Dr. Smith studies the impact of physical activity involvement on youth psychosocial development as well as how social relationships are associated with sport and physical activity motivation. He is particularly interested in the structure of children's sport peer relationships and the interactive contribution of social agents (e.g., peers and parents) to youth sport and physical activity motivation. He also is interested in understanding physical activity as a means of addressing childhood attentional and behavioral problems. Recently completed projects have examined youth sport friendship quality, "burnout" in adolescent swimmers, self-presentational concerns in physical education settings, factors associated with adolescent physical activity behavior, and physical self-perceptions of children with ADHD. Dr. Smith regularly presents his research at national and international conferences, and has published his work in the Journal of Adolescent Health, European Journal of Cognitive Psychology, International Journal of Sport Psychology, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Pediatric Exercise Science, Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, Journal of Sport Behavior, Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, and Journal of Sports Sciences.

Memberships in Professional Organizations:

• American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
• American Psychological Association (Div. 47)
• Association for Applied Sport Psychology
• International Society of Sport Psychology
• North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity
• Society for Research in Child Development

Recent Publications:

• Corrion, K., Long, T., Smith, A.L., & d’Arripe-Longueville, F. (2009). "It's not my fault; It's not serious": Athlete accounts of moral disengagement in competitive sport. The Sport Psychologist, 23, 388-404.
• Dorsch, T.E., Smith, A.L., & McDonough, M.H. (2009). Parents’ perceptions of child-to-parent socialization in organized youth sport. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 31, 444-468.
• Raedeke, T.D., & Smith, A.L. (2009). The Athlete Burnout Questionnaire manual. Morgantown, WV: Fitness Information Technology.
• Ullrich-French, S., & Smith, A.L. (2009). Social and motivational predictors of continued youth sport participation. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10, 87-95.
• Cox, A.E., Smith, A.L., & Williams, L. (2008). Change in physical education motivation and physical activity behavior during middle school. Journal of Adolescent Health, 43, 506-513.
• Smith, A.L., & Biddle, S.J.H. (Eds.). (2008). Youth physical activity and sedentary behavior: Challenges and solutions. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
• Smith, A.L., & McDonough, M.H. (2008). Peers. In A.L. Smith & S.J.H. Biddle (Eds.), Youth physical activity and sedentary behavior: Challenges and solutions (pp. 295-320). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
• Weiss, M.R., Smith, A.L., & Stuntz, C.M. (2008). Moral development in sport and physical activity. In T.S. Horn (Ed.), Advances in sport and exercise psychology (3rd ed., pp. 187-210). Human Kinetics: Champaign, IL.
• Black, J.M., & Smith, A.L. (2007). An examination of Coakley’s perspective on identity, control, and burnout among adolescent athletes. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 38, 417-436.
• Smith, A.L. (2007). Youth peer relationships in sport. In S.J. Jowett & D. Lavallee (Eds.), Social Psychology in Sport (pp. 41-54). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
• Smith, A.L., Lemyre, P.N., & Raedeke, T.D. (Eds.) (2007). Special issue: Athlete burnout. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 38, 337-492.

Recent Presentations:

• Boester, A., & Smith, A.L. (2009, June). Perceptions of social relationships, basic need fulfillment and self-determined motivation in youth sport. Presented at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) Annual Convention, Austin, TX. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 31, S111].
• DeFreese, J.D., & Smith, A.L. (2009, June). Areas of worklife and the athlete burnout-engagement relationship. Presented at the NASPSPA Annual Convention, Austin, TX. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 31, S116].
• Smith, A.L., Gustafsson, H., Hassmén, P., & Hassmén, N. (2009, June). Peer motivational climate and burnout perceptions in adolescent athletes. Presented at the NASPSPA Annual Convention, Austin, TX. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 31, S136].
• Smith, A.L., Hoza, B., Linnea, K., McQuade, J., Tomb, M., Vaughn, A.J., & Pierce, H. (2009, June). Pilot physical activity intervention improves ADHD symptoms in young children. Presented at the NASPSPA Annual Convention, Austin, TX. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 31, S13].
• Smith, A.L., Sampson, M., DeFreese, J.D., Blankenship, B.T., & Templin, T.J. (2009, June). Peer victimization and student motivation in middle-school physical education. Presented at the NASPSPA Annual Convention, Austin, TX. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 31, S137].
• Zelaznik, H.N., Vaughn, A.J., Green, J.T., Smith, A.L., Hoza, B., & Linnea, K. (2009, June). Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder exhibit timing deficits in tapping. Presented at the NASPSPA Annual Convention, Austin, TX. [abstract published in Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 31, S106-S107].
• Templin, T., Blankenship, B., Smith, A.L., Kang, B., & Eichenauer, J. (2009, May). Teacher professional development and change: Evidence of compliance, redefinition, and reflection in the use of Sport Education. Presented at the International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education scientific meeting on situated learning, reflective practice and knowledge construction in physical education, Besançon, France.

Selected Grants:

• A translational approach to evaluating the effects of physical activity on ADHD. National Institute of Mental Health. ($3,305,225 funded; 5/8/09-3/31/14; Co-I).
• Making PALS (Physically Active Lafayette Students) through partnerships. U.S. Department of Education. ($660,280 funded; 7/1/08-6/30/11; PI)
• An integrative examination of psychosocial and environmental predictors of youth physical activity. Kinley Trust. ($19,590 funded; 7/1/07-12/31/09; Co-PI).

Awards: