Dr. Marja Cantell

Dr. Marja Cantell
Assistant Professor
Department of Paediatrics
(Adjunct in Faculty of Kinesiology and Department of Psychology) , Departments of Paediatrics and Community Health Sciences (Adjunct in Faculty of Kinesiology)

Office: Alberta Children’s Hospital , Tel. 955-7389 , Fax. 955-2772 , Email. mcantell@ucalgary.ca

Background , MA in Psychology 1991 (University of Jyväskylä, Finland) , Graduate Diploma in Dance Movement Therapy 1995 (Roehampton Institute, Surrey University, UK) , PhD in Psychology 1998 (University of Lancaster, UK) , Postdoctorate in Human Movement Science 1999 (University of Western Australia)

Research Interests , My research is mainly in the area of pediatric health and exercise psychology.  Some of my ongoing research projects related to motor development, physical activity and health outcomes are:

  • Y-Be-Active focuses on determinants of physical activity in preschool aged children and their families.
  • Coordination, Fitness and Health investigates the link between motor competence, physical fitness and risk for obesity and reduced cardiovascular health in children, adolescents and adults.
  • Physical activity, obesity and quality of life in children with kidney transplants examines the relationship between physical activity, physiological and psychological factors in a pediatric clinic population.
  • Intervention programs for children with motor learning problems evaluates and develops school and community based programs for children who find learning everyday motor tasks difficult.
  • Dance/Developmental movement in children with developmental delays examines the use of qualitative, dance and developmental movement based observation as a complimentary and multidisciplinary tool in the motor assessment of children with motor delays.

Research Support , Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, Astellas Pharma Canada, Robertson Fund for Cerebral Palsy Research

Publications (Last 5 years)

Cantell, M., & McGehee, D. (2006). Movement quality in children with developmental delay: midline and weight sensing as markers of adaptive movement development. Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy, 1(2), 129-141.

Kaplan, B., Crawford, S., Cantell, M., Kooistra, L., & Dewey, D. (2006). Comorbidity, co-occurrence, continuum: What’s in a name? Child: Care, Health and Development, 32, 723-731.

Männistö, J-P., Huovinen, T., Cantell, M., Kooistra, L. & Larkin, D. (2006). A school-based movement program for children with motor learning difficulty. European Journal of Physical Education Review, 12(3), 271-285.

Viholainen, H., Ahonen, T., Cantell, M., Tolvanen, A. & Lyytinen, H. (2006). Motor milestones and later motor development: structural equation model of motor development. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 26(1/2), 9-111.

Viholainen, H., Ahonen, T., Cantell, M., Tolvanen, A. & Lyytinen, H. (2006). Early motor development and later language and reading skills in children at risk for familial dyslexia”. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 48, 367-373.

Rintala, P., Ahonen, T., Cantell, M., & Nissinen, A. (Eds.)(2005). Liiku ja opi. Liikunnasta apua oppimisvaikeuksiin [Learn by moving. Movement helps in learning disabilities]. Jyväskylä: PS-Kustannus.

Kooistra, L., Kaplan, B., Dewey, D., Cantell, M., & Crawford, S. (2005). Motor Correlates of ADHD: Contribution of Reading Disability. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 38, 195-206. , Ahonen, T., Viholainen, H., Kooistra, L., & Cantell, M. (2004). Motor learning disability: A neuropsychological approach. In D. Dewey & D.E. Tupper (Eds.), Developmental motor disorders: A neuropsychological perspective. New York: Guilford.

Cantell, M., Smyth, M. & Ahonen, T. (2003). Two distinct pathways for Developmental Coordination Disorder: Persistence and resolution. Human Movement Science, 22(4-5), 413-431.

Viholainen, H., Ahonen, T., Cantell, M., Lyytinen, P. & Lyytinen, H. (2002). Development of early motor and language skills in children at familial risk for dyslexia. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 44, 761-769.

Cantell, M. & Kooistra, L. (2002). Long-term outcomes of Developmental Coordinati­on Disorder (pp. 23-38). In S. Cermak & D. Larkin (Eds.), Developmental Coordination Disorder: Theory and practice. Albany, NY: Delmar Thomson Learning.

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