Lindsay Kipp, doctoral student in Kinesiology, has been awarded a competitive research grant from the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA). The grant will help support her research entitled, “Social Influences and Psychological and Physical Well-Being of Female Adolescents.” Her study explores coach and peer influence of female gymnasts’ well-being, including physical activity, self-esteem, affect, and eating attitudes. Gymnasts are of interest because they endure rigorous training, evaluative judging, and pressure to maintain a lean body, putting them at risk for stress and disordered eating. At the same time, supportive coaching behaviors and teammate interactions can enhance gymnasts’ feelings of competence, autonomy, and relatedness, and ultimately promote well-being.
Lindsay is pursuing her doctoral degree with a specialization in sport and exercise psychology under the advisement of Maureen Weiss.