School of Human Movement Studies
Dr Rylee Dionigi
PhD BSocSc (Recreation & Human Movement, Honours Class I)
Senior Lecturer
Course Co-ordinator:
Bachelor of Exercise Science/Bachelor of Business Studies
Telephone:+61 02 6338 4890
Facsimile:+61 02 6338 4065
Email:rdionigi@csu.edu.au
Office: Room 1.26, Allen House (N1)
Profile
Professional Membership
- RIPPLE, CSU
- Women in Research, CSU
- Centre for Research and Education in Ageing (University of Newcastle)
- Australian and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies
- Canadian Association on Gerontology
Awards
- Community of Scholars 2005
- CSU Small Grant 2005
- CSU Writing Up Award 2004
- Australian Postgraduate Award 2001 - 2004
Research
In broad terms, my research is concerned with socio-cultural and socio-psychological dimensions of ageing and physical activity in Western societies. Specifically, I am interested in:
- how older people make sense of themselves and their experiences in the context of sport and exercise;
- how older exercisers’ or athletes’ words and actions simultaneously reproduce and resist dominant discourses of ageing, mainstream sport and health promotion; and
- the positive and negative sociological and psychological dimensions of community exercise programs, such as strength training in rural and regional older adults.
My research draws on and contributes to theoretical frameworks in the areas of ageing, identity, health, leisure, sport and exercise. It also has implications for health promotion, policy-makers, the economy and fitness professionals.
In particular, my PhD thesis explored the socio-cultural and social-psychological phenomenon of older adults competing in sport from a qualitative perspective. In particular, I discussed the multiple ways in which older Australian Masters athletes negotiated conflicting discourses of sport and ageing, as well as the contradiction between their identity as an athlete and their ageing bodies, when they spoke about and experienced competitive sport.
Teaching
- EHR109: Introduction to Sport and Exercise Behaviour
- EHR213: Applied Psychology for Sport and Exercise
Publications
PhD DissertationDionigi, R. A. (2004) Competing for life: Older people and competitive sport. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Refereed Journal Articles
Dionigi, R. A. & O’Flynn, G. (2007). Performance discourses and old age: What does it mean to be an older athlete? Sociology of Sport Journal. 24: 359-377.
Dionigi, R.A. (2007). Resistance training and older adults’ beliefs about psychological benefits: The importance of self-efficacy and social interaction. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 29: 723-746.
Lyons, K. & Dionigi, R. A. (2007). Transcending emotional community: A qualitative examination of older adults and Masters’ sports participation. Leisure Sciences, 29(4): 375-389.
Dionigi, R. A. (2006). Competitive sport as leisure in later life: Negotiations, discourse and aging. Leisure Sciences. Vol. 28, no. 2, pp.181-196.
Dionigi, R. A. (2006). Competitive sport and aging: The need for qualitative sociological research. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity Vol. 14, no. 4, pp.365-379.
Dionigi, R. A. (2005). A leisure pursuit that ‘goes against the grain’: Older people and competitive sport. Annals of Leisure Research, Vol. 8, no.1, pp. 1-22.
Dionigi, R. A. (2002). Empowerment and resistance through leisure: The meaning of competitive sport participation to older adults. Society and Leisure, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 303-328.
Dionigi, R. A. (2002). Leisure and identity management in later life: Understanding competitive sport participation among older adults. World Leisure Journal, Vol. 44, No.3, pp. 4-15.
Dionigi, R. A. (2001). Participant experiences in a special sporting event: The case of the United Games in Bathurst, Australia. Annals of Leisure Research, Vol. 4, pp. 17-37.
Refereed Conference Paper Publications/Proceedings
Dionigi, R. A. (2005). Resistance training in older adults: A call for qualitative research into psychological benefits. In T. Morris, et al. (Eds.) Proceedings of the ISSP 11th World Congress of Sport Psycholog y, 15-19 August, 2005 Sydney, Australia, 1029.
Dionigi, R. A. (2004). Conflicts in representing and interpreting the ‘voices’ of older athletes. In G. Whiteford (Ed.), Proceedings from the Inaugural RIPPLE Qualitative Research as Interpretive Practice Conference, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, pp. 48-61.
Edited Encyclopedia Entry
Dionigi, R. A. (2003). Older adults. In J. Jenkins & J. J. Pigram (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Leisure and Outdoor Recreation. London: Routledge, pp 343-346.
Refereed Conference Abstracts/Presentations
Dionigi, R. A. & Lyons, K. (2008). Meanings of older adult's involvement in a community exercise intervention. Paper presented at the 8th ANZALS Biennial Conference, 9 - 11 January, 2008, Melbourne, Australia.
Dionigi, R. A. (2007). The benefits of a resistance training intervention to seniors’ mental, physical and social health. Paper presented at the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health 2nd National Conference: New Directions in Seniors’ Mental Health, 24-25 September 2007, Toronto, Canada.
Dionigi, R. A. & Cannon, J. (2005). Resistance training, neuromuscular function and quality of life in rural and regional older adults. Paper presented at the Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, 13-16 October 2005 Melbourne, Australia.
Dionigi, R. A. (2005). Resistance training in older adults: A call for qualitative research into psychological benefits. Paper presented at the ISSP 11th World Congress of Sport Psychology, 15-19 August 2005 Sydney, Australia.
Clarke, D. & Dionigi, R. A. (2004). Evaluating our assessment practice: Assisting Human Movement students to develop their academic literacy skills. Paper presented at AARE Conference, November 2004, Melbourne, Australia.
Dionigi, R. A. (2004). A leisure pursuit that “Goes against the grain”: Older people and competitive sport. Paper presented at the World Leisure Congress, September 2004, Brisbane, Australia.
Dionigi, R. A. (2003). Conflicts in representing and interpreting the ‘voice’ of older athletes. Paper presented at the RIPPLE Conference: Qualitative Research as Interpretive Practice, September 2003, CSU-Albury.
Lyons, K. D., & Dionigi, R. A. (2003). Toward a theory of leisure-based community: The case of older adults in competitive sport. Paper presented at the 6th Australian and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies Biennial Conferenc e, July 2003, Sydney.
Dionigi, R. A. (2002). Friendship, fun, fitness and more: The meaning of competitive sport participation to older adults. Paper presented at the Parks and Leisure Australia National Conference, September 2002, Melbourne, Australia.
Dionigi, R. A. (2002). Older adults competing in sport: A context for identity management, resistance and empowerment in later life. 31st Annual Scientific and Education Meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, October 2002, Montreal, Canada.