Get to know our external PhD students and find out more about their research projects.
Alon Glazer-Markov
Sport Psychological Skills Training in Elite Deaf Sports
Top performance in sport requires optimal utilization of physical and mental skills and techniques. Therefore, psychological skills training (PST) was established as a key component in elite sport training in recent decades. Whereas the use of systematic and evidence-based PST with normal-hearing (able-bodied) athletes relies on a solid theoretical and empirical research base, there is a substantial lack of literature on PST in elite athletes with hearing disabilities. Although this group of athletes ompetes in high-performance sporting events (e.g., Deaflympics), it receives limited attention from the general population and the sport sciences community. Since hearing-loss has multiple physical, psychological, sociocultural and interpersonal implications for the individuals concerned, it might have a substantial influence on effectivity of PST assessment and implementation in elite athletes with hearing disabilities. Therefore, we need to examine the applicability of common sport psychological diagnostic procedures and techniques to these athletes. In addition, we need to investigate trends in psychological skills and technique in elite deaf sports and compare their use in able-bodied sports. Moreover, a deeper understanding of PST in elite athletes with hearing disabilities could be attained through exploration of its implementation in this athlete population. This doctoral project is directed by Prof. Dr. Rainer Schliermann (OTH Regensburg) and supported by the Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Scholarship Fund (ELES).
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Katharina Fischer
Energy availability in female elite athletes
In elite sport, the proportion of women has risen steadily over the last century. At the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, almost half of the participants were female for the first time. In response to the increasing demands of sport, not only the training volume and intensity must be optimally coordinated, but also the energy supply for the female athletes must be ensured. Insufficient energy availability due to increased sports activity, reduced energy intake or a combination of both can unbalance the endocrine milieu, which can become visible, for example, through menstrual cycle disorders. Concepts such as the Female Athlete Triad (FAT) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) create the theoretical framework for low energy availability in athletes. RED-S describes reduced physiological factors in athletes, including reduced metabolic rate, reproductive function, bone health, protein synthesis and cardiovascular health. It is hypothesised that many female athletes in elite sport are affected by low energy availability. In view of the risks of permanent low energy availability in elite sport and the knowledge of the sometimes drastic long-term consequences for female athletes, there is a need to identify the prevalence and improve the general level of knowledge of coaches and athletes.
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Bilguun Choimaa
Psychology of Freediving
Freediving is a sporting activity that includes several disciplines with the commonality to dive underwater with a single breath of air. It can be considered an extreme sport and is characterized by a unique psycho-physiological state. The divers have to be as relaxed as possible before and during dives while facing challenges like hyperbaria, hypoxia, the urge to breathe and the danger of drowning. Thus, there is an interesting interaction between external and internal factors. Since it is a niche sport, freediving has hardly been studied scientifically so far. The PhD project aims to provide more insight into the psychological processes involved in freediving in general. Thereby, first of all, the lived experiences of experienced divers will be examined with a qualitative and phenomenological approach. Based on the results, a second study will investigate the extent to which the experience of freediving is specific to the sport and whether it differs from other comparable activities. As the requirement profile of freediving suggests possible positive psychological effects in terms of stress resilience or anxiety, for example, this will be investigated in the framework of a longitudinal study.
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Chi-Lun Tsai (Henry)
Cross-Cultural Study of Family Environment and Self-Conscious Emotions in Youth Athletes
Self-conscious emotions, also known as moral emotions, include feelings that are not readily apparent from facial expressions and include pride, embarrassment, shame, and guilt. The ethical behavior and psychological well-being of youth athletes has been an ongoing concern. While evidence suggests that coaches and team climate influence the mental health and ethical behavior of athletes, the impact of the family environment and primary educational environment as children enter society received limited attention. In addition, cultural differences in family environments due to Eastern and Western cultural differences may lead to differences in emotional development among youth. This project aims to promote positive behaviors and emotions in young athletes while comprehensively understanding the influence of parental parenting practices on the emotional development of youth athletes from diverse cultural backgrounds. It aims to promote cross-cultural understanding, reduce cultural misconceptions and biases, and contribute to the creation of a more harmonious and inclusive society.
