Laboratory Name:

Exercise and Sport Psychology Laboratory 

Institution:

Boston University

Key Faculty:

Frank Perna 

Renee Newcomer

Boston University School of Medicine, Division of Psychiatry

Faculty Contributing to Lab Projects:

Len Zaichkowsky, BU School of Education, Counseling Psychology Program

Sara Brown, BU Sargent College, Athletic Training Program

 Contact:

Frank Perna

fperna@bu.edu 

(617)-414-2030

Research Overview:

One arm of the research conducted by the Boston University laboratory explores the psychological, behavioral, and psychophysiological aspects of exercise as a cognitive-behavioral intervention to retard disease progression and improve quality of life among person with chronic disease, as exemplified by their WALC (Women Actively Living with Cancer) project. The group also recently collaborated with other investigators to develop and implement an exercise adherence component to a smoking cessation intervention. The group’s other research arm concerns the role of psychological factors and cognitive-behavioral interventions to influence health outcomes among athletes, and more recently, the use of web-based instruction to educate athletic trainers regarding psychophysiological aspects of athletic injury and recognition of clinically significant sequelae. The group’s projects have been funded by the National Cancer Institute, the National Athletic Trainers Association, and by a Boston University Instructional Technology Grant. “Researchers in our group use a variety of approaches including laboratory exercise intervention and reactivity type studies, randomized controlled clinical trials, and descriptive and quasi-experimental field studies,” says Dr. Perna.. “Key findings from our group include: (a) documenting the importance of adherence and adherence counseling for exercise as a complementary therapy in chronic disease; (b) demonstrating the effect of life stress on physical recovery (i.e., cortisol) from exercise; and (c) documenting the effect of cognitive-behavioral intervention to enhance mood and cortisol recovery from exhaustive exercise and to reduce incidence of injury and illness among collegiate athletes.

 Recent Publications:

Perna, F. M., & Bryner, R. W. (2002). The psychology of exercise and      immunology: Implications for HIV infection. In D. Mostofsky & L. D. Zaichkowsky (Eds), Medical aspects of sport and exercise (pp. 237-260). Morgantown, WV: Fitness Information Technology.

Perna, F.M., Antoni, M.H., Kumar, M., Cruess, D.H., & Schneiderman, N.  (1998). Cognitive-behavioral intervention effects on mood and cortisol during exercise training. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 20, 92-98.

Newcomer, R.  (2000). Athletic injury: Physical and psychological factors     among women participants.  In K. Christensen, A. Guttmann, & G. Pfister (Eds.) International Encyclopedia of Women & Sport. Great Barrington, MA: Berkshire Reference Works—MacMillan.

Gordon, P., Newcomer, R.R., & Krummel, D. (2001). Physical activities and   osteoperosis: Disparities between knowledge and practice.  West Virginia Medical Journal, 97(3), 153-156.

Sport Psychology Lab Profiles