Sport Psychology at Leipzig University

Network diagram showing how athletes’ personal values and “Spirit of Sport” values are interconnected. Blue lines indicate positive relationships, red lines negative ones. Some sport values such as excellence and fair play appear centrally connected. Figure from Zelli et al. (2026), Performance Enhancement & Health. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

New publication co-authored by @anne-marieelbe.bsky.social:

Based on 800+ European athletes, the study shows a gap between personal values and the “Spirit of Sport”: fun and joy ranked highest, while fair play and excellence were less strongly internalised.

🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.pe...

Culture and Inclusion in Sport and Physical Activity: Selected Writings from the ISSP Academy of Science Bringing together the most prestigious writings on culture and inclusion in sport and physical activity from the International Society of Sport Psychology’s flagship journal, the International…

@anne-marieelbe.bsky.social is one of the authors of ISSP's position stand on “Transnationalism, Mobility, and Acculturation in and through Sport”. It recently appeared in Rob Schinke, Ale Quartiroli and Tatiana Ryba’s new book "Culture and Inclusion in Sport and Physical Activity" 🔗 bit.ly/ISSPBook

A Christmas-themed group photo of staff members of the Chair of Sport Psychology at the Faculty of Sport Science at Leipzig University.

We wish you and your loved ones a holiday season filled with joy, warmth, and heartfelt moments 🫶🏼

May it be a time to slow down, feel connected, and cherish what truly matters. Wishing you a beautiful holiday season and a happy, inspiring start to the new year 🥂

A group photo of staff and faculty members at a Christmas Party at the Faculty of Sport Science at Leipzig University.

A group photo of staff and faculty members at a Christmas Party at the Faculty of Sport Science at Leipzig University.

A group photo of staff and faculty members at a Christmas Party at the Faculty of Sport Science at Leipzig University.

A group photo of staff and faculty members at a Christmas Party at the Faculty of Sport Science at Leipzig University.

Last week, we celebrated our annual Christmas party at the Faculty of Sport Science 🎄

It was a wonderful evening, bringing together many of our master’s students, former colleagues, faculty members, and external partners. The event was marked by a warm festive atmosphere 🎉

A research recruitment flyer from Leipzig University’s Sport Psychology department. It invites adults (18+) to participate in an anonymous 7–9 minute online survey examining attitudes toward adversity and reactions to success. The survey is available in English, German, and Traditional Chinese. The flyer includes a QR code for participation and contact details for the researcher, Chi-Lun Tsai (Henry), at Leipzig University.

Our PhD student Henry is currently collecting data for his study on self-criticism, social comparison, and pride in sport.

👉Please take a moment to fill out the survey and feel free to share it with other people involved in sport.

German: buff.ly/NFTKaN4

English: buff.ly/1SmRMzI

Thank you!

Group photo of Dr habil Nadja Walter, Professor Athanasios Papaioannou, and Professor Anne-Marie Elbe in front of screens with a presentation.

Professor Athanasios Papaioannou giving a presentation that is visible on screens in the background.

Professor Athanasios Papaioannou giving a presentation that is visible on screens in the background.

A huge thank you to Professor Athanasios Papaioannou from our partner university in Thessaly, Greece for his inspiring talk on physical activity promotion in youth. Thanks also to the German Academic Exchange Service (@daadworldwide.bsky.social) for financially supporting this visit!

Visit to our partner university in Trikala: Patricia Frytz shared insights on sleep in elite sport in a lecture for master’s students, while Maria Gramsch filmed drone footage for our double-degree program. A heartfelt thank you to the University of Thessaly for hosting us so warmly! 🌞📚🤝

Collage showing three panels for the 6th Symposium for Sports and Exercise Medicine in Leipzig: the left panel features an illustrated runner and medical graphics with event details in German; the center panel shows a lecture hall filled with attendees listening to a presentation; the right panel displays the title slide for Patricia Frytz' research talk on sleep and elite athletes, including event date and logos.

Last week, our colleague Patricia Frytz represented our team at the 6th Sports & Exercise Medicine Symposium in Leipzig. In a 5-minute pitch, she presented her current research on sleep parameters in elite athletes. A great opportunity for exchange, new ideas, and interdisciplinary networking!

A smiling woman, Prof. Anne-Marie Elbe stands indoors holding a certificate and flowers, positioned between a large screen displaying “Supervisor Award Shortlist” and a banner for Universität Leipzig’s Graduate Academy. The setting looks like an award or recognition event.

Our Anne-Marie Elbe received an award for her outstanding commitment to doctoral supervision from the Vice-Rector for Talent Development Brigitte Latzko. Leipzig University’s supervisor award was hosted on November 12 at the Graduate Academy Leipzig🎓

🏋️‍♀️ Happy to be part of this symposium: "Measuring the Prevalence of Doping in Sport". Ask Vest Christiansen and Werner Pitsch are bringing leading scholars and practitioners together to discuss the spread of doping in sport 👇

A young person wearing a blue shirt plays basketball outdoors, preparing to shoot the ball. The background shows an urban sports court with apartment buildings and blurred figures, alongside graphic elements and the UNIVERSITÄT LEIPZIG Faculty of Sport Science logo. Text announces a colloquium on evidence-based tools for youth self-regulation and physical activity, featuring Athanasios G. Papaioannou from the University of Thessaly, Greece. Photo: Mira Kireeva/Unsplash

📅 Save the date! Professor Athanasios G. Papaioannou (University of Thessaly 🇬🇷) joins our Faculty Colloquium to speak about "Evidence-based tools to promote self-regulation and physical activity in youth: The European IMPACT project"
📍25 Nov, 3:30 pm, Senatssaal, Campus Jahnallee, Leipzig University

Positionspapier der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Sportpsychologie: Sportpsychologie im Sportunterricht und in Bewegungsangeboten im Setting Schule: Journal of Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology: Vol 0, No 0 Zusammenfassung: Die Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Sportpsychologie (asp) vertritt die Interessen der Sportpsychologie im universitären und im außeruniversitären Bereich vorwiegend in Deutschland,…

In their new #asp position paper, Barbara Halberschmidt, Sascha Leisterer-Härtig, Dennis Dreiskämper, and Franziska Lautenbach discuss how sport and exercise psychology can contribute to #PhysicalEducation and #SchoolSports.

🔗 Read more here (German only): doi.org/10.1026/2941...

Anne-Marie Elbe stands at the front of a classroom, gesturing while presenting to an attentive audience. Anne-Marie wears a pink sweater and a badge showing their name and university. Photo: Stephanie Bünemann

Alexandra Ziegeldorf engages in conversation with two other attendees at a busy poster session, wearing a conference badge and holding a cup of coffee in hand amid the networking buzz. Photo: Peter Leßmann/Markella Moraki

Pia Zajonz, Sascha Leisterer-Härtig, and Christian Hungerecker stand in front of a projection screen displaying the title of their session on the practical value of interpersonal emotion regulation by coaches, with logos of Leipzig University and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin visible. Photo: private

A large indoor tent filled with poster boards and participants discussing research. People are clustered in small groups, actively exchanging ideas during the poster session. Photo: Peter Leßmann/Markella Moraki

Part of the academic programme! At the dvs-Hochschultag 2025 in Münster, Anne-Marie Elbe, Alexandra Ziegeldorf, and Sascha Leisterer-Härtig contributed to the symposia, poster sessions, and presentations – and it was such a pleasure. A big thank you to @uni-muenster.de! #dvs2025 #SportPsychology

A person sleeping in bed. They are lying on their back, covered with white or light gray bedding, including a comforter and pillows. The lighting is soft and natural. Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash.

Sleep isn’t just rest – it’s part of our well-being. 💤
A new study by Patricia Frytz, Anne-Marie Elbe, and Lucie Nikoleizig developed and validated the Need Satisfaction in Sleep Scale, a brief tool to assess autonomy, competence & relatedness in the sleep context.
👉 doi.org/10.3389/fpsy...

A group of young professionals – the dvs Commission “Young Researchers“ – stands together indoors, all wearing conference badges and casual academic attire, smiling at the camera during dvs-Hochschultag in Münster. Photo: Till Koppmann

Congratulations to Alexandra Ziegeldorf on her election as Speaker of the dvs Commission “Young Researchers” at the dvs-Hochschultag 2025 in Münster this September! 🎉 We’re excited to see her bring energy and leadership to this role. #dvs2025 #dvsHochschultag #SportPsychology #dvsYoungResearchers

A large group photo outdoors shows dozens of attendees of the dvs-Young Researcher workshop in conference badges. They‘re posing together on a grassy area, some waving, under a partly cloudy sky at dvs Hochschultag. Photo: Samuel Tickell

The dvs-Young Researcher workshop at the dvs-Hochschultag 2025 in Münster this September was truly inspiring! As a mentor, @anne-marieelbe.bsky.social shared her experiences and expertise with emerging academics. #dvs2025 #dvsHochschultag #SportPsychology #dvsYoungResearchers

A grand baroque palace with numerous people in front, some in conference attire, walk towards the entrance amid autumnal trees – a classic view of Münster's Schloss during the conference. Photo: Peter Leßmann/Markella Moraki

A heartfelt thank you to the organising team at the @uni-muenster.de! Our team members were actively involved in the dvs-Hochschultag 2025, contributing with engaging talks, mentoring, a successful election, and plenty of social exchange. We can only say: it was fantastic! #dvs2025 #dvsHochschultag

A warm welcome to Maëlle Bracco from Université Claude Bernard Lyon! 🌍 Her research stay at our department opens up exciting new opportunities for collaboration between the Sport Psychology labs in Lyon and Leipzig.

Four seated panellists are listening to Anne-Marie Elbe presenting our master’s programme in Sport and Exercise Psychology at the DAAD conference. The main screen behind them displays 'Kurzdarstellung UNIVERSITÄT LEIPZIG' along with a photo of the university entrance. DAAD 100th anniversary banners are visible on both sides of the stage.

Anne-Marie Elbe stands at a podium with DAAD branding, delivering a talk. The podium sign reads 'Zukunft braucht Zusammenarbeit – Internationalisierung stärken – Perspektiven schaffen' and lists conference details for Berlin, September 2025. A DAAD 100th anniversary banner is visible in the background.

Five panellists are seated in a row on stage during a DAAD conference session. Behind them, a large screen displays a thank-you slide with contact information for Anne-Marie Elbe, Professor of Sport Psychology at Leipzig University.

Nadja Walter and Anne-Marie Elbe pose in front of a DAAD 100th anniversary banner. Both wear blue DAAD lanyards and the event backdrop that reads: 1925-2025 #DAAD100.

In September, @anne-marieelbe.bsky.social presented our master's in Sport and Exercise Psychology and its integrated double degree at the #DAAD100 conference in Berlin. 🎓 Thanks to #DAAD funding for scholarships and guest visits, our programme keeps growing and inspiring! 🌍✨

Title page of a German manual published by the Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft, titled 'Wertebasierte Dopingprävention: Ein Manual zur Durchführung der No2Doping-Einheiten mit Jugendlichen.' The authors listed are Theresa Manges, Daniel Jensen, Kevin Seidel, Felix Hamann, Nadja Walter, and Anne-Marie Elbe. The top section includes the institute's logo and the slogan 'Wir helfen dem Sport'. Below, there is an image of two athletes’ hands passing a blue relay baton, representing teamwork and fair competition.

From Research to Practice: The #No2Doping Manual is out! 🚀📘 Our work on doping prevention in youth & elite sport is now available for long-term impact. Thanks to the BISp, Marc Wonneberger & all athletes, coaches, teachers & clubs! 🔗 Read more & access the manual (in German): bit.ly/no2doping-ma...

A woman in workout clothes is sitting cross-legged on an exercise mat, holding a red fitness ball.

🎯🩸 Our PhD student Katharina Fischer led the development of a 12-item Menstrual Cycle Knowledge Questionnaire for female athletes & coaches!

✅ tested on 700+ participants
✅ reliable & scientifically validated
✅ supports menstrual cycle education in sports

🔗 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Alex is standing in front of a screen while committee members ask questions about her thesis.

Anne-Marie Elbe and Alexandra Ziegeldorf smile at the camera after Alex’s successful PhD defence. Behind them, the presentation slide shows the title: “Associations of family socio-economic indicators, Family Health Climate, and the physical activity behavior of primary school-aged children.”

Alexandra Ziegeldorf smiles at the camera, wearing a graduation cap after her PhD defence, with her thesis title slide in the background.

A group photo of our team gathered around the smiling PhD candidate Alexandra Ziegeldorf after her successful PhD defence. The background shows the presentation’s title slide.

Congrats to our colleague Alexandra Ziegeldorf on successfully defending her PhD thesis! 🎓 Her work explores how family socio-economic factors and the Family Health Climate shape children’s physical activity. Thanks to all who made the event so special by baking, decorating, and cheering for Alex!

Two women meeting in person, discussing notes during doctoral supervision.

🧠 What makes PhD supervision in #SportPsychology work?

This study by Franziska Lautenbach, @anne-marieelbe.bsky.social, & colleagues shows: regular meetings, clear agreements & enough research time boost satisfaction. Most experiences were positive, but some gaps remain.

🔗 doi.org/10.1026/2941...

Football is Medicine 2026 – The University of Madeira, through the Department of Physical Education and Sport, together with Funchal City Council, the Portuguese Football Federation, the Madeira Football Association and the Regional Sports Directorate, is organising the Football is Medicine 2026 conference. This is one of the world's leading scientific events in the field of sports science. The University of Madeira, through the Department of Physical Education and Sport, together with Funchal City Council, the Portuguese Football Federation, the Madeira Football Association, Regional…

⚽ Call for Abstracts – Football is Medicine 2026
📅 21–24 January 2026 | 📍 Madeira, Portugal

Submit your abstract by 30 September 2025 in areas like metabolic health, cancer, mental wellbeing & team sports.
👉 fim2026.web.uma.pt
#FootballIsMedicine #FootballIsMedicine2026 #FIM2026

Sportive woman sitting on the floor at home after weight training, with a digital scale, an apple and a measuring tape.

In her master's thesis, our former double-degree student Tereza Vítková explored how compulsive exercise and physical activity manifest in people with eating disorders, before and after outpatient treatment.
🔗 Read the full article, co-authored by Nadja Walter and colleagues: doi.org/10.1080/1612...

Five members of the ECSS Scientific Board and Scientific Committee – Pierre-Nicolas Lemyre, Anne-Marie Elbe, Andy Lane, Sally Fenton, and Maurizio Bertollo (from left to right) – are smiling at the camera in a brightly lit hallway.

Patricia Frytz is giving a talk on athletes' sleep as part of the Young Investigator Award competition at the ECCS Congress 2025 in Rimini. She is standing next to a presentation that reads "Basic psychological need satisfaction during the day as a protective factor regarding athletes' sleep quality and sleep deficit".

Chi-Lun Tsai (Henry) presenting research on self-conscious emotions in athletes at the ECSS Congress 2025 in Rimini, with a projected slide titled “The Role of Self-Conscious Emotions in Athletes: A Systematic Review Based on Ecological System Theory”

Gantima Praisan, Patricia Frytz, Anne-Marie Elbe, and Chi-Lun Tsai (Henry) [L to R] are smiling at the camera at the ECSS Congress 2025 in Rimini.

We joined the @ecssofficial.bsky.social Congress in beautiful Rimini, Italy 🇮🇹🌞🍝!

@anne-marieelbe.bsky.social contributed as a Scientific Board member, Patricia Frytz presented on athletes’ sleep (Young Investigator Award), and Chi-Lun Tsai (Henry) shared part of his PhD on self-conscious emotions.

Two freedivers, a man and a woman, are ascending from the depths.

🌊 What is it like to dive deep on a single breath? A new study led by our #PhDstudent Bilguun Choimaa explores the lived experience of #freediving through embodied #phenomenology. Key insight: Freediving enables a unique state of presence, deep relaxation, and focused awareness. 📘 bit.ly/dive4free

A group photo of the 4th cohort of the Master's students in Sport and Exercise Psychology and our team, smiling at the camera in a classroom during their end-of-year celebration.

Our team of lecturers and students stand in front of a presentation showing a group photo of the students. The lecturers are holding the thank-you gifts they received, and some of the students are applauding.

A card containing thank you notes written by the students in different languages for our team of lecturers.

A homemade cake decorated with “SEP” in chocolate lettering, surrounded by other snacks and sweet treats that the students served at the farewell party.

Last week, the students of the fourth cohort of our Master's in Sport and Exercise Psychology wrapped up their first year with a celebration on campus. 🎉

They came together not to say goodbye, but to celebrate what they’ve shared – and to look ahead. 💫

A group photo of our team gathered around a long outdoor table in a sunny garden, enjoying a barbecue. Some are sitting on benches, others standing behind the table, all smiling at the camera. The table is set with food and drinks, and a buffet is visible on the side. In the background are hedges, a white garden wall, and modern houses.

Last week, our team came together in the garden of one of our colleagues for a relaxed barbecue to (almost) wrap up the summer semester. We shared delicious homemade food, good conversations, and plenty of sunshine. Thank you to Lucie for hosting and to everyone who made it such a lovely evening!🌞🍽️💬

Frontiers | From their eyes: Deaflympic athletes' and coaches' perspectives on mental training IntroductionSport psychology research has largely overlooked athletes with hearing impairments competing in Deaflympic sports, the designated elite sporting ...

How do #Deaflympics athletes engage with sport psychology?

A new open-access study by our alumni Alon Markov-Glazer, @anne-marieelbe.bsky.social, and Rainer Schliermann explores #mentaltraining in Deaf elite sport through focus group interviews.

🔗 doi.org/10.3389/fspo...