Staff Profile
Dr Sarah Mallinson-Howard
Senior Lecturer, Sport and Exercise Psychology
/prod01/yorksjacuk/media/content-assets/staff-profile-images/sarah_mallinson-howard_-_web_size-5_good.jpg)
I am currently a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at York St John University, having previously served as Associate Head: Sport (secondment). I am also an Academic Research Lead for the Motivation, Performance, and Wellbeing (MPaW) research group and contribute widely in netball, including as a Yorkshire Netball Board Member and casual Research Advisor for England Netball.
My academic background includes a first-class BSc(Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science from Loughborough University, MSc in Sport Psychology from York St John University, and a PhD (Sport and Exercise Psychology), with The University of Leeds as the awarding body. During my postgraduate studies, I worked as a Visiting Lecturer and full-time Research Assistant, and after completing my PhD in 2015, I undertook my first Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology post, at Nottingham Trent University.
- School – School of Science, Technology and Health
- Email – s.mallinson-howard@yorksj.ac.uk
- Phone – 01904 876 154
- Research - View my work in RaY
- Postgraduate Research Supervisor
Further information
Teaching
My main teaching responsibilities lie in the areas of Sport and Exercise Psychology and Research Methods, having designed and delivered modules in these areas across all levels of undergraduate study and postgraduate study. I currently lecture across all BUES endorsed BSc/MSci Sport programmes in the School of Science, Technology, and Health at York St John University and Module Direct Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Psychology and Introduction to Research Methods in Sport.
Research
My research centres on promoting positive experiences and healthy engagement in sport and education so all individuals can access, enjoy, and experience the benefits of these activities (e.g., wellbeing and performance). Adopting mixed methods, I consider: i) how personality and individual differences (i.e., perfectionism and motivation) shape the way individuals perceive and interact with the world around them, ii) how barriers to accessing, enjoying, and experiencing the benefits of sport and education can be removed. In this regard, I currently lead the 'Engagement' stand of the Motivation, Performance, and Wellbeing (MPaW) research group and have produced a profile of high-quality research outputs and presentations with staff and student collaborators at York St John University (e.g., Professor Daniel Madigan), other UK universities (e.g., Professor Camilla Knight, Swansea University), and universities internationally (e.g., Professor Henrik Gustafsson, Karlstad University).
My research has been supported by commissions and small grants and I have refereed grant applications. I currently serve on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (IJSEP). I am also actively involved in schemes that enable students to co-collaborate on research (e.g., Students as Researchers, York St John University) and a lead supervisor for MSc by Research and Doctoral students. I am currently accepting new postgraduate research students.
Professional activities
I am a member of professional bodies such as The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), with affiliations to the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology and, formerly, BASES Heads of Department forum. I am also a UKCGE Recognised Research Supervisor and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and mentor candidates applying for UKCGE and HEA recognition at York St John University as well as undertake assessments for UKCGE and HEA. From 2018 to 2022, I was the Academic Institutional Lead for Athena SWAN (gender equality charter mark framework) at York St John University. During this time, we secured our first Institutional Athena SWAN Bronze award. Recently, I was nominated by external HEI colleagues and have subsequently been invited to be a member of the CIMSPA (Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity) Workforce Insight Group, which aims to make actionable recommendations to shape a recognised and respected sport and physical activity sector.
Publications
Peer-reviewed publications
Glandorf, H. L., Madigan, D. J., Kavanagh, O., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Donachie, T. C., Olsson, L. F., & Rumbold, J. L. (in press). Athlete burnout and mental and physical health: A three-wave longitudinal study of direct and reciprocal effects. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology.
Glandorf, H. L., Madigan, D. J., Kavanagh, O., & Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (2023). Mental and physical health outcomes of burnout in athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 1-45.
Fleming, D., Hill, A.P., Madigan, D.J. & Mallinson-Howard, S.H. (2023). The 2 × 2 Model of Perfectionistic Pressure. Psychology of Sport and Exercise.
Biggs, D. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Jowett, G. E. & Hall, H. K. (2022). Perfectionism and Exercise Dependence: The Role of Basic Psychological Needs and Introjected Regulation. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.
Grugan, M. C., Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Donachie, T. C., Olsson, L. F., Madigan, D. J. & Vaughan, R. (2021). Development and initial validation of the Perfectionistic Climate Questionnaire-Sport (PCQ-S). Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 56, 101997.
Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Madigan, D. J., & Jowett, G. E. (2020). A three-sample study of perfectionism and field test performance in athletes. European Journal of Sport Science, 1-9.
Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Hill, A. P., & Hall, H. K. (2019). The 2 × 2 model of perfectionism and negative experiences in youth sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 45, 101581.
Madigan, D. J., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Grugan, M., & Hill, A. P. (2019). Perfectionism and Attitudes Towards Doping in Athletes: A Continuously Cumulating Meta-Analysis and Test of the 2 × 2 Model. European Journal of Sport Science, 1-10.
Grugan, M. C., Jowett, G. E., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Hall, H. K. (2019). The relationships between perfectionism, angry reactions, and antisocial behaviour in team sport. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 9, 543-557.
Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Knight, C. J., Hill, A. P., & Hall, H. K. (2018). The 2 × 2 model of perfectionism and youth sport participation: A mixed-methods approach. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 36, 162-173.
Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Jowett, G. E. (2018). Multidimensional perfectionism in sport: A meta-analytical review. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 7, 235-270.
Madigan, D. J., Hill, A. P., Anstiss, P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Kumar, S. (2018). Perfectionism and training distress in junior athletes: The mediating role of coping tendencies. European Journal of Sports Science, 18, 713-721.
Hill, A. P., Appleton, P. R., & Mallinson, S. H. (2016). Development and initial validation of the Performance Perfectionism Scale for Sport (PPS-S). The Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 34, 653-669.
Mallinson, S. H., Hill, A. P., Hall, H. K., & Gotwals, J. K. (2014). The 2 × 2 model of perfectionism and school- and community-based sport participation. Psychology in the Schools, 9, 972-985.
Curran, T., Hill, A. P., Jowett, G. E., & Mallinson, S. H. (2014). The relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and passion in junior athletes. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 45, 369-384.
Laver-Fawcett, A. J., & Mallinson, S. H. (2013). Development of the Activity Card Sort - United Kingdom Version (ACS-UK). OTJR – Occupation, Participation, and Health, 33, 134-145.
Mallinson, S. H. & Hill, A. P. (2011). The relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and psychological need thwarting in junior sports participants. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 12, 676-684.
Edited book chapters
Jowett, G. E., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Hill, A. P., & Madigan, D. J. (2023). An Update and Extension of the Independent Effects Approach to Perfectionism in Sport, Dance, and Exercise. In A. P. Hill (Ed.), The Psychology of Perfectionism in Sport, Dance, and Exercise (2nd Ed). London: Routledge.
Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Madigan, D. J., & Jowett, G. J. (2020). Perfectionism in sport, dance, and exercise: An extended review and reanalysis. In: G. Tenenbaum and R. C. Eklund. (Eds.), Handbook of Sport Psychology (4th Ed). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
Smith, E., Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Gustafsson, H. (2020). Stress, perfectionism and burnout in elite soccer. In J. Dixon et al. (Eds). The Psychology of Soccer. Routledge.
Hill, A. P., Madigan, D. J., Smith, M. M., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Donachie, T. C. (2020). Perfectionism. In R. J. Schinke & D. Hackfort (Eds.), The Routledge international encyclopaedia of sport and exercise psychology. Volume 1: Theoretical and methodological concepts. International perspectives on key issues in sport and exercise psychology (pp. 405-413). Routledge.
Madigan, D., Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Curran, T., & Jowett, G. E. (2018). Perfectionism and Performance in Sport, Education, and the Workplace. In E. Acevedo (Ed.), Oxford Research Encyclopedia, Psychology. Oxford University Press.
Hill, A. P., Jowett, G. J., & Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (2017). Perfectionism in Sport, Dance, and Exercise. In: J. Stoeber (Ed.), The Psychology of Perfectionism: Theory, Research, Applications (pp. 154-174). London: Routledge.
Jowett, G. E., Mallinson, S. H., & Hill, A. P. (2016). An Independent Effects Approach to Perfectionism in Sport, Dance, and Exercise. In A. P. Hill (Ed.), The Psychology of Perfectionism in Sport, Dance, and Exercise (pp. 85-149). London: Routledge.
Conferences
Conferences and invited presentations
Grugan, M. C., Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Dargue, E. J., & Nordin-Bates, S. M. (July 2024). Perfectionistic Climates in Sport and Dance. The 4th International Network Meeting for Perfectionism Research, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Glandorf, H. L., Madigan, D. J., Kavanagh, O., & Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (July 2024). A Multi-Study Examination of the Physical and Mental Health Consequences of Burnout in Athletes. European Federation of Sport Psychology (FEPSAC) Congress, Innsbruck, Austria.
Fenwick, L., Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Madigan, D. J. (November 2023). Development of Observational Perfectionistic Climate Questionnaire (OPCQ-S): Assessing inter-rater reliability. Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology Conference, The Palace Hotel, Edinburgh, UK.
Dargue, E., Johnston, J., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Healey, L., & Sarkar, M. (October 2023). The Effects of Perfectionistic Climate on Perfectionism, Resilience, Fear of Failure, and Psychological Wellbeing in Youth Athletes. 38th Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Annual Conference, Orlando, Florida, US.
Grugan, M. C., Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Donachie, T. C., Olsson, L. F., Madigan, D. J., & Vaughan, R. (July 2023). Perfectionistic climates in sport. The 5th Northern Research and Applied Practice Showcase, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.
Fenwick, L., Hill, A. P., Madigan, D. J., & Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (September 2022). Preliminary evidence for the reliability of the observational perfectionistic climate questionnaire. The 4th Northern Research and Applied Practice Showcase, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK.
Glandorf, H. L., Madigan, D. J., Kavanagh, O., & Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (September 2022) Physical and mental health outcomes of burnout in athletes: A systematic review. The 4th Northern Research and Applied Practice Showcase, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK.
Dargue, E., Johnston, J., Sarkar, M., & Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (July 2022) An investigation into the stress process of female national level swimmers. 16th European Congress of Sport and Exercise Psychology (FEPSAC) Congress, Padova, Italy.
Fenwick, L., Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Madigan, D. J. (June 2022). Introducing Perfectionistic Climate. The 2nd Annual Psychological Insights into Coaching Practice. Online.
Fleming, D. J. M., Olsson, L. F., Mallinson-Howard, S. H. & Dorsch, T. E. (May 2022) Does perfectionism predict sport performance? North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) Annual Conference, Kona, Hawaii.
Grugan, M. C., Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Donachie, T. C., Olsson, L. F., Madigan, D. J., & Vaughan, R. (June 2021). “The coach says you will be released if you don’t start bucking your ideas up”: Introducing perfectionistic climate. The 1st Annual Psychological Insights into Coaching Practice, Newcastle University, Newcastle, England.
Fleming, D. J. M., Madigan, D. J., & Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (June 2020). The 2 × 2 Model of Pressure to be Perfect and the Development of Perfectionism in Youth Sport. NASPSPA Annual Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Virtual Delivery).
Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Madigan, D. J., & Grugan, M. C. (July 2019). A meta-analytic review of perfectionism and Achievement Goal Theory. Invited Symposium. International Society for the Study of Individual Differences (ISSID) Biennial Conference, Florence, Italy.
Jones, A., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Noret, N., & Smith, M. M. (July 2019). Dark gaming: The relationship between perfectionism, the Dark Triad, and anti-social online gaming behaviours. International Society for the Study of Individual Differences (ISSID) Biennial Conference, Florence, Italy. (Poster)
Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (July 2019). The 2 × 2 model of perfectionism: An overview and review of research in sport, dance, and exercise. Invited Symposium. European Federation of Sport Psychology (FEPSAC) Congress, Münster, Germany.
Grugan, M., Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Donachie, T., Olsson, L., Madigan, D. J., & Vaughan, R. (July 2019) Initial development of the Perfectionistic Climate Questionnaire-Sport (PCQ-S). European Federation of Sport Psychology (FEPSAC) Congress, Münster, Germany.
Hill, A.P., Madigan, D. J., & Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (June 2019). Recent work from the MPaW research group. The 3rd Northern Research and Applied Practice Showcase, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.
Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Madigan, D. J., Hill, A. P., & Jowett, G. E. (November 2018). For better or worse?: The relationship between perfectionism and sports-related performance. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) Annual Conference, Harrogate Convention Centre, Harrogate, UK.
Hill, A. P., Madigan, D. J., Jowett, G. E., & Mallinson-Howard, S. H., (November 2018). Perfectionism and athlete engagement: A multi-sample test of the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) Annual Conference, Harrogate Convention Centre, Harrogate, UK.
Fenwick, L., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Noret, N. (November 2018). The relationship between perfectionism and peer-victimisation in youth sport. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) Annual Conference, Harrogate Convention Centre, Harrogate, UK. (Poster)
Grugan, M. C., Jowett, G. E., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Hall, H. K., & Madigan, D. J. (July 2018). Perfectionism and antisocial behaviour in competitive male team sport athletes. British Society for Personality and Individual Differences Annual Conference, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. (Poster)
Madigan, D. J., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Smith, M. M. (July 2018). Perfectionism in sport and beyond. The 2nd Northern Research and Applied Practice Showcase, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK.
Grugan, M. C., Hall, H. K., Jowett, G. E. & Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (December 2017). Multidimensional Perfectionism and Antisocial Behaviour in Team Sports: The Mediating Role of Angry Reactions to Poor Teammate Performance. Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology Conference, Radisson Blu, Glasgow, UK. (Poster)
Donachie, T., Hill, A. P., Hall, H. K., & Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (December 2017). A longitudinal study of perfectionism and pre-match emotions in youth footballers. Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology Conference, Radisson Blu, Glasgow, UK.
Donachie, T., Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Hall, H. K., & Madigan, D. J. (October 2017). Perfectionism and overthinking in athletes. National Undergraduate Sport and Exercise Medicine Conference, Edinburgh, UK.
Jowett, G. E., Hill, A. P., & Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (July 2017). The 2 × 2 model of perfectionism and athletic performance. Invited symposium. 14th ISSP World Congress of Sports Psychology, Seville, Spain.
Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Hill, A. P. (July 2017). The 2 × 2 model of perfectionism and self-criticism in athletes. Invited symposium. 14th ISSP World Congress of Sports Psychology, Seville, Spain.
Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Jowett, G. E. (July 2017). The 2 × 2 model of perfectionism in sport, dance, and exercise: A review and reanalysis. Invited symposium. 14th ISSP World Congress of Sports Psychology, Seville, Spain.
Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Knight, C. J., Hill, A. P., & Hall, H. K. (December 2016). The 2 × 2 model of perfectionism and the meaning of youth sport involvement. Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology Conference, Mercure Hotel, Cardiff, UK.
Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Hill, A. P., & Hall, H. K. (July 2016). Perfectionism and youth sport experiences: The moderating role of the perceived motivational climate. The 3rd International Network Meeting for Perfectionism Research, The University of Kent, Canterbury, UK. (Poster)
Hill, A. P., Appleton, P. R., & Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (July 2016). Development and Initial Validation of the Perfect Performance Scale for Sport (PPS-S). The 3rd International Network Meeting for Perfectionism Research, The University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Hill, A. P., & Hall, H. K. (December 2015). Perceived motivational climate, the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism, and experiences in youth sport. Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology Conference, The Queen’s Hotel, Leeds, UK.
Mallinson, S. H., Hill, A. P., & Hall, H. K. (July 2014). Perfectionism and negative youth sport experiences: A further test of the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism. 28th International Congress of Applied Psychology, Palais des Congrés de Paris, France.
Please see my RaY profile for a full list of publications:
Public engagement
Public Engagement
Morby, L. & Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (2024) Yorkshire Netball –
Research Dissemination & Discussion: Focus Group Insights [Online Workshop].
Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Morby, L. (2023) Netball Exchange Event –
Yorkshire Netball Research and Insights [Invited Presentation, Leeds Beckett University].
Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Morby, L. (2023) Yorkshire Netball –
Research Dissemination & Discussion: Survey Insights [Online Workshop].
Hill, A. P., Madigan, D. J., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Vaughan, R. (2022) ‘The impact of body image on mental and physical health’ (IBI0018) [Written evidence for MPs: UK Parliament Health and Social Care Committee]
Justice, N. (2021). Quest for perfection adds anxiety, worry. The Gazette, Iowa. https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-prep-sports/quest-for-perfection-adds-anxiety-worry/ [Newspaper article featuring Mallinson-Howard, S. H. research]
Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (2021). Parenting a perfectionist athlete. Working with Parents in Sport (WWPIS). https://t.co/lo6T40OnZb?amp=1 [Blog for practitioners]
Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (2020) Being a perfectionist in sport. Sport New Zealand. https://balanceisbetter.org.nz/being-a-perfectionist-in-sport/ [Blog for practitioners]
Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (2020) Being a perfectionist in sport. Sport Parent EU. [Blog for practitioners]
Smith, M. M. & Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (2019) Could striving for perfection damage your health? [Video]
Hill, A. P., Madigan, D. J., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., &Smith, M. M. (2019) Perfectionism worksheets. York St John University. [Practitioner resource]
Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Smith, M. M., & Madigan, D. J. (2018) The Perils of Perfectionism.[Video]
Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H.,Madigan, D. J., & Smith, M. M. (2018) Perfectionism fact sheets. York St John University. [Practitioner resource]
Mallinson-Howard, S. H., Madigan, D. J., & Smith, E. (5th April 2017). Perfectionism in an imperfect world. Café Scientifique, City Screen, York, UK. [Invited talk]
Mallinson-Howard, S. H. (13th January 2017). A good year for YSJ sport. YSJMedia, York, UK. [Audio interview]
Mallinson-Howard, S. H.(2016) Discover research: Coach resource two. Perfectionism and youth sport experiences. York St John University. [Practitioner resource]
Mallinson, S. H. (7th May 2015). Promoting positive participation in youth sport. North Yorkshire County Netball, Ramada Hotel, Wetherby, UK. [Invited talk]
