Meghan H Mcdonough
Biographic Data
| ID | 323962 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Meghan H Mcdonough |
| GIVEN NAMES | Meghan H |
| FAMILY NAME | Mcdonough |
| SIGNATURE | MCDONOUGH M H |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Calgary |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4930-8888 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 19 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 20 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2003 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Opening up for science
CONTEXT: Men are frequently underrepresented in psychological support services and qualitative research, two settings that call for some kind of vulnerability. Qualitative research methods, such as focus groups and interviews, provide unique opportunities to explore thoughts and feelings expressed regarding their personal experience with cancer and bear witness to how men construct and make sense of their self. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: Grounded in …
‘Promoting wellness, having fun, and creating community’
Canada’s aging population highlights the critical need to identify physical activity programming that has the potential to positively contribute to one’s aging journey. Dancing is one type of physical activity that can offer the opportunity to be with others, move to music, and encourage creativity and personal expression. Dance instructors may influence older adults’ experiences with, and outcomes following, participation in dance classes. This …
Uncertainty, loss, ambivalence, and connection
Group physical activity (PA) creates opportunities for social connection, social support, and regular PA, contributing to older adults’ well-being. Public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic limited in-person programming, which led to social isolation and provided an opportunity to understand the contribution such programmes make to well-being. This study explored older adults’ (≥55 years old) experiences of changes to their PA behav…
Intersecting identities of age, gender, religion, and culture in group physical activity
The Pakistani older adult (OA) population in Canada is increasing, yet language, cultural, and gender barriers limit their participation in recreational settings. Ten interviews were conducted with Pakistani older adults aged 65 and older to understand the role of language, gender, and culture in participating in group physical activity (PA) settings. Utilising reflexive thematic analysis we identified five themes: (1) immigration to Canada chang…
“In My Mind, It Was Just Temporary”
Individuals who are diagnosed and treated for cancer use a variety of strategies to manage its impacts. However, there is currently a lack of research on men’s experience with managing cancer impacts, which is necessary to better support them throughout the cancer care continuum. This study explored the experience of men diagnosed with cancer, focusing on the impacts of the illness and its treatment and men’s strategies to cope. A qualitative des…
‘Find your groove’
The purpose of this study was to examine teaching strategies utilized by instructors within a dance class for individuals with Parkinson’s, and to describe ways in which dancers respond to the teaching strategies utilized; both through the lens of physical literacy. Dance instructors offer important insight into the content design and facilitation of these classes for individuals with Parkinson’s so they can experience the physical, psychological…
Instructor strategies to support older adults’ physical literacy in community dance classes
This study examines the pedagogical strategies of a dance instructor working with older adults in a virtual asynchronous community dance class, and the ways in which dance instruction influences older adults’ physical literacy. Physical literacy is a multidimensional framework which helps us understand meaningful and motivating physical activity experiences across the lifespan. Instructors play a critical role in creating dance environments that …
The feasibility and impact of a painted designs intervention on school children’s physical activity
Interventions such as painted designs on school tarmacs may increase children’s physical activity during school hours. This mixed-methods study examined the influence of a painted designs (e.g., traditional games, random circles) intervention on the physical activity experiences of elementary school children. Systematic observations and accelerometer data were collected to evaluate the type and quantity of student physical activity. Interviews we…
‘I guess you just have to deal with it’
Pre-professional ballet dancers are at high risk for musculoskeletal injuries, some of which are not reported and are self-managed by dancers themselves. Understanding the decisions that adolescent dancers make related to their dancing, pain, and injuries is relatively under-researched. Sociocultural contexts and the presence of social support (or not) may influence decisions and experiences of elite adolescent ballet dancers regarding their pain…
Social support and social barriers for participating in group physical activity among older women living alone
Older adults who live alone are more likely to experience social isolation. Physical activity (PA) provides an opportunity and purpose for participating socially, but there may be social barriers for this population. We examined experiences with social support, social connections, and social barriers related to participating in group PA among older adult women who live alone. Older adult women (n = 16; Mage = 66.9 years, the majority of whom were…
The role of peers and the recreational environment in adolescent emotional safety
Emotional safety is important for facilitating positive outcomes in afterschool programmes. Emotional safety is not clearly conceptualised, and participants’ understandings of, and experiences with how the social and built environment contribute to emotional safety in afterschool programmes is not well established. This qualitative case study examined early and middle adolescents’ experiences with their peers and the programme environment, and ho…
Considerations for making informed choices about engaging in open qualitative research
There is currently little guidance that exists for researchers in the sport and exercise sciences on open qualitative research practices. The purpose of paper is to provide researchers with guidance regarding the considerations necessary for making informed decisions about engaging in open research practices within qualitative inquiry. The guidance was developed through a series of four working group meetings with experts in qualitative research …
The Impact of Covid-19 on High School Student-Athlete Experiences with Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Social Connection
COVID-19 restrictions led to reduced levels of physical activity, increased screen usage, and declines in mental health in youth; however, in-depth understandings of the experiences of high school student-athletes have yet to be explored. To describe the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic on student-athletes' physical activity, social connection, and mental health, 20 high school student-athletes living in Calgary, Alberta participated in semi-…
Staff perspectives on building social relationships with participants in a physical activity-based youth development program
Staff in youth development programmes are often tasked with establishing positive relationships with youth to support well-being in young people from underserved backgrounds. To understand how staff understand and approach the development of positive social relationships with youth, and learn how to better support this process, we examined staff perspectives on how they establish these relationships and feedback on training designed to foster sta…
A Systematic Review of Agreement Between Perceived and Objective Neighborhood Environment Measures and Associations With Physical Activity Outcomes
A number of review studies document associations between the perceived and objectively measured neighborhood environment and physical activity. However, current evidence does not discern whether perceived or objective variables more consistently predict physical activity. A review is needed to examine the comparability of these variables and the consistency of their respective associations with the same physical activity outcome. We systematicall…
The observed and perceived neighborhood environment and physical activity among urban-dwelling adults
Bi-directional Effects of Peer Relationships and Adolescent Substance Use
Invariance test of the Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire
Muscle Gains and Emotional Strains
In this study we explored the experiences of women who were classified as overweight while they participated in a physical activity intervention. In line with interpretative phenomenological analysis, eight women were interviewed prior to and following a 12-week dragon boat physical activity intervention. Data were transcribed verbatim and subjected to individual-level content analysis to explore change that informed group-level idiographic analy…
Predicting Change in Physical Activity, Dietary Restraint, and Physique Anxiety in Adolescent Girls
Muscle Gains and Emotional Strains
In this study we explored the experiences of women who were classified as overweight while they participated in a physical activity intervention. In line with interpretative phenomenological analysis, eight women were interviewed prior to and following a 12-week dragon boat physical activity intervention. Data were transcribed verbatim and subjected to individual-level content analysis to explore change that informed group-level idiographic analy…
Predicting Change in Physical Activity, Dietary Restraint, and Physique Anxiety in Adolescent Girls
Bi-directional Effects of Peer Relationships and Adolescent Substance Use
The observed and perceived neighborhood environment and physical activity among urban-dwelling adults
Predicting Change in Physical Activity, Dietary Restraint, and Physique Anxiety in Adolescent Girls
Muscle Gains and Emotional Strains
In this study we explored the experiences of women who were classified as overweight while they participated in a physical activity intervention. In line with interpretative phenomenological analysis, eight women were interviewed prior to and following a 12-week dragon boat physical activity intervention. Data were transcribed verbatim and subjected to individual-level content analysis to explore change that informed group-level idiographic analy…
Invariance test of the Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire
Bi-directional Effects of Peer Relationships and Adolescent Substance Use
A Systematic Review of Agreement Between Perceived and Objective Neighborhood Environment Measures and Associations With Physical Activity Outcomes
A number of review studies document associations between the perceived and objectively measured neighborhood environment and physical activity. However, current evidence does not discern whether perceived or objective variables more consistently predict physical activity. A review is needed to examine the comparability of these variables and the consistency of their respective associations with the same physical activity outcome. We systematicall…
The observed and perceived neighborhood environment and physical activity among urban-dwelling adults
Staff perspectives on building social relationships with participants in a physical activity-based youth development program
Staff in youth development programmes are often tasked with establishing positive relationships with youth to support well-being in young people from underserved backgrounds. To understand how staff understand and approach the development of positive social relationships with youth, and learn how to better support this process, we examined staff perspectives on how they establish these relationships and feedback on training designed to foster sta…
Considerations for making informed choices about engaging in open qualitative research
There is currently little guidance that exists for researchers in the sport and exercise sciences on open qualitative research practices. The purpose of paper is to provide researchers with guidance regarding the considerations necessary for making informed decisions about engaging in open research practices within qualitative inquiry. The guidance was developed through a series of four working group meetings with experts in qualitative research …
The Impact of Covid-19 on High School Student-Athlete Experiences with Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Social Connection
COVID-19 restrictions led to reduced levels of physical activity, increased screen usage, and declines in mental health in youth; however, in-depth understandings of the experiences of high school student-athletes have yet to be explored. To describe the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic on student-athletes' physical activity, social connection, and mental health, 20 high school student-athletes living in Calgary, Alberta participated in semi-…
The role of peers and the recreational environment in adolescent emotional safety
Emotional safety is important for facilitating positive outcomes in afterschool programmes. Emotional safety is not clearly conceptualised, and participants’ understandings of, and experiences with how the social and built environment contribute to emotional safety in afterschool programmes is not well established. This qualitative case study examined early and middle adolescents’ experiences with their peers and the programme environment, and ho…
The feasibility and impact of a painted designs intervention on school children’s physical activity
Interventions such as painted designs on school tarmacs may increase children’s physical activity during school hours. This mixed-methods study examined the influence of a painted designs (e.g., traditional games, random circles) intervention on the physical activity experiences of elementary school children. Systematic observations and accelerometer data were collected to evaluate the type and quantity of student physical activity. Interviews we…
‘I guess you just have to deal with it’
Pre-professional ballet dancers are at high risk for musculoskeletal injuries, some of which are not reported and are self-managed by dancers themselves. Understanding the decisions that adolescent dancers make related to their dancing, pain, and injuries is relatively under-researched. Sociocultural contexts and the presence of social support (or not) may influence decisions and experiences of elite adolescent ballet dancers regarding their pain…
Social support and social barriers for participating in group physical activity among older women living alone
Older adults who live alone are more likely to experience social isolation. Physical activity (PA) provides an opportunity and purpose for participating socially, but there may be social barriers for this population. We examined experiences with social support, social connections, and social barriers related to participating in group PA among older adult women who live alone. Older adult women (n = 16; Mage = 66.9 years, the majority of whom were…
“In My Mind, It Was Just Temporary”
Individuals who are diagnosed and treated for cancer use a variety of strategies to manage its impacts. However, there is currently a lack of research on men’s experience with managing cancer impacts, which is necessary to better support them throughout the cancer care continuum. This study explored the experience of men diagnosed with cancer, focusing on the impacts of the illness and its treatment and men’s strategies to cope. A qualitative des…
‘Find your groove’
The purpose of this study was to examine teaching strategies utilized by instructors within a dance class for individuals with Parkinson’s, and to describe ways in which dancers respond to the teaching strategies utilized; both through the lens of physical literacy. Dance instructors offer important insight into the content design and facilitation of these classes for individuals with Parkinson’s so they can experience the physical, psychological…
Instructor strategies to support older adults’ physical literacy in community dance classes
This study examines the pedagogical strategies of a dance instructor working with older adults in a virtual asynchronous community dance class, and the ways in which dance instruction influences older adults’ physical literacy. Physical literacy is a multidimensional framework which helps us understand meaningful and motivating physical activity experiences across the lifespan. Instructors play a critical role in creating dance environments that …
‘Promoting wellness, having fun, and creating community’
Canada’s aging population highlights the critical need to identify physical activity programming that has the potential to positively contribute to one’s aging journey. Dancing is one type of physical activity that can offer the opportunity to be with others, move to music, and encourage creativity and personal expression. Dance instructors may influence older adults’ experiences with, and outcomes following, participation in dance classes. This …
Uncertainty, loss, ambivalence, and connection
Group physical activity (PA) creates opportunities for social connection, social support, and regular PA, contributing to older adults’ well-being. Public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic limited in-person programming, which led to social isolation and provided an opportunity to understand the contribution such programmes make to well-being. This study explored older adults’ (≥55 years old) experiences of changes to their PA behav…
Intersecting identities of age, gender, religion, and culture in group physical activity
The Pakistani older adult (OA) population in Canada is increasing, yet language, cultural, and gender barriers limit their participation in recreational settings. Ten interviews were conducted with Pakistani older adults aged 65 and older to understand the role of language, gender, and culture in participating in group physical activity (PA) settings. Utilising reflexive thematic analysis we identified five themes: (1) immigration to Canada chang…
Opening up for science
CONTEXT: Men are frequently underrepresented in psychological support services and qualitative research, two settings that call for some kind of vulnerability. Qualitative research methods, such as focus groups and interviews, provide unique opportunities to explore thoughts and feelings expressed regarding their personal experience with cancer and bear witness to how men construct and make sense of their self. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: Grounded in …
Psychology (16 works) · Medicine (12 works) · Qualitative research (7 works) · Social Psychology (7 works) · Clinical Psychology (5 works) · Developmental psychology (5 works) · Gerontology (5 works) · Physical activity (5 works) · Physical therapy (5 works) · Sociology (5 works)