Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2
Phone: (204) 474-6363
Fax: (204) 474-7634
E-mail: strachas@cc.umanitoba.ca
Areas of Research
- Exercise psychology
- Health psychology
- Exercise adherence
- Self and identity and health behaviours
- Social psychology and health behaviours
Research Interests
The primary objective of my research is to promote health through adherence to physical activity. My research centers on self-related variables and the role of these construct in the self-regulation of exercise. For example, much of my recent research investigates how self-perceptions related to exercise, such as exercise identity, help people adhere to exercise. This theoretically-driven research program has been funded by a SSHRC grant and has employed prospective designs and real-world challenges to identify relationships between exercise identity, social cognitions, and exercise outcomes among adults. My research also engages experimental designs to investigate factors influencing how individuals react to challenges to their exercise identity. Presently I am investigating ways in which self-perceptions related to exercise such as exercise identity can be enhanced as a means of promoting physical activity among individuals. This line of investigation is currently funded by a Manitoba Medical Services Foundation grant and involves my graduate students.
Research Group Affiliations:
Health, Leisure and Human Performance Research Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Teaching:
PERS 1200 Physical Activity, Health and Wellness
PERS 3350 Introduction to Research
PERS 7006 Current Issues in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure: Psychosocial Aspects
Selected Publications
Strachan, S.M., & Whaley, D. (accepted for publication). The role of self-identity in understanding exercise behaviour. In. P. Ekkekakis (Ed.), Handbook of physical activity and mental health. Routledge.
Strachan, S.M., Shields, C.A., Beatty, J., & Glassford, A. (2012). Is it who I am or who I am with that counts? The associations between runner and group identity with adjustment to running group disbandment. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 13, 4, 463-443.
Perrier, M.J., Sweet, S.N., Strachan, S.M., & A.E. Latimer-Cheung. (accepted for publication). I think, therefore I am: Athletic identity and the Health Action Process Approach predict sport participation for individuals with acquired, physical disabilities. Psychology of Sport and Exercise.
Berry, T., & Strachan, S.M. (in press). Implicit and explicit exercise and sedentary identity. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport.
Strachan, S.M., Brawley, L.R., Spink, K.S., & Flora, P.K. (2011). Varying the cause of a challenge to exercise-identity behaviour: Reactions of individuals of differing identity strength. Journal of Health Psychology, 6, 572-583.
Strachan, S.M., Brawley, L. R., Spink, K., & Glazebrook, K. (2010). Older adults’ physically active identity: Relationships between social cognitions, physical activity and satisfaction with life. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 11, 114-121.
Giles, A., Strachan, S.M., Stadig, G. & Baker, A. (2010). “Don’t be scared, you don’t have to wear your lifejacket”: Using the theory of planned behaviour to understand lifejacket usage in Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. Polar Record.
Strachan, S.M., Brawley, L.R., Spink, K., & Jung, M.E. (2009). Strength of exercise identity and identity-behaviour consistency: Affective and social cognitive relationships. The Journal of Health Psychology, 14, 1196-1206.
Strachan, S.M., & Brawley, L.R. (2009). Healthy-eater identity and self-efficacy predict healthy eating behaviour: A prospective view. The Journal of Health Psychology, 14, 684-695.
Spink, K., Strachan, S.M., & Oknodon, P. (2008). Understanding the relationship between parent and child physical activity: A social control approach. Social Influence, 3, 189-201.
Strachan, S.M., & Brawley, L.R. (2008). Reactions to a challenge to identity: A focus on exercise and healthy eating. The Journal of Health Psychology, 13, 575-588.
Strachan, S.M., & Brawley, L.R. (2007). Social cognitive reactions to considering participation in weight management interventions. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 37, 969-988.
Strachan, S.M., Woodgate, J., Brawley, L.R., & Tse, A. (2005). The relationship of self-efficacy and self-identity to the long-term maintenance of vigorous physical activity. Journal of Applied Biobehavioural Research, 10, 98-112.
