Publications & Presentations

 

Publications & Presentations

My scholarly work examines the psychology of humor in athletic performance, team culture, and coaching relationships. Below you will find my dissertation, articles currently in preparation, and conference presentations.

Dissertation

Lobaugh, T. (2026). How women university track and field athletes describe their experiences of humor in practice and competition. Doctoral dissertation, Grand Canyon University. Available through ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.

Articles in Preparation

The following articles are being developed from dissertation research for peer-reviewed journal submission:

  1. Lobaugh, T. (in preparation). Listening to athletes: The hidden psychology of humor in women's collegiate track and field. Target: Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology (APA Division 47)

  2. Lobaugh, T. (in preparation). Power, play, and the punchline: How coach humor shapes athlete experience in collegiate track and field. Target: Journal of Applied Sport Psychology

  3. Lobaugh, T. (in preparation). More than laughs: Humor as social glue, ritual, and belonging in women's collegiate athletics. Target: Sociology of Sport Journal

  4. Lobaugh, T. (in preparation). What the scales cannot see: Athlete voices on humor, anxiety, and coping in competitive track and field. Target: European Journal of Humour Research

  5. Lobaugh, T. (in preparation). The humor advantage: What women athletes say coaches should know. Target: Journal of Sport Psychology in Action

  6. Lobaugh, T. (in preparation). Laughter as flow: Exploring humor's role in peak performance states among women collegiate athletes. Target: Journal of Positive Psychology

  7. Lobaugh, T. (in preparation). Doing reflexive thematic analysis well: Lessons from a qualitative study of humor in women's collegiate athletics. Target: Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health

Conference Presentations

Lobaugh, T. (2026, August). Listening to athletes: The hidden psychology of humor. Virtual poster presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, APA Division 47: Society for Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology.

Free Research Tool

The She Said So. Humor Climate Assessment translates this research into a free, practical tool for coaches, athletes, and organizations.

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