UNews - Paige Pope

Coaches sought to participate in study utilizing strategies to help competitive athletes conquer anxiety

trevor.kenney — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 21:42:00 +0000

Anxiety and nervousness before competition is normal for most athletes, from minor sport to the professional game. But what can a coach do when that anxiety starts limiting their athletes’ ability to perform? ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge master’s student Courtney Stevens has been researching strategies to mitigate these issues before they become problematic and is now inviting coaches to take part in a study to see how effective these approaches are in practice.

Courtney Stevens is a graduate of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia Okanagan and former competitive soccer player.

Stevens, a graduate of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia Okanagan and former competitive soccer player, says there is a lot of sport psychology information available, but it is spread throughout the internet, is often too academic for a general audience and does not instruct coaches on how to apply the principles studied.

“In the preliminary research we did, we found some coaches have access to sports psychology information in general, some find information on websites, tidbits here and there, but the majority don’t know where to go for it and even if they do find some information, they don’t know how to apply it to their athletes,” says Dr. Paige Pope, ULethbridge kinesiology professor and Stevens’s master’s thesis advisor.

“Courtney did a fantastic job of compiling this information, crafting summaries of why it’s important, and creating infographics, worksheets and activities that are easily digestible and ready to put into practice.”

What Stevens needs now are coaches willing to take her work and put it into play.

“We set 156 coaches as the goal, which is very ambitious, but we’re trying to acquire as much data as possible,” says Stevens, who came to ULethbridge to work specifically with Pope and the Sport Psychology for Coaches website she is now utilizing.

“We’re not asking too much of the coaches. They’ll be asked to do a 15- to 20-minute survey at three different times throughout the duration of the study and if they’re really keen, they can be involved in an interview about their experiences with the website and the resources.”

Stevens is looking for any coach over the age of 18 who is currently coaching an athlete or athletes at any competitive level. From the preliminary work they’ve done, she is confident coaches are looking for these resources to assist their athletes.

“The website had touched a bit on anxiety regulation and the resources I’ve developed go into much greater depth and focus on tackling anxiety with strategies to prevent it, as opposed to treating athletes who are already feeling these things,” she says. “This is about giving athletes skills to call upon when they recognize anxiety creeping in — so a facilitative approach before it becomes debilitating.”

Coaches can sign up for the study at any time by contacting Stevens at courtney.stevens@uleth.ca.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge study examining movement and activity levels in older adults seeking participants

trevor.kenney — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 21:53:08 +0000

While multiple research studies have shown how important it is to avoid long bouts of sitting and incorporate movement into your every day, older adults — like many others — often fail to achieve these goals. A new study from Dr. Paige Pope at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge aims to develop strategies to get older adults moving more.

Pope, a health promotion researcher in the Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education, is now recruiting participants for her Move More, Sit Less study. Designed for adults 65 years or older, the study looks to provide participants with a greater awareness of their sitting patterns and help them establish realistic strategies to decrease or break up their sitting time.

Research has shown older adults (aged 65 and older) spend more time sitting than other age groups.

“Sitting is something we all do. Many people spend the majority of their day sitting, without realizing the total amount of time they spend doing it,” says Pope.

Research has shown older adults (aged 65 and older) spend more time sitting than other age groups, averaging 9.4 to 9.9 hours sitting during their daily waking hours.

“This is concerning because greater sitting time is linked with numerous health concerns that are more prevalent among older adults. These include functional limitations, reduced mobility, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and all-cause mortality,” says Pope, citing a recent study by fellow ULethbridge kinesiologist Dr. Jennifer Copeland.

Move More, Sit Less will take place over a 13- or 21-week timeframe and help participants gain a stronger understanding of how to change their habits and incorporate more movement throughout their day. It also seeks to give researchers a deeper look into how older adults’ sitting time and sitting patterns are related to important aging factors such as fear of falling, quality of life and feelings of vitality.

Pope has already run one group through the study, which uses brief informative messages to reinforce movement goals and records participants’ activity through an activity tracking device. The feedback from the first group has been positive.

“As a senior, and having mobility issues, sometimes moving is hard to do. Because of this, when I look at the motivational messages in the envelopes, and the notes that I leave for myself, I can stimulate myself and others in the building where I live to move and have fun,” says one participant.

Another notes how tracking sitting and moving patterns makes you much more aware of how often you are inactive.

Pope is looking for participants who can stand independently or with an aid, read English fluently, and can commit to a 13- or 21-week timeframe. Eligible participants will receive informative messages with tips and strategies to get them up and moving more; wear an activity tracking device; and receive a detailed summary of their activity patterns at the end of the study. Participants are also eligible to receive $40 in $10 increments throughout the study.

For more information, contact the Psychology for Active Living and Sports Lab at PALS@uleth.ca, or by calling 403-332-4435.

This research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

How to achieve lasting behaviour change at the heart of new research study

trevor.kenney — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 21:33:58 +0000

Participants aged 25-70 sought for 12-month trial

A new year for many is more than just a flip of the calendar, rather it’s another opportunity to make substantial changes in their lives, from mental to physical health, to relationships, financial planning and more. Recognizing these well-meaning resolutions often rarely last, researchers at Queen’s ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge are studying a new way to approach lasting behaviour change.

Dr. Paige Pope is a health promotion researcher in the Department of Kinesiology.

Participants are now being sought for a novel research trial, the Preparedness for the Future Program, that will allow successful applicants free access to an online program designed to maximize life satisfaction, increase longevity, and enhance quality of life physically, socially and mentally.

“We call it the Preparedness for the Future Program and it’s been developed after years of thorough scientific research. We’ve identified the most important topics that are essential for living and aging well,” says Dr. Daren Heyland, doctor and researcher at Queen’s ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. “The program was created to help people reach their goals, increase life satisfaction, attain better health and be more proactive by teaching them a new system of behaviour change.”

Many people sincerely try to make positive changes in their lives but fail because they do not understand how to maintain lasting change and fall back into established patterns. Dr. Paige Pope, a health promotion researcher in the Department of Kinesiology at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, says finding your true source of motivation is key.

Dr. Daren Heyland is a doctor and researcher at Queen’s ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

“There is enough information out there for anybody to start a health and wellness journey, but information alone is not enough to make lasting change,” says Pope. “This program is designed to tap into what motivates you individually and then use interactive learning modules and accompanying activities that help you identify and change underlying attitudes and beliefs that may be getting in your way of reaching your goals.”

The study will take place over a 12-month period and participants will have free access to the program throughout the duration of the study. Persons aged 25-70 are eligible to apply. Successful applicants will answer a series of questionnaires (once at the beginning, then at six months, and again at 12 months) to measure the effectiveness of the program.

“We’re optimistic this program will help people who are willing to invest time and energy in themselves to make positive, impactful changes in their lives, all while discovering strategies they can use well into the future,” adds Pope.

For more on the Preparedness for the Future Program and to apply, check out this web page.

U of L social scientists net SSHRC awards worth nearly $440,000

caroline.zentner — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 19:58:03 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge graduate students and faculty members will tackle a variety of research projects thanks to funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

“The U of L’s success rate with Insight Development Grants was very positive, higher than the national average and continues our momentum,” says Dr. Erasmus Okine, vice-president (research). “Our social scientists and humanities researchers are conducting leading-edge research and I heartily commend them for their efforts.”

U of L researchers received six Insight Development Grants. Dr. Robert LeBlanc (education) will examine how immigrant teens in a rural Alberta meatpacking town learn the forms and meanings of stylized speech. Dr. Glenda Bonifacio (women & gender studies) will study how the election of Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines has affected foreign disaster aid and gender equality following Haiyan, the 2013 super typhoon. Dr. Rhiannon MacDonnell Mesler (Dhillon School of Business, Calgary campus) will look at how consumer identities can divide and unite in an increasingly polarized world. Dr. Paige Pope (kinesiology & physical education) will compare the effectiveness of various messages designed to reduce sedentary behaviour in older adults.

Other researchers receiving Insight Development Grants include Drs. Fangfang Li (psychology) and Noëlle Gunst-Leca (psychology). As well, Dr. Inge Genee (modern languages), co-applicant on a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta-based project called 21st century tools for Indigenous languages, received a Partnership Grant.

Dr. Carly Adams, a Board of Governors Research Chair (Tier II) and a kinesiology & physical education professor, and Dr. Darren Aoki (BA ’90), a professor in world history at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Plymouth and adjunct professor in history at the U of L, received an Insight Grant for their Transforming Canadian Nikkei oral history project. This grant allows them to continue exploring the cultural and social history of Canadian Nikkei (people of Japanese descent) in southern Alberta from 1950 to the 21st century in partnership with the Galt Museum & Archives, Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden and the Nikkei Cultural Society of Lethbridge and Area.

Along with the faculty members who received awards, several U of L graduate students received SSHRC funding, including master’s students Jennifer Chernishenko, Margaret Ingram, Quinn Johnsson, Mary Siever, Michelle Sylvestre and Jaisie Walker and doctoral student Serena Visser.

Chernishenko will delve into how girls’ mindsets—whether growth oriented or fixed— affects their sense of belonging and participation in sports. Siever is studying the reasons why parenting and mothering, in particular, receive minimal support in post-secondary study. Sylvestre will examine how social issues and context get transferred into the medical world and how that’s connected to today’s consumption of pharmaceuticals. Visser will explore the impact institutional norms and practices within the mental health system have for trans and gender-diverse people.

Sport psychology website created as free resource for all coaches looking to enhance athletic performance

trevor.kenney — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 18:02:14 +0000

For many minor-level coaches, access to reliable, evidence-based sport psychology resources is simply beyond their reach. In response to this, a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge kinesiology professor and her colleagues have developed a new website, Sportpsychologyforcoaches.ca, devoted to putting the latest sport psychology research and advice in their hands – for free.

Dr. Paige Pope says that coaches at all levels of sport incorporate varying aspects of sport psychology into their practice naturally, but while professional coaches and those at higher levels often have access to sport psychologists or consultants, those at lower levels are left wanting.

“It’s a resource primarily designed for lower level coaches who are looking for this type of information and support,” says Pope, an Ontario-born-and-educated professor and former post-secondary rugby player. “We conducted a study with over 250 coaches and asked whether they used online resources to help them with sports psychology. They overwhelmingly said they didn’t trust what was available.”

Western ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Dr. Craig Hall, Pope’s PhD supervisor, Dr. Barbi Law (Nipissing ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, and one of Hall’s former students) and Dr. Melanie Gregg (��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Winnipeg) came up with the idea of creating a sport psychology website that summarized recent research, communicated it in accessible language and was a free resource for coaches at all levels. The focus is simply to help coaches help their athletes.

“The end goal is to provide coaches with the information and tools they need to help their athletes improve the mental side of their game, such as setting goals or increasing their motivation and self-confidence,” says Pope.

Pope’s specific area of expertise deals with how perceptions of coaches’ interpersonal styles affect athlete motivation and well-being. The site breaks down a number of mental skills, including topics such as imagery, goal-setting, performance routines, anxiety regulation and coping with adversity.

“For each mental or psychological skill, we explain what it is, what the benefits are and then present tips on how to maximize the skill – and it’s all evidence-informed advice,” says Pope. “Coaches can then print out worksheets that offer a step-by-step guide to activities they can do with their athletes.”

The worksheets are those the website creators use in their consultant work.

“The idea is this will be a continuous process and we’ll keep adding to the worksheets, as well as to the actual mental skills we discuss on the website, ensuring the research remains current,” adds Pope.

The other unique aspect of the website is that coaches will have access to a practicing consultant and can post questions if the information presented on the website does not address a question or concern they may have.

Pope says the website only went live within the last month and she currently has two U of L undergraduate students helping with various aspects of the launch. She looks to incorporate their applied study final projects into the website.

The website creators see the website evolving with input from coaches who sign up and use the resources. Eventually they’d like to secure funding to make it a bilingual site and push it nationally.

“Our short-term goal is just to get the word out, get coaches signed up and then gather feedback on what they like and what they’d like to see changed or added,” says Pope. “In the long term, what we’d really love to do is partner with a national coaching certification program.”

UNews - Paige Pope

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