Dr Peter Olusoga PhD, C.Psychol
Senior Lecturer
Summary
Dr Peter Olusoga is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology. His current research focuses on stress, burnout, and well-being in sports, with a particular interest in high-performance environments and elite coaching. In addition to research, Dr Olusoga is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS), and a sport psychology consultant.
About
Dr Peter Olusoga is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology. Peter completed his award-winning PhD, exploring stress and coping in elite sports coaching, at Sheffield Hallam in 2012. His current research focuses on stress, burnout, and wellbeing in sports, with a particular interest in high-performance environments and elite coaching.
In addition to research, Dr Olusoga is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS). Peter has a background in sports coaching and completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Sheffield in 2001, followed by an MSc in Sport and Exercise Science at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in 2006, staying on to complete his PhD entitled "Stress & Coping: A Study of Elite Sports Coaches." This work won the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) 'Dissertation of the Year' award in 2012.
Peter is a Fellow of the HEA and teaches on several modules at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He also has several years of supervisory experience, having supervised undergraduate, MSc and Doctoral level students. Peter gained his status as a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) in 2010.
Areas of interest: Stress, burnout, and well-being, the psychology of sports coaching, mindfulness, race and racism.
- Anxiety, Stress and Coping
- Burnout
- Psychology of Sports Coaching
- Mindfulness
Teaching
Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences
College of Social Sciences and Arts
Psychology
Courses
BSc Psychology, MSc Psychology
Publications
Journal articles
Fernandes, J.F.T., Brown, C., Keith, N.R., Miller, P.W., Moghadam, S., Strachan, L., ... Olusoga, P. (2025). . International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 1-11.
Simova, M., Olusoga, P., Brown, C.J., & Chroni, S.A. (2024). . International Sport Coaching Journal, 1-11.
Olusoga, P. (2024). . Journal for Advancing Sport Psychology in Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, 4 (1), 38-41.
Kenttä, G., Dieffenbach, K., Bentzen, M., Thompson, M., Côté, J., Mallett, C., & Olusoga, P. (2023). . International Sport Coaching Journal.
Hemingway, K., Butt, J., Spray, C., Olusoga, P., & Beretta De Azevedo, L. (2023). . Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy.
Carter, L., & Olusoga, P. (2023). . Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 35 (1), 1-4.
Thompson, S., Olusoga, P., Rogerson, D., Ruddock, A., & Barnes, A. (2022). . International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching.
Rumbold, J., Dunn, J.G.H., & Olusoga, P. (2022). . Frontiers in Psychology, 13.
Kentta, G., Bentzen, M., Dieffenbach, K., & Olusoga, P. (2020). . International Sport Coaching Journal / ISCJ.
Turner, M.J., Aspin, G., Didymus, F.F., Mack, R., Olusoga, P., Wood, A., & Bennett, R. (2020). . The Sport Psychologist, 34 (1), 71-83.
Olusoga, P., Bentzen, M., & Kenttä, G. (2019). . International sport coaching journal, 6 (1), 42-62.
Barnes, A., Rumbold, J., & Olusoga, P. (2017). . BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 3 (1), e000255.
Olusoga, P., & Kentta, G. (2017). . The Sport Psychologist, 31 (3), 237-248.
Bennett, J., Bickley, J., Vernon, T., Olusoga, P., & Maynard, I. (2017). . Journal of EMDR Practice and Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, 11 (2), 96-110.
Bennett, J., Rotherham, M., Hays, K., Olusoga, P., & Maynard, I. (2016). . Sport and exercise psychology review, 12 (1).
Bennett, J., Hays, K., Lindsay, P., Olusoga, P., & Maynard, I. (2015). . International Journal of Sport Psychology, 46, 61-82.
Slack, L.A., Maynard, I., Butt, J., & Olusoga, P. (2015). . Sports Psychologist, 29 (3), 237-257.
Slack, L., Butt, J., Maynard, I., & Olusoga, P. (2014). . Sport and exercise psychology review, 10 (1), 4-24.
Olusoga, P., Maynard, I., Butt, J., & Hays, K. (2014). . Sport and exercise psychology review, 10 (3), 31-44.
Slack, L., Maynard, I., Butt, J., & Olusoga, P. (2013). . Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 25 (3), 298-315.
Olusoga, P., Butt, J., Maynard, I., & Hays, K. (2012). . Journal of Sports Sciences, 30 (3), 229-239.
Olusoga, P., Butt, J., Maynard, I., & Hays, K. (2010). . Journal of applied sport psychology, 22 (3), 274-293.
Olusoga, P., Butt, J., Hays, K., & Maynard, I. (2009). . Journal of applied sport psychology, 21 (4), 442-459.
Conference papers
Woodhouse, D., Olusoga, P., Hemborough, D., Newton, E., Pupius, M., & Newton, J. (2018). MindfullySTRONG: Proof of Concept. n/a.
Book chapters
Chroni, S.A., Kenttä, G., Olusoga, P., & Dieffenbach, K. (2024). Note to the reader. In Coaching Stories. (pp. 1-4). Routledge:
Arvinen-Barrow, M., & Olusoga, P. (2024). . In Arvinen-Barrow, M., & Clement, D. (Eds.) The Psychology of Sport Injury and Rehabilitation. Second edition. (pp. 177-188). London: Routledge:
Chroni, S.A., Olusoga, P., Dieffenbach, K., & Kenttä, G. (2024). A final note to the reader: Considering coaching. In Coaching Stories: Navigating Storms, Triumphs, and Transformations in Sport. (pp. 308-312).
Olusoga, P., & Yousuf, S. (2023). . In Turner, M., Jones, M., & Wood, A. (Eds.) Applying Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Approaches in Sport. (pp. 26-43). Routledge:
Olusoga, P., Kenttä, G., & Bentzen, M. (2021). . In Resende, R., & Gomes, A.R. (Eds.) Coaching for Human Development and Performance in Sports. (pp. 371-409). Springer International Publishing:
Kentta, G., Olusoga, P., & Bentzen, M. (2020). . In Hackfort, D., & Schinke, R.J. (Eds.) The Routledge International Encyclopedia of Sport and Exercise Psychology - Volume 2: Applied and Practical Measures. (pp. 154-165). London: Routledge:
Olusoga, P., & Thelwell, R. (2016). . In Thelwell, R., Harwood, C., & Greenlees, I. (Eds.) The psychology of sports coaching : Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and practice. (pp. 128-141). Abingdon: Routledge:
(n.d.). The Routledge International Encyclopedia of Sport and Exercise Psychology. Routledge:
Books
Chroni, S.A., Olusoga, P., Dieffenbach, K., & Kenttä, G. (n.d.). Coaching Stories. Routledge.
Theses / Dissertations
Bennett, J.E. (2015). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Maynard, I., Olusoga, P., Lindsay, P., & Hays, K.
Slack, L.A. (2013). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Maynard, I., Butt, J., & Olusoga, P.
Olusoga, P.F. (2011). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Maynard, I., Butt, J., & Hays, K.
Presentations
Kilby, L., Olusoga, P., Bennett, C., & Freeman, E. (2021). Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Social Science: If we are all so ‘woke’ why are we still so ‘stuck’ with the status quo? Presented at: PSP Annual Conference, Sheffield
Woodhouse, D., Hembrough, D., Olusoga, P., Darwin, J., Newton, E., & Pupius, M. (2018). MindfullySTRONG: attention, awareness and flow. Presented at: LARASA International Congress: Leisure Transforming our World, Durban
Woodhouse, D., Hembrough, D., Olusoga, P., Darwin, J., Newton, E., & Pupius, M. (2018). MindfullySTRONG: Attention, Awareness and Flow. Presented at: Ninth International Conference on Sport and Society, FIU, Miami
Other activities
Associate Editor: Journal of Applied Sport Psychology
Associate Editor: The Psychologist
Co-Editor on Journal of Applied Sport Psychology Special Issue: The Current Status of Racism in Sport Psychology and Liberatory Practices for Dismantling Systemic Racism” Guest Editors Leeja Carter, Long Island University, Brooklyn, USA; Peter Olusoga, Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, UK.
PhD Examinations
Internal (SHU):
Mark O’Sullivan (2022 – Ï㽶ÊÓƵ). Learning in Development Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Framework for Athlete Development and Sport Science Support.
Dr Mike Stoker (2017 – Ï㽶ÊÓƵ). Creating Pressure Training Environments in Elite Sport.
External:
Dr Lee Baldock (2022 - University of South Wales). An examination of the stress and mental ill/well-being experiences of elite football coaches.
Dr Rebecca Jane Prince (2019 - University of Huddersfield). Investigating the risky behaviours of elite athletes.
Dr John Allan (2018 - Leeds Beckett University): Building the psychological resilience of inductees through outdoor adventure residential experiences.
Dr Jarred Parkes (2018 - University of Queensland, Australia). Examining mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies in facilitating sports performance: Benefits and limitations.
Postgraduate supervision
Current Supervisions
Simova, M. 'Exploring the psychological well-being of elite sport coaches'
PhD Completions
Slack, L. PhD. (2013). Mental Toughness in Elite Football Officiating (Winner of the AASP Dissertation Award, 2014).
Bennett, J., PhD. (2015). The Psychology of the YIPS and Lost Move Syndrome in Sport. PhD: Mental Toughness in Elite Football Officiating (winner of the AASP Dissertation Award, 2014)