Katie Gunnell

kgunnell@interchange.ubc.ca

Supervisor: Dr. Peter Crocker
Current Program: PhD
Research Area: Exercise Psychology

I am a first year PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Peter Crocker. I completed my BKin and MA in Applied Health Sciences at Brock University in Southern Ontario. I am originally from a small town outside of Ottawa.

I am interested in the association between physical activity and well-being in various populations including those diagnosed with osteoporosis. I am interested in examining both hedonic (i.e., pleasure vs. pain) and eudaimonic (i.e., realizing human potentials) forms of well-being. A secondary research interest is Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985; 2002), and more specifically, looking at the role of perceived psychological need satisfaction in the physical activity-well-being relationship.

I am funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) scholarship and also through a UBC faculty of Education entrance scholarship.

Publications:

Gunnell, K. E., Mack, D. E., & Wilson, P. M. (2009). Does psychological need fulfillment mediate the leisure-time physical activity- eudaimonic well-being relationship. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology.

Gunnell, K. E., Mack, D. E., Wilson, P. M., Oster, K. G., & Grattan, K. P. (2008). Predictors of well-being in osteoporotics: Associations with demographic, health and physical activity indices. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 30, S173.

Wilson, P. M., Mack, D. E., Gunnell, K., Oster, K., & Gregson, J. P. (2008). Analyzing the measurement of psychological need satisfaction in exercise contexts: Evidence, issues, and future directions. In M. P. Simmons & L. A. Foster (Eds.), Sport and Exercise Psychology Research Advances (pp. 361-391). Hauppauge, NY: Novapublishing.