report: BVCam in the virtual classroom. Fredericton: National Research Council. ERB-1154. NRC 50411.