Jens Kleinert

Jens Kleinert is a full Professor of Sport and Health Psychology at the German Sport University Cologne, where he serves as head of the Psychological Institute and the Department of Health and Social Psychology. He has held this position since 2006, following a professorship at the University of Würzburg (2004–2006). His academic and leadership roles confirm his status as a senior faculty member in sport psychology.

• Graduate sports teacher
• Licensed physician
• Coaching licenses in indoor handball and swimming

His research focuses on motivation and emotion psychology, team and group dynamics in sports, sports and mental disorders, and the psychology of sports injuries. He explores how physical activity influences mental health, including burnout, depression, loneliness, and aggression. His work often integrates self-determination theory and examines behavioral regulation in exercise contexts. He has a strong interest in digital media's role in enhancing motivation in physical education.

The recent publications highlight a consistent focus on the psychological aspects of exercise, group dynamics, mental health in athletes, and the use of digital tools in education. Trends include longitudinal studies in youth sports, psychophysiological experiments, systematic reviews on exercise and emotion, and applied research in rehabilitation and school settings.

Scientific Awards:

• Posterpreis bei der 55. asp-Jahrestagung (2023)

Prof. Kleinert leads multiple funded research projects, including mentaltalent (sport psychological support for youth elite athletes in NRW) and ComeSport (digitalization in teacher education). He collaborates widely with researchers such as Fabian Pels, Johanna Belz, and Anna Wasserkampf. He has supervised numerous co-authored studies, indicating active mentoring. His team includes scientific staff and doctoral researchers working on group dynamics, motivation, and health behavior.

He is actively involved in academic and public discourse, delivering guest lectures and organizing conferences such as the NRW-Kongress Nachwuchsförderung. His lab and research group focus on health and social psychology in sports, with ongoing work in digital interventions, team cohesion, and mental health promotion in athletic populations.