Research
Research Interests
We are interested in several areas of research within Kinesiology and Health. Navigate the research interest tabs below to learn more about our research interests.
Social Relationships, Physical Activity, and Health
Physical activity contexts such as sport, physical education, and recreation have the potential to provide meaningful and sometimes life-long friendships. Appropriately structured physical activity can afford social, cognitive, and health benefits. However, not all people benefit in the same way from physical activity. We are interested in the relationship dynamics that promote high-quality physical activity as well as what factors may lead people to shy away from or discontinue physical activity entirely.
Negative Experiences in Youth Sport
There are an abundance of positive benefits from participating in sport at a young age. Despite these benefits, less children are participating in sport now than in the recent past. One factor that may contribute to such a decline are negative experiences such as conflict, teasing, and bullying. We are interested in better understanding the role that these negative social experiences play in youth sports and how to minimize their impact such that all children can enjoy sport.
Physical Activity and Developmental Disabilities
Individuals with developmental disabilities have to overcome unique challenges everyday. Could physical activity help ease the burden of these challenges? We are interested in understanding how physical activity can be used to address some of the social, cognitive, emotional functioning impairments associated with developmental disabilities. Moreover, we are interested in the facilitators and barriers that individuals with developmental disabilities may encounter when participating in physical activity.
Active Research Projects
Participating in research is a valuable experience and can give you an inside look at how research is conducted in Kinesiology and Health. We invite you to navigate the research opportunities below to learn more about them and to see if you would be eligible to participate.