Biography
I’m a lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology focusing on the study of cognitive and emotional processes in sport. I re-joined Abertay in 2013 and over the years I have taught a number of modules, including Sport psychology, Exercise and health psychology and Motor control and skill acquisition.
I completed my PhD at Florida State University. My doctoral thesis - on the dynamic nature of cognitive and emotional states during competition - received the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) 2007 Dissertation Award as “recognition of excellence in applied sport psychology.”
I also hold a BSc in PE and Sport, and a Master’s Degree in Sport Psychology - both from the Faculty of Human Movement in Lisbon. My master Thesis consisted on the application of a cognitive-behavioural intervention, the SPARK self-management programme, to increase out-of-school physical activity in adolescents.
My wider research interests include stress, cognitive appraisals and coping, youth sport, behaviour change, exercise adherence and mental health, body image/social physique anxiety and adolescents’ psychosocial health.
I have published various peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on these themes including lead authoring “Health assets and active lifestyles during pre-adolescence and adolescence: Highlights from the HBSC/WHO health survey and implications to health promotion”, featuring in the last FEPSAC sponsored book, “Sport and exercise psychology research: From theory to practice” .
I played handball competitively for 17 years and am a Qualified National level handball Coach.
