Behavior Change, Sport and Health Psychology

Overview

Core fields of research

Physical activity, health and wellbeing

Research areas

Behaviour change, health, and well-being across the lifespan

Faculty

Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences

Research group description

Our group conducts research into psychological factors that underlie health behaviors, performance and well-being outcomes. In addition, we develop, evaluate and implement theory and evidence-based interventions to improve these outcomes in practice. Further details are forthcoming...

Current

Projects

Related projects

Project

Early Detection of Mental Health Issues among Finnish Athletes

Screening mental health risks among Finnish athletes with translated Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), referred to as the Finnish Mood Scale (FIMS).

Project

ProAct - A collaborative theory-based intervention to promote physical activity among sedentary parents and their children

Given links between physical activity in children and adults to better health and reduced disease risk, this project aims to test the efficacy of a behavioural intervention to increase physical activity participation in low-active children and their paren

Project

Better Health at Home – Optimized Human-Centered Care of Predialysis and Home Dialysis Patients (BOC)

Research project to optimize patient journeys in care for chronic kidney disease and home dialysis

Project

Lifestyle and Physical Activity as Part of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment (ELO - Elintavat ja liikkuminen osana uniapnean hoitoa)

Research project investigating effects of lifestyle interventions on obstructive sleep apnea, led by Finnish Lung Health Association (Filha ry).

Project

Head Impacts in Finnish Elite Women's Football

Kuvaus kuvaus kuvaus

Project

Grit in Competitive Sport

Explores grit’s role in athletes’ motivation and long-term goal pursuit.

Project

Perfectionism in Competitive Sports

This project aims to examine how perfectionism related variables are linked to psychological distress and if self-compassion can have a moderating role in mental health of athletes.

Project

BEQAH: Between Quantum Algorithms and Hardware

Project BEQAH

Members

Research group

Group leaders

Keegan Knittle

Associate professor

Montse Ruiz Cerezo

Senior Lecturer

Martin Hagger

Professor

Members

Taru Lintunen

Professor, Emerita

Daniel Phipps

Senior Researcher

Juuso Jussila

Grant researcher, conducting grant-funded research

Marja Kokkonen

Senior University Lecturer

Ella Hellsten

Doctoral Researcher

Eleonoora Hintsa Figueiredo

Grant researcher, post-graduate study right

Tuija Hyyrynen

Doctoral Researcher

Hanna-Mari Toivonen

University Teacher

Sanna Turakka

Doctoral Student

Fanny Brandstack

PhD Student

JYU

Will Critchley

PhD Student

JYU

Lasse Eini

PhD Student

JYU

Malin Ekholm

PhD Student

University of Helsinki

Weldon Green

PhD Student

JYU

Konsta Kuusinen

PhD Student

JYU

Hanna Lahti-Renkola

PhD Student

JYU

Inna Syrykh

PhD Student

JYU

External members

Kyra Hamilton

Professor, Title of Docent

Griffith University

Opens in new window

Mary Hassandra

Associate Professor, Title of Docent

University of Thessaly

Publications

Publications

Publication

2026

Available through Open Access

Validation of the finnish version of the sports grit scale (SGS) and its associations with psychobiosocial states among competitive athletes

Sport Sciences for Health.

Brandstack, Fanny

Gernigon, Christophe

Forsblom, Kim

Robazza, Claudio

Ruiz, Montse C.

Publication

2026

Available through Open Access

Vastuullisuus osin hukassa liikunnan ja urheilun kentillä

Liikunta ja tiede.

Kokkonen, Marja

Muhonen, Jatta

Aine, Antti

Toivonen, Virve

Publication

2025

Available through Open Access

Alcohol and Aquatic Activity : Young Males' Perceptions of Risk and Social Identity Through the Lived Experience

Health Promotion Journal of Australia.

Smith, Stephanie R.

Sas, Sabryna V.

Keech, Jacob J.

Peden, Amy E.

Hagger, Martin S.

Hamilton, Kyra

Publication

2025

Available through Open Access

An environmental scan of messages promoting compliance behaviour for a medical directive in COVID-19

Health Marketing Quarterly.

Mac, Thi Nhung

Phipps, Daniel J.

Cassimatis, Mandy

Hamilton, Kyra

Publication

2025

Available through Open Access

App-Based Physical Activity Intervention Among Women With Prior Hypertensive Pregnancy Disorder

JAMA Network Open.

Kókai, Lili L.

Ó Ceallaigh, Diarmaid

Wijtzes, Anne I.

Roeters van Lennep, Jeanine E.

Duvekot, Johannes J.

Hagger, Martin S.

Cawley, John

Burdorf, Alex

Rohde, Kirsten I. M.

van Kippersluis, Hans

Publication

2025

Available through Open Access

Basic psychological needs satisfaction, coping functions, and emotional experiences in competitive athletes : a multi-states theory perspective

Scientific Reports.

Robazza, Claudio

Vitali, Francesca

Bortoli, Laura

Ruiz, Montse C.

Publication

2025

Available through Open Access

Behavioral interventions targeting treatment adherence in chronic kidney disease : A systematic review and meta-analysis

Social Science and Medicine.

Ekholm, Malin

Aulbach, Matthias

Walsh, Sara

Phipps, Daniel

Rauta, Virpi

Knittle, Keegan

Publication

2025

Available through Open Access

Burnout Trajectories Among Adolescent Student-Athletes : The Role of Gender, Success Expectations, and Parental Affection

Psychology of Sport and Exercise.

Saarinen, Milla

Phipps, Daniel J.

Kuokkanen, Joni

Bjørndal, Christian Thue

Bentzen, Marte

Ommundsen, Yngvar

Gustafsson, Henrik

Publication

2025

Available through Open Access

Effectiveness of the Let’s Move It multi-level vocational school-based intervention on physical activity and sedentary behavior : a cluster randomized trial

Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

Hankonen, Nelli

Haukkala, Ari

Palsola, Minttu

Heino, Matti Toivo Juhani

Sund, Reijo

Tokola, Kari

Absetz, Pilvikki

Araújo-Soares, Vera

Sniehotta, Falko F

Borodulin, Katja

Uutela, Antti

Lintunen, Taru

Vasankari, Tommi

Publication

2025

Available through Open Access

Elucidating the Processes by Which Specific Beliefs and Attitudes Predict Behavior : Advocacy for a Comprehensive, Integrated Approach

Psychological Inquiry.

Hamilton, Kyra

Hagger, Martin S.

Publication

2025

Available through Open Access

Engagement and burnout as predictors of dual career outcomes in Finnish student-athletes : a longitudinal study

International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology.

Saarinen, Milla

Phipps, Daniel J.

Kuokkanen, Joni

Bentzen, Marte

Romar, Jan Erik

Gustafsson, Henrik

Publication

2025

Available through Open Access

Evidence inhibitory self‐control moderates effects of habit on complex but not simple health behaviors

Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being.

Phipps, Daniel J.

Hagger, Martin S.

Hamilton, Kyra

---