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Dr Nichola Kentzer

Profile summary

Professional biography

Dr Nichola Kentzer is a Lecturer in Sport, Exercise and Coaching at the Open University. Before starting as a full time academic at the university, she worked as an Associate Lecturer at the OU from 2010. Prior to moving full time to the OU, she worked as a higher education (HE) lecturer in sport and exercise science/psychology and teacher education for almost 10 years.

Nichola’s specialist area is sport psychology. She is a British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) accredited and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Sport Psychologist and has provided sport psychology support to a wide range of performers.

Despite her professional qualifications and accreditations in sport psychology, Nichola completed her PhD in education, more specifically examining the experiences of in-service trainee teachers in further education with a focus on mentoring.

Research interests

Nichola’s research interests include the professional and personal development of students/trainees and staff, both in education and sport psychology/sport science. She is also interested in the wellbeing of informal carers, their relationship with physical activity and supporting them to access education and professional development opportunities. 

Some of her more recent academic publications are:

Carers and physical activity

Horne, J., Kentzer, N., Smith, L., Trott, M, & Vseteckova, J. (2021). A Systematic Review on the Prevalence of Physical Activity, and Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity, in Informal Carers in the United Kingdom. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2020-0526.

Sport psychology/coaching:

Huntley, E. & Kentzer, N. (2019) Sport, psychology and Christianity: the importance of reflective practice. In B. Hemmings, N. Watson & A. Parker (Eds) Sport, Psychology and Christianity: Welface, Performance and Consultancy. London: Routledge

Heaney, C., Kentzer, N. & Oakley, B. (Eds) (2022) Athletic Development: A Psychological Perspective. London, Routledge.

Kentzer, N. (2022) How does the school setting influence athletic development? In Heaney, C., Kentzer, N. & Oakley, B. (Eds) (2022) Athletic Development: A Psychological Perspective. London, Routledge

Conferences:

Walker, N. & Kentzer, N. (2013) Supervision and peer support beyond qualification? BPS Division of Sport & Exercise Psychology Conference, Manchester, United Kingdom. 

Walker, N, Kentzer, N., Collins, R. & Katz, J. (2014) Using animation software to teach applied sport psychology to undergraduate students (Poster) 29th Annual Conference Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), Las Vegas, USA.

Phelan, S., Kentzer, N. & Lusted, J. (2017) Inclusive practice in coaching: A Q methodology study. 33rd Annual Conference for the Scientific Study of Subjectivity, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 7-9th September, 2017

Education:

Kentzer, N. Bracey, P. & Devecchi, C. (2019) Using activity theory and Q methodology to examine the experiences of in service trainee teachers in the English Further Education Sector. Research in Post Compulsory Education and Training (Published in the Autumn, details to be updated)

Kentzer, N., Dudeney, J. & Lord, J. (2019) Mental health and wellbeing. In J. Tummons (Ed) The Post Compulsory Education and Training Book. London: Sage/Learning Matters

Conferences:

Kentzer, N. (2017) Mentors perceptions of their trainee’s journey in English Further Education (FE): A Q methodology study. (Poster). 33rd Annual Conference for the Scientific Study of Subjectivity, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 7-9th September, 2017

Kentzer, N. & Berry, A. (2019) The importance of mental health and wellbeing to doctoral students on their PhD journey: A Q methodology study. British Educational Research Association Special Interest Group Conference, London, United Kingdom, 12th July 2019

 

Teaching interests

Nichola was involved as a Critical Reviewer in the production of E235.

Current teaching roles:

·        E233 Sport and exercise psychology: a case study approach

·        E313 Exploring psychological aspects of athletic development

Module Chair for E235 (presentation) from 2019/20

External collaborations

Alongside her OU role, Nichola is an applied sport psychologist currently working mainly with equestrian athletes. She has been the team sport psychologist for Team GBR Pony Driving Team and Team GBR Para-Driving Team for approximately 10 years and prepares the drivers and the wider support team for their World Championship events, travels with the teams and supports the post event review process.

Publications

Associations between total physical activity levels and academic performance in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2024)
Trott, Mike; Kentzer, Nichola; Horne, Jo; Langdown, Ben and Smith, Lee
Journal of Education and Health Promotion ((In Press))


Supporting adult unpaid carers via an online dancing intervention: A feasibility/acceptability study (2024)
Horne, Joanna; Donald, Louisa; Gracia, Rosaria; Kentzer, Nichola; Pappas, Yannis; Trott, Mike and Vseteckova, Jitka
PLOS Global Public Health, 4, Article e0002798(1)


The Influence of Gender Dynamics on Women’s Experiences in Martial Arts: A Scoping Review (2023-08-01)
Lindsay, Rosie; Horne, Jo; Shaw, Jill; Kentzer, Nichola and Bacon, Wendi
International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure


A Case Study Investigation Into a Group Online Sport Psychology Support Intervention for Injured Athletes (2023-01)
Heaney, Caroline and Kentzer, Nichola
Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology, 7(1) (pp. 24-32)


Barriers and facilitators to physical activity among informal carers: a systematic review of international literature (2023)
Lindsay, Rosie K.; Vseteckova, Jitka; Horne, Joanna; Smith, Lee; Trott, Mike; Lappe, Joseph De; Soysal, Pinar; Pizzol, Damiano and Kentzer, Nichola
International Journal of Care and Caring, 7(3) (pp. 498-526)


The Human–Horse Relationship: Human Direct and Meta Perceptions of Its Importance for Performance and Welfare in Equestrian Sport (2023)
Tufton, L. R.; Kentzer, Nichola and Kingsley, B.E
Anthrozoös ((Early access))


Long-term care facilities' response to the COVID-19 pandemic: An international, cross-sectional survey (2023)
Eltaybani, Sameh; Igarashi, Ayumi; Cal, Ayse; Lai, Claudia; Carrasco, Cristina; Sari, Dianis; Cho, Eunhee; Haugan, Gorill; Bravo, Jorge; Abouzeid, Nesreen; Wachholz, Patrick; Isaramalai, Sang-Arun; Dawood, Shaimaa; Pappas, Yannis; Moneam, Abeer; Rodriguez, Ana; Alqahtani, Bader; Pereira, Catarina; Jenssen, Cathrine; Yu, Doris; Ahmed, Fatma; Mendes, Felismina; Randhawa, Gurch; Ahmed, Hanaa; Suzuki, Haruno; Prambudi, Hery; Avci, Ilknur; Waluyo, Imam; Nurbaeti, Irma; Vseteckova, Jitka; Horne, Jo; Liu, Justina; Ingstad, Kari; Kashiwabara, Kosuke; Grant, Louise; Moniem, Maha; Sakka, Mariko; Abdelgawad, Mohamed; Subu, Muhammad; Kentzer, Nichola; Almadani, Noura; Tomas-Carus, Pablo; Garcia, Renata; Indarwati, Retno; Maneerat, Sonthaya; Chien, Wai; Amamiya, Yuko; Cavalcanti, Yuri and Yamamoto-Mitani, Noriko
Journal of Advanced Nursing ((Early access))


The prevalence of physical activity among informal carers: a systematic review of international literature (2022)
Lindsay, Rosie; Vseteckova, Jitka; Horne, Jo; Smith, Lee; Trott, Mike; de Lappe, Joseph; Soysal, Pinar; Pizzol, Damiano and Kentzer, Nichola
Sport Sciences for Health, 18 (pp. 1071-1118)


A Systematic Review on the Prevalence of Physical Activity, and Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity, in Informal Carers in the United Kingdom (2021)
Horne, Joanna; Kentzer, Nichola; Smith, Lee; Trott, Mike and Vseteckova, Jitka
Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 18(2) (pp. 212-218)


Effective athletic development: Closing thoughts (2022-07-12)
Heaney, Caroline; Kentzer, Nichola and Oakley, Ben
In: Heaney, Caroline; Kentzer, Nichola and Oakley, Ben eds. Athletic Development: A Psychological Perspective (pp. 247-250)
ISBN : 9781003153450, 9780367721022 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : New York


Sport, Psychology and Christianity: The Importance of Reflective Practice (2019)
Huntley, Emma and Kentzer, Nichola
In: Hemmings, Brian; Watson, Nick J. and Parker, Andrew eds. Sport, Psychology and Christianity: Welfare, Performance and Consultancy. Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society (pp. 171-190)
ISBN : 9781351165488 | Publisher : Routledge


Athletic Development: A Psychological Perspective (2021-07-12)
Heaney, Caroline; Kentzer, Nichola and Oakley, Ben eds.
ISBN : 9780367721022 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon


The 'Learning pathways for carers programme' (2023)
Kentzer, Nichola; Kubiak, Chris and Larkin, Mary
In : OU's 7th Biennial International Conference on Access, Participation and Success (26-27 Apr 2023, Milton Keynes, UK)


Participation in group outings, gender related profiling and preferences of outings for carers of individuals living with dementia: systematic review (2020-07-16)
Horne, Jo; Kentzer, Nichola; Smith, Lee; Trott, Mike; Abington, Jane and Vseteckova, Jitka
Prospero - International prospective register of systematic reviews


A systematic review on the barriers and facilitators to physical activity in informal / unpaid carers worldwide (2020-06-26)
Vseteckova, Jitka; Horne, Joanna; Smith, Lee; Trott, Mike and Kentzer, Nichola
Prospero - International prospective register of systematic reviews, CRD42020184196


How can Adult Carers get the best support during Covid-19 pandemic and beyond? (2020-06-03)
Taverner, Phil; Larkin, Mary; Vseteckova, Jitka; Kentzer, Nichola; Horne, Jo; Penson, Martin; Robb, Martin; Berry, Alex; Spencer, Melinda and Methley, Abigail
Open Learn, Milton Keynes.


The effects of self-isolation and lack of physical activity on carers. (2020-06-03)
Vseteckova, Jitka; Kentzer, Nichola; Horne, Jo; Robb, Martin; Larkin, Mary; Berry, Alex; Spencer, Melinda; Methley, Abigail and Taverner, Phil
Open Learn, Milton Keynes.


Young carers,COVID-19 and physical activity (2020-06-03)
Vseteckova, Jitka; Kentzer, Nichola; Horne, Jo; Penson, Martin; Robb, Martin; Larkin, Mary; Berry, Alex; Spencer, Melinda; Methley, Abigail and Taverner, Phil
OpenLearn, Milton Keynes.


A systematic review on the barriers and facilitators to physical activity in informal / unpaid carers in the UK (2020-04-28)
Horne, Jo; Vseteckova, Jitka; Smith, Lee; Trott, Mike and Kentzer, Nichola
Prospero


A systematic review on the prevalence of physical activity in informal / unpaid carers in the UK (2020-04-28)
Horne, Jo; Kentzer, Nichola; Smith, Lee; Trott, Mike and Vseteckova, Jitka
Prospero - International prospective register of systematic reviews


A systematic review protocol on the barriers and facilitators to physical activity in informal/unpaid carers in the UK (2020)
Horne, Jo; Vseteckova, Jitka; Smith, Lee; Trott, Mike and Kentzer, Nichola
PROSPERO: International prospective register of systematic reviews, CRD42020167742


A systematic review on the prevalence of physical activity in informal / unpaid carers worldwide (2020)
Vseteckova, Jitka; Horne, Joanna; Smith, Lee; Trott, Mike and Kentzer, Nichola
Prospero - International prospective register of systematic reviews, CRD42020184204