Get to know our external PhD students and find out more about their research projects.

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.

Contact

 Katharina Fischer

Katharina Fischer

Research Assistant

Institut für Angewandte Trainingswissenschaft
Marschnerstraße 29

04109 Leipzig

Telephone: +49 341 4945-194

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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.

Contact

 Bilguun Choimaa

Bilguun Choimaa

Building 1, Block T
Jahnallee 59, Room T 1005
04109 Leipzig

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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.

Contact

 Chi-Lun Tsai (Henry)

Chi-Lun Tsai (Henry)

Building 1, Block T
Jahnallee 59, Room T 0006
04109 Leipzig

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Nastja Rettich

Emotion Regulation in Junior Tennis Players

The ability to regulate emotions before, during, and after competition is a critical skill that can profoundly impact an athlete’s performance. This is particularly relevant in tennis, where players must make split-second decisions while navigating continuous psychological stress, not only from the demands of the game but also from self-imposed pressures and external influences such as coaches, parents, and peers. Emotion regulation is central to how athletes manage these stressors. Those who can effectively regulate their emotions are better equipped to maintain focus, recover from setbacks, and make the right decisions in high-pressure moments.

While substantial research exists on emotion regulation in the general population and among athletes, there is a notable gap in understanding these processes in younger, still developing athletes, particularly in the sport of tennis. This PhD project seeks to address this gap by investigating the emotion regulation strategies employed by junior tennis players and examining their impact on both performance and psychological well-being. By identifying effective strategies and the contextual factors that shape them, this research aims to inform coaching practices that prioritize holistic development, fostering both athletic success and mental well-being in junior tennis.

Contact

 Nastja Rettich

Nastja Rettich

Building 1, Block T
Jahnallee 59, Room T -1007
04109 Leipzig

Telephone: +4915739062499

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