Associate Professor of Kinesiology
Dr. Megan Janke is a certified recreational therapist and gerontologist. Her research focuses on the health promotion and prevention of disease and disability in the aging population, primarily through activity-based interventions. She has experience working with several different populations and settings, including memory care/dementia, long-term care facilities, and physical rehabilitation. She is currently a Senior Associate Editor of the Journal of Leisure Research and active in the American Therapeutic Recreation Association. She teaches courses on leisure, health and aging; disability and sport; health conditions and health promotion; and lifespan development at Berry College.
Education
- Ph.D. Human Development and Family Studies (Gerontology), University of Georgia (2005)
- M.S., Park, Recreation, & Tourism (Recreational Therapy), Clemson University (2000)
- B.S., Recreation, Parks, & Tourism (Recreational Therapy), University of Florida (1998)
Research Interests
- Health promotion & prevention
- Leisure & leisure-time physical activity and aging
- Recreational therapy
- Chronic disease management
- Fall prevention
Field Experience
- Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology, Berry College, 2021 to present
- Associate Professor, Department of Recreation Sciences, East Caroloina University, 2015 - 2021
- Assistant Professor, Department of Recreation Sciences, East Carolina University, 2012 - 2015
- Assistant Professor, College of Human & Social Sciences, University of South Florida Polytechnic, 2010 - 2012
- Visiting Assistant Professor, School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, 2009-2010
- Assistant Professor, Department of Recreation, Sport, & Tourism, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2005-2009
Selected Publications
Son, J. S., Chen, G., Lietchy, T., Janke, M. C., West, S. T., Wong, J. D. & Naar, J. J. (2021). The role of facilitators in the constraint negotiation of leisure-time physical activity. Leisure Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2021.1919253
Janke, M. C., Payne, L. L., & Son, J. S. (2020). Leisure education in chronic disease self-management: A case study and lessons learned. Leisure/Loisir, 44(3), 397-420. DOI: 10.1080/14927713.2020.1780932
Cho, E., Chen, T., Janke, M. C. (2020). A 2-year longitudinal relationship between work-family conflict and health among older workers: Can gardening help? Journal of Applied Gerontology, 1-12. doi: 10.1177/0733464820934678
Janke, M. C., Purnell, I., Watts, C., & Shores, K. (2019). Associations between engagement types, outcome behaviors, and quality of life for adults with dementia participating in intergenerational programs. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 53(2), 132-148. https://doi.org/10.18666/TRJ-2019-V53-I2-9647
Chen, T., & Janke, M. C. (2019). Change in leisure participation among older adults after falling. Leisure Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2018.1536568
Young, T. L., Janke, M., Sharpe, C., & Carthron, D. (2019). Evaluating the feasibility of a community intergenerational physical activity intervention for kinship families: Professional stakeholders’ perspectives. Evaluation and Program Planning, 72, 136-144.
Chen, T., Edwards, J., & Janke, M. (2017). Examination of the psychometric properties of the Geriatric Fear of Falling Measure among community-dwelling older adults in the US. Journal of Applied Gerontology. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464817716969
Skalko, T. K., Burgess, L. A., & Janke, M. C. (2016). A comparative study of the effects of Tai Chi and Matter of Balance on measures of balance and fall efficacy in older adults. American Journal of Recreational Therapy, 15(3), 29-39. doi: 10.5055/ajrt.2016.0109
Professional Associations
- American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA)
- Gerontological Society of America (GSA)