HEALTH BEHAVIOUR & EMOTION LAB

INTERESTED IN A GRADUATE DEGREE IN EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY?
If you are interested in pursuing graduate work in exercise psychology at McGill University, please visit the department website for more information and use the following document for your reference.

LAB DIRECTOR
	Catherine Sabiston, Associate Professor Dr. Sabiston’s research is focused on physical and social self-perceptions and health behaviour motivation. Her research focuses primarily on physical activity with an emphasis on at risk populations. This research is currently funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), and a new investigator award from the Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Société et la Culture (FQRSC). Catherine also works with athletes and exercisers on mental health and fitness training. Dr. Sabiston is a co-investigator with QUebec Adipose and Lifestyle InvesTigation in Youth (QUALITY) , a team of researchers working towards understanding cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes risk factors in youth. She is also an investigator with the Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement (I.C.E.) Team aimed at strengthening the links between, research practice, and public policy to reduce the burden of tobacco. Dr. Sabiston is a mentor and research affiliate with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Training Grant for Psychosocial Oncology Research Training (PORT) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Training Grant in Population Intervention for Chronic Disease Prevention: A Pan-Canadian Program (PICDP)
CURRENT STUDENTS
	Andrée Castonguay, 4th Year Ph.D. Student Andrée is a PhD candidate in Health and Exercise Psychology at McGill University working under the guidance of Dr. Catherine Sabiston. Her doctoral research is aimed at developing and validating a self-report measure of body-related self-conscious emotions as well as examining the influence of these emotions on physical activity and mental and physical health indicators among older adolescents and young adults. She anticipates that this instrument and knowledge will provide a foundation for future health research and eventually guide the development of evidence-based interventions to help promote the well-being of older adolescents and young adults. Andrée is also a member of TEAM PRODIGY, an inter-university research team, where she examines determinants and outcomes of physical activity in youth. Furthermore, she works as a sport and exercise psychology consultant to help enhance individual and team performance as well as physical activity participation. Awards and scholarships: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) fellowship (2009-2012); Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Training Grant in Population Intervention for Chronic Disease Prevention: A Pan-Canadian Program fellowship (2009-2011); Education Graduate Student Society Travel Award (2011); Psychosocial Oncology Research Training (PORT) fellowship (2008-2009); Dan Q. Marisi Award (2009); R. E. Wilkinson Award (2008); Provost Entrance scholarship (2008), Principal's Graduate fellowship (2008); Canadian Associations for Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO) - Top presentation award (2009). Membership: Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS), North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA), Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM), Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), and Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO).
	Natalia (Tala) Bessette, 2nd Year PhD Student Tala completed her undergraduate degree at McGill University in Education (Kinesiology) and went on to complete her Masters of Human Kinetics at the University of Windsor. Her passion for mental and physical wellbeing brought her back to McGill to pursue a doctorate degree. Tala's current Ph.D. research aims to investigate the effects of physical self-discrepancy on affect and physical activity. Awards and Scholarships: Provost Entrance scholarship (2010) Membership: Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS)
	Tanya Scarapicchia, 2nd Year Master’s Student Tanya is a second year master's student at McGill University. She has also completed her undergraduate degree at McGill in Honours Kinesiology with a minor in psychology. Her research interests include exercise adherence, motivation and weight loss interventions. In addition to her academic pursuits, she also has a genuine passion for healthy living and partakes in activities such as rock-climbing and trekking. Tanya has also contributed to a program geared towards establishing active lifestyles, such as the McGill Cardiovascular Health Improvement Program for Teens (CHIP). Awards and scholarships: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Training Grant in Population Intervention for Chronic Disease Prevention: A Pan-Canadian Program fellowship (2011-2012), Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel (2011), Education Graduate Student Society Travel Grant (2011) The Provost Entrance Scholarship (2010) and The Department Graduate Student Award (2010). Membership: Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS) and North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA)
	Eva Pila, 1st Year Master’s student Eva completed her undergraduate Honours Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at McMaster University, with a minor in psychology. Her research focuses on examining the psychological and physiological relationships of self-conscious emotions and body image. Also, Eva has been involved with various community projects, such as designing exercise treatment programs for anxiety & mood disorders, and facilitating programs aimed to increase physical activity, health eating and positive body image among adolescent girls. She is currently working with the McGill Eating Disorder Program to raise awareness of eating disorders among students on campus. Membership: Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS)
	Gina Pinsonnault Bilodeau, 1st Year Master’s student Gina is a first year Master's student in the HBE lab after completing her undergraduate degree in Physical and Health Education at McGill. Her thesis is focused on better understanding the family environment pertaining to obesity in youth. Gina is competing for her fifth year on the McGill Martlet's cross-country and track and field team. She is also actively involved in fundraising for The Ride to Conquer Cancer as a member of Team Kahnawake Cycling. Awards and Scholarships: Graduate Excellence Fellowship (2011) and The Andrea Taylor Memorial Award (2011). Memberships: Committee member for The Association of Physical Educators of Quebec (APEQ) and North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA)
LAB ASSISTANTS
	Sylvie Moisan, Project Manager The professional path of Sylvie A. Moisan has been influenced by her attraction towards sciences and communications. This has allowed her, on one hand, to work in project management in the field of breast cancer (McGill University), in lab management in the agro-food domain (Lab Manager, SGS Laboratories) and in project coordination in different therapeutic fields (Axdev Group). On the other hand, she has placed communications as the central focus of her professional sphere: in professional interpersonal communication such as in costumers services, sales and marketing (VIA Rail Canada), as well as in a very specialized perspective as an interpreter for Deaf and hard of hearing (Commission scolaire Marie-Victorin) and also as a professional translator from English to French. Currently, Sylvie is employed as a project manager for Catherine Sabiston, Ph.D. for a longitudinal study on Breast Cancer at McGill University’s Kinesiology and physical Education Department. Her roles include management, coordination, and participants’ communications. Sylvie has obtained her graduate degrees in specialized translation (DÉSS) and in localization (Masters) from the Université de Montréal. Her final assessment consisted of a case study of the various Web site communication strategies used for a specific target audience of Deaf users. She has been a corrector of high technology texts (Lexicom), a translator and reviser of health research documents and of research articles for publications (McGill University). She has contributed to the translation and localization of a multilanguage site in the field of popularization of science (botanic). Member of the Association des communicateurs scientifiques du Québec, she has also given scientifics radio chronicles (CIBL). Sylvie’s bachelor’s degree was in Biology she also has a certificate (Biologic production) from the Université du Québec à Montréal. She has strong interests in natural sciences in particular in botanics. She is a member of La Société de biologie de Montréal, of Les Amis du jardin botanique de Montréal and of the Club d’ornithologie de Longueuil. In her leisure time she reads all she can find on ethnobotanic in particular in the use of herb medicine and on other plant uses in a wellness objective. Sylvie is also an aromatherapy consultant about to obtain her final aromatherapy certification.
RECENT GRADUATES
	Jennifer Brunet Jennifer Brunet is a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine at the Université de Montréal and the School of Nursing at McGill University. Her research interests are centered around identifying psychological and social factors that may increase physical activity levels. She chose this area of research because there is compelling evidence that the majority of the Canadian population is not being sufficiently active at levels known to yield health benefits. She hopes that this knowledge will help guide the development of evidence-based interventions to increase physical activity levels, as well as the well-being and health status of Canadians. During her Master’s and PhD programs of research in the HBE lab, Jennifer was the recipient of various awards, including the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology Franklin Henry Young Scientist Award (2011) and scholarships including SSHRC (2008-2011) and PORT (2008-2011). Her post-doctoral fellowship is supported by FRSQ; HSFC; and PORT.
	Erin O'Loughlin Erin completed her master's thesis titled "Investigating the relationships Among Depression and Anxiety Symptoms, Self-Esteem and Physical Activity in Women Treated for Breast Cancer: a Pilot Study Comparing Two Physical Activity interventions" in 2011. She continues to work on the AdoQuest study(www.adoquest.ca) as a research coordinator at the CRCHUM and continues to be involved with research teams investigating physical activity and mental health. Erin’s Master’s program was funded by the Psychosocial Oncology Research Training program (www.port.mcgill.ca)
	Bianca Segatto Bianca completed her master's thesis titled "Exploring Relationships between Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction, Motivation and Physical Activity among Transplant Recipients" in 2010. She maintains her involvement with the transplant community and organ donor awareness as well as continuing to assist with the McGill Cheerleading team. She is now pursuing a career in epidemiology research.
	Kara Egelton Kara completed her Master's degree at McGill University. Her thesis focused on understanding women's struggles with life long body image dissatisfaction. Kara's research interests include exercise motivation, weight loss behaviours, and body image. A love for exercise and an interest in health and psychology confirmed Kara's decision to accept a research position at the McGill University Health Centre.
	Caitlin Love Caitlin completed her master's thesis titled “Exploring the influence of physical activity on the path to experiencing positive psychological growth in older adolescent and young adult cancer survivors” in 2009. Caitlin will be continuing her McGill experience in a doctoral program under the supervision of Dr. William Harvey.
	Kristina Hassell Kristina completed her Master’s thesis titled “Elite Female Adolescent Swimmers’ Perceptions of the Motivational Influences of Coaches, Parents, and Peers” at McGill University (2008). She was the recipient of the Marie-Claude Saumure Memorial Award for highest combined academic and athletic performance on the McGill Varsity Swim Team (2007). After working in the health and fitness field for over a year, Kristina is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in public health.
	Patricia-Ann Crombie Trish completed her Master’s degree (2009) with a focus on pedagogical aspects of physical education and linking strategies associated with reducing social physique anxiety. She received her undergraduate degree in Physical and Health Education from McGill (2007). Trish is currently pursuing a teaching career.
HONORARY LAB MEMBERS
	Jersey Sabiston
	Einstein Moisan
	Pushkin Moisan
	Maggie Pinsonnault Bilodeau
	Mimi Brunet
	Peanut Castonguay
	Luna Egelton