http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/269 2026-04-05T21:23:47Z 2026-04-05T21:23:47Z Pickford, Helen http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32852 2026-02-24T13:23:39Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Exploring the impact of training in psychological support for long-term injured athletes on sport psychologists’ professional development and practice Authors: Pickford, Helen Abstract: This research explores the professional development of sport and exercise psychologists in supporting long-term injured athletes. The objectives of this research were to design and deliver a theoretically grounded professional skills workshop (‘Injury informed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy’- IACT) for sport psychology practitioners and explore the practitioners’ perceptions of the impact of training on their practice. Injury is well-recognised to have significant psychological consequences for athletes, and while practitioners regularly work to support them, there is currently a paucity of training available on this important topic. The study used an applied interpretive methodology with principles of integrated knowledge translation and a practice-based approach to explore professional development. Sport psychology practitioners attended a one-day CPD workshop that aimed to equip practitioners with the necessary skills and knowledge to better support long-term injured athletes. The CPD was designed and developed to meet the needs of practitioners including understanding the injury journey and the associated mental health risks for athletes, ACT therapeutic skills, and evidence-based practice. Data were collected through questionnaires, focus-group interviews, and follow-up interviews with practitioners at 3- and 6-months post workshop. Results showed that the IACT workshop was effective CPD training, improving practitioners’ knowledge and understanding of the injury journey, the potential impacts on athlete mental health, and their confidence in being able to effectively support injured athletes. Results from follow-up interviews showed that practitioners perceived the workshop to have significant, wide-ranging impacts on their practice, and findings were organised into five general dimensions; ‘Self’, ‘Therapeutic Alliance’, ‘Working Alliance’, ‘Process and Organisation’, and ‘Beyond’, conceptualised as a ‘ripple effect’. This research adds important practice-based evidence and concludes that current training requirements for sport psychologists in this area are insufficient, and more training of this kind needs to be available to protect athlete wellbeing, bridge the research-practice gap, and develop the profession. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Dkaidek, T Dingley, A Parsler, J Broadbent, D Szameitat, A Bishop, D http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32412 2025-12-05T03:00:19Z 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The Effect of Ergometer Cycling and Visual Foraging on Brain Function: A Pilot Study Authors: Dkaidek, T; Dingley, A; Parsler, J; Broadbent, D; Szameitat, A; Bishop, D Abstract: Dual-task training comprising cognitive and physical components may enhance cognitive function, and increased prefrontal cortex activation may underpin these improvements. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the effects of cycling and visual foraging on executive function (EF). Twenty-seven participants (mean age 25.44 ± 4.31 years) completed four lab-based sessions, one in which their aerobic capacity (O2max) and baseline EF scores assessed were determined, and three randomized experimental conditions: ergometer cycling (EC), visual foraging (VF) and both combined (EC + VF). Participants’ EF performance was assessed at baseline, and pre-and post- intervention using the 2-Back task (working memory), the Flanker Task (inhibitory control), and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST; task switching). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and eye-tracking data were collected throughout each condition. Affective state was assessed via the Affect Grid. Repeated measures ANCOVAs, incorporating baseline EF task scores as covariates, revealed condition x time x covariate interactions for the Flanker task only; task performance of participants with poorer baseline scores improved more profoundly in the EC condition. Subjective arousal and prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation were higher in both cycling conditions relative to VF; hence, ergometer cycling, rather than visual foraging, might be the more impactful intervention in these regards. However, these elevations were not associated with EF enhancements; near-ceiling effects in EF task performance may explain this. The EC condition elicited greater energetic investment than the EC + VF condition; possibly because the secondary VF task distracted from the cycling exercise. PFC activation was only correlated with gaze fixations during the EC + VF condition, potentially reflecting concurrent increases in supply of, and demand for, oxygen during the combined condition. Description: Data Availability: All relevant data are within the manuscript and its Supporting Information files.; Supporting information is available online at: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0336642#sec021 .

2025-12-01T00:00:00Z Bell, Christopher http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/31344 2025-05-29T02:01:05Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The relationship between social media, body image and exercise motivation in physically active men Authors: Bell, Christopher Abstract: Little is known about the relationship between social media, body image and exercise motivation in adult men. Previous research has suggested that social media can have negative implications on some individual’s body image, but this has predominantly been investigated in female and undergraduate samples. Social media that claims to provide inspiration and motivation for exercise has also shown limited efficacy in prior studies. This thesis sought to investigate the relationship between social media, body image and exercise motivation in physically active men. This was investigated using a mixed methods approach that comprised of three studies. Study 1 used a cross sectional survey design to explore relationships between social media and body image, and social media and exercise motivation and behaviour using a sample of 224 men (M age = 32.76). Study 2 used a qualitative methodology comprising of interviews with 20 men (M age = 32.45) about their experiences of social media, body image and exercise. Study 3 used an experimental methodology to investigate the impact of different types of fitness social media imagery (body aesthetic and function focused) on 165 men’s (M age= 32.69) body image and exercise motivation. Together these studies found that social media was frequently associated with a higher drive for muscularity and increased awareness of appearance in men, with some experiencing body image concerns driven by social media. Social media was not deemed to be motivational by most men, but it was found to be a useful educational tool by many. Men showed evidence of critical thinking and media literacy to combat the negative influence of body image threats. This thesis used a novel methodology to explore a previously understudies population group. These findings have implications for future research, social media policy and interventions seeking to encourage physical activity and improve body image in adult men. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Dkaidek, Tamara Sam http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/30900 2025-03-14T08:23:38Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The effects of an acute bout of cycling exercise on brain function in young adults and children Authors: Dkaidek, Tamara Sam Abstract: An acute bout of cycling may enhance brain function. A meta-analysis (Study 1) was conducted to elucidate the effect of acute ergometer cycling (EC) on executive functions (EFs) in young adults whilst addressing potential moderators. The findings revealed that 21-30 minutes of EC significantly improved EF task response time, predominantly during inhibitory control tasks administered immediately post-exercise. Study 2 compared the influence of EC, visual foraging (VF) and both combined (EC+VF) on young adults’ EFs, affective state and prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation. Participants with poorer baseline inhibitory control scores showed more pronounced improvements in the EC condition than those with higher levels. PFC activation and subjective arousal were higher in the cycling conditions than in VF. Yet, PFC activation, cadence levels, and energetic investment were greater in the EC condition than in the EC+VF condition, potentially due to distraction by the VF task. Study 3 compared the effects of EC and EC+VF on children’s EFs, reasoning skills and affective state. Findings suggested that EC may be effective for improving working memory and academic reasoning – although practice effects cannot be ruled out. And as per Study 2, findings suggested that individual differences in participants pre-existing EF abilities may mediate exercise-induced changes in EF. The final study explored the effects of stationary cycling whilst viewing real-world 360-degree immersive on-road cyclist point-of-view footage on young adults' and children’s EF and reasoning task performance and affective responses; one group heard reward sounds for adaptive foraging behaviour, a second one did not. Findings showed that the cycling intervention heightened participants’ arousal and improved their nonverbal reasoning efficiency, irrespective of age or auditory rewards. This thesis partially lends support for using cycling-based interventions to improve brain function. Further research should consider individual differences in abilities, and using alternative tasks to assess cognitive function, for example, academic reasoning tasks. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London

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