Skip to content
Image of Ella

Ella McLoughlin

Lecturer

School of Science and Technology

Staff Group(s)
Sport

Role

Ella McLoughlin is a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology. She teaches and supervises across undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes and is module leader for Introduction to Research. Her research interests span the topics of lifetime stressor exposure, the enhancement of health, well-being, and performance, and psychophysiological responses to acute stressors.

Career overview

Ella McLoughlin joined Nottingham Trent University as a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology in September 2022. Prior to this, she graduated from Loughborough University with a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science with a Diploma in Professional Studies in 2014. Ella went on to complete an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Loughborough University and graduated with a Distinction in 2019. Following this, Ella started her PhD at the University of Bath which aimed to better understand how lifetime (non-sport and sport-specific) stressor exposure influences sport performers’ health, well-being, and performance. Throughout her PhD, Ella has gained experience in using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research, as well as using creative and innovative research methods (e.g., creative non-fiction, photo elicitation, timelining) to disseminate these findings to academic and non-academic audiences (e.g., coaches, support staff). Ella has published in peer-reviewed journals in the area of stress, health, and performance and has presented her work at national and international conferences.

Research areas

Ella is a member of the Sport, Health, and Performance Enhancement (SHAPE) Research Centre.

Her research interests span the topics of lifetime stressor exposure, the enhancement of mental health, well-being, and performance, and psychophysiological responses to acute stressors, among athletes, and is linked to the following themes:

  • Cumulative lifetime stressor exposure
  • Psychophysiological responses to acute stressors
  • Mental health, well-being, and performance
  • Creative and innovative methods (e.g., timelining, photo elicitation, creative non-fiction)

Opportunities arise to carry out postgraduate research towards an MPhil / PhD in the areas identified above. Further information may be obtained on the NTU Research Degrees website: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/research/research-degrees-at-ntu

External activity

Membership of Professional Bodies

  • Member of the Stress, Anxiety, Resilience, and Thriving research group at the University of Bath (2020-Present).
  • Member of the International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (QRSE).
  • Member of British Psychology Society Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (DSEP).
  • Member of the Stress, Trauma, Anxiety, and Resilience (STAR) society.
  • Member of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA).

Awards and Prizes

  • Doctoral Recognition Award from the University of Bath, for making a significant contribution to the student experience, doctoral student development, and the broader university.
  • Best oral presentation (runner-up) at the British Psychology Society Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (DSEP) Conference 2021.
  • Student Development Award (runner-up) from the Stress, Trauma, Anxiety, and Resilience (STAR) Society.
  • Best PhD/Postgraduate oral presentation (runner-up) at Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (QRSE) ECR and Student Conference 2021.
  • Sir Robert Martin University Prize (2019). This is the premier award of Loughborough University given to an outstanding student for excellent academic and non-academic achievement.
  • University of Bath PhD scholarship covering tuition and maintenance fees.
  • Santander Taught Postgraduate Scholarship.

Publications

McLoughlin, E., Arnold, R., Freeman, P., Turner, J. E., Roberts, G. A., Fletcher, D., Slavich, G. M., & Moore, L. J. (2022). Lifetime stressor exposure and psychophysiological reactivity and habituation to repeated acute social stressors. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 44(6), 427–438. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2022-0196

McLoughlin, E., Arnold, R., Fletcher, D., Spahr, C. M., Slavich, G. M., & Moore, L. J. (2022). Assessing lifetime stressor exposure in sport performers: Associations with trait stress appraisals, health, well-being, and performance. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 58, 102078. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.102078.

McLoughlin, E., Fletcher, D., Slavich, G. M., Arnold, R., & Moore, L. J. (2021). Cumulative lifetime stress exposure, depression, anxiety, and well-being in elite athletes: A mixed method study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 52, 101823. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101823.

See all of Ella McLoughlin's publications...