Psychology of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior

Ryan E. Rhodes, PhD is a Professor in the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, cross-appointed in the Department of Psychology, and Director of the Behavioral Medicine Laboratory at the University of Victoria, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses on the psychology of physical activity and sedentary behavior for over 20 years. His research includes the psychology of physical activity with an applied focus on promotion during critical life transitions such as parenthood, early family development, and retirement. Dr. Rhodes is also one of the world experts on the intention-behavior gap, made popular by New Year’s resolutions that people struggle to enact every year. He has held over 100 grants for this research and he has contributed over 500 publications, 35 book chapters and three books. Dr. Rhodes is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, Society of Behavioral Medicine, Academy of Behavioral Medicine, American Psychological Association, and a College Member of the Royal Society of Canada. He is also the Co-Editor-in-Chief of Psychology and Health, and Associate Editor of Exercise and Sports Sciences Reviews. Heather Hausenblas, PhD, believes we can have healthy and happy lives through simple wellness habits. She is a health psychology expert, international award-winning scientist, public speaker, and best-selling author. Her research focuses on how our health habits effect our well-being. Dr. Hausenblas has published 7 books and over 100 scientific articles. Even with her vast education on wellness, Heather’s outlook shifted when her eldest son was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in 2018. Her journey is captured in her No. 1 new release book, Invisible Illness, a guide to reducing overwhelm and achieving optimal health while living with an autoimmune disease. Dr. Hausenblas obtained her PhD from Western University in Canada. She was a faculty member and the Director of the Exercise Psychology Lab at the University of Florida, and she has served as a Scientific Advisor for nutrition, health, and wellness companies. She is currently a Professor of Health Sciences at Jacksonville University. Heather is the CEO and Founder of Wellness Discovery Labs, a health behavior research company; and she is the co-founder of Healthy Moves Journaling, a wellness company that focuses on small changes for big health improvements. When Heather is not walking the family dog, cooking with natural ingredients, watching her sons play sports, and exercising outdoors with friends, she’s researching wellness. She is a health and science nut – it’s her career, hobby, and passion. She resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband and three boys. Amanda L. Rebar, PhD believes that the most effective way to help people live healthier lives is by making the healthy options fun, efficient, and satisfying. Amanda is a self-proclaimed theory and statistics nerd, with more than 160 peer-reviewed scientific publications. Dr. Rebar has received national fellowships, grants, and honors for her work investigating motivation of physical activity. She consults with industries, government agencies, and the public health sector to promote enhancing the long-term outcomes of public health initiatives. She is a science award recipient from Queensland and the Australian Institute of Policy and Science and has received 4 awards commending her work to advocate for women in science. Dr. Rebar obtained her Masters (2010) and PhD (2013) from The Pennsylvania State University, with specialization in sport and exercise psychology. She is currently an Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Motivation of Health Behaviours Lab at Central Queensland University, Australia. Dr. Rebar is an advocate of open science and has a passion for data analysis and the data analysis program, R. While at work, Dr. Rebar spends her time learning from her students. Outside of work, Amanda loves playing on the beach with her two young boys, Drew and Max, and trying not to get seasick on their boat with her partner, Andy.