Department of Psychology
Biography:
Keywords: health psychology; body image; sport & exercise
After my BSc at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, I completed an MA in Exercise and Health Science and a PhD in Psychology at York University. My main area of research has been in body image in young women, with an interest in personality variables and other individual differences which can protect against, or predict, problems. I also have interests in the psychology of eating and risk factors for obesity. I am currently pursuing a line of research on sociocultural barriers to women’s participation in sport and exercise, funded by SSHRC and Sport Canada. The main focus of this work is the influence of self-objectification on performance and motivation for sport participation.
My teaching interests fall generally under the heading of health psychology, and I have taught undergraduate courses in adjustment, stress and coping; the psychology of health and health care; and sport psychology. In addition to my involvement in the Dept of Psychology’s grad program, I contributed to the development of the graduate degree in Nutrition Communication at Ryerson.
I have been active in service around the University, including roles on the RFA Executive and Ryerson’s Academic Council (now known as “Senate”) and was recently honored with the RFA Distinguished Service Award. Currently I am the Undergraduate Thesis Coordinator for the Department of Psychology.
For more information, please visit my website: www.ryerson.ca/~mdionne/
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