Research

We are committed to evidence-based practice. Therefore, in addition to staying current with and integrating the best currently available research literature into our workshops, our team also conducts research studies that focus on the impact of Motivational Interviewing and coaching on various health-related behaviours. There are a wide variety of evidence-based journals with solid research about many aspects of Motivational Interviewing and healthy behaviours. While too many to list here, one place to start is with the online journal, Patient Education and Counseling – click here for a listing of articles on motivational interviewing published in that journal.

Research Studies

Below you will find links to some of our own and/or our team’s recent research that helps to illuminate and document Motivational Interviewing and Coaching’s utility in the health professions. Please download any of these that you wish to use:

  1. Shillington, K. J., Labadie, C. T., Johnson, A. M., & Irwin, Jennifer D (2023) PROmoting Resilience During GRADuate School and Beyond (PRO-GRAD): A Motivational Coaching Intervention. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring, 21(2), 232-249. DOI: 10.24384/c66k-8f84
  2. Waddington, K. C., Irwin, Jennifer D., Mushquash, A. R., Sinden, K. E., & Pearson, E. S. (2023) Coaches Deserve the Care and Attention They Are Nurturing in Others: exploring co-active life coaches’ perspectives on professional practise and self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice 6 (2) 1-16 DOI:. https://doi.org/10.1080/17521882.2023.2216805
  3. Karmali Shazya, Battram, Danielle S., Burke, Shauna M., Cramp, Anita, Johnson, Andrew M., Mantler, Tara, Morrow, Don, Ng, Victor, Pearson, Erin S., Petrella, Robert J., Tucker, Patricia, and Irwin, Jennifer D. (2020) Perspectives and Impact of a Parent-Child Intervention on Dietary Intake and Physical Activity Behaviours, Parental Motivation, and Parental Body Composition: A Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17, 6822, 1-41. DOI:10.3390/ijerph17186822
  4. Karmali, Shazya, Battram, Danielle S., Burke, Shauna M., Cramp, Anita, Mantler, Tara, Morrow, Don, Ng, Victor, Pearson, Erin S., Petrella, Robert, Tucker, Patricia, Irwin, Jennifer, D. (2020) Clients’ and Coaches’ Perspectives of a Life Coaching Intervention for Parents with Overweight/Obesity. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring. Vol. 18(2). pp. 115-132. DOI: 10.24384/2wjj-py19
  5. Fried, Rebecca R., Atkins, Melanie-Anne P., and Irwin, Jennifer D. (2019) Breaking Grad: Building Resilience Among a Sample of Graduate Students Struggling with Stress and Anxiety via a Peer Coaching Model – An 8-Month Pilot Study. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring. Vol. 17(2). DOI: 10.24384/sa09-av9-av9 This article was cited as one of the top ten research articles by the Academia Group ~ “Moving Higher Ed Forward” ~ on 24 September 2019. In addition, this study was presented as Breaking Grad Poster at the Institute of Coaching conference, Boston, MA,18-19 October 2019.
  6. O’Kane, Carley, Irwin, Jennifer D., Morrow, Don, Tang, Lisa, Wong, Samantha, Buchholz, Andrea C., Ma, David W. L., and Haines, Jess (2019). Motivational Interviewing with Families in the Home Environment. Patient Education and Counseling. 102(6) (8 pages). DOI: org/10.1016/j.pec.2019.06.00219
  7. Shazya Karmali, Victor Ng, Danielle Battram, Shauna Burke, Don Morrow, Erin S. Pearson, Patricia Tucker, Tara Mantler, Anita Cramp, Robert Petrella, and Jennifer D. Irwin (2019). Coaching and/or education intervention for parents with overweight/obesity and their children: study protocol of a single-centre randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health. 19:345 (12 pages). DOI.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6640-5
  8. Fried, Rebecca R., Karmali, Shazya, Irwin, Jennifer D., Gable, Francesca L., and Salmoni, Alan (2018). Making the Grade: Perspectives of a Course-Based, Smart, Healthy Campus Pilot Project for Building Mental Health Resiliency Through Mentorship and Physical Activity. International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching and Mentoring. 16 (2), 84-98, DOI: 10.24384/000566 Though not technically a motivational interviewing intervention-article, the two aspects of resiliency and mentorship are important concepts contained within the scope and practice of motivational interviewing principles.
  9. Hall, Elizabeth, & Morrow, Don (2018). The Adolescent Experience of Motivational Interviewing-via-Co-Active Life Coaching as a Motivational Intervention: A Constructivist Grounded Theory. International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching and Mentoring, 16 (1), 47-65. DOI: 10.24384/000469
  10. Robinson, Tracy, Morrow, Don, & Miller, Michael R. (2017). From Aha to Ta dah: Insights From Coaching and the Link to Behaviour Change.  International Journal of Theory, Research & Practice. (Published online 29 September 2017), 1-13. DOI: 10.1080/17521882.2017.1381754
  11. Robinson, Tracy A., and Morrow, Don (2016). From Aha to Ta-Dah: Linking Insight to Behaviour Change in a Life Coaching Intervention for Women. Poster presented at the 9th Annual Coaching in Leadership and Healthcare Conference of the Institute of Coaching, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School Affiliate, 16-17 September. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.17750.451244
  12. Fried, Rebecca R., & Irwin, Jennifer D. (2016). Calmly coping: A Motivational Interviewing Via Co-Active Life Coaching (MI-VIA-CALC) Pilot Intervention for University Students with Perceived Levels of High Stress. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring. 14(1), 16-33.
  13. Naidu, Rahul, Nunn, June, and Irwin, Jennifer D. (2015). The Effect of Motivational Interviewing on Oral Healthcare Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviour of Parents and Caregivers of Preschool Children: an Exploratory Cluster Randomised Controlled Study. BMC Oral Health (15: 101), 1-15. DOI 10.1186/s12903-015-0068-9
  14. Goddard, Andrea, and Morrow, Don. (2015). Assessing the impact of Motivational-Interviewing via Co-active Life Coaching on Engagement in Physical Activity. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring. 13(2), 101 – 121.
  15. Friedman, Clive S., Morrow, Don, and Irwin, Jennifer D. (2015). Invigorating Oral Health Care: Using Motivational Interviewing in Clinical Practice. SPECTRUM Dental Teamwork, Vol.8 No.3 (March), 36-42.
  16. Liu, Rebecca H., Irwin, Jennifer D., and Morrow, Don (2015). Health Behaviour Outcomes of Co-Active Coaching Interventions: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring. 13 (1), 15-42. ** This article is featured as a “new journal article” in the June 2015 Coaching Report issue of the Insitute of Coaching: McLean Hospital Harvard Medical School Affiliate.
  17. Pearson, Erin S., Irwin, Jennifer D., Morrow, Don, Battram, Danielle, Hall, Craig R., & Melling C.W. James (2014). The CHANGE Program: Comparing an Interactive Co-Active Coaching Approach with a Prescriptive Lifestyle Treatment for Obesity: A Summary of Project Findings. Poster presented at the 7th Annual Coaching in Leadership and Healthcare Conference, Boston, MA (12-13 Sept). The Conference was hosted and sponsored by Harvard University and McLean Hospital. ***This research was adjudicated as the “First Place Poster Award” out of some 25 research projects provided at the Conference.
  1. Mantler, T., Irwin, Jennifer, Morrow, Don, Hall, C., & Mandich, A. (2014). Assessing Motivational Interviewing via Co-active Life Coaching on Selected Smoking Cessation Outcomes. Addiction Research and Theory. August. 22(5), 1-12.
  2. Hall, E. (2014). An integrative literature review of motivational interviewing and co-active life coaching as potential interventions for positive behaviour change in adolescents. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring, 12(2), 75-90.
  3. Full Version of Friedman, C.S., Morrow, Don, Irwin, Jennifer D (2013). What are You Willing to Change to Promote Your Patients’ Oral Health? Unpublished ms version.
  4. Friedman, C.S., Morrow, Don, Irwin, Jennifer D (2013). What Are You Willing to Change to Promote Your Patients’ Oral Health? Find out how motivational interviewing can help you help your patients. Ontario Dentist (Journal of the Ontario Dental Association), June, 20-23.
  5. Pearson, Erin S., Irwin, Jennifer D., Morrow, Don,Battram, Danielle S., Melling, CW James (2013). The CHANGE Program: Comparing an Interactive vs. Prescriptive Approach to Self Management among University Students with Obesity. Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 37 (1), 4-11.
  6. Mantler, Tara, Irwin, Jennifer D., Morrow, Don (2013). The Experience and Impact of Motivational Interviewing-via-Coaching Tools on National Smokers’ Telephone Hotline Employees. The International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching and Mentoring, 11(1), 55-68.
  7. Pearson Erin S., Irwin, J.D., Morrow, Don (2013).The CHANGE Program: Methodology for comparing interactive Co-Active coaching with a prescriptive lifestyle treatment for obesity. The International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching and Mentoring, 11(1), 69-84
  8. Mantler, Tara, Irwin, Jennifer D., Morrow, Don (2012). Motivational interviewing and smoking behaviors: a critical appraisal and literature review of selected cessation initiatives. Psychological Reports, 110(2):445-60.
  9. Pearson, Erin S.; Irwin, J.D.; Morrow, Don; Hall, Craig R. (2012)The CHANGE Program: Comparing an Interactive versus Prescriptive Obesity Intervention on University Students’ Self-Esteem and Quality of Life. Applied  Psychology: Health And Well-Being, 4 (3), 369–389.
  10. Newnham-Kanas C, Morrow D & Irwin, J.D. (2012).Certified Professional Co-Active Coaches: Why They Enjoy Coaching. International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching and Mentoring, 10(1), 48-56.
  11. Wiley, Erin J.; Irwin, Jennifer D.; Morrow, Don (2012). Health Care Practitioners’ Perceptions of Motivational Interviewing Training for Facilitating Behaviour Change among Patients. Journal of Allied Health. Volume 41, Number 3, 131-139.
  12. Newnham-Kanas, C., Irwin J.D., & Morrow, D. (2011).Findings from a global survey of certified professional co-active coaches. International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching and Mentoring, 9(2), 23-36.
  13. Pearson, E. (2011).The ‘How-to’ of Health Behaviour Change Brought to Life: a Theoretical Analysis of the Co-Active Coaching Model and its Underpinnings in Self-determination Theory. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, 4(2), 89-103.
  14. Wiley, J., Morrow, D., & Irwin, J.D. (2011). The impact of a one-day applied training in motivational interviewing on health practitioners’ perceived competence, autonomy, efficacy, and attitudes to facilitate behavior change: A pilot study. Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education, 1(1), 101-105. doi:10.4172/jcmhe.1000101.
  15. Newnham-Kanas, C., Irwin J.D., & Morrow, D. (2011). Participants’ perceived utility of motivational interviewing using Co-Active Life Coaching skills on their struggle with obesity. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research & Practice, 4(2), 104-122.
  16. Newnham-Kanas, C., Irwin J.D., Morrow, D., & Battram, D. (2011).The quantitative assessment of motivational interviewing using co-active life coaching skills as a treatment for adults struggling with obesity. International Coaching Psychology Review, 6(2), 211-225.
  17. Newnham-Kanas C, Morrow D & Irwin, J.D. (2010). A Functional Juxtaposition of Three Methods for Health Behaviour Change: Motivational Interviewing, Coaching, and  Skilled Helping. International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching and Mentoring, 8(2), 27-48.
  18. Mantler T, Irwin J.D. & Morrow D. (2010). Assessing Motivational Interviewing through Co-Active Life Coaching Tools as a Smoking Cessation Intervention: A Demonstration Study. International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching and Mentoring, 8(2), 49-63. 
  19. Melissa van Zandvoort, Jennifer D. Irwin, Don Morrow. (2009).The Impact of Co-active Life Coaching on Female University Students with Obesity. International Journal of  Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring, Vol 7 No 1 pp 104 – 118.
  20. Courtney Newnham-Kanas, Paul Gorczynski, Don Morrow & Jennifer D. Irwin (2009). Annotated Bibliography of Life Coaching and Health Research. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring. Vol 7 No 1 pp 39 – 103.
  21. Gorczynski P, Morrow D, Irwin J.D. (2008) The Impact of Co-active Coaching on the Physical Activity Levels of Children. International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching and Mentoring, 6 (2), 13-26.
  22. van Zandvoort M, Irwin J.D., Morrow, D. (2008). Co-active Coaching as an Intervention for Obesity among Female University Students. International Coaching Psychology Review, 3(3), 191 – 206.
  23. Newnham-Kanas C, Irwin J.D., Morrow D. (2008) Life coaching as a treatment for adults with obesity. International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching and Mentoring, 6 (2), 1-12.
  24. Irwin J.D. & Morrow D. (2005). Health promotion theory in practice: an Analysis of Co-active Coaching. International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching and Mentoring, 3(1), 29-38.