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Sports Psychology 

Head:

Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Martin Kopp

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Team:

assoz. Prof. Mag. Dr. Gerhard Ruedl
Anika Frühauf, BSc MSc PhD

Martin Niedermeier, MSc PhD

Indoor Yoga Kurs
Focus

  • physical activity intervention/health behavior 

  • acute effects of physical activity on physical and mental health 

  • effects of high-risk sports 

  • motor development

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Prevention and Health Aspects

  • Research interests relate to physical activity interventions in different settings in healthy people, as well as in people with health risk factors; populations with chronic mental (e.g., depression, anxiety) or physical health problems (e.g., people with type II diabetes).  

  • The aim is to better understand factors influencing human behavior in connection with sport and exercise and, to analyze the influence of sporting activity on psychological variables such as mental health and well-being, self-regulation and health and risk behavior. 

  • In terms of health and risk behavior in alpine sports, research interests relate to personality, attitudes and risk behavior to gain a better insight into the area of injury prevention (e.g. use of safety equipment)

  • Some alpine sports are classified as high-risk sports. In researching high-risk sports, the focus is on evaluating risk-relevant aspects and positive effects of the activity for the athletes

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Lifespan Perspective

  • Sports motor development and potential influencing factors from elementary school to high school graduation 

  • Influence of daily exercise units on weight status and sports motor performance in Tyrolean primary school children

  • Health risk factors for sports teachers 

  • Influence of differently classified sports (high-risk sports, team sports, etc.) on psychological constructs in children and adolescents

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Externally Funded Projects

  • Kopp, Martin: Exercise as an add-on therapy in smoking cessation in schizophrenia patients - a clinical trial. Österreichische Nationalbank (OeNB), Jubiläumsfonds, EUR 149.000,00 01.03.2019 - 28.02.2023

  • Kopp, Martin: A randomised controlled trial on the impact of a physical exercise programme on fatigue in cancer patients. Österreichische Nationalbank (OeNB), Jubiläumsfonds, EUR 100.000,00 09.01.2012 - 31.10.2016

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Methods

  • Biofeedback 

  • Acceleration measurement 

  • EEG 

  • Wiener Testsystem

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Publication Highlights

  • Acute exercise intervention:
    Frühauf A, Niedermeier M, Sevecke K, Haid-Stecher N, Albertini C, Richter K, Schipflinger S, Kopp M (2020). Affective responses to climbing exercises in children and adolescents during in-patient treatment for mental health disorders a pilot study on acute effects of different exercise interventions. Psychiatry Research, Volume 291. 113245, ISSN 0165-1781.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113245

  • Health- and risk behaviour:
    Frühauf A, Anewanter P, Hagenauer J, Marterer N & Kopp M (2018). Freeriding− only a need for thrill? Comparing different motives and behavioural aspects between slope skiers and freeride skiers. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.11.002
    Niedermeier M, Frühauf A, Bichler C, Rosenberger R & Kopp M. (2019). Sport – zu Risiken und Nebenwirkungen. Der Orthopäde, 48(12), 1030-1035. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00132-019-03823-5

  • COVID-19 and climate change:
    Frühauf, A., Schnitzer, M., Schobersberger, W., Weiss, G., & Kopp, M. (2020). Jogging, nordic walking and going for a walk—interdisciplinary recommendations to keep people physically active in times of the covid-19 lockdown in Tyrol, Austria. Current Issues in Sport Science, 4:100. doi: 10.15203/CISS_2020.100.
    Schnitzer, M., Schöttl, S. E., Kopp, M., & Barth, M. (2020). COVID-19 stay-at-home order in Tyrol, Austria: Sport and exercise behaviour in change?. Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2020.06.042
    Frühauf A, Niedermeier M, Kopp M. Intention to Engage in Winter Sport in Climate Change Affected Environments. Front Public Health. 2020 Dec 18;8:598297. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.598297. PMID: 33392137; PMCID: PMC7775576.
     

  • Benzing V, Nosrat S, Aghababa A, Barkoukis V, Bondarev D, Chang Y-K, Cheval B, Çiftçi MC, Elsangedy HM, Guinto MLM, Huang Z, Kopp M, Kristjánsdóttir H, Kuan G, Mallia L, Rafnsson D, Oliveira GTA, Pesola AJ, Pesce C, Ronkainen NJ, Timme S, Brand R. Staying Active under Restrictions: Changes in Type of Physical Exercise during the Initial COVID-19 Lockdown. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; 18(22):12015. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182212015 

  • Kopp M, Burtscher M (2021). Aiming at Optimal Physical Activity for Longevity (OPAL). Sports Med - Open 7, 70. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-021-00360-4
    Bichler CS, Niedermeier M, Gufler A, Galffy M, Sperner-Unterweger B, Kopp M (2021).  A case-control study on physical activity preferences, motives, and barriers in patients with psychiatric conditions. Comprehensive Psychiatry, Volume 111, November 2021, 152276.

  • Frühauf A, Heußner J, Niedermeier M, Kopp M. Expert Views on Therapeutic Climbing—A Multi-Perspective, Qualitative Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(7):3535. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073535

  • Schlemmer, P., Scholten, T., Niedermeier, M., Kopp, M., & Schnitzer, M. (2021). Do outdoor adventure park activities increase visitors’ well-being?. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 35, 100391.

  • Kopp M, Burtscher M.(2021). Associations between physical frailty, physical activity and dementia incidence. The Lancet Healthy Longevity, Volume 2, Issue 2, e66. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(20)30069-6/fulltext

  • Niedermeier M, Ledochowski L, Leitner H, Zingerle H, Kopp M. Acute Effects of a Single Bout of Walking on Affective Responses in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(4):1524. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041524

  • Frühauf A, Niedermeier M, Kopp M. Intention to Engage in Winter Sport in Climate Change Affected Environments. Front Public Health. 2020 Dec 18;8:598297. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.598297. PMID: 33392137; PMCID: PMC7775576.

  • Niedermeier M, Kogler C, Frühauf A, Kopp M. Psychological Variables Related to Developmental Changes during Adolescence-A Comparison between Alpine and Non-Alpine Sport Participants. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Oct 27;17(21):7879. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17217879. PMID: 33121127; PMCID: PMC7663261.

  • Frühauf A, Niedermeier M, Sevecke K, Haid-Stecher N, Albertini C, Richter K, Schipflinger S, Kopp M (2020). Affective responses to climbing exercises in children and adolescents during in-patient treatment for mental health disorders a pilot study on acute effects of different exercise interventions. Psychiatry Research, Volume 291, 113245, ISSN 0165-1781, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113245 

  • Schnitzer, M., Schöttl, S. E., Kopp, M., & Barth, M. (2020). COVID-19 stay-at-home order in Tyrol, Austria: Sport and exercise behaviour in change?. Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2020.06.042

  • Niedermeier, M.; Weiss, E.M.; Steidl-Müller, L.; Burtscher, M.; Kopp, M. (2020). Acute Effects of a Short Bout of Physical Activity on Cognitive Function in Sport Students. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 3678.

  • Maibach, M., Niedermeier, M., Sudeck, G., & Kopp, M. (2020). Erfassung unmittelbarer affektiver Reaktionen auf körperliche Aktivität. Zeitschrift für Sportpsychologie, 27(1), 4-12. doi:10.1026/1612-5010/a000291

  • Frühauf, A., Schnitzer, M. Schobersberger, W., Weiss, G., & Kopp, M. (2020). Jogging, nordic walking and going for a walk—interdisciplinary recommendations to keep people physically active in times of the covid-19 lockdown in Tyrol, Austria. Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS), 4:100. doi: 10.15203/CISS_2020.100.

  • Frühauf A, & Kopp M (2020). Risikoverhalten und Aspekte der Risikosportpartizipation im Jugendalter. Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie, 69(2), 98-108.

  • Frühauf A, Zenzmaier J & Kopp M. (2020). Does Age Matter? A Qualitative Comparison of Motives and Aspects of Risk in Adolescent and Adult Freeriders. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 19(1), 112-120.

  • Niedermeier M, Frühauf A, Bichler C, Rosenberger R & Kopp M. (2019). Sport–zu Risiken und Nebenwirkungen. Der Orthopäde, 48(12), 1030-1035.

  • Niedermeier M, Ruedl G, Burtscher M, Kopp M. (2019). Injury-Related Behavioral Variables in Alpine Skiers, Snowboarders, and Ski Tourers—A Matched and Enlarged Re-Analysis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 16(20):3807; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16203807 

  • Drenowatz C, Greier K, Ruedl G, Kopp M. Association between Club Sports Participation and Physical Fitness across 6-to 14-Year-Old Austrian Youth (2019). Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 16(18), 3392; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16183392

  • Kopp M & Lawley J. S. (2019). Does Sport Science need counseling?. Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15203/CISS_2019.009

  • Gatterer K, Niedermeier M, Streicher B, Kopp M, Schobersberger W, Blank C (2019). An alternative approach to understanding doping behavior: A pilot study applying the Q-method to doping research. Performance Enhancement & Health, 6(3-4), 139-147.

  • Niedermeier M, Pocecco E, Hildebrandt C, Raschner C, Federolf P, Kopp M, Ruedl G (2019). Effects of Visual and Auditory Perturbations on Ski-Specific Balance among Males and Females—A Randomized Crossover Trial. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 16(15), 2665; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16152665

  • Niedermeier M, Herzog S, Kopp-Wilfling P, Burtscher M, Kopp M (2019). Is the Effect of Physical Activity on Quality of Life in Older Adults Mediated by Social Support? Gerontology. 2019; 13, 1-8. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000496103

  • Niedermeier M, Grafetstätter C, Kopp M, Huber D, Mayr M, Pichler C & Hartl A (2019). The Role of Anthropogenic Elements in the Environment for Affective States and Cortisol Concentration in Mountain Hiking—A Crossover Trial. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 16, 290. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16020290 

  • Burtscher M, Federolf PA, Nachbauer W and Kopp M (2019). Potential Health Benefits From Downhill Skiing. Front. Physiol.  1924. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01924

  • Frühauf A, Anewanter P, Hagenauer J, Marterer N & Kopp M (2018). Freeriding− only a need for thrill? Comparing different motives and behavioural aspects between slope skiers and freeride skiers. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.11.002

  • Ruedl G, Ewald P, Niedermeier M, Kirschner W, Kopp M, Drenowatz C, & Greier K (2018). Long‐term effect of migration background on the development of physical fitness among primary school children. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13316

  • Frühauf A & Kopp M (2018). Visuelle Analogskalen zur Beurteilung von Müdigkeit und Schlafqualität?. Schlaf, 7(03), 135-138. DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1675294

  • Ruedl G, Pocecco E, Kopp M, Burtscher M, Zorowka P & Seebacher J (2018). Impact of listening to music while wearing a ski helmet on sound source localization. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.09.234

  • Frühauf A, Sevecke K & Kopp M (2018). Ist-Stand der Fachliteratur zu Effekten des therapeutischen Kletterns auf die psychische Gesundheit – Fazit: viel zu tun. Neuropsychiatrie. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40211-018-0283-0

  • Frühauf A, Hardy WAS, Roberts R, Niedermeier M, Kopp, M (2018): Structural validation of three German versions of behavioral and motivational scales in high-risk sports. In: German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research, S. 1–11. DOI: 10.1007/s12662-018-0535-y.

  • Santner A, Kopp M, Federolf P (2018). Partly randomised, controlled study in children aged 6–10 years to investigate motor and cognitive effects of a 9-week coordination training intervention with concurrent mental tasks. BMJ Open; 8:e021026.  doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021026

  • Ruedl G, Franz D, Frühauf A, Kopp M, Niedermeier M, Drenowatz C, Greier K (2018). Development of physical fitness in Austrian primary school children. Wiener klinische Wochenschrift, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-018-1336-x

  • Schnitzer, M. & Kopp, M. (2018). Sport management research – an integral part of sport science? Current Issues in Sport Science, 3:001. doi: 10.15203/CISS_2018.001

  • Niedermeier M, Frühauf A, Kopp-Wilfling P, Rumpold G, Kopp M (2018). Alcohol consumption and physical activity in Austrian college students – a cross-sectional study. Substance Use Misuse; 1-10 [epub ahead of print]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2017.1416406

  • Harenberg S, Rottensteiner V, Kopp M, Wolf, S & Riemer H (2018). ‘Competent to Compete?’ Performance Satisfaction and Motivational Climate Predict Competitive Anxiety in Adolescent Skiers. Applied Research in Coaching and Athletics Annual ARCAA, 1-27

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