Canadian Research Research Articles

Child abuse prevalence estimates in Canada; comparisons of nationally representative data from 2012 to 2022: a population-based study.

Child abuse prevalence estimates in Canada; comparisons of nationally representative data from 2012 to 2022: a population-based study.

An interview with Guest Editor Heidi McBride

ABSTRACT Heidi McBride is Canada Research Chair in Mitochondrial Cell Biology and Professor at McGill University, Quebec, Canada. She obtained her BSC and PhD from McGill University and then carried out postdoctoral research with Marino Zerial at EMBL in Heidelberg, Germany. In 2000, Heidi started her own research lab at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, before moving back to McGill in 2011. Her research focuses on various aspects of mitochondrial biology, from the molecular mechanisms governing mitochondrial dynamics to their dysregulation in diseases, such as cancer and neurodegeneration. Heidi is one of the Guest Editors for the ‘Cell Biology of Mitochondria’ special issue of Journal of Cell Science; hence, we caught up with her to find out more about her career, her research and her experience of being a Guest Editor.

Sepsis research in Canada: An environmental scan of sepsis investigators, research, and funding.

Sepsis is the world's second leading cause of mortality. In 2017, the World Health Assembly declared sepsis a global priority and adopted a resolution prompting member states to improve the prevention, recognition, and management of sepsis. This cross-sectional study examines the sepsis research landscape in Canada, including demographics, scope, and funding. Using convenient sampling, sepsis researchers in Canada were asked to complete an online 20-question survey. We also scanned the CIHR funding database from 2012-2022 to quantify national research dollars spent on sepsis-related projects. Quantitative data was summarized using descriptive statistics, and textual descriptions of current sepsis research activities were analyzed thematically. With a response rate of 46% (69 of the 150), respondents were primarily men (n = 46/69, 67%), who identified as White/European (n = 49/69, 71%), and were professors or clinical professors (n = 36/69, 52%). The predominant areas of research focus were identification of sepsis (n = 21/55, 38%) and treatment/management (29/55, 53%) of sepsis, while sepsis prevention (n = 4/55, 7%) and sepsis education (n = 5/55, 9%) garnered less attention. Past 10 years of CIHR funding data revealed that only 0.7% ($85 million) of total funding ($11 billion) was towards sepsis research, of which only 2 were new-investigator awards. This study illustrates the need for improving the diversity of sepsis researchers in Canada; expanding the scope of research to address sepsis prevention, recovery, and education; and increasing overall funding to sepsis.

Preoperative psychological health impacts pain and disability outcomes following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for cervical radiculopathy

This study aimed to estimate the effects of preoperative psychological health on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. This retrospective cohort study included data from patients enrolled in the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for radiculopathy. Preoperative psychological health was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), and depression and severe psychological symptomology were measured with the Mental Component Score of the Short Form Survey-12 (MCS). Surgical outcomes comprised trajectory subgroups for neck pain and arm pain (numeric rating scales) and disability (neck disability index) measured preoperatively and 3, 12, and 24 months after surgery. For each outcome, patients were dichotomized as following either a poor or a fair-to-excellent trajectory. Average treatment effects were estimated with doubly robust propensity score models using inverse probability of treatment weights accounting for multiple confounders. We included data from 352 patients (43.8% female). Approximately half (52.1%) of patients were identified as depressed based on the PHQ-8, while 61.8% and 33.1% were classified as experiencing depression or severe psychological symptomology, respectively, on the MCS. In fully adjusted models, patients with PHQ-8-measured depression were at increased risk of poor postoperative outcomes for disability (risk ratio[95% CI] = 6.73[1.85 to 24.45]) and neck pain (RR[95% CI] = 1.90[1.09 to 3.32]). Patients with MCS-measured depression were at elevated risk of a poor disability outcome (RR[95% CI] = 2.77[1.30 to 5.90]). Patients reporting severe psychological symptomatology had an increased likelihood of poor disability, neck pain, and arm pain outcomes (RR[95% CI] = 1.82 [1.17 to 2.82] to 2.84[1.58 to 5.09]). These findings highlight the high prevalence of negative psychological features and their impacts on neck surgery outcomes. Future research should prioritize the development and evaluation of preoperative interventions to optimize psychological well-being and improve surgical outcomes in this population.

Who cites whom? U.S.-American authored research syntheses in the field of educational technology: a bibliometric analysis

ABSTRACT Research syntheses are an important approach to capture and synthesize empirical studies in educational technology. However, despite their proclaimed impartial summary of available research, imbalances exist as to whose research is included due to publication language or in regard to the visibility of entire scientific communities. Using the concepts of academic hegemony and WEIRD research, a bibliometric analysis is conducted in order to explore how research syntheses of authors located in one of the so-called academic core countries – the U.S.A. – are positioned in international comparison, and how this potentially shapes the discourse on educational technology. For the bibliometric analysis, a corpus with N = 446 research syntheses is considered, comprised of 95 U.S.-authored and 351 non-U.S.-authored syntheses. Findings reveal that U.S.-authored syntheses are relatively self-referential and also draw heavily on databases of U.S.-based professional societies in their literature search. Over half of the syntheses cite other U.S.-based research, followed by Chilean, British, Canadian, Australian and German research. In contrast, U.S.-authored syntheses are cited globally, accentuating their perceived importance and influence. Findings point to the need to consider underlying influences and contextual factors for research syntheses in educational technology, reflect on citation practices and generalizability of findings from educational research.

Abstract 4023: ACCESS: Advancing childhood cancer experience, science and survivorship in Canada

In Canada, roughly 1,500 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year. Advocacy for enhanced childhood cancer research and care in Canada by patients, families and the academic community led to a $23M investment through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to establish a national pediatric cancer consortium (termed ‘ACCESS’). ACCESS’ mission is to ensure every child with cancer in Canada has access to the latest scientific advances, diagnostic tools, therapies, and supportive care leading to better outcomes and quality of life. ACCESS is a unique collective of scientists, healthcare providers, industry leaders, partner organizations, advocates, patients, and their families who are conducting research, changing policy, and developing new tools to ensure better lives for children who experience cancer in Canada and for their loved ones. The goal is to implement transformative change in the delivery of fair, fast, effective, and safe cancer care for all children. ACCESS is driven and led by people with lived experience of pediatric cancer and framed by the patient journey. To date, ACCESS has unified a national community. It has: connected a community of more than 750 people and stimulated a culture of open communication in which diverse viewpoints, including those of people with lived experience of cancer, are sought and valued; built productive and effective partnerships to connect and leverage the work of organizations working to improve childhood cancer; initiated more than 20 new innovative pan-Canadian research studies that impact all aspects of the patient journey, including new Canadian-led clinical trials; developed an educational hub for all ACCESS members, and produced accessible communications materials such as webinars, a newsletter and a comprehensive website; developed national best practice standards and tools for research and care; started to address the complex policy, regulatory and practical barriers that prevent equitable access to cancer diagnosis and treatment for all children in Canada. Future priorities include achieving organizational sustainability, supporting collaborations and inclusivity, overcoming barriers that affect the access of children to diagnostics and treatment, enhancing data connectivity and sharing, and developing and implementing a national strategy for pediatric cancer. Citation Format: Stephanie A. Grover, Christine J. Williams, Adrienne Co-Dyre, David Malkin, James A. Whitlock, on behalf of the ACCESS network. ACCESS: Advancing childhood cancer experience, science and survivorship in Canada [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 4023.

Underrepresented populations in genomic research: a qualitative study of researchers’ perspectives

BackgroundThe lack of diversity in genomic data limits researchers’ ability to investigate the relationships between genetic profiles, disease manifestations, and responses to new therapies. As a result, innovations in treatment could have potentially harmful effects on a significant portion of the population due to incomplete or inaccurate genomic data. In addition, the lack of harmonization in the use of population descriptors in genomic studies raises both ethical and scientific concerns regarding which descriptors should be used to study and recruit underrepresented populations. Therefore, understanding the factors contributing to the lack of diversity in genomic research is an urgent scientific, clinical, and public health priority. This study aims to explore the social and contextual factors influencing the participation of underrepresented populations in genomic research, from the perspective of researchers in the field.MethodsA total of 13 semi-structured interviews were conducted with researchers experienced in genomic research in Canada and fluent in either French or English. The interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsResearchers identified several factors contributing to the low participation of underrepresented populations in genomic research, with one key factor being the geographic distribution of research institutions and the disconnect between research efforts and the communities being studied. To address this issue, participants stressed the importance of moving away from colonial practices, such as conducting research on a community without consulting its members in the design phase. Furthermore, it was suggested that existing diversity, equity, and inclusion policies alone were insufficient to effectively address the challenge. Lastly, the study also highlighted a potential link between how study populations are categorized and the willingness of underrepresented groups to participate in genomic research.ConclusionAlthough researchers are generally aware of the literature on the causes, consequences, and potential solutions for increasing participation, confusion remains regarding the use of population descriptors. Our findings highlight the need for improved education, greater consensus, and expanded dialogue within the genomic research community to promote the harmonization of population descriptors.

Sense of control and positive mental health outcomes among adults in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, there was a decrease in population positive mental health (PMH); however, many individuals still reported high levels of PMH. One potential protective factor could be a sense of control, which involves perceptions of personal mastery and minimal perceived constraints. Limited Canadian research has been conducted on the link between sense of control and PMH during the pandemic. This study used cross-sectional data from the 2020 and 2021 Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health, which included adults (18 years and older) living in the 3 territorial capitals and 10 provinces in Canada. Two facets of sense of control were measured with the Sense of Mastery Scale: personal mastery and perceived constraints. Three PMH outcomes were measured using single-item measures of self-rated mental health (SRMH), community belonging, and life satisfaction. Regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between the two sense of control facets and the three PMH outcomes. Higher personal mastery was associated with higher average life satisfaction and a greater likelihood of high SRMH and strong community belonging. In contrast, greater perceived constraints were associated with lower average life satisfaction and a lower likelihood of high SRMH and strong community belonging. Sociodemographic differences on the facets were observed. Adults in Canada with a higher sense of control during the pandemic tended to have better PMH than those who felt like they had less control. Further research on mental health promotion efforts involving sense of control is needed.

Black scholarship on HIV and health: Configuring public health for Black emancipation.

The burden of Canada's HIV epidemic has fallen disproportionately on Black communities. Canadian public health authorities and research institutions have been generally impervious to calls for responses that mobilize and support Black community expertise and leadership, and focus on the needs and circumstances of those communities. A group of Canadian scholars and community health practitioners came together in 2022 as the Interim Committee on HIV among Black Canadian Communities (ICHBCC) to develop the Black HIV Manifesto and advocate for transformative responses to HIV on the basis of the manifesto. The ICHBCC conceived and championed the Special Section on HIV, Health, and Black Canadian Communities published in the current issue of the Canadian Journal of Public Health. This special section brings together Black scholars who report and discuss their research with Black communities. We expect that the special section will engage Black scholars and other Black stakeholders to strengthen the knowledge base on HIV among Black Canadian communities, which in turn will inform new avenues for transformative policy, programs, community engagement, and advocacy in response to HIV. Furthermore, we hope that the special section initiates scholarly and community interest in Black emancipation as the conceptual basis for public health scholarship and practice to promote health equity and justice.

The potential impact of emergency response team (ERT) membership on mental health: a scoping review

Police tactical teams, referred to in Canada as Emergency Response Teams (ERT), are a specialized team of police officers who receive additional training, equipment, and support to mitigate dangerous, high-risk, life-threatening, and violent calls for service general duty officers may be challenged to mitigate effectively. Researchers suggest repeated and over-exposure to intentional acts of violence or elevated levels of aggression can lead to experiences (or symptoms) of anxiety, depression, hostility, burnout, and sleeping problems. Yet, very little research reveals the potential mental wellness of ERT members resultant from their public safety role. As media, academics, and stakeholders continue to express concerns regarding police militarization (both for and against), and research continues to dispute ERT normalization, police militarization, or ERT deployments, little evidence has unpacked the potential mental health implications resulting from ERT membership. To do so, the current study uses a scoping review to analyze the state of the literature to reveal how police ERTs are likely to experience stress. Findings from the current article suggest a serious dearth in Canadian and qualitative literature surrounding police ERT wellness and concludes with a discussion on directions for future qualitative research in Canada.

Mental Health and Coping Strategies of Health Communicators Who Faced Online Abuse During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mixed Methods Study.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health experts used social media platforms to share information and advocate for policies. Many of them faced online abuse, which some reported took a toll on their mental health and well-being. Variation in the impacts of online abuse on mental health, well-being, and professional efficacy suggest that health communicators may differ in their coping strategies and ultimately their resilience to such abuse. We aimed to explore the impacts of online abuse on health communicators' mental health and well-being as well as their emotion- and problem-focused coping strategies. We recruited health communicators (public health officials, medical practitioners, and university-based researchers) in Canada who engaged in professional online communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. In phase 1, semistructured interviews were conducted with 35 health communicators. In phase 2, online questionnaires were completed by 34 individuals before participating in workshops. Purposive recruitment resulted in significant inclusion of those who self-identified as racialized or women. Interview and workshop data were subjected to inductive and deductive coding techniques to generate themes. Descriptive statistics were calculated for selected questionnaire questions. In total, 94% (33/35) of interviewees and 82% (28/34) of questionnaire respondents reported experiencing online abuse during the study period (2020-2022). Most health communicators mentioned facing an emotional and psychological toll, including symptoms of depression and anxiety. Racialized and women health communicators faced abuse that emphasized their ethnicity, gender identity, and physical appearance. Health communicators' most common emotion-focused coping strategies were withdrawing from social media platforms, avoiding social media platforms altogether, and accepting online abuse as unavoidable. Common problem-focused coping strategies included blocking or unfriending hostile accounts, changing online behavior, formal help-seeking, and seeking peer support. Due to the impacts of online abuse on participants' mental health and well-being, 41% (14/34) of the questionnaire respondents seriously contemplated quitting health communication, while 53% (18/34) reduced or suspended their online presence. Our findings suggest that health communicators who used problem-focused coping strategies were more likely to remain active online, demonstrating significant professional resilience. Although health communicators in our study implemented various emotion- and problem-focused coping strategies, they still faced challenges in dealing with the impacts of online abuse. Our findings reveal the limitations of individual coping strategies, suggesting the need for effective formal organizational policies to support those who receive online abuse and to sanction those who perpetrate it. Organizational policies could improve long-term outcomes for health communicators' mental health and well-being by mitigating online abuse and supporting its targets. Such policies would bolster professional resilience, ensuring that important health information can still reach the public and is not silenced by online abuse. More research is needed to determine whether gender, race, or other factors shape coping strategies and their effectiveness.

Sex-Specific Inclusion of Patients with Cardiovascular Disease in Exercise Research in Canada

Sex-Specific Inclusion of Patients with Cardiovascular Disease in Exercise Research in Canada

Culturally and structurally competent approaches to health research with Black communities in Atlantic Canada: a rapid review.

Anti-Black racism is deeply entrenched in Canadian institutions and has deleterious impacts on Black populations. Black populations have resided in the Atlantic region since the late 17th century. Despite longstanding histories, Atlantic Black populations face significant inequities, including the highest rates of child poverty among Black children across Canada. Community consultations in Atlantic Canada have highlighted a desire to bring attention to these health inequities. The purpose of this review was to identify existing literature pertaining to Black health research in Atlantic Canada and highlight culturally appropriate practices. The search strategy was developed with a librarian and focussed on health research pertaining to Black populations in the Atlantic provinces of Canada, covering eight databases. All articles were imported into Covidence for screening, with independent reviewers assessing titles, abstracts and full texts. Forty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings demonstrated the pervasiveness and impact of racism, the importance of community engagement as a key cultural consideration and the adoption of participatory action research frameworks as culturally appropriate. This review revealed opportunities for improving Black health research in Canada's Atlantic provinces. Future research warrants attention to this region and the use of culturally and structurally appropriate research approaches and methods. Recommendations include improved education on Black history and a training module within existing ethical guidelines for culturally and structurally competent research with Black communities.

Strengthening Canadian Child and Youth Advocacy Centres through coordinated research and knowledge sharing: Establishing a Canadian Research and Knowledge Centre

Strengthening Canadian Child and Youth Advocacy Centres through coordinated research and knowledge sharing: Establishing a Canadian Research and Knowledge Centre

Evaluation of low-cost techniques to detect sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia: an open-label, international, multicentre study.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) persists as a major global health problem, disproportionately affecting children in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Accurate and low-cost point-of-care techniques are urgently needed in LMIC to detect carrier or disease forms with haemoglobin S (HbS) and other variants like β-thalassemia. An open-label, international, multicentre study was conducted at clinical sites in Nepal and Canada. Blood samples were collected from healthy volunteers (HbAA) and participants with known haemoglobinopathies (HbA/β-thalassemia, HbAS, HbS/β-thalassemia, HbSS). The performance of six low-cost tests (Conventional sickling test; HbS solubility test; HemoTypeSC; Sickle SCAN; Gazelle Hb variant test; Automated sickling test using automated microscopy and machine learning) was evaluated against HPLC (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05506358). Between September 2022 and March 2023, we enrolled 138 participants (aged 2-74 years; 59% female, 41% male) at clinical sites in Nepal and Canada. Four low-cost tests (HemoTypeSC, Sickle SCAN, Gazelle, and automated sickling), which could identify phenotypes, detected severe SCD (HbSS, HbS/β-thalassemia) accurately (sensitivity >96%; specificity >99%). In contrast, for carrier forms, HemotypeSC and Sickle SCAN only detected HbAS (sensitivity >97%; specificity 100%) and not HbA/β-thalassemia (sensitivity 0%; specificity 100%), while Gazelle detected HbAS (sensitivity 100%, specificity 100%) and HbA/β-thalassemia (sensitivity 91%, specificity 99%), and automated sickling test detected both trait conditions (HbAS and HbA/β-thalassemia; sensitivity 85%, specificity 85%). When HbS co-exists with β-thalassemia, Gazelle and automated sickling test accurately identify severe SCD and carrier forms. However, HemotypeSC and Sickle SCAN miss β-thalassemia trait, and need to be complemented with other low-cost tests. UBCPSI, Canada Research Chairs, UBC HIFI Awards, UBC 4YF, Naiman Vickars Endowment fund.

In Case You Haven't Heard…

Can kindness make you happier than a higher salary? According to the World Happiness Report, released each year on the International Day of Happiness, it can, CNN Health reported March 20. The report is a global analysis on happiness and well‐being in partnership with Gallup, the University of Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. This year's report paid special attention to acts of benevolence and people's expectations of their communities. The report divided acts of benevolence into three categories: donating money, volunteering and doing a nice thing for a stranger. Based on the data, 70% of the world's population did at least one kind thing in the last month, the report found. “We're not asking people to have unreasonably optimistic (expectations),” said Felix Cheung, Ph.D., the report's coauthor and assistant professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and Canada Research chair in Population Well‐Being. But if you can “develop that trust and you can expect that level of kindness, you will be a lot happier.” Added Ilana Ron‐Levey, a managing director of the public sector at Gallup: “Acts of generosity predict happiness even more than earning a higher salary.” The U.S. ranked No. 24 on this year's list of the happiest countries.

“We don’t have the space”: Understanding the 'where' of community-based research in Arctic Canada

In this evolving era of community-engaged research, the knowledge, skills, and leadership of Arctic-based people and organizations are extremely sought after by visiting researchers. Many conversations have established the ‘what’, ‘how’, and ‘why’ of community-engaged Arctic research, leaving the ‘where’ as a much less understood area. While some aspects of research take place in the ‘field’ (the ice, the water, the land), a great deal of research activities require functional indoor workspaces (the office, the community centre, the library). Despite their involvement being in high demand, Arctic-based researchers often do not operate with the same infrastructure offered in traditional research institutions such as universities. Though sophisticated research spaces do reside in the Arctic, many are owned by southern-based institutions or governments. It is therefore important to understand where community-led research activities take place in the absence of access to formal research spaces. This case-study sought to explore and document the spaces in which community-based research activities take place in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, and how these spaces impact the community’s ability to take part in, and lead, research. Through interview, workshop, and photovoice methodologies, participants reported that a great deal of their research activities take place in the home. With Nunavut holding the highest rate of inadequate housing in Canada, this overlap implies a direct correlation between research activities, overcrowding, unaffordability, and insufficient infrastructure. This research presents a much-needed understanding of the current state of, and relationship between, physical research spaces and community-based research activities in Arctic Canada.

An infrastructural politics for climate change adaptation, via weather: Interview by Enrico Campo with Jennifer Mae Hamilton and Astrida Neimanis

Jennifer Hamilton (Senior Lecturer in English Literary Studies), and Astrida Neimanis (Canada Research Chair in Feminist Environmental Humanities) are environmental feminist scholars who explore the relationship between weather, climate change, and infrastructure. They co-authored How to Weather Together: Feminist Practice for Climate Change (Bloomsbury Academic, forthcoming 2026), which includes a chapter on infrastructure. Together with artist and writer Tessa Zettel, are part of the Weathering Collective ( https://weatheringstation.net/ ), a project that experiments with collaborative practices between theoretical and critical research and artistic practice. With Zettel, they co-authored ‘Feminist Infrastructure for Better Weathering’ for Australian Feminist Studies . This interview explores the concept of ‘weathering’ and how and why they argue for an urgent need to think critically about adaptation in relation to infrastructure in order to address the challenge of climate change.

Sex differences in electrical activity of the brain during sleep: a systematic review of electroencephalographic findings across the human lifespan

BackgroundWith the explosion of techniques for recording electrical brain activity, our recognition of neurodiversity has expanded significantly. Yet, uncertainty exists regarding sex differences in electrical activity during sleep and whether these differences, if any, are associated with social parameters. We synthesised existing evidence applying the PROGRESS-Plus framework, which captures social parameters that may influence brain activity and function.MethodsWe searched five databases from inception to December 2024, and included English language peer-reviewed research examining sex differences in electrical activity during sleep in healthy participants. We performed risk of bias assessment following recommended criteria for observational studies. We reported results on sex differences by wave frequency (delta, theta, alpha, sigma, beta, and gamma) and waveforms (spindle and sawtooth), positioning results across age-related developmental stages. We created visualizations of results linking study quality and consideration of PROGRESS-Plus parameters, which facilitated certainty assessment.ResultsOf the 2,783 unique citations identified, 28 studies with a total of 3,374 participants (47% male, age range 4–5 months to 101 years) were included in data synthesis. Evidence of high certainty reported no sex differences in alpha and delta relative power among participants in middle-to-late adulthood. Findings of moderate certainty suggest no sex differences in alpha power; and theta, sigma and beta relative power; and delta density. There is evidence of moderate certainty suggesting that female participants had a steeper delta wave slope and male participants had greater normalized delta power. Evidence that female participants have higher spindle power density is of low certainty. All other findings were regarded as very low in certainty. The PROGRESS-Plus parameters were rarely integrated into the methodology of studies included in this review.ConclusionEvidence on the topic of sex differences in sleep wave parameters is variable. It is possible that the reported results reflect unmeasured social parameters, instead of biological sex. Future research on sex differences in sleep should be discussed in relevance to functional or clinical outcomes. Development of uniform testing procedures across research settings is timely. PROSPERO: CRD42022327644. Funding: Canada Research Chairs (Neurological Disorders and Brain Health, CRC-2021-00074); UK Pilot Award for Global Brain Health Leaders (GBHI ALZ UK-23-971123).

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms and related risk and protective factors in Black individuals in Canada.

Data from the United States showed that Black individuals face unique issues related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, Canadian research on OCD among Black individuals remains very limited. The present study aims to document obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms and related risk and protective factors in Black individuals aged 15 to 40 years old in Canada. A total of 860 Black individuals (75.6% female) aged 15-40 years were recruited as part of the Black Community Mental Health in Canada (BcoMHealth) project. Independent t-tests, ANOVA, and multivariable linear regressions were used to assess OC symptom severity and identify risk and protective factors. Black individuals presented high levels of OC symptoms. Results showed that Black individuals born in Canada experienced more OC symptoms compared to those born abroad. Results also showed that there were no differences between Black women, Black men, and those who identified their sex as "other." Everyday discrimination, internalized racism, and microaggressions positively predicted OC symptoms, while social support negatively predicted OC symptoms. Limitations of this study include its cross-sectional nature, which prevents us from establishing causal links, not assessing for the clinical diagnosis of OCD, and using self-report measures. Results support that different forms of racial discrimination contribute to the development and severity of OC symptoms in Black individuals in Canada. Social support may play a protective role for those individuals. These factors must be considered in future research and in the assessment and treatment of Black individuals with OCD.