Current Research Projects Actively Recruiting
Below is a list of research projects that are currently actively recruiting participants taking place in the School of Health and Human Performance.
An Examination of Athletic Identity and Access to Sport Psychology in Gaelic Games Players
Background: Athletic identity is how strongly someone sees themselves as an athlete. A strong athletic identity can boost confidence, social connections, and positive experiences in sport. However, if being an athlete becomes their whole identity, it can cause problems, especially after injuries or not making a team. These challenges may affect mental health. Sport psychology services can help athletes perform better and recover mentally after injury, but access is often limited. This study will explore Gaelic games players’ athletic identity and their access to sport psychology support through an anonymous online survey.
Inclusion criteria: Currently playing Gaelic games (Gaelic football, Hurling/Camogie, or handball) at college, club or county level and aged over 18 years
Link: https://dcusciencehealth.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9LfJzuvd2z41e62
Exercise-induced dehydration can have a negative impact on both physical and cognitive performance. Contemporary research suggests that commercial ketone supplements that can be ingested to increase ketone body concentrations in the blood and may reduce urine output during exercise, but this effect on urine output has not been studied in the post-exercise period. Ketone supplements may be as a means to improve the rehydration process through this mechanism.
This study will explore whether taking an exogenous ketone supplement during a post-exercise period (after losing 2% of body mass thorough sweating) can help the body retain more fluid in the 4 hours following exercise.
Inclusion Criteria:
Adults (≥18 years and <40 years)
Participating in 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week
Free from injury and metabolic illness
Capable of cycling on a stationary bike for ~60 minutes
Requirements:
Three visits lasting approximately 6 hours (but participants are welcome to work, watch TV, etc during that time)
Contact Details:
This study aims to investigate the impact of different carbohydrate intakes on physical and cognitive performance during a simulated soccer protocol in female team sport players. Increasing carbohydrate intake has been found to improve physical and cognitive performance during matches and simulated soccer protocols in male soccer players. However, to date no studies have looked at this in female team sport/soccer players. Female populations possess unique physiological profiles and therefore, their carbohydrate needs around exercise may differ from males.
Inclusion Criteria:
We are looking for female team sport players to take part. The inclusion criteria are as follows:
· Female
· Between the age of 18 and 40 years
· Actively training with (2 or more training sessions a week when in-season) and playing competitive matches for a team-sport based team (i.e soccer, GAA, basketball, hockey etc)
· Not carrying any long-term injuries or illnesses that effect participation in training sessions/matches
· Not pregnant or have not been pregnant within the last year
Requirements:
If you decide to take part in this research, you will be asked to report to the Human Performance Laboratory at the DCU School of Human Health and Performance for 6 separate visits over the course of 3 to 5 weeks depending on your availability/own training schedule. Visits involve sport specific fitness testing, treadmill running protocols, and simulated soccer match protocols following consumption of different diets.
Further Information:
Contact Email: laura.mcmanus23@mail.dcu.ie
