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Leslie W. Podlog, PhD

I am originally from Calgary, Canada and attended Simon Fraser University where I received my Bachelors and Masters degree in Sociology. While at Simon Fraser, I was a member of the Varsity wrestling team where I unfortunately experienced numerous injuries. Such experiences led to my academic interest in the psychology of sport injury, a topic I pursued as a focus for my doctoral studies at the University of Western Australia in Perth, Australia. Following completion of my Ph.D. in 2006, I accepted a tenure track position at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, Australia. From 2008-2011 I was employed as an Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University before arriving at the University of Utah. Currently, I teach Sport and Exercise Psychology and continue to research the psychology of injury and return to sport/daily activity.

Research Statement

My research interests focus on the psychological aspects of a return to sport from injury, applications of self-determination theory in sport and physical activity settings, and consequences of self-presentation (i.e., impression management) concerns among sport and physical activity participants.

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. (07/2010). Podlog, L., & Eklund, R.C. (2010). Returning to competition following a serious injury: The role of self-determination. Journal of Sports Sciences, 28, 819-831.
  2. Elyse D'Astous (04/25/2020). An exploration of college athletes¿ motivation and return-to-sport outcomes after injury.
  3. Lochbaum, M.R (12/2014). Lochbaum, M.R., & Podlog, L.W. (2014). Mental toughness and pre-game mental states in adolescent football players: The mediating role of achievement goals. Scientific Theory Journal, 12, 262-266.
  4. Victor Rubio (06/23/2020). Understanding the dimensions of personal growth following a severe sport injury: A DELPHI method approach.
  5. (07/2011). Podlog, L., Dimmock, J, & Miller, J. (2011). A review of return to sport concerns following injury rehabilitation: Practitioner strategies for enhancing recovery outcomes. Physical Therapy in Sport, 12, 43-48.
  6. Aubrey Newland (10/14/2015).
    1. Newland, A., Newton, M., Podlog, L., Legg, W.E., & Tanner, P. (2015). Exploring the nature of transformational leadership in sports: A phenomenological examination with female athletes. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 7, 663-687.
  7. Leslie Podlog (07/2012). Podlog, L., Lochbaum, M., Kleinert, J., Dimmock, J., Newton, M., & Schulte, S. (2012). The relationship between self-presentation concerns and pre-game affect among adolescent football players. Journal of Sport & Health Science, 1-8.
  8. Podlog, L (06/2013). Podlog, L., Gao, Z., Kenow, L., Kleinert, J., Granquist, M., Newton, M., & Hannon, J. C. (2013). Injury rehabilitation overadherence: Preliminary scale validation and relationships with athletic identity and self-presentation concerns. Journal of Athletic Training, 48, 372-381. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-48.2.20
  9. Goh, T.L. (07/2014). Goh, T.L., Hannon, J., Webster, C., Podlog, L., Brusseau, B., & Newton, M. (2014). Effects of a Classroom-based Physical Activity Program on Children’s Physical Activity Levels. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 33, 558-572. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.2014-0068
  10. Aubrey Newland (08/2012). Newland, A., Newton, M., Finch, L.M., Harbke, C., & Podlog, L. (2012). The relationship between mental toughness and performance in college basketball. Journal of Sport and Health Sciences.
  11. (07/2010). Podlog, L., & Dionigi, R (2010). Coach strategies for addressing psychosocial challenges during the return to sport from injury. Journal of Sports Sciences, 28, 1197-1208.
  12. Zan Gao (05/2012). Gao, Z., Podlog, L., & Harrison, L. (2012). College students’ goal orientations, situational motivation and effort/persistence in physical activity. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education.
  13. Gao, Z (06/2013). Gao, Z., Zhang, P., & Podlog, L. (2013). Examining Elementary School Children’s Enjoyment toward Traditional Tag Games and Interactive Dance Games. Psychology, Health & Medicine. DOI:10.1080/13548506.2013.845304
  14. Leslie Podlog (03/2012). Podlog, L., Kleinert, J., Dimmock, J., Miller, J. & Shipherd, A. (2012). A parental perspective on adolescent injury recovery and return to sport experiences. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 24, 175-190.
  15. Wadey, R (10/2014). Wadey, R., Podlog, L., Hammer, C., Hall, M., Hamson-Utley, J., & Hicks-Little, C. (2014). Re-injury anxiety, coping, and return to sport outcomes following injury: A mediation analysis. Rehabilitation Psychology, 59, 256-266. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0037032
  16. Leslie Podlog (04/21/2015).
    1. Podlog, L., Gustafsson, H., Skoog, T., Gao, Z., Westin, M., Werner, S., & Alricsson, M. (2015). Need Satisfaction, motivation, and engagement among high performance youth athletes: A multiple mediation analysis. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 13, 415-433.
  17. Podlog, L (10/2013). Podlog, L., Wadey, R., Stark, A., Lochbaum. M., Hannon, J.C, & Newton, M. (2013). An adolescent perspective on injury recovery and return to sport experiences. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14, 437-446. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.12.005
  18. Granquist, M.D. (09/2014). Granquist, M. D., Podlog, L., Engel, J. R., & Newland, A. (2014). Certified athletic trainers’ perspectives on rehabilitation adherence within collegiate athletic training settings. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 23, 123-133.
  19. Podlog, L (11/2014). Podlog, L., Heil, J., & Schulte, S. (2014). Psychosocial factors in sports injury rehabilitation and return to play. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, 915-930.
  20. James A Dimmock (02/18/2020). Not all promotion is good promotion: The pitfalls of overexaggerated claims and controlling language in exercise messaging.
  21. Ivarsson, A (03/2013). Ivarsson, A., Johnson, U., & Podlog, L. (2013). Psychological predictors of injury occurrence: A prospective investigation of competitive Swedish soccer players. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 22, 19-26.
  22. Gustafsson, H (04/2013). Gustafsson, H., Skoog, T., Podlog, L., & Wagnsson, S. Hope and athlete burnout: Stress and affect as mediators (2013). Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14, 640-649.
  23. Goh, T.L (05/2013). Goh, T.L., Hannon, J.C., Newton, M., Webster, Co., Podlog, L., & Pillow, W. (2013). “I’ll squeeze it in”: Transforming preservice classroom teachers’ perceptions toward movement integration in schools. Action in Teacher Education, 35, 286-300.
  24. (07/2011). Podlog, L., & Lochbaum, M., & Stevens, T. (2010). Need satisfaction, well-being and perceived return-to-sport outcomes among injured athletes. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 22, 167-182.
  25. Zan Gao (06/2012). Gao, Z., & Podlog, L. (2012). Urban Latino Children’s Physical Activity Levels and Performance in Interactive Dance Games: Effects of Goal Difficulty and Goal Specificity. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 166, 933-937.
  26. Leslie Podlog (03/19/2015).
    1. Podlog, L., Wadey, R., Baningham, S.V., & Hannon, J.C. (2015). Psychological readiness to return to competitive sport following injury: A qualitative study. The Sport Psychologist, 29, 1-14.
  27. Stefan Wagnsson (11/16/2020). Lessons learned from a holistic intervention program to prevent Swedish female athletes from dropping out of floorball.
  28. Miller, J (04/2013). Miller, J., Gillentine, A., & Podlog, L., (2013). Graduate student perceptions of academic group work: Implications in preparing students for the professional sport industry. International Journal of Sport Management, 14, 338-356.
  29. (07/2010). Gustafsson, H., Hassmén, P., & Podlog, L. (2010). Exploring the relationship between hope and burnout in competitive sport. Journal of Sports Sciences, 28, 1495-1504.
  30. James Dimmock (04/2012). Dimmock, J., Jackson, B., Podlog, L., & Magaraggia, C. (2012). The effect of variety expectations on interest, enjoyment, and locus of causality in exercise. Motivation and Emotion.
  31. Leslie Podlog (03/2013). Schulte, S., Schiffer, T., Sperlich, B., Knicker, A., Podlog, L., & Strüder, H.K (2013). The impact of increased blood lactate on serum S100B and prolactin concentrations in male adult athletes. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 113, 811-817. doi: 10.1007/s00421-012-2503-9
  32. Silva, A. (10/2013). Silva, A., Hannon, J.C., Shultz, B., & Podlog, L. (2013). Future intent to run and running performance of high school students exposed to a traditional versus an autonomy-supportive motivational running program. Psychiatry Journal, 2013, 1-7. doi:10.1155/2013/471657.
  33. Ian Rollo (08/19/2020). Role of sports psychology and sport nutrition in return to play from musculoskeletal injuries in professional soccer: An interdisciplinary approach.
  34. Destani, F. (08/2014). Destani, F., Hannon, J.C., Podlog, L., & Brusseau, T. (2014). Promoting character development through teaching wrestling in physical education. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 8, 23-29.
  35. Schulte, S (02/2013).
    1. Schulte, S., Schiffer, T., Sperlich, B., Knicker, A., Podlog, L. & Strueder, H.K. (2013) Response to the Letter to the Editor of Sorci et al ‘‘Causes of elevated serum levels of S100B protein in athletes’’. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 113, 821-822. doi: 10.1007/s00421-012-2567-6
  36. Morgan Hall (07/06/2020). Patient and practitioner perspectives of psychological need support in physical therapy.
  37. (07/2009). Podlog, L. & Dionigi, R. (2009). Psychological need fulfillment among workers in an exercise intervention: A qualitative investigation. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 80, 774-787.
  38. Zan Gao (08/2012). Gao, Z., & Podlog, L, Huang, C. (2012). Associations among children’s situation motivation, physical activity participation, and enjoyment in an interactive dance game. Journal of Sport & Health Science.
  39. Zan Gao (12/2011). Gao, Z., Lochbaum, M., & Podlog, L. (2011). Self-efficacy as a mediator of children's achievement motivation and in-class physical activity. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 113, 969-981.
  40. Leslie Podlog (02/04/2020). A cognitive behavioral intervention for collegiate athletes with injuries.
  41. Lochbaum, M (04/2013).
    1. Lochbaum, M., Podlog, L., Litchfield, K., Surles, J., & Hillard, S. (2013). Stage of physical activity and approach-avoidance achievement goals in university students. Psychology of Sport & Exercise 14, 161-168. DOI information: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.09.004
  42. Marc Lochbaum (10/2012). Lochbaum, M., Litchfield, K., & Podlog, L., & Lutz, R. (2012). Extraversion, emotional instability, and self-reported exercise: The mediating effects of approach-avoidance achievement goals. Journal of Sport & Health Science.
  43. Schulte, S (12/2014).
    1. Schulte, S., Podlog, L., Hamson-Utley, J., Strathmann, F., Strüder, H.K. (2014). A systematic review of the biomarker S100B: Implications for sport-related concussion management. Journal of Athletic Training, 49, 830-850.doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-49.3.33
  44. James Dimmock (09/12/2015).
    1. Dimmock, J. A., Chatzisarantis, N. L. D., Podlog, L., Martin, T. L., & Jackson, B. (2015). Seek, and you will find: The influence of expectations on evaluations of physical activity. Australian Psychologist, 50, 173-181.
  45. John Miller (03/2012). Miller, J., Meaney, K., & Podlog, L. (2012). Enhancing Sport Marketing Research Service-Learning Using Kolb’s Experiential Education Model. International Journal of Sport Management, 13,1-20.
  46. Kleinert, J (10/2014). Kleinert, J., Pels, F., & Podlog, L. (2014). The presence of an exercise instructor or group members affects physical self-concept and physical self-esteem: An experimental study in the elderly. Health, 6, 1616-1627.
  47. Melissa Inigo (11/24/2015).
    1. Iñigo, M., Podlog, L., & Hall, M. (2015). Why do athletes remain committed to sport after severe injury? An examination of the Sport Commitment Model. The Sport Psychologist, 29, 143-155.
  48. Leslie Podlog (03/02/2015). 1. Podlog, L., Buhler, C.F., Pollack, H., Hopkins, P.N., Burgess, P.R. (2015). Time trends for injuries and illness and their relation to performance in the National Basketball Association. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 18, 278-282.
  49. Wadey, R (09/2013).
    1. Wadey, R., Clark, S., & Podlog, L. McCullough, D. (2013). Coaches’ perceptions of athletes’ stress-related growth following sport injury. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14, 125-135.
  50. Menefee, K.K., (10/2014). Menefee, K.K., Switzler, C.L., Podlog, L., & Hicks-Little C.A. (2014). The acute effects of two different foot positions during whole body vibration on vertical jump performance in female athletes. Journal of Athletic Medicine, 2, 66-74.

Book Chapter

  1. Leslie Podlog (06/20/2020). Injury and Concussion. Oxford University Press.
  2. Podlog, L. (10/2014). Podlog, L., & Eklund, R.C. (2014). Injury, return to competition following. In R.C. Eklund & G. Tenenbaum (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Sport Psychology. (pp. 383-286). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  3. Gao, Z. (12/2014). Gao, Z., Podlog, L. & Lee, J. (2014). Children’s situational motivation, rate of perceived exertion and physical activity levels in exergaming: Associations and gender differences. In Jeffery Graham (Ed.), Video Games: Parents' Perceptions, Role of Social Media and Effects on Behavior (pp. 17-28). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publisher.
  4. Laura Kenow (03/20/2015). 1. Kenow, L., & Podlog, L. (2015). Psychosocial aspects of return-to-participation. In M. D. Granquist, J. Hamson-Utley, L. Kenow & J. Stiller-Ostrowski (Eds.) Psychosocial strategies for athletic trainers: An applied and integrated approach. (pp. 269-296). Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis publishing.
  5. Johnson, U (08/2014). Johnson, U., & Podlog, L. (2014). Sports Injuries. In A. Papaioannou & D., Hackfort, Routledge Companion to Sport and Exercise Psychology. (pp. 877-891). Publisher: Taylor & Francis.
  6. Kenow, L (09/2014). Kenow, L., & Podlog, L. (2014). Psychosocial aspects of return-to-participation. In M. D. Granquist, J. Hamson-Utley, L. Kenow & J. Stiller-Ostrowski (Eds.) Psychosocial strategies for athletic trainers: An applied and integrated approach. (pp. 269-296). Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis publishing.
  7. Leslie Podlog (11/15/2015).
    1. Podlog, L., Schulte, S., Bryan, C. & Heil, J. (2015). A resilience intervention for diminishing attrition among injured armed force recruits. In D. Dustin’s This Land is Your Land.
  8. Leslie Podlog (08/05/2015). 1. Podlog, L., & Hammer, C. (2015). Does sport build character? Yes it does. In J.J. Reel’s Working Out: The Psychology of Sport and Exercise. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

Video/Film/CD/Web/Podcast

  1. Heil, J (06/2014). Heil, J., & Podlog, L. (2014). Psychology of sport injury. NCAA SSI Newsletter. June 12, Vol. 2, Issue 6. http://www.ncaa.org/health-and-safety/sport-science-institute/psychology-sports-injuries