Professor Stephen Mellalieu
Professor of Sport Psychology
Cardiff School of Sport & Health Sciences
Overview
Stephen is a Professor in Sport Psychology and the Associate Dean for Research for the Cardiff School of Sport. He oversees the Wellbeing in Demanding Environments (WiDE) research and innovation group within the Cardiff Metropolitan Centre for Health, Activity and Wellbeing (CAWR). Stephen is a former Editor of the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology and co-founder and Network Editor of the World Rugby Science Network.
Stephen is a Chartered Psychologist of the British Psychological Society, a registered Practitioner Psychologist and Partner with the Health and Care Professions Council, and a British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences accredited Sport Scientist. He has 25 years consultancy experience in high performance sport, working most recently within professional rugby union.
Research Publications
Combining Existentialism and Psychological Skills Training? A Reflection on Philosophical Stance in Applied Practice
Mayne, M. & Mellalieu, S., 19 Aug 2025, In: Case Studies in Sport and Performance Psychology. 9, 2, p. 78-84 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
A qualitative exploration of the influence of high lifetime stressor exposure on sports performers interpretations of daily life stressors
McLoughlin, E., Arnold, R. & Mellalieu, S. D., 25 Jul 2025, In: Journal of Applied Sport Psychology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Editorial
Peñas, C. L. & Mellalieu, S., 10 Mar 2025, In: International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport. p. 1-2 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial
Do we need to adjust exposure to account for the proportion of a cohort consenting to injury surveillance in team sports?
Moore, I., Mellalieu, S., Robinson, G. & McCarthy-Ryan, M., 13 Jan 2025, In: British Journal of Sports Medicine. 59, 10, p. 689-691 3 p., bjsports-2024-108496.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial
Two on a tightrope: the stress experiences of the romantic partners of professional athletes
Kent, S., McKenna, J. & Mellalieu, S., 21 Nov 2024, In: Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. 37, 4, p. 422-445 24 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
BPS DSEP position statement: Psychological skills training in youth sport
Thrower, S. N., Barker, J. B., Bruton, A. M., Coffee, P., Cumming, J., Harwood, C. G., Howells, K., Knight, C. J., McCarthy, P. J. & Mellalieu, S., Jul 2024, In: Sport and Exercise Psychology Review. 19, 1Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Characterizing Longitudinal Alterations in Postural Control Following Lower Limb Injury in Professional Rugby Union Players
McCarthy-Ryan, M., Mellalieu, S., Jones, H., Bruton, A. M. & Moore, I., 12 Jun 2024, In: Journal of Applied Biomechanics. 40, 4, p. 287-295 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The athlete psychological well-being inventory: Factor equivalence with the sport injury-related growth inventory
Santi, G., Williams, T., Mellalieu, S. D., Wadey, R. & Carraro, A., 7 May 2024, In: Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 74, 102656.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
469 EP009 – A prospective longitudinal assessments of static and dynamic postural control in professional rugby union players following a lower limb injury
McCarthy-Ryan, M., Jones, H., Mellalieu, S., Bruton, A. & Moore, I., 2 Mar 2024, In: British Journal of Sports Medicine. 58, Suppl 2, p. A78.2-A78 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Meeting Abstract › peer-review
Coach conflict with senior management
Wagstaff, C. R. D., Quartiroli, A. & Mellalieu, S. D., 1 Jan 2024, Coaching Stories: Navigating Storms, Triumphs, and Transformations in Sport. Taylor and Francis, p. 153-163 11 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review