Research Team
Faculty
Dr. Harry Prapavessis is the Director of the EHPL and works in the area of exercise and health psychology. His research program has three main foci. First he investigates the determinants of physical activity, and interventions grounded in social cognitive theory in changing physical activity in diseased and non-diseased populations. Second, he studies exercise as a therapy to improve health. Third and finally, he examines the role that psychological factors play in the prediction, prevention, and recovery of injury. |
519-661-2111 X 80173 |
Dr. Craig Hall has been conducting research in exercise, rehabilitation and sport psychology for over 30 years. His research has focused on the role of imagery and the effectiveness of imagery interventions in each of these settings. His current research in exercise and health psychology focuses on a) understanding why many people fail to exercise, b) examining how various types of imagery interventions influence exercise participation, adherence, and addiction, and c) conducting interventions grounded in imagery, self-efficacy and self-determination in an attempt to change physical activity behaviors. |
 519-661-2111 X 88388 |
Graduate Students
Nerissa Campbell (Podolinsky), graduated from the University of Western Ontario in spring 2007, with an honours BA in Kinesiology, and is pursuing a PhD in Kinesiology under Dr. Prapavessis. Her primary research examines the validity of the Actiheart® compared to doubly labeled water with respect to their accuracy in the measurement of energy expenditure during free-living activities. In addition, she is constructing a physical activity self-efficacy scale for adolescents, with an aim to improve the correspondence between self-efficacious belief and objective physical activity outcome measures. |
 519-661-2111 X 81196 |
Lisa Cooke joins the EHPL lab after completing her BPHE/BSc at Queen’s University and a MHK at the |
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Stefanie De Jesus graduated from the University of Western Ontario with an Honors Specialization in Biology in 2009. She is currently a MA student under the supervision of Dr. Prapavessis. Her research involves the use of modeling to improve the results of stress tests of obese adolescents. |
519-661-2111X81189 |
Anca Gaston is a Ph.D. student under the supervision of Dr. Harry Prapavessis. Her research interests revolve around understanding the psycho-social determinants of exercise among pregnant and postpartum women. |
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Vince Liardi is a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Craig Hall. Vince earned both his Bachelor’s degree and his Master’s degree from the University of Western Ontario. His principle research focus examines exercise identity, while also examining implicit attitudes towards exercise, and self-efficacy.
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519-661-2111 X 81189 |
Amy Kossert is a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Harry Prapavessis. Her research interests are focused primarily on the development and implementation of exercise interventions to complement cancer prevention and treatment efforts. Amy is particularly interested in exercise training throughout the disease trajectory as a means of mitigating the negative psychological consequenses associated with cancer. |
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Terri Schneider graduated from the University of Western Ontario in June of 2010, having completed a BA Honors Specialization in Kinesiology. Terri is currently a MA student under the supervision of Dr. Harry Prapavessis. Her research interests included examining health and psychological outcomes following structured exercise interventions among individuals of special populations.
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Past Team Members
Anita Cramp (PDF 2009-2012, Social Science and Humanities Research Council). Anita is now an Assistant Professor in the School of Health Studies at The University of Western Ontario
Lyndsay Fitzgeorge (PDF 2009-2011, Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute). Lyndsay is now a full time faculty member at Fanshawe College in their Fitness and Health Promotion program.
Therese Harper (PhD 2008-2011-“The mechanism behind the success of exercise as a quit smoking aid.” School of Kinesiology, The University of Western Ontario).Therese is now with Public Health, Prince Edward Island.
Carly McKay (PhD 2008-2011-“Prehabilitation for total knee arthropasty: A patient centred approach to maximizing surgical outcomes.” School of Kinesiology, The University of Western Ontario). Carly is now a Post-doctoral Fellow at the Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, University of Calgary.
Casey Gray (PhD 2007-2011 - The importance of self-efficacy and basic psychological needs in children’s physical activity: Measurement, prediction and intervention. School of Kinesiology, The University of Western Ontario). Casey is currently a part-time faculty member at the University of Ottawa.
Lindsay Duncan (PhD 2007-2010 - The use of mental imagery interventions to enhance exercise-related cognitions. School of Kinesiology, The University of Western Ontario). Lindsay is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Health, Emotion, and Behavior (HEB) Laboratory at Yale University.
Mary Jung (PDF 2009-2010. Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategic Training Program in Cancer Research & Technology Transfer (CaRTT).The University of Western Ontario). Mary Jung is now an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan.
Jacqueline Simatovic (MA 2008-2010 – Acute effects of a 30-minute nature simulation run. School of Kinesiology, The University of Western Ontario). Jacqueline with Diabetes Care British Columbia.
Justin Wilson (MA 2008-2010—“Reach: A group-mediated cognitive behavioural physical activity intervention for obese adolescents.” School of Kinesiology.Faculty of Health Sciences.The University of Western Ontario). Justine Wilson is now a Canadian Institutesof Health Research (CIHR) PhD student at the University of British Columbia.
Duate Adegbite (MA 2007-2009 – Examining the effect of a goal-setting intervention on adherence to physical activity in minority women. Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario). Duate is now in medical school at the University of Toronto.
Joy Elkayam (MSc., 2007-2009—“The effects of a media literacy intervention on women’s body dissatisfaction: Watching and exercising to a fitness video”. Health Sciences and Rehabilitation.Faculty of Health Sciences.The University of Western Ontario). Joy Elkayam is now a Research Assistant at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto.
Erin McGowan (PhD, 2005-2009—“Increasing physical activity behavior in first and second degree relatives of colon cancer patients: A matter of self-regulation”. School of Kinesiology.Faculty of Health Sciences.The University of Western Ontario). Erin McGowan is now a Canadian Cancer Research Institute (CCSRI) Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Alberta.
Louise Foley (MA 2006-2007—“Exercise for treatment of depression: An examination of psychological, cognitive, and physiological mechanisms”. School of Kinesiology.Faculty of Health Sciences.The University of Western Ontario). Louise Foley is now a Research Fellow with the Clinical Trial Research Unit at The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Erin Pearson (MSc., 2006-2007—“The Impact of Body Composition Comprehension on Body Image, Motivation, and Adherence in an Exercise Program for Women”. Health and Rehabilitation Sciences). Facutly of Health Science. The University of Western Ontario. Erin is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Sciences at the University of Western Ontario.
Undergraduate Research
Kaitlin Brennan (Hon BA 2010-2011) – “An investigation of the effects of imagery and exercise on implicit attitudes towards exercise among sedentary individuals”. School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario.
Abigail Hum (Hon BA 2010-2011—“Acute effects of exercise and executive functioning on temporary smoking abstinence”. School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario.
Joshua Scott (Hon BA 2010-2011) – “An investigation of the effects of imagery and exercise on implicit attitudes towards exercise among sedentary individuals”. School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario.
Amelia Tritter (Hon BSc 2010-2011)—“The effect of self-efficacy on affective states during exercise”
School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario.
Paul Valiulis (B.A. Hons, 2009-2010)—“The psychological effects of self-efficacy manipulation on college-aged women during sprint interval training”. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Science. The University of Western Ontario. Paul Valiulis now works as an online nutrition coach at precisionnutrition.com.
Lauren White (Hon BA 2010-2011) – “Investigating the effects of an imagery intervention on the integrated regulation and exercise behavior of exercise initiates”. School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario.