We acknowledge that the land on which we work is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) People.

Our research group is interested in how cultural norms surrounding the body, physical activity, and sport, coupled with social identities including age, gender, sexual orientation, race, (dis)ability, and socioeconomic status shape how people cope with and adapt to stressor events throughout their life course. We conduct research in two main areas and are interested in the following questions:

1. Aging, physical activity, and the body – What role does physical activity play in shaping how people cope with and adapt to changes to their bodies as they grow older? How do age, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, (dis)ability, socioeconomic status, and chronic illness shape these experiences?
2. Athlete stress, emotions, and coping – How do athletes experience, cope with, and adapt to stressor events throughout their athletic careers? How do privilege and marginalization in relation to age, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, (dis)ability, and socioeconomic status shape these experiences?

We also collaborate with community members and organizations to find ways in which to make physical activity and sport spaces more inclusive so that all people and bodies are supported to move in ways that allow them to thrive.

– Erica Bennett, PhD