A sport-based critical hours program for low-income youth
Project Summary This program of research addressed three important issues faced by Canadian children; the problem of low physical activity, the need to increase sport participation, and the absence of programming during the ‘critical hours’ after-school period (see Active Health Kids Canada, 2012 Report Card for a review). It is particularly important to offer critical…
Exploring contemporary issues in Canadian youth hockey: Experiences and perspectives of peewee players and elite hockey insiders
Project Summary Hockey has a profound impact on the values, attitudes, and behaviours of Canadians (Earle, 2002; Gruneau & Whitson, 1993; Nixon, 1976). Youth hockey in Canada has been the target of much recent criticism, with attention being called to an increasingly aggressive and violent atmosphere (e.g., Ackery, et al., 2012; Loughead & Leith, 2001;…
Tai Chi (TC) for older adults: Improving physical and psychological health and identifying and overcoming cultural/ethnic barriers to participation
Project Summary Tai Chi (TC), a traditional Chinese exercise, has been shown to have several health benefits. In general, TC is a widely practiced, well received exercise in large populations in China. Such generally positive attitudes towards the exercise result from a long history of practice in Chinese culture. The current literature has identified some…
Aging expectations and physical activity behaviours
Project Summary A developing area of research focuses on ‘successful aging’, which has the central objective of discovering significant predictors of optimal health in later life so that risks of disease and disablement can be targeted and reduced. From this research, there is evidence indicating beliefs that older adults have of their own aging process…
A promising community-based hip-hop dance intervention for the promotion of psychosocial and physical well-being among youth living in a disadvantaged neighbourhood
Project Summary This project involved a partnership between the University of Ottawa and three community partners: South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre (SEOCHC), Culture Shock Canada, and Heron Road Community Centre. Prior to implementing a new physical activity program in South-East Ottawa, an initial study sought to better understand the needs, barriers, and facilitators to youth…
Predictors of excessive exercise in anorexia nervosa
Project Summary The present study was aimed at determining a model that would predict excessive exercise in individuals with anorexia nervosa. This is very important because exercising excessively while underweight, as can be the case in certain forms of sport participation, has been shown to have dangerous health consequences, and has been linked to negative…
Culture of national sport organizations and participation in sport
Project Summary This project examined the relationship between the culture of Canadian national sport organizations (NSOs) and participation in sport. The overall goal was to better understand and ultimately increase the effectiveness of policies aiming to promote sport activities such as the Sport Participation Development Program (SPDP). Generally, NSOs subscribed to a humanistic-encouraging type of…
Finish… whatever it takes: Considering pain and pleasure in the Ironman Triathlon (a socio-cultural analysis)
Project Summary Stemming from my own involvement in Ironman triathlons, I became interested in ideas of pain and pleasure as social constructs. How might ideas about these things in the Ironman context relate to ideas about pain and pleasure circulating in the broader socio-cultural context? Furthermore, what might these relationships tell us about contemporary understandings…
Description of the first years of experiences of novice female coaches
Project Summary The objective of this study is to better understand the experiences of novice female coaches during their first two years of coaching. Conclusions of previous studies have shown an under-representation as well as a decreasing number of female coaches in the last 30 years. Not only are there less female coaches, those who…
Phsychological skills and factors related to ice hockey officials’ coping and performance
Project Summary Research focusing on the development of psychological skills in sport, has been conducted primarily with athletes and coaches. However, we know little on how to assist officials to enhance their performance. Thus, the general objective of this research was to better understand ice hockey officials’ experiences in their sport and factors that influence…