Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences>Staff>Dr Declan Connaughton

Dr Declan Connaughton

 

​​

Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology​

Email: DConnaughton@cardiffmet.ac.uk​​

Declan is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at the Cardiff School of Sport. Declan joined the School in 2005, and has since made a significant contribution to the Sport & Exercise Sciences, particularly in the area of sport psychology. 

Declan is a chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, and previously acted a Programme Director for the B.Sc. (Hons) Sport and Physical Education Degree. He is particularly involved in the delivery of Sport Psychology modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level.​


Refereed Academic Journal Papers

The main focus of my research activity is in Mental Toughness and Anxiety. However, I am also interested in psychological factors that impact upon performance.

Jones, G., Hanton, S., & Connaughton, D. (2002). What is this thing called Mental Toughness?: An investigation with elite performers. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 14, 211-224.

Hanton, S., & Connaughton, D. (2002). Perceived control of anxiety and its relationship with self-confidence performance: A qualitative explanation. Research Quarterly for Exercise & Sport, 73, 87-97.

Hanton, S., Wadey, R., & Connaughton, D. (2005). Debilitative interpretations of competitive anxiety: A qualitative examination of elite performers. European Journal of Sport Science, 5, 123-136.

Jones, G., Hanton, S., & Connaughton, D. (2007). A framework of mental toughness in the world’s best performers. The Sport Psychologist, 21, 243-264.

Connaughton, D., Wadey, R., Hanton, S., & Jones, G. (2008). The development and maintenance of mental toughness: Perceptions of elite performers. Journal of Sports Sciences, 26, 83-95.

Connaughton, D., Hanton, S., Jones, G., & Wadey, R.  (2008). Mental toughness research: Key issues in this area. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 39, 192-204.

Connaughton, D., Hanton, S., & Jones, G.  (2010). The development and maintenance of mental toughness in the world’s best performers. The Sport Psychologist, 24, 168-193.

Invited Book Chapters

Connaughton, D., & Hanton, S. (2009).  Mental toughness in sport: Conceptual and practical issues. In S.D. Mellalieu and S. Hanton (Eds.), Advances in applied sport psychology: A review (pp. 317-346). London: Routledge.

Connaughton, D., Thelwell, R. & Hanton, S. (2011). Mental toughness development: Issues, practical implications and future directions. In D. Gucciardi & S. Gordon. Mental Toughness in Sport: Developments in research and theory. London: Routledge.

Teaching and Supervision

I am currently the module leader for Sport and Exercise Psychology (SSP5059) and Learning in Sport (SSP5055). I also deliver on various modules in the area of Sport and Exercise Psychology at both Undergraduate and Postgraduate level, Research Process (SSP4000) module and Level 5 Swimming.

Qualifications and Awards

B.Sc. (Hons). Physical Education, Sport Science & Recreational Management, Loughborough University
M.Sc. (Hons). Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Postgraduate Cert. in Research Methods, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Ph.D. Sport Psychology, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Fellow of Higher Education Academy
Fellow of the Institute of Swimming Teachers and Coaches
Chartered Psychologist (British Psychological Society)

​