About us

The Special Interest Group of Sport, Physical Activity and Health Psychology focuses on the disciplines of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Coaching Psychology and Health Psychology.

Research in this group aims to investigate the psycho-social factors linked to motivation in sport and physical activity; stress and coping in endurance activities; team dynamics; coaching behaviour; decision making; food security and weight management.

Alongside this, there is an interest in the development of the discipline of Health Psychology and its application to Public Health.

Staff Members

• Jane Williams(SIG Lead)
• Professor Angel Chater
• Dr Lindsey Smith
• David Pears

PhD students

• Abigail Moffat “Embedding health psychology into public health: The Health Psychology Champion pathfinder initiative”

Stage 2 students (Health Psychology and Sport and Exercise Psychology – British Psychological Society Route)

• Abigail Moffat
• Dora Kukucska
• Jane Williams
• Dr Katherine Finlay
• Dr Selina Graham

PhD and Stage 2 student Alumni

• Dr Jane Williams (UoB – completed 2021) “Investigating the role of physical activity following the death of a parent: the BABYSTEPS project.”
• Dr Jane Williams (UoB – completed 2021) “Investigating the role of physical activity following the death of a parent: the BABYSTEPS project.”
• Dr Jane Williams (UoB – completed 2021) “Investigating the role of physical activity following the death of a parent: the BABYSTEPS project.”
• Dr Erica Cook (Stage 2 Health Psychology – Qualified 2015)

Current grants

• Buckinghamshire Council. £122,000. Chater, A. & Cook, E. (Sept, 2020). Health Psychology Stage 2 Trainee Placement: Trailblazer pathfinder programme. 36 month PhD plus Stage 2 studentship.
• Buckinghamshire Council. £122,000. Chater, A. & Cook, E. (Sept, 2020). Health Psychology Stage 2 Trainee Placement: Trailblazer pathfinder programme. 36 month PhD plus Stage 2 studentship.
• University of Buckingham. £4,000. Chater, A. (May, 2018). Health Psychology Stage 2 Supervision for Dr Katherine Finlay in the area of spinal cord injury, pain and physical activity. 18-24 month contract.
• Bedfordshire Police. £7,932. Chater, A., Richards, J., Aldous, J., Fruer, J., Bailey, D. & Mitchell, A. (Mar, 2018). Understanding the physical health and psychological wellbeing of the Bedfordshire Police Force. The PHeW programme. x2 12 month MSc by Research studentships.
• The Royal Society. £12,920. Quinn, F., Morrison, V. & Chater, A. (2016, March). An Oral History of Health Psychology in the UK. 12 month grant.
• UCL Grand Challenges of Human Wellbeing. £3,960. Chater, A., Prayogo, E., & Grimble, G. (2014). Exploring the psycho-social determinants of food consumption in parents and individuals who attend Foodbanks. 12 month research grant.

Recent papers

• Quinn, F., Chater, A & Morrison, V. (2020). An oral history of UK Health Psychology. British Journal of Health Psychology. doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12418
• Howlett, N., Schulz, J., Trivedi, D., Troop, N. & Chater, A. (2020). Determinants of weekly sitting time: Construct validation of an initial COM-B model and comparison of its predictive validity with the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Psychology and Health. doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2020.1763994
• Chater, A., Whittaker, E., Lewis, L., Arden, M. A., Byrne-Davis, L., Chadwick, P., Drury, J., Epton, T., Hart, J., Kamal, A., McBride, E., O'Connor, D., Shorter, G., Swanson, V. & Armitage, C., (2020). Health psychology, behavioural science, and Covid-19 disease prevention. Health Psychology Update, 29, SI, 3-9
• Bull, E., Newman, K., Cassidy, T., Anderson, N. & Chater, A. (2020). Reflecting on the Stage 2 Health Psychology independent training route: A survey of trainee and graduate experiences of employability. Health Psychology Update, 29,(2), 19-30.
• Bull, E., Newman, K., Cassidy, T., Anderson, N. & Chater, A. (2020). Reflecting on the Stage 2 Health Psychology independent training route: A survey of trainee and graduate experiences of employability. Health Psychology Update, 29,(2), 19-30.
• Howlett, N., Schulz, J., Trivedi, D., Troop, N. A. & Chater, A. M. (2019). A prospective study exploring the construct and predictive validity of the COM-B model for physical activity. Journal of Health Psychology, 24(10), 1378-1391
• Howlett, N., Schulz, J., Trivedi, D., Troop, N. A. & Chater, A. M. (2019). A prospective study exploring the construct and predictive validity of the COM-B model for physical activity. Journal of Health Psychology, 24(10), 1378-1391
• Chater, A., (2019). From Health psychology to behavioural science: Using a multidisciplinary approach to benefit public health and wellbeing. Behavioural Science and Public Health, 1,(1), 2-3.
• Chater, A., (2019). From Health psychology to behavioural science: Using a multidisciplinary approach to benefit public health and wellbeing. Behavioural Science and Public Health, 1,(1), 2-3.
• Fulton, E. A., Brown, K. E., Linnane, J., Chadborn, T., McManus, J., Constable, M., Curtis, K., Howlett, N. & Chater, A. (2019). Integrating behavioural science expertise into public health. Behavioural Science and Public Health, 1,(1), 16-28.
• Chater, A. (2018). Seven steps to help patients overcome a ‘Fear of Finding Out - FOFO’. Nursing Standard. 33, (1), 24-25.
• Chater, A. (2018). Chair’s welcome. Health Psychology and Public Health, 2,(2), 1.
• McSharry, J., Chater, A., Lucanin, J. D., Hofer, S., Paschali, A. & Warner, L. M. (2017). Health Psychology education and training in countries represented by the EHPS. The European Health Psychologist. 19,(6), 375-380.
• Chater, A. (2017). Building capacity in the workforce: How can we best use education and training to benefit public health? Health Psychology and Public Health, 1,(2), 2-3.
• Chater, A. (2017). Chair’s welcome. Health Psychology and Public Health, 1,(2), 1.
• Howlett, N., Jones, A., Bain, L. & Chater, A. (2017). How effective is community physical activity promotion in areas of deprivation for inactive adults with Cardiovascular Disease risk and/or mental health concerns? Study protocol for a pragmatic observational evaluation of the 'Active Herts' physical activity programme. BMJ Open, 7:e017783. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017783
• Chater, A. (2017). HPPHN: Look at how far we have come in such a short time. Health Psychology and Public Health, 1,(1), 2-3.
• Prayogo, E., Chater, A., Rahmawati, N. D., Waterfall, T. J., Chapman, S., Barker, M., & Grimble, G. (2017). Who uses foodbanks and why? Exploring the impact of financial strain and adverse life events on food insecurity. Journal of Public Health, 14, 1-8. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdx133
• Chater, A. (2016). Health Psychology in the UK (2014-2015): EHPS Annual Report. The European Health Psychologist, 18, (1), 56-58
• Chater, A. & McManus, J. (2016). Health psychology and the public health agenda. The Psychologist, 29(1), 7.
• Harvey, S., Smith, M. L, Song, Y., Robertson, D., Brown, R., & Smith, L. R. (2016). Gender and school-level differences in pupils moderate and vigorous physical activity levels when taught basketball through the Tactical Games Model. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 35(4), 349-357.
• Harvey, S., Smith, L. R., Fairclough, S. J., Savory, L. A., & Kerr, C. J. (2015). An investigation of pupils levels of MVPA and VPA during physical education units focused on direct instruction and Tactical Games Models. The Physical Educator, 72, 40-58.
• Smith, L., Harvey, S., Savory, L., Fairclough, S., Kozub, S., & Kerr, C. (2015). Physical activity levels and motivational responses of boys and girls. A comparison of direct instruction and tactical games models of games teaching in physical education. European Physical Education Review, 21(1), 93-113.
• Hagger, M. S. Hardcastle, S. J. Chater, A. Mallett, C., Pal S., & Chatzisarantis, N. L. D. (2014). Autonomous and controlled motivational regulations for multiple health related behaviors: between- and within-participants analyses. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine: An Open Access Journal, 2(1), 565-601.

Books and Book Chapters

• Chater, A. & Cook, E. (2014). Psychology Express: Health Psychology. Harlow: Pearson.
• Pears, D. (2015). Tactics: The missing link in performance. In M. Berry, J. Lomax & C. Hodgson (Eds). Adventure Sports Coaching. Oxford: Routledge.

Recent conference presentations

• Williams, J., Howlett, N., Shorter, G., Zakrzewski-Fruer, J. & Chater, A. What roles does physical activity play in the lives of young people following the death of a parent? A qualitative investigation using the TDF and COM-B. Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR) Annual Conference (Online, September, 2020)
• Chater, A.& McBride, E. Health psychology for the political landscape: Policy guidance and the Psychological Government initiative. BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference (Online, June, 2020)
• Chater, A.on behalf of the BPS COVID-19 Behavioural Science and Disease Prevention Taskforce. Advising policy makers and public health on behavioural science and Covid-19 disease prevention. British Psychological Society Annual Conference (Online, June, 2020)
• Chater, A.,Williams, J., Zakrzewski-Fruer, J., Howlett, N. & Shorter, G. Can physical activity support young people after the death of a parent? The BABYSTEPs project. European Health Psychology Annual Conference (Croatia, September, 2019)  
• Williams, J., Shorter, G., Zakrzewski-Fruer, J., Howlett, N. & Chater, A.Supporting young people who have been parentally bereaved: Can physical activity help and what services are available?  BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference (Manchester, July 2019)
• Chater, A.,Quinn, F. & Morrison, V. An oral history of Health Psychology. Structured Discussion. BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference (Manchester, July 2019) 
• Howlett, N., Schulz, J., Trivedi, D., Troop, N., & Chater, A. A prospective study exploring the construct and predictive validity of the COM-B model for physical activity. Health Psychology in Public Health Network Annual Conference (Stevenage, February 2018).
• Chater, A. Health Psychology Education and Training: A UK Perspective.European Health Psychology Society Annual Conference (Italy, August, 2017)
• Chater, A.Working with an overweight, inactive client to enhance well-being: a Health Psychologist’s approach. British Psychological Society Annual Conference (Brighton, May, 2017) 
• Smith, M., Rodham, K., Edmunds, S., Chater, A., Mellick, M. & Deary, V. Wellbeing: Converging approaches from Health and Sport and Exercise Psychology, Symposium. British Psychological Society Annual Conference (Brighton, May 2017)
• Golding, D, Kinman, G, & Kozub S.  Journeys to wellbeing: stress, coping and expeditions. Paper presented at BPS Annual Conference, (Nottingham, May, 2016).
• Chater, A., Prayogo, E., Grimble, G., & Barker, M. UK Foodbank client experiences and their barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption: A qualitative investigation. Paper presented at the European Health Psychology Society (EHPS) Annual Conference, (Cyprus, September, 2015). 
• Golding, D, Kinman, G, & Kozub S.  Going alone: Stress coping and solo expeditions. Paper presented at British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Annual Conference, (Burton-Upon-Trent, 2015).
• Golding, D, Kinman, G, & Kozub S.  Stress, coping and extreme expeditions: A qualitative investigation into the coldest journey on Earth. Paper presented at British Psychological Society, Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology Conference, Leeds. (December, 2015).
• Golding, D.  Coping, cohesion and expeditions - a transactional approach. Paper presented at BASES Conference. (2014).
• Golding, D.  Expedition stress, coping and cohesion. Paper presented at BPS Social Psychology Section Conference. (2014).
• Prayogo, E., Chater, A., Cucco, L., Bentley, D., Moore, L. & Grimble, G. Can improving access to fresh fruit and vegetables (F&V) increase consumption and subjective well-being in emergency food aid recipients attending Foodbanks? - A feasibility study. Paper presented at BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, (York, September, 2014).
• Barker, M., Bennett, P., Lawrence, W., Pears, S., Chater, A., McManus, J., & Robling, M. Improving the health of the nation: Health Psychology’s role in public health. Symposium convened at BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, (York, September, 2014).
• Chater, A. Incorporating health psychology into the curriculum for non-psychologists: Behavioural medicine training in pharmacy. Paper presented at BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, (York, September, 2014).