Individualized Master’s with Rebecca Benyk, Bishop’s Graduate 2023: Impact of Injuries on Undergraduate Athletes’ Socioemotional Well-being, Coping Skills, and Athletic Identity

Recently graduated with distinction from Bishop’s in June 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Honours) & Business, Rebecca will be starting a Master of Science program in the fall of 2023. During her undergraduate studies, Rebecca decided to embark on an Honours project with Dr. Emma Green that focused on the student-athletes’ socioemotional well-being, athletic identity, and coping skills. To gain a wide range of response data, the project utilized an online survey that asked participants for demographic information, athletic identity, psychological wellness at the time of the injury, and self-perception. The recruitment of the participants was achieved by an online survey, which collected over 450 responses in less than three weeks. This was achieved through social media outreach along with presentations to Sports Studies and Psychology classes on campus to further share the research. During the Winter 2023 semester, Rebecca had the opportunity to present her research at the Bishop’s University Congress of Sports Studies in addition to the Bishop’s University Research Week poster session.

At graduation, Rebecca received the Dr. Shannon Gadbois Prize for Psychological Research, which is awarded annually to two graduating Psychology students who wrote the best Honours dissertations. Her Master’s project will be a continuation from the findings of her undergraduate Honours Thesis. The aim of the project is to learn more about the differences between specific sports and injuries and how those factors, as well as individual and community support, affect the recovery process. Therefore, one of the questions Rebecca is asking during her research is if there are any significant differences between individual and team sports. Other questions include if specific coping mechanisms (e.g., emotion-focused versus problem-focused coping) play a role in protecting student-athletes’ well-being following an injury, how specific community support systems may influence the recovery process, and the roles of coaches, physiotherapists, teammates, etc. and their impact on the student-athletes’ post-morbid trajectory. This research will combine quantitative and qualitative methods via online data collection from student-athletes, as well as in-depth interviews to collect more detailed perspectives and knowledge. Furthermore, during her degree, she will be engaging in a practicum within a rehabilitative therapy setting to further understand and gain insight into the role of injury and recovery in individuals’ well-being and outcomes.

Being a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, the prospect of attending a Canadian university had always been a viable option for Rebecca. During her third year of high school, the realization dawned on her that urban and large campus environments did not align well with her personal preferences. Having decided against attending a larger school, her family remembered a conversation with a Bishop’s representative at an International University Fair near Rebecca’s hometown of Chicago. While visiting the Bishop’s campus, the magical architecture, smaller class sizes, and the professors’ unwavering commitment to student success immediately captivated her. As an individual who arrived from Chicago with no connections, the undergraduate experience at Bishop’s surpassed all of Rebecca’s expectations, and she feels a deep gratitude towards friends, colleagues, and the university for providing her with a warm environment to fit in and multiple growth opportunities.

While pursuing a Master’s degree at Bishop’s was not her initial plan, the anticipation to embark on this new journey remains exciting, especially with the presence of two trusted mentor professors, the Psychology Department, and B.U. as a whole. Dr. Emma Green, who served as a trusted mentor and supervisor throughout Rebecca’s undergraduate Honours Thesis process, will oversee the master’s degree program. Rebecca acknowledges that her accomplishments would not have been possible without Dr. Green’s invaluable guidance and support, for which she is immensely grateful. Additionally, Rebecca expresses deep appreciation for Dr. Joel Montanez, a highly regarded professor with whom she had the pleasure of studying Health Psychology I and II in the past year. Rebecca is honoured by Dr. Montanez’s eagerness to collaborate on this project and believes that his expertise will bring significant value. Rebecca looks forward to working closely with these professors and will do her best to make them both exceptionally proud. The Individualized Master’s program at Bishop’s offers the flexibility to adapt the curriculum to personal needs and aspirations. Firmly believing that everything happens for a reason, the continuation of her journey at Bishop’s and knowing that the time spent at this esteemed institution is far from over brings her immense happiness. She aspires to cultivate personal growth and further enhance her capabilities as an active member of the academic and research community. Her research endeavors are focused on making a positive impact on the student-athlete experience and providing valuable insights into the multifaceted aspects of their injury recovery process.

Following the completion of her Master’s degree, Rebecca envisions pursuing a PhD in either Clinical or Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Sports Psychology and her ultimate career goal is to become a Sports Psychologist. She wants to work closely with athletes and competitive teams, drawing from her background as a Team USA synchronized figure skater. Rebecca intends to provide comprehensive support to athletes through individual sessions, addressing concerns such as motivation, performance anxiety, and the challenges associated with returning to sports after an injury. Moreover, she aims to facilitate group sessions encompassing team building, resolution of interpersonal conflicts, and fostering mindset shifts. Recognizing the significance of mental health in athletes, Rebecca strongly believes in its parallel importance with physical well-being and advocates for its protection. Therefore, her professional interests lie in conducting research and engaging in clinical work pertaining to sport and exercise psychology, health psychology, as well as concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Within these domains, she is particularly intrigued by topics concerning rehabilitation and recovery from injuries, and she seeks to contribute meaningful advancements in these areas.

Rebecca received the Brenda Caruso Collegiate Scholarship, sponsored by the Chicago Figure Skating Club, every year of her undergraduate studies. She was also recently granted the Graduate Entrance Scholarship from Bishop’s University.

Joannie St-Germain M.Sc.
Research Officer
Office of Research and Graduate Studies
819-822-9600 ext. 2242