Publications

Fun fact: Dr. Ayala was trained as a traditional academic researcher and always assumed she’d become a professor. She did the professor thing for a few years, but feel DEEPLY in love with sport psychology practice in 2018, and went all in with sport psychology in 2020. However, she still loves to nerd out on all things research and statistics—so she does! Here are some of her recent publications:

Title page of an academic article from the journal 'Psychology of Sport & Exercise' by Elsevier, titled 'A conceptual model for mental health and performance of North American athletes: A mixed methods study.' Authors: Erin Ayala, Laina Nelson, Matthew Bartholomew, David Plummer. The page includes article information, abstract, and introductory text about athlete mental health challenges and the study's objectives.

The demands of sport create psychological and physical challenges for athletes, making it essential to understand what factors contribute to mental health and performance optimization in sport. The purpose of this mixed-methods investigation was to develop a conceptual model for mental health and performance of North American athletes.

Academic article titled 'Microaggressions Experienced by Women and Gender Diverse Athletes in Competitive Cycling.' Authored by Erin E. Ayala and others, published in the Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal. The article discusses the prevalence and impact of microaggressions on female and gender diverse cyclists in a male-dominated sport. Keywords include diversity, feminist theory, and mixed methods. Published by Human Kinetics.

Competitive cycling is a sport with limited levels of diversity, particularly concerning gender. Women and gender diverse cyclists are likely to experience actions from others that reveal underlying assumptions based on their gender, race, or other cultural identities. This mixed-methods investigation used feminist theory and a transformative paradigm to highlight the experiences of women and gender diverse cyclists in a male-dominated sport. The authors explored the nature of microaggressions, perceived underlying messages, responses to such actions, and the feelings provoked.

Journal article titled 'Mental Health and Developmental Needs of Youth Athletes: A Mixed Methods Study' by Erin E. Ayala, McKenzie E. A. Bromback, Jake Kaufman, and Laina J. Nelson. Published in the Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion, 2024. The abstract discusses the benefits and lack of exploration in mental health and development for youth athletes, aiming to create a visual framework for improvement.

Despite the prevalence and benefits of extracurricular involvement in sports for youth, few scholars have conceptualized youth mental health and development within the context of sport environments. The aim of this investigation was to create a visual framework of actions, thoughts, and feelings that promote mental health and development for youth athletes.

Research paper titled 'Experiences That Affect Participation of Women and Gender Diverse Athletes in Competitive Cycling' by Erin E. Ayala and others from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, published in the Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, Volume 12, 2020. Includes an abstract discussing challenges in competitive cycling for women and gender diverse athletes. Keywords: women, gender, cycling, participation, constraints.

In general, cycling is a sport and recreational activity with far fewer women than men, particularly in racing. The purpose of this mixed methods investigation was to identify experiences that affect participation for women and gender diverse (WGD) athletes in competitive cycling.