Sport and Exercise Psychology: A Canadian Perspective, 5th edition

Published by Pearson Canada (December 28, 2023) © 2025

  • Peter R. Crocker University of British Columbia
  • Catherine Sabiston University of Toronto
  • Meghan McDonough University of Calgary

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Revel

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For courses in Principles of Sports Psychology. 

Sport and Exercise Psychology: A Canadian Perspective is written specifically for a Canadian introductory undergraduate course in sport and exercise psychology. The book presents an overview of sport and exercise psychology and provides a solid foundation in core concepts required for upper-level undergraduate courses. The organization of the book allows instructors to focus on specific areas of sport and exercise psychology to meet specific academic course requirements.

Hallmark features of this title

  • Common Myths. Each chapter includes three to five common myths about the chapter's subject. We clarify and dispel each myth by presenting clear evidence to the contrary.
  • Case Studies. Case studies illustrate and exemplify key ideas and concepts.
  • Reflections Boxes. Each chapter contains Reflections boxes that require students to consider how key concepts and ideas apply to their personal knowledge and experiences.
  • Canadian Examples. Numerous Canadian examples support concepts, making the material more relevant.

New to this Edition

  • Included more information on research and issues related to Indigenous Peoples including research approaches grounded in and centering on Indigenous ways of knowing (chapter 1); Indigenous leadership (Chapter 8); psychological and social nuances of coaching in Indigenous communities to work towards reconciliation (Chapter 11); medicine wheel teachings of balance between the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional aspects of oneself (Chapter 13); and research on how physical activity affects Indigenous Peoples (Chapter 15) .
  • Updated all chapters to reflect the latest developments in theory, research, and practice including the impact of COVID-19 on athletic coping strategies, athletic identity, and athletic and life plans (Chapter 1); updated research on choking in sport particularly based on attention theories, and interventions to reduce the occurrence of choking (Chapter 6); Rugby Canada's Age Grade Law Variations for Community Rugby (Chapter 10); information on orthorexia nervosa, the theories of embodiment, and sport interventions specific to body image (Chapter 14); and the International Society for Physical Activity and Health's recently updated recommendations identifying the best ways to promote global physical activity using a systems-approach (Chapter 15).
  • Increased coverage of diversity, equity, and inclusion in case studies, examples, and photos, and through information on cultural and adaptation stressors and challenges (Chapter 4); the Hockey Diversity Alliance, which has a mission to eradicate racism and intolerance in hockey (Chapter 6); the role of coaches in understanding and promoting social justice in sport, the role of sport in potentially mitigating deeply rooted negative experiences around social exclusion, and the importance of sport communities in creating a culture of safety and inclusivity in youth sport (Chapter 10); the importance of being able to understand both the barriers and motivators to participation in exercise and physical activity for newcomers to Canada (Chapter 12); and the importance of moving beyond the gender binary when considering body image (Chapter 14).

Digital Assets in Revel

  • Videos and interactives that are integrated directly into the narrative get students learning actively, making it more likely that they'll retain what they've read.
  • Embedded assessments afford students regular opportunities to check their understanding. The results enable instructors to gauge student comprehension and provide timely feedback to address learning gaps along the way.
  • Writing assignments - such as journaling prompts and shared writing activities - enable educators to foster and assess critical thinking without significantly impacting their grading burden.
  • The educator dashboard offers an at-a-glance look at overall class performance. It helps instructors identify and contact struggling and low-activity students, ensuring that the class stays on pace.
  1. Introducing Sport and Exercise Psychology
  2. Personality in Sport and Exercise
  3. Motivation and Behavioural Change
  4. Stress, Emotion, and Coping in Sport and Exercise
  5. Anxiety in Sport and Exercise
  6. Aggression and Moral Behaviour in Sport
  7. Sport Psychology Interventions
  8. Leadership in Sport and Exercise
  9. Group Cohesion in Sport and Exercise
  10. Youth Involvement and Positive Development in Sport
  11. Coaching Psychology
  12. Aging and Involvement in Sport and Physical Activity
  13. Physical Activity and Mental Health
  14. Body Image in Sport and Exercise
  15. Physical Activity Interventions

Dr. Peter Crocker is a professor emeritus in the School of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He is still actively involved in research focusing on stress and adaptation, with a particular interest in understanding sport, exercise, and health-related behaviour. Ongoing research includes investigating stress and coping in athletes and psychological well-being in high performance athletes.

Dr. Crocker is a two-time president of the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS) and a former section head for sport and exercise psychology in the Canadian Psychological Association. He has also been recognized as a Fellow in the Canadian Psychological Association, SCAPPS, and the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. Actively involved as a reviewer for several scholarly journals and granting agencies, he is a former editor of The Sport Psychologist, and a former associate editor for the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology. Dr. Crocker has also served as a consultant for athletes in golf, gymnastics, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and soccer. Dr. Crocker played competitive basketball and soccer as a youth and was also a soccer coach for several university and provincial-select soccer teams.

Dr. Crocker completed an undergraduate degree in psychology and a master's degree in kinesiology from Simon Fraser University. His PhD, under the supervision of Dr. Rikk Alderman at the University of Alberta, focused on sport psychology and skill learning. He has taught previously at Lakehead University (1986–1990) and the University of The enhanced grades view provides detailed insights on student performance, from specific assignments to individual student scores.

Dr. Catherine Sabiston is a professor of exercise and health psychology in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto. She also holds a Tier II Canada Research Chair in physical activity and mental health and is a director of the Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Sabiston has been awarded numerous early career awards in sport and exercise psychology, including the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity Early Distinguished Career Award, the Health Psychology Early Career Award from the Canadian Psychological Association, and the Franklin Henry Young Scientist Award from the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology.

Dr. Sabiston's recent research focuses specifically on trajectories of self-conscious emotions and body image in explaining the sharp decline in sport participation among adolescent girls. Her research also highlights body image as an integral factor in youth experiences of quality sport. This work generally points to the need for programs and policies aimed specifically at body image in sport and exercise practices. Dr. Sabiston is also leading a number of experimental studies focused on capturing ways that body surveillance, monitoring, and checking impacts attention, learning, and performance.

Dr. Sabiston completed an undergraduate degree in kinesiology and psychology at Dalhousie University and a master's degree in Human Kinetics at the University of Windsor. Her PhD focused on physical self-perceptions, social support, and health behaviours among adolescents, under the supervision of Dr. Peter Crocker at the University of British Columbia. Following a post-doctoral fellowship in health promotion and public health, her first academic position was at McGill University before moving to the University of Toronto. Dr. Sabiston grew up playing competitive softball and field hockey, and now loves to run. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her husband, Jason, her children, Teagan and Carson, and her running partner, Luna the silver Labrador.

Dr. Meghan McDonough is a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary. Her research examines social relationships, self-perceptions, motivation, stress and emotion, and psychological well-being. Her research focuses on social support, social relationships, and interpersonal barriers in physical activity among older adults, youth, vulnerable populations, and physical activity for clinical populations, including cancer survivors and people with Parkinson's disease. Her work examines both theoretical and practical questions. She works extensively with community-based programs in her research, and current projects include translating theoretically-based principles of effective social support into practice in physical activity settings.

Dr. McDonough is the Past-President of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity. She is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, and she is on the editorial boards for the journals Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology and the International Journal of Sport Psychology. She is an active reviewer for many journals and was recognized as reviewer of the year for Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology in 2016. She received the Franklin Henry Young Scientist Award from the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology and has received a number of awards for teaching and mentoring.

Dr. McDonough completed her undergraduate degree in kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan. She completed her master's and PhD degrees in the School of Human Kinetics at the University of British Columbia, supervised by Dr. Peter Crocker. Her dissertation focused on the role of relatedness, autonomy, and competence in motivation, physical activity behaviour, and psychological well-being among adult recreational sport participants. She was previously a faculty member at Purdue University (2006–2016). Dr. McDonough was a member of Canada's junior national flatwater kayak team in her youth. She spends her free time riding bicycles, paddling canoes and kayaks, skiing, running, and playing in the mountains. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her partner, Hersh.

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