PhD Student

Course Start: March 2017

Supervisor: Dr Angel Chater
Second Supervisor: Dr Julia Fruer
Third Supervisor: Dr Gillian Shorter

Working Thesis Title

Investigating the role of physical activity following the death of a parent: the BABYSTEPS project.

Abstract

In the United Kingdom, the number of dependent children and young people who experience the death of a parent is estimated at 23,600 per year. When a bereavement is experienced, grief occurs, with individuals experiencing a variety of outcomes at different severities. Experiencing a bereavement at a young age, can create unique grief outcomes. Current bereavement support services across the UK provide traditional support (e.g. talking therapies). This research aimed to investigate the use of physical activity to support grief outcomes, in order to provide an alternative type of support.

The BABYSTEPS project specifically aimed to: 1) systematically review the literature within the field of physical activity and bereavement; 2) identify what current physical activity provisions are available to support young people who have been bereaved; 3) determine whether the general public believe that using physical activity to support young people after parental bereavement can be beneficial, and if so, what activities would be beneficial for young males and young females; 4) determine how grief impacts the lives of young people after the death of a parent; 5) evaluate how young people use physical activity to support their grief outcomes after parental bereavement; 6) identify what considerations should be made if a physical activity programme were developed to support grief outcomes in young people; 7) develop a physical activity intervention to support young people who have experienced parental bereavement.

Both a pragmatic and constructivist approach were used, with mixed methods employed throughout. Quantitative studies used polls and questionnaires, and qualitative studies used interviews and observations to answer research aims.

A systematic review found 20 studies showing that physical activity was beneficial in supporting grief outcomes, with only five focusing on young people following the death of a parent. A desk-based study found over 300 bereavement organisations within the UK, yet only 16.8% offered physical activity. Furthermore, a total of 59 organisations were unsure of how many young people access their services. Using a survey poll of the general public, 118/116 out of 121 were in favour of physical activity supporting grief outcomes in young males and females respectively, with gender stereotypical activities selected. Interviews with young people and adults who had experienced parental bereavement as a young person. Interviews highlighted that grief has an emotional and physical impact as a young person, as their life will never be the same and may experience re-grief. Physical activity provides an emotional outlet, social support, helps build confidence and find themselves. A physical activity intervention should provide activity options, be in an open space, consider reasons for being active, have no pressure talk and provide social support.

There is limited research within the field of physical activity and parental bereavement in young people, a lack of bereavement organisations providing physical activity services and the general public support the use of physical activity to support grief outcomes. Key findings from the BABYSTEPS project have been used to develop an intervention in order to provide an alternative to talking therapies for young people who do not want to access traditional bereavement support.

Research Aims

1. Investigate the role of physical activity to support grief outcomes In young people who have experienced parental bereavement.
2. Develop a physical activity intervention to support young people who have experienced parental bereavement.

About me

I am in my final year of my PhD, I recently passed my VIVA in Nov 2020. Prior to my PhD I worked as an APE therapist in Abu Dhabi. I gained my master’s in Psychology of Sport from the University of Stirling in 2015, and my Undergraduate in sport and exercise psychology from the University of Abertay Dundee. I currently work with Northampton Women's Football team as their performance psychologist. I work as an Hourly Paid Lecturer with the University, teaching on units for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Teaching across ISPAR and the psychology department.

Publications

• Williams, J., Shorter, G. W., Howlett, N., Zakrzewski-Fruer, J., & Chater, A. M. (2021). Can physical activity support grief outcomes in individuals who have been bereaved? A systematic review. Sports Medicine-Open, 7(1), 1-17.
• Chater, A., Williams, J., Shorter, G. & Howlett, N. (2020). Physical activity for the benefit of mental health outcomes in young people: a focus on parental bereavement. The Sport and Exercise Scientist, 64, 16-17.
• Chater, A. M., Williams, J., & Courtenay, M. (2019). The prescribing needs of community practitioner nurse prescribers: A qualitative investigation using the theoretical domains framework and COM-B. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 75(11), 2952–2968. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14170
• Williams, J., Howlett, N., Shorter, G. & Chater, A. (2019). Benefits of physical activity for young people who have been parentally bereaved: A report to the Forces Children’s Trust. United Kingdom: Forces Children’s Trust

Contact Information

E: jane.williams2@study.beds.ac.uk
LinkedIn: Jane Williams