The University of Texas Permian Basin
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Thaís Benoit

Assistant Professor
College of Health Sciences
Department of Psychology
Email
benoit_t@utpb.edu

Dr. Thaís Benoit earned her B.S. in Physical Education from the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (Brazil), and M.S. in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Texas Tech University, and a Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in Health Psychology from the University of California, Merced, where her research tested the predictions of a unique integrated model specifying relations between the motivational constructs from achievement goal theory and self-determination theory, and behavioral outcomes. Her research has been presented at national and international conferences and contributes to interdisciplinary discussions on behavior change, performance enhancement, and public health. Dr. Benoit is deeply committed to student mentorship and inclusive pedagogy, drawing on her training in evidence-based teaching practices to create engaging, supportive, and equitable learning environments. She is passionate about empowering students from diverse backgrounds to develop critical thinking skills, build confidence in their academic abilities, and connect psychological theory to real-world applications.

Education and Training

  • Ph.D. in Psychology with Health Psychology Concentration, University of California, Merced, 2025
  • M.A. in Kinesiology, Texas Tech University, 2019
  • B.S. in Physical Education, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (Brazil), 2016

Research Interests

Dr. Benoit’s research examines how individual differences and environmental conditions interact to shape the formation, regulation, and expression of motivation, ultimately supporting or hindering adaptive motivational patterns in physical activity and sport contexts. A central aim of her work is to identify modifiable mechanisms that can be leveraged to enhance motivation quality and sustainability, thereby informing the development of theory-driven interventions to promote long-term engagement in exercise, everyday movement, and competitive sport.

Selected Publications

Zanatta, T., Rottensteiner, C., Konttinen, N., & Lochbaum, M. (2018). Individual motivations, motivational climate, enjoyment, and physical competence perceptions in Finnish team sport athletes: A prospective and retrospective study. Sports, 6(4), 165. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports6040165

Lochbaum, M., Zanatta, T., & Kazak, Z. (2019). The 2 × 2 achievement goals in sport and physical activity contexts: A meta-analytic test of context, gender, culture, and socioeconomic status differences and analysis of motivations, regulations, affect, effort, and physical activity correlates. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 10(1), 173–205. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe10010015

Lochbaum, M., Zanatta, T., Kirschling, D., & May, E. (2021). The profile of moods states and athletic performance: A meta-analysis of published studies. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 11(1), 50–70. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe11010005

Courses

  • PSYC 3304, Psychological Research Methods
  • PSYC 6302, Research Methodology
  • Accepting:
    • Master’s Thesis/Project Students
    • Graduate Research Assistants
    • Undergraduate Research Assistants
    • Independent Study or Research