Meghan McDonough

Associate Professor

Academic Appointments:

• Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (2006-2012)
• International Breast Cancer and Nutrition Project Core Committee member, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (2011-present)
• Oncological Sciences Center member, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (2007-present)
• Breast Cancer Discover Group, Purdue Center for Cancer Research (2008-present)
• Global Women’s Health Institute, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (2012-present)

Research Interests:

Dr. McDonough examines whether social relationships in physical activity play a role in well-being and adaptation to adversity. Her research is informed by theoretical and empirical work on emotional and motivational processes, coping with stress, posttraumatic growth, and self-perceptions. Dr. McDonough’s research has examined these questions in youth and adults, and in special populations including breast cancer survivors, underserved children, individuals with Parkinson’s disease, 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)
• American Psychological Association Division 47-Exercise and Sport Psychology (APA) 

Recent Publications:

• McDonough, M.H., Hadd, V., Crocker, P.R.E., Tamminen, K.A., & Holt, N.L. (in press). Stress and coping among adolescents across a competitive swim season. The Sport Psychologist.
• Ullrich-French, S., McDonough, M.H., & Smith, A.L. (2012). Social connection and psychological outcomes in a physical-activity based youth development setting. Research Quarterly in Exercise and Sport, 83, 431-441.
• Poliseo, J., & McDonough, M.H. (2012). Coping effectiveness in competitive sport: Linking goodness of fit and coping outcomes. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 1, 106-119.
• McDonough, M.H., Sabiston, C.M., & Ullrich-French, S. (2011). The development of social relationships, social support, and posttraumatic growth in a dragon boating team for breast cancer survivors. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 33, 627-648.
• 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.
• Niefer, C.B., McDonough, M.H., & Kowalski, K.C. (2010). Coping with social physique anxiety among adolescent female athletes. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 41, 369-386.
• Sabiston, C.M., Rusticus, S., Brunet, J., McDonough, M.H., Hadd, V., Hubley, A., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2010). Invariance test of the multidimensional body self-relations questionnaire: Do women with breast cancer interpret this measure differently? Quality of Life Research, 19, 1171-1180.
• Hadd, V., Sabiston, C., McDonough, M.H., & Crocker, P.R.E. (2010). 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, 19, 1345-1353.
• 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, 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:

• McDonough, M.H., & Ullrich-French, S. (2012, June). Participant reflection on character concepts taught in a physical activity-based positive youth development program. Presented at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) conference, Honolulu, HI. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 34, S260].
• McDavid, L., McDonough, M.H., Smith, A.L., & Cooky, C. (2012, June). A longitudinal examination of four models of hope and self-perceptions in a youth physical activity setting. Presented at the NASPSPA conference, Honolulu, HI. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 34, S259-260].
• Dorsch, T.E., Smith, A.L., & McDonough, M.H. (2012, June). Parent socialization through the early months of organized youth sport involvement. Presented at the NASPSPA conference, Honolulu, HI. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 34, S52].
• Starnes, H.A., McDonough, M.H., Laden, F., & Troped, P. J. (2012, June). Invariance tests of the abbreviated neighborhood environment walkability scale. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) conference, San Francisco, CA.
• McDonough, M.H., & Sabiston, C.M. (2011, October). Predicting posttraumatic growth among breast cancer survivors: the role of social support, stress, and physical activity. Presented at the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS) conference, Winnipeg, MB.
• Kraemer, A.J., & McDonough, M.H. (June, 2011). Coach and peer predictors of need fulfillment and self-determined motivation in youth soccer. Presented at the NASPSPA conference, Burlington, VT. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 33, S162].
• Ullrich-French, S., McDonough, M.H., Anderson-Butcher, D. & Amorose, A. (June, 2011). Profiles of social relationships for low-income youth in physical activity based positive youth development programs. Presented at the NASPSPA conference, Burlington, VT. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 33, S191-192].
• Smith, A.L., Troped, P.J., McDonough, M.H., & DeFreese, J.D. (June, 2011). Youth perceptions of neighborhood physical environment and peer availability as contributors to physical activity behavior. Presented at the NASPSPA conference, Burlington, VT. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 33, S186].
• Richards, L.R., Troped, P.J., McDonough, M.H., & Lim, E. (June, 2011). Testing the reliability and validity of a dog walking survey. Presented at the ACSM conference, Denver, CO.
• Sabiston, C.M., Brunet, J., & McDonough, M.H. (April, 2011). The struggle for a healthy weight during breast cancer survivorship: Treatment effects or lifestyle effects? Presented at the 2nd National Obesity Summit, Montreal, QC.
• McDonough, M.H., Ullrich-French, S., & Kraemer, A.J. (2010, October). Participants’ experiences of long-term change following a positive youth development program for low-income youth. Presented at the SCAPPS conference, Ottawa, ON.
• Poliseo, J., & McDonough, M.H. (2010, June). Coping effectiveness in collegiate athletes. Presented at the NASPSPA conference, Tucson, AZ. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 32, S209].
• 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 NASPSPA conference, Tucson, AZ. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 32, S198-199].
• 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 NASPSPA conference, Tucson, AZ. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 32, S227].
• Brunet, J., Sabiston, C. M., McDonough, M., 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, QC.
• 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.
   

Grants Awarded:

• McDonough, M.H. (PI). (2011). Social support and physical activity as predictors of posttraumatic growth and quality of life among breast cancer survivors. Funded by the Purdue Research Foundation.
• McDonough, M.H. (PI). (2008). Social relationships in intervention outcomes. Funded by the Clifford Kinley Trust.
• McDonough, M.H. (PI). (2008). Social support and quality of life among breast cancer survivors in a team sport program. Funded by the College of Liberal Arts Research Incentive Grant fund.
  

Editorial Activities:

• Editor for “The Digest” in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology (2011-present)
• Editorial board member, Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology (2011-present)
• Editorial board member, International Journal of Sport Psychology (2011-present)

Awards: