Support Psychology Research on Powerlifting and Trauma

** Help fund psychology research on powerlifting and trauma ... and check out my MERCH STORE to support this project by buying shirts, hats, stickers, water bottles, and more! **

I am a powerlifting coach and PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology seeking community-based financial support for my ongoing dissertation research on powerlifting as a somatic treatment for symptoms of complex trauma. If you are a member of the powerlifting community and/or interested in the intersection of weightlifting and trauma, please consider donating and sharing to support this important research work.

A little about me and my background: I am a Yale graduate and current third-year PhD student at California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. I am developing a dissertation pilot study exploring the effect of powerlifting movements on physiological nervous system dysregulation in people with complex PTSD. This study will use wearable devices to measure physiological symptoms like heart rate variability and sleep disruption in people with trauma who are starting powerlifting training for the first time. This pilot study will examine the general feasibility of powerlifting as an intervention for populations with trauma, as well as exploring any potential significant changes in heart rate variability and sleep disturbances.

Some further context for those who are interested in the science behind this project: I recently completed an initial retrospective study (N=114) exploring the effect of powerlifting training on individuals with CPTSD symptoms. I received an overwhelmingly positive response to the initial call to action for this project; it is so gratifying to hear that so many of you resonate with the connection between powerlifting and somatic regulation and want to participate in related research!

Results yielded a significant change from pre- to post-training in both total CPTSD symptom scores (t(113) = 16.16, p < 0.001) and hyperarousal symptom scores (t(112) = 13.05, p < 0.001). Other significant findings included the moderation effect of sleep quality, dissociative symptoms, and the strength of the athlete-coach relationship on CPTSD and hyperarousal symptoms from pre- to post-training. These initial results suggest that powerlifting training could positively impact nervous system regulation in people suffering from CPTSD symptoms, and merit further exploration on a larger scale. The results of the initial study were presented at the 2024 Western Psychological Association Conference and the 35th Annual Boston International Trauma Conference, and you can check out more detailed study results here.

I am now in the process of expanding this initial retrospective study into a full pilot study that captures and explores real-time physiological data. That's where you come in: I have not managed to obtain full grant funding for my project so far, and will need around $5000 to purchase 30 wearable devices, along with appropriate software to anonymize and manage the data I collect.

Please consider contributing anything you can spare and sharing widely to support this important research!

Along with this call for donations, I also have merch available - buy a shirt, hat, stickers, and more with all proceeds directly benefiting this dissertation project.