Diane E. Mack, PhD

Professor, Kinesiology

Diane E. Mack, PhD

905 688 5550 x4360
[email protected]

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My research focuses on two broad areas: wellbeing and body self-perceptions. My first area of research examines the behavioural (e.g., physical activity) and psychological (e.g., self-compassion) that contribute to wellbeing. My second area of research examines body self-perceptions including body functionality and body appreciation on behavioural and psychological outcomes. To address these interests a range of quantitative approaches, including knowledge synthesis methods, are adopted. Currently, I serve as an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology and as a Review Board Member for Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Performance Enhancement & Health, and the International Journal of Sport Psychology.

Research Interests

  • Wellbeing
  • Body self-perceptions
  • Behaviour change
  • Knowledge synthesis

Professional Affiliations, Accreditations and Certificates:

  • Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
  • North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity

Academic Distinctions and Awards

Sport Science Award of the IOC President (1996). Carron, A. V., Hausenblas, H. A., & Mack, D. (1996). The social factor in exercise:  A meta-analysis.

Scholarly Publications

Recent Sample Publications

Marashi, M., Sabiston, C. M., O’Loughlin, E. K., Ryan, S. E., Arbour-Nicitopoulos, K. P., & Mack, D. E. (2026). Body image experiences of women across resistance training modalities: A mixed methods study. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 86 https://doi.10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103156

Tremonte, I. L., Mack, D.E., Crouch, M. K., & Sabiston, C. M. (2026).  Exploring the  “female-athlete paradox”: A thematic synthesis of 20+ years of qualitative research. Body Image, 57, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102096

Peters, C., Mack, D. E., Wilson, P. M., & Tremonte, I. R. (2025). Does well-being matter to performance? A Case Study. Journal of Sports and Games., 7(1), 17–20. https://doi.org/10.22259/2642-8466.0701003

Tremonte, I. R., Mack, D. E., Wilson, P. M., & Sabiston, C. M. (2025).  Making the cut: Investigating body image and well-being among female powerlifters.  Performance  Enhancement & Health, 13, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peh.2025.100333

Burgess, M. R., Mack, D. E., Wilson, P. M., & Ferguson. L. J. (2024). Treating yourself in a fairway: Examining the contribution of self-compassion and well-being on performance in a golf putting task.  Sports, 12(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12110300

Mack, D. E., Vo, K. T., & Wilson, P. M. (2024). The long and short-form Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale: A reliability generalization meta-analysis. Journal of Happiness Studies, 25(12). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-024-00715-0

Columbus, A., Mack, D. E., Wilson, P. M., & Chimera, N. J. (2023).  Stable or fluid: An investigation into female student-athlete basketball players well-being. Case Studies in Sport & Exercise Psychology, 7(3), 71-78.  https://doi.org/10.1123/cssep.2022-0023.

Ferguson, L., J., Adam, M. E. K., Gunnell, K. E., Kowalski, K. C., Mack, D. E., Mosewich, A. D., & Murphy, N. (2022).  Self-compassion or self-criticism? Predicting women athlete’s psychological  flourishing in sport in Canada.  Journal of Happiness Studies., 23(5), 1923–1939.  https://doi:10.1007/s10902-021-00483-1

Kelley, C., Mack, D. E., & Wilson, P. M. (2022). Does physical activity in natural outdoor environments improve wellbeing? A meta-analysis. Sports. 10(7), 103. https://doi.org/10.3390/ sports10070103

Mack, D. E., & Wilson, P. M. (2021). Measuring psychological need satisfaction in exercise: A tale of two instruments. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 53(4), 423–432. https://doi-org.proxy.library.brocku.ca/10.1037/cbs0000261

Wilson, P. M. Mack, D. E. & Janjic-Zarab, M. (2021). Assessing physical activity levels in children/youth living with Fragile X Syndrome. Palaestra, 35(3), 13-17.

A more comprehensive list of publications can be found on:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=zcZ0B4sAAAAJ&hl=en

Teaching and Service

  • KINE 2P65: Sport and Mental Health
  • KINE 2P95: Sport Psychology
  • KINE 3P08: Quantitative Methods of Inquiry
  • AHSC 5P99: Psychological Approaches to Health Behaviour Change

Undergraduate Student Opportunities

Currently accepting Undergraduate Independent Study and Honors Thesis students.

Graduate Student Opportunities

Currently accepting MSc students. Prospective students interested in pursuing a research graduate degree in wellbeing or body self-perceptions are encouraged to reach out and include an expression of interest in pursuing graduate studies.