Outcome II 

To critically analyze research related to health and human performances

This artifact was completed in HHPS 566, Issues in International Sport, and examines mental health in sport through a comprehensive review of current research, highlighting how psychological well being directly impacts athletic performance, development, and long-term success. The report provides insight into how injury, overtraining, media pressure, and organizational culture act to create mental health problems, and also highlights gaps like lacking tools to measure this and few long term studies. This assignment relates to Critical Review of Human Health: Ability to analyze research relating to health and human performance using the skills of a reviewer to compare and benchmark findings from multiple studies considering gaps and limitations and applies a biopsychosocial model to understanding athlete health and well-being. It illustrates an aptitude for research interpretation and translating of meaning to implement impact, including advocating for proactive mental health services, interdepartmental cooperation, and policy reform among sports organizations. The project solidified my ability to analyze evidence based recommendations and translate them into applied settings for sport, thus stressing that mental health is vital to performance outcomes as well as the holistic development of a person in sport.

​This artifact was completed in HHPS 535, Sociology of Sport & Physical Activity, and examines patterns of sport participation and physical activity across three generations through qualitative interviews. Results indicate that sports were introduced to all youth, but that participation declines with age, partly due to work responsibilities, lifestyle changes, and generational differences in attitudes toward lifelong physical activity. The youngest participant maintained the highest level of activity into adulthood, while the older participants showed reduced involvement and less consistent exercise habits. This artifact is linked to the ability to critically interpret research related to health and human performance by interpreting qualitative data, identifying trends across age groups, and comparing generational perspectives on physical activity. It illustrates how social and cultural influences shape long-term health behaviors and shows an ability to assess patterns of participation in broader discussions about promoting lifelong fitness and improving health outcomes.