CBU Scores a Win for Research and Teaching: Meet Dr. Colin McLaren
Dr. Colin McLaren was a postdoctoral fellow at Nipissing University in February 2022 when he applied for funding to research youth sports and mental health. He never imagined what would happen next, when two positive outcomes came together to advance his academic career in a big way.
鈥淚 was living in Ontario, working on advancing my research program, with no connection to Cape Breton,鈥� Dr. McLaren explains. 鈥淪oon after, an opportunity to join the faculty at Cape Breton University came along, offering the perfect environment for research and teaching in the field of sports leadership.鈥� After talking to his partner and considering the possibilities, the couple made the decision to pack up their two preschoolers and the contents of their house and set their sights on this exciting opportunity.
Dr. McLaren joined CBU in July 2022 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Experiential Studies in Community and Sport. As he made his way to the east coast and CBU this past summer, he not only brought his expertise in physical and health education, but also research funding from the (SSHRC). His project, Leading 鈥橴s鈥� to positive mental health: Investigating athlete leadership and mental health in youth sport, will look at youth sport teams as a vehicle for positive mental health promotion.
鈥淧ut simply, my research aims to understand how the identity we form as a member of youth sport groups relates to resilience 鈥� the perceived ability to overcome the barriers and stressors of everyday life,鈥� Dr. McLaren explains. He adds that sports participation can become an important part of our sense of self and from what he鈥檚 learned so far, that鈥檚 something nearly everyone seems to agree with.
鈥淭he enthusiasm for sports in local communities is motivating for me as an educator, former athlete and youth sports coach,鈥� says Dr. McLaren. 鈥淔rom the coaches, athletes, families and fans, Cape Breton is an amazing place to work with people who recognize the benefits of youth sports.鈥�
Dr. McLaren will work with local 福利免费在线看 sport organizations, with a focus on competitive and recreational teams in the 13-18 age range. He says this age group is important for two reasons.
鈥淔irst, because sport participation is in steep decline across adolescence,鈥� he notes. 鈥淎nd second, there is an increased need for quality peer interactions as adolescents are seeking to expand their identities beyond the family unit.鈥� Dr. McLaren hopes to contribute his research to sport psychology, coaching and youth development journals, but also to give back to the youth sport 福利免费在线看 in meaningful ways. 鈥淲hile I鈥檓 an educator and a researcher, I鈥檓 eager to make a difference by working with 福利免费在线看 members to translate my research into practice,鈥� he says.
Dr. McLaren鈥檚 goal is to develop resources that will guide coaches, athletes and youth sport stakeholders to create spaces for positive personal and social growth, while enjoying competition. He hopes to eventually share those resources during free workshops offered through CBU.
Dr. Tanya Brann-Barrett, Associate Vice-President of Research and Academic, says Dr. McLaren鈥檚 work is well-aligned with CBU鈥檚 priorities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 inspiring to see our new faculty pursuing research that supports CBU鈥檚 strategic focus on healthy and thriving communities,鈥� says Dr. Brann-Barrett. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to see Dr. McLaren鈥檚 research unfold.鈥�
To maximize the impact of his research, Dr. McLaren is consulting with experts in the field of youth sport development from around the globe, including his former mentor, Dr. Mark Bruner at Nipissing University, as well as researchers from Belgium and Australia. He says he鈥檚 also fortunate to work alongside CBU鈥檚 Dr. Bettina Callary, Canada Research Chair in Sport Coaching and Adult Learning.
For his part, Dr. McLaren says he can鈥檛 imagine a more perfect start to his research and teaching career at CBU. 鈥淎lthough this project is a first step in my journey, I see an opportunity to support CBU as a core institution for mobilizing research and knowledge and providing further evidence that positive developmental experiences through youth sport can have long-lasting impacts,鈥� he says.
Congratulations to Dr. McLaren on his research success and we hope he and his family are enjoying their first Cape Breton winter!