Dr. Kent Kowalski PhD

• Ph.D. Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, 2000
• M.Sc. Physical Education, University of Saskatchewan, 1995
• B.F.A. Studio Art, University of Saskatchewan, 2007
• B.A. Honours Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 1993

My research falls under the College of Kinesiology's Research Theme, Human Performance.

My main research focus currently is on exploring the role of self-compassion in the lives of athletes.

• KIN 122.3 - Social Behavioral Foundations of Physical Activity
• KIN 380.3 - Introduction to Research Methods in Kinesiology
• KIN 431.3 - Mental Training for Sport and Physical Activity
• KIN 432.3 - Ethics and Values in Sport and Physical Activity
• KIN 498.3 - Self- KINpassion in Sport and Exercise
• KIN 807.3 - Research Methods in Kinesiology

BOOKS

Kowalski, K. C., McHugh, T.-L. F., Sabiston, C. M., & Ferguson, L. J. (2022).  Research methods in kinesiology (2^nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

SELECTED JOURNAL ARTICLES

Cormier, D. L., Jørgensen, H., Ferguson, L. J., Gyurcsik, N. C., Briere, J. L., & Kowalski, K. C. (2024). Constructing a grounded theory of grit in sport: Understanding the development and outcomes of long-term passion and perseverance in competitive athletes. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2024.2432653

Reis, N. A., Cormier, D. L., Mosewich, A. D., Ferguson, L. J., Lawson, K. L., & Kowalski, K. C. (2024). Evaluating the feasibility of a self-compassion intervention for competitive men athletes. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 15(4), 274-286. https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2023.2284966

Johnson, K. L., Cormier, D. L., Kowalski, K. C., & Mosewich, A. D. (2023). Exploring the relationship between mental toughness and self-compassion in the context of sport injury. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 32(3), 256-264. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2022-0100

Cormier, D. L., Kowalski, K. C., Ferguson, L. J., Mosewich, A. D., McHugh, T.-L. F., & Röthlin, P. (2023). Self-compassion in sport: A scoping review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2022.2161064

Pila, E., Gilchrist, J.D., Kowalski, K.C., Sabiston, C.M. (2022). Self-compassion and body-related self-conscious emotions: Examining within- and between-person variation among adolescent girls in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 58, 102083. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.102083

Reis, N. A., Kowalski, K. C., Mosewich, A. D., & Ferguson, L. J. (2022). “That’s how I am dealing with it – that is dealing with it”: Exploring men athletes’ self-compassion through the lens of masculinity. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 14, 245-267. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2021.1920455

Ferguson, L. J., Adam, M. E. K., Gunnell, K. E., Kowalski, K. C., Mack, D. E., Mosewich, A. D., & Murphy, N. (2021). Self-compassion or self-criticism? Predicting women athletes’ psychological flourishing in sport in Canada. Journal of Happiness Studies, 23, 1923-1939.

Adam, M. E., Kowalski, K. C., Duckham, R. L., Ferguson, L. J., & Mosewich, A. D. (2021). Self-compassion plays a role in Canadian women athletes’ body appreciation and intuitive eating: A mixed methods approach. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 52, 287-309. doi: 10.7352/IJSP.2021.52.287

Eke, A. O., Adam, M. E. K., Kowalski, K. C., & Ferguson, L. J. (2020). Narratives of adolescent women athletes’ body self-compassion, performance and emotional well-being. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 12, 175-191. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628805

Reis, N. A., Kowalski, K. C., Mosewich, A. D., & Ferguson, L. J. (2019).  Exploring self-compassion and versions of masculinity in men athletes.  Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 41, 368-379. Open Access: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jsep/41/6/article-p368.xml.

Mosewich, A. D., Sabiston, C. M., Kowalski, K. C., Gaudreau, P., & Crocker, P. R. E. (2019). Self-compassion in the stress process in women athletes. The Sport Psychologist, 33, 23-34.

Mosewich, A. D., Ferguson, L. J., McHugh, T.-L. F., Kowalski, K. C. (2019).  Enhancing capacity: Integrating self-compassion in sport. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action. doi: 10.1080/21520704.2018.1557774

Ferguson, L. J., Kowalski, K. C., Mack, D. E., & Sabiston, C. M. (2015).  Self-compassion and eudaimonic well-being during emotionally difficult times in sport.  Journal of Happiness Studies, 16, 1263-1280.

Reis, N. A., Kowalski, K. C., Ferguson, L. J., Sabiston, C. M., Sedgwick, W. A., & Crocker, P. R. E. (2015).  Self-compassion and women athletes’ responses to emotionally difficult sport situations: An evaluation of a brief induction.  Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 16, 18-25.

Sutherland, L. M., Kowalski, K. C., Ferguson, L. J., Sabiston, C. M., Sedgwick, W. A., & Crocker, P. R. E. (2014).  Narratives of young women athletes' experiences of emotional pain and self-compassion.  Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 6, 499-516.

Mosewich, A. D., Crocker, P. R. E., & Kowalski, K. C. (2014).  Managing injury and other setback in sport: Experiences of (and resources for) high performance women athletes. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health, 6, 182-204.

Ferguson, L. J., Kowalski, K. C., Mack, D. E., & Sabiston, C. M. (2014). Exploring self-compassion and eudaimonic well-being in young women athletes.  Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 36, 203-216.

Mosewich, A. D., Crocker, P. R. E., Kowalski, K. C., & DeLongis, A. (2013). Applying self-compassion in sport: An intervention with women athletes. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 35, 514-524.

Ferguson, L. J., Kowalski, K. C., Mack, D. E., Wilson, P. M., & Crocker, P. R. E. (2012). Women's health-enhancing physical activity and eudaimonic well-being. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 83, 451-463.

Mosewich, A. D., Kowalski, K. C., Sabiston, C. M., Sedgwick, W. A., & Tracy, J. L. (2011). Self-compassion: A potential resource for young women athletes. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 33, 103-123.

Berry, K.-A., Kowalski, K. C., Ferguson, L. J., & McHugh, T.-L. F. (2010). An empirical phenomenology of young adult women exercisers’ body self-compassion.  Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise, 2, 293-312.

Magnus, C. M. R., Kowalski, K. C., & McHugh, T.-L. F. (2010). The role of self-compassion in women’s self-determined motives to exercise and exercise-related outcomes. Self and Identity, 9, 363-382.