Meghan McDonough

Assistant Professor

Academic Appointments:

• Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (2006-present)

Research Interests:

Dr. McDonough’s research explores the role that social relationships play in physical activity, including how social factors such as friendship, acceptance, and social support contribute to motivational processes, and the effects that physical activity experiences have on relationships and well-being. Dr. McDonough’s research has examined these questions in a variety of populations including active youth and adults, breast cancer survivors, low-income children, overweight adults, and Special Olympics participants.

Memberships in Professional Organizations:

• North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA)
• Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS)

Recent Publications:

• Hadd, V., Sabiston, C., McDonough, M.H., & Crocker, P.R.E. (in press). Sources of stress for physically active breast cancer survivors: Examining associations with treatment characteristics and indicators of psychological well-being. Journal of Women’s Health.
• Niefer, C.B., McDonough, M.H., & Kowalski, K.C. (in press) Coping with social physique anxiety among adolescent female athletes. International Journal of Sport Psychology.
• Mack, D.E., Sabiston, C.M., McDonough, M.H., Wilson, P.M., and Paskevich, D. (2011). Motivation and behavioural change. In P.R.E. Crocker (Ed.). Sport and exercise psychology: A Canadian perspective, 2nd Edition (pp. 79-110). Toronto, ON: Pearson Education Canada.
• Sabiston, C.M., Rusticus, S., McDonough, M.H., Hadd, V., Hubley, A., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2010). Does an experience with breast cancer alter the measurement of body image? Testing the invariance of the MBSRQ with healthy women and breast cancer survivors. Quality of Life Research, 19, 1171-1180.
• Brunet, J., McDonough, M.H., Hadd, V., Crocker, P.R.E., & Sabiston, C.M. (2010). The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory: An examination of the factor structure and invariance among breast cancer survivors. Psycho-Oncology, 19(8), 830-838.
• McDonough, M.H., Sabiston, C.M., Sedgwick, W.A., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2010). Changes in intrinsic motivation and physical activity among overweight women in a 12-week dragon boat exercise intervention study. Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal,19, 33-46.
• Dorsch, T.E., Smith, A.L., & McDonough, M.H. (2009). Parents’ perceptions of child-to-parent socialization in organized youth sport. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 31, 444-468.
• Sabiston, C.M., McDonough, M.H., Sedgwick, W.A., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2009). Muscle gains and emotional strains: Conflicting experiences of change among overweight women participating in an exercise intervention program. Qualitative Health Research, 19, 446-480.
• McDonough, M.H., Sabiston, C.M., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2008). An interpretative phenomenological examination of psychosocial changes among breast cancer survivors in their first season of dragon boating. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 20, 425-440.
• Smith, A.L., & McDonough, M.H. (2008). Peers. In A.L. Smith & S.J.H. Biddle (Eds.) Youth physical activity and sedentary behavior: Challenges and solutions. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
• McDonough, M.H., Crocker, P.R.E. (2007). Testing self-determined motivation as a mediator of the relationship between psychological needs and affective and behavioral outcomes. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 29, 645-663.
• Sabiston, C.M., McDonough, M.H., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2007). Psycho-social experiences of breast cancer survivors involved in a dragon boat program: Exploring links to positive psychological growth. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 29, 419-438.
• Paskevich, D.M., Dorsch, K.D., McDonough, M.H., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2007). Motivation in sport. In P.R.E. Crocker (Ed.). Introduction to sport psychology: A Canadian perspective (pp.72-101). Pearson Education Canada: Toronto, ON.
• Crocker, P.R.E., Sabiston, C.M., Kowalski, K.C, McDonough, M.H., & Kowalski, N. (2006). Longitudinal assessment of the relationship between physical self-concept and health related behaviour and emotion in adolescent girls. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 18, 185-200.
• McDonough, M.H., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2005). Sport participation motivation in young adolescent girls: The role of friendship quality and self-concept. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 76, 456-467.
• Farrell, R.J., Crocker, P.R.E., McDonough, M.H., & Sedgwick, W.A. (2004). The Driving Force: Motivation in Special Olympians. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 21, 153-166.
• Crocker, P.R.E., Hoar, S.D., McDonough, M.H., Kowalski, K.C., & Niefer, C.B. (2004). Emotional experience in youth sport. In M. Weiss (Ed.). Developmental sport and exercise psychology: A lifespan perspective (pp. 197-221). Fitness Information Technology, Inc: Morgantown, WV.
• Crocker, P.R.E., Kowalski, K.C., Hoar, S.D. & McDonough, M.H. (2004). Emotion in Sport across Adulthood. In M. Weiss (Ed.). Developmental sport and exercise psychology: A lifespan perspective. (pp. 333-355). Fitness Information Technology, Inc: Morgantown, WV.
• Crocker, P., Sabiston, C., Forrestor, S., Kowalski, N., Kowalski, K., McDonough, M. (2003). Predicting change in physical activity, dietary restraint, and physique anxiety in adolescent girls: Examining covariance in physical self-perceptions. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 94, 332-337.

Recent Refereed Presentations:

• Poliseo, J., McDonough, M.H. (2010, June). Coping effectiveness in collegiate athletes. Presented at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity conference, Tucson, AZ.
• McDonough, M.H., Poliseo, J.M., Ullrich-French, S., & Sabiston, C.M. (2010, June). The difference is more than floating: Breast cancer survivors’ decisions to join dragon boat teams and support groups. Presented at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity conference, Tucson, AZ.
• Ullrich-French, S., McDonough, M.H., & Kraemer, A.J. (2010, June). One year follow-up of a physical activity based positive youth development program. Presented at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity conference, Tucson, AZ.
• Brunet, J., Sabiston, C. M., McDonough, M.H., Hadd, V., & Crocker, P. R. E. (2010, May). Body image among breast cancer survivors: Theoretical and methodological considerations in an oncology context. Paper presented at the 12th International Psycho-Oncology Society World Congress, Quebec City, Quebec.
• Ullrich-French, S., McDonough, M.H., Kraemer, A.J., & Poliseo, J. (2010, March). Impact of peer and staff relationships in a positive youth development program on outside peer, home, and school contexts. Presented at the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA) conference, Philadelphia, PA.
• McDonough, M.H., Ullrich-French, S., Kraemer, A.J., & Poliseo, J. (2009, November). Social relationships with peers and staff in a positive youth development program for low-income youth. Presented at the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS) conference, Toronto, ON. Oral.
• Ullrich-French, S., McDonough, M.H., Kraemer, A.J., & Poliseo, J. (2009, June). Facilitating social connections fosters positive outcomes: A promising avenue for positive youth development. Presented at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) conference, Austin, TX. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 31, S142-143]
• McDonough, M.H., Poliseo, J.M., Sabiston, C.M., Ullrich-French, S. (2009, June). The development of social support on breast cancer survivor dragon boat teams. Presented at the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) conference, Montreal, PQ.
• Sabiston, C.M., Love, C., McDonough, M.H., Hadd, V., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2009, June). Does physical activity buffer emotional stress and promote positive psychological growth among cancer survivors? Presented at the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) conference, Montreal, PQ.
• Brunet, J., Sabiston, C.M., McDonough, M.H., Hadd, V., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2009, April). Measuring posttraumatic growth among breast cancer survivors. Presented at the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO) conference, Vancouver, B.C.
• Castonguay, A.L.., Sabiston, C.M., Hadd, V., McDonough, M.H., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2009, April). Do stressors mediate the relationship between physical self-perceptions and positive psychological growth in breast cancer survivors? Presented at the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO) conference, Vancouver, B.C.
• McDonough, M.H., Hadd, V., Crocker, P.R.E., Tamminen, K.A., & Holt, N.L., (2008, June). Adolescent swimmers’ goals and stress appraisals across a swim season. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 30, S186.
• Dorsch, T.E., Smith, A.L., & McDonough, M.H. (2008, June). Parents’ experiences of child-to-parent socialization in youth sport. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 30, S164.
• Ullrich-French, S., McDonough, M.H., Smith, A.L., & Harper, W.A. (2008, March). Change in social connection predicts change in psychological outcomes in a youth development setting. Presented at the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA) conference, Chicago, IL.
• Smith, A.L., McDonough, M.H., Wisdom, S.A., & Ullrich-French, S. (2007, September). A review and synthesis of research on peers and youth physical activity behaviour. Presented at the 12th Eurpoean Congress of Sport Psychology, Halkidiki, Greece.
• McDonough, M.H., Sabiston, C.M., Sedgwick, W.A., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2007, June). Examining perceived barriers to exercise among overweight women: What is missing in our measures? Presented at the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) conference, Ottawa, ON.
• McDonough, M.H., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2007, June). Examining changes in psychological needs and self-determined motivation among adult dragon boat participants. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 29, S185.
• Sabiston, C.M., McDonough, M.H., Sedgwick, W.A., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2007, June). Muscle gains, emotional strains, and social deigns? Conflicting experiences of change among overweight women participating in an exercise intervention program. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 29, S200.
• Hadd, V., McDonough, M.H., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2007, June). Managing stressful sport transactions: Adolescents’ coping behaviours pre-, during, and post-races throughout a swim season. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 29, S166.
• McDonough, M.H., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2006, November). The role of relatedness in physical activity motivation, behaviour, and affective experiences: A self-determination theory perspective. Paper presented at the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS) conference, Halifax, NS.
• Sabiston, C.M., Hadd, V., McDonough, M.H., Crocker, P.R.E. (2006, November). Exploring physical self-perceptions, body image, and athletic identity with physically active breast cancer survivors: Do age, BMI, or treatment characteristics matter? Paper presented at the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS) conference, Halifax, NS.
• Hadd, V., McDonough, M.H., Sabiston, C.M., Crocker, P.R.E. (2006, November). A multidimensional assessment of stress among breast cancer survivors: Development of a new instrument. Paper presented at the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS) conference, Halifax, NS.