Psychology and Health Research Group

We have expertise in the development and validation of Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), design and evaluation of complex interventions to improve health behaviours, psychosocial aspects of healthcare delivery and long-term condition management, social cognitive models and their application to behaviour, facet theory and analysis of archived/historical health behaviour population datasets. Example topics include: screening behaviour; pain management; obesity prevention and management; appetitive behaviour; mindfulness, cardiac rehabilitation, diabetes management, alternative medicine and health and well-being in astronauts.

Research within this group contributes to the activities of the European Space Agency concerning the identification of the key factors needed to maintain operational skill in astronauts and reduce accident likelihood during long-duration space missions.

Read the case study: Going to Mars

We work together with health researchers across LJMU from pharmacy, nursing, computing, education, sports science and public health on multidisciplinary projects with an applied focus. In addition, we have active collaborations with other universities, NHS Trusts, primary care, local and national authorities and charities including:

• University of Liverpool
• University of Manchester
• University of Lancaster
• Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
• Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
• Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
• St Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust
• Liverpool Community Health Trust
• The Royal Liverpool Hospitals NHS Trust
• Liverpool Heart and Chest Foundation Hospital Trust
• Liverpool City Council
• Knowsley Council
• Sefton Council
• Cheshire West and Chester Council
• UK Data Service/Office of National Statistics
• Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos
• King Juan Carlos University

Our research and consultancy work has been funded by NHS Trusts, pharmaceutical companies, Kellogg’s, Pain Relief Foundation, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, The British Academy, Youth Justice Trust, Youth Offending Team of Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council, European Regional Development Fund and Liverpool City Council.

All staff in the group contribute to teaching modules on the undergraduate BSc (Hons) Psychology programme (appetitive behaviour, social cognition, health psychology and substance use modules) and the Health Psychology (MSc) programme. In addition, our research group includes three practitioner health psychologists (Dr Forshaw, Dr Newson, Dr Poole) who all contribute to the Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology.