Department of Kinesiology

Amy S. Welch, Ph.D (University of Leeds, UK)
Assistant Professor

	Office: 251 Forker Building
	Phone: 515-294-8042
	Email: amywelch@iastate.edu
	Other Links:	Vita
		Exercise Psychology Laboratory

Research Interests

Many of our day-to-day decisions about volitional behaviors, such as physical activity, are made based on our intrinsic motivation for that behavior (e.g., whether the activity will be pleasant or enjoyable). With that in mind, my main interest is in the motivational properties of the exercise experience itself. My research program largely focuses on (a) exploring individual mechanisms (both physiological and psychological) underlying the affective (i.e., pleasure/displeasure) response to exercise, (b) how a positive or negative experience impacts future exercise choices and behaviors, and (c) identifying ways to manipulate the exercise experience to induce a ‘pleasure’ response. Understanding these phenomena in people who are not regular exercisers is particularly important, given the difficulty that many people have sticking with an exercise program when they are just getting started.

In addition to investigating the individual exercise experience, my research also involves exploring the impact that interpersonal relationships have on motivations for physical activity and nutrition behaviors. For example, the quality of the relationship a client has with their trainer, or that a child has with their parent. The main theoretical frameworks that I utilize in my research are the self-determination theory (see Deci & Ryan, 2000) and the hedonic theory of motivation (see Kahneman, 1999).

Teaching

My main teaching responsibilities include:

KIN 366 (Exercise psychology),  KIN 365 (Sport psychology), KIN 467x/567x (Exercise Psychology: Clinical Applications and Interventions), and KIN 521 (Advanced Topics in Exercise and Sport Psychology).

I am also advisor for a number of graduate students and undergraduate honors students in the department of Kinesiology. Any potential graduate students who have an interest in studying the psychological aspects of physical activity are encouraged to contact me to discuss their interest further.

Service/Outreach/Professional Activity

I am an adhoc reviewer for a number of academic journals in the fields of exercise science, behavioral medicine and psychology. I am a member of a number of professional societies, namely the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) and the British Association for Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). I’ve also provided sport psychology workshops and individual consultations for collegiate and national-level athletes in the UK.