Dr. Meghan McDonough
Positions
Associate Dean (Graduate)
Faculty of Kinesiology
Professor
Faculty of Kinesiology
Member
O'Brien Institute for Public Health
Member
Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute
Full Member
Hotchkiss Brain Institute
Associate Member
Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education
Contact information
Phone number
Office: 403.220.7211
Location
Office: KNB140A
Background
Educational Background
Ph.D Human Kinetics, Sport and Exercise Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2006
MS Human Kinetics, Sport and Exercise Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2002
BS Great Distinction Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, 2000
Biography
Meghan McDonough (she/her) works in the area of exercise, health, and sport psychology. She received her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of Saskatchewan, and her MSc and PhD in Kinesiology (specializing in Sport and Exercise Psychology) from the University of British Columbia. She examines the role of social relationships in physical activity and health behaviour. Her research is grounded in theoretical and empirical work on emotional and motivational processes, coping with stress, self-perceptions. McDonough's research has examined these questions in a variety of populations, with a particular focus on aging, people navigating chronic disease, and populations experiencing marginalization. Her research has been funded by a variety of sources including SSHRC, CIHR, NIH, USDA, the O’Brien Institute for Public Health, and the Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging. She teaches undergraduate courses in exercise and health psychology (KNES 397) and motivation (KNES 413), and a graduate course in qualitative analysis (KNES 610). She is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, a board member of the International Society for Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise, is the Past-President of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, and is a co-editor of the textbook Sport & Exercise Psychology: A Canadian Perspective.
Research
Areas of Research
Dr. McDonough’s research examines the role of social relationships in physical activity and health behaviour. She examines both the role that our relationships with other people play in affecting our physical activity and other health behaviours, and how the social relationships we have in or related to physical activity contexts affect our psychosocial well-being. Her work is based on theories of social support as well as processes where social relationships and support play a role such as in emotional and motivational processes, coping with stress, and self-perceptions. She is particularly interested in strengths-based approaches, research that considers people’s lived experience and perspectives, and community-based research. Her research includes both quantitative and qualitative approaches, and examines both theoretical and applied practice questions. Dr. McDonough's research has examined these questions in a variety of populations, with most of her current work focusing on aging, people navigating chronic disease, and populations experiencing marginalization.
Participation in university strategic initiatives
Courses
| Course number | Course title | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| KNES 397 | Exercise and Health Psychology | |
| KNES 413 | Motivation in Physical Activity, Exercise and Sport | |
| KNES 610 | Qualitative Research Analysis |
Projects
Drawing on our work on the role of social support in physical activity with a variety of adult populations, we are developing strategies and materials to educate fitness professionals on how to improve social support in physical activity contexts. This research involves synthesizing existing literature, developing training materials, and piloting and evaluating these materials with community partners in four cities across Canada. Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
In this series of studies we are (1) conducting a longitudinal survey study to examine how changes in social factors (e.g., social support, social network size, subjective norms, etc.) are associated with changes in physical activity and psychological well-being among older adults during COVID-19, as access to recreational programs change due to COVID-19 related restrictions; (2) interviewing a subset of those participants to understand older adults’ lived experiences of re-engaging in physical activity programs; (3) examining how programs are adapting to reopening and identify challenges they face with engaging older adults in programs and fostering social outcomes following the pandemic through focus groups with fitness professionals. This research also involves (4) conducting integrated knowledge translation efforts to co-create and share knowledge for fostering social outcomes and promoting physical activity with fitness professionals and older adults. Funded by the Brawn Family Foundation.
In this study we are aiming to (1) understand the experiences of adults age 65 and older regarding changes in physical activity and social participation resulting from the initial phase of the COVID-19 shutdown, and their perspectives on precautionary measures and alternate forms of program delivery; and (2) identify challenges faced by both older adults and the recreation sector in adapting programs for older adults following COVID-19 when in-person programs initially were unavailable. Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Awards
- Lynn McIntyre Award for Service, O’Brien Institute for Public Health. 2021
- Reviewer of the Year, Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology Journal. 2016
- Mentor of the Year Award, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Purdue University. 2016
- Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, Purdue University Department of Health and Kinesiology. 2012
- Franklin Henry Young Scientist Award, Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology. 2006
- Student Paper Award, North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity. 2006
Publications
In the News
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