Welcome to the PsycHology Research on ExerciSe and Health (PHRESH) Lab website!
Vision
Engaging in regular physical activity is associated with many important physical and mental health benefits, however, many Canadians struggle to maintain an active lifestyle. To address the issue of physical inactivity, our goal is to generate new knowledge on the associations between psychological, social, environmental factors and physical activity behaviours.
Learn more about the PHRESH Lab.
Get involved
If you are interested in participating in our ongoing research, take a look at our Recruitment for ongoing studies page or contact khspsych@uwaterloo.ca for more information.
Undergraduate students interested in volunteer or course-based placements should fill out the undergraduate research positions application.
Interested in graduate (MSc or PhD) studies in the PHRESH Lab? Please contact Dr. Sheereen Harris directly.
Current projects
Stay connected with us
News
PHRESH Lab graduate students present at the Eastern Canada Sport & Exercise Psychology Conference
PHRESH Lab members presented at the Eastern Canada Sport & Exercise Psychology Conference (ECSEPS) conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario on March 20th-21st, 2026.
Dr. Harris invited to join the Missouri State University Public Affairs Conference Panel on Resilience and Healthy Living
Dr. Harris has been invited to speak at the Missouri State University Public Affairs Conference as a panelist for the session “Not Every Superhero Wears a Cape: Unlocking Resilience Through a Healthy, Active Life” on September 17, 2025, from 1:25–2:15 p.m. CST (2:25–3:15 p.m. EST).
Dr. Harris awarded SSHRC-Funding to support physical activity research
Dr. Harris has been awarded $70,917 from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) under the Insight Development grant. The proposed research is titled "Exploring dynamic interactions between psychological and contextual factors on effort-based decision-making".