Background to the Research Centre for Health, Wellbeing and Behaviour Change

A common question that is salient to the public health agenda is; ‘How can health promotion, disease prevention and treatment efforts be optimised to enhance the health and wellbeing of the nation?’
The major epidemics of long-term conditions now facing us, such as obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease and cancer suggest we need to focus our efforts on embracing a strategic shift from treatment to prevention, while also enhancing national wellbeing. It has long been discussed that poor mental health is significantly linked to illness and disease. While a life that is happy and meaningful leads to health enhancement and life satisfaction.

Applying a bio-psycho-social approach to health settings can aid us in assessing barriers and facilitators to maintain health, treat illness, enhance the delivery and evaluation of services and maximise the effectiveness of behaviour change interventions.

Research in this centre is dedicated to three special interest groups in the areas of:

• Sport, Physical Activity and Health Psychology
• Behaviour Change Intervention Design and Communication
• Long-term Conditions

Our research focuses on these aspects at individual, community, national and international levels, with the mission to use behavioural science to enhance population health and wellbeing through the examination of the determinants of behaviour, behaviour change, enhancement of communication skills, health services and health systems, and understanding of health, wellbeing, illness and disease outcomes.

Centre Lead: Professor Angel Chater

Active Partners of the Research Centre

• Team Beds and Luton
• Active Luton
• Active Herts
• Hertfordshire Sports Partnership
• Hertfordshire County Council
• Health Psychology in Public Health Network
• Freuds
• Beezee Bodies
• County Sports Partnership Network – Workplace Challenge
• Sport England