The Health & Wellbeing Research Cluster comprises the Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre (BPNRC) as well as state-of-the-art research facilities including bespoke cognitive and stress testing, psychophysiology assessments, and a wet lab for endocrine and immune assays. The cluster includes chartered Health, Clinical and Occupational Psychologists; and has internationally recognised expertise in the areas of psychobiology, stress, sleep, behaviour change, developmental disabilities, psychopathology and nutrition. Staff contribute to research groups with distinct expertise, and work across disciplines to enhance health and wellbeing through research, consultancy and knowledge exchange with a diverse range of stakeholders
Latest posts from the Health and Wellbeing Group
Read about our research here!
Tackle loneliness with a little help from your friends
To mark #LonelinessAwarenessWeek one of our PhD students, Alexandra Thompson, tells us about her work on preventing loneliness in older adults
A plant-enriched diet for a healthy mind (and a longer life!)
Its Nutrition and Hydration Week! In this blog, Dr Philippa Jackson tells us about the beneficial effects plants can have on our mental and physical wellbeing, and the exciting research of our Brain, Performance Nutrition Research Centre #NHWeek
The Big 5 Episode 9: Nicki O’Brien “Developing visual communication methods for health challenges” (Funded PhD opportunity)
On this episode of The Big 5, Dr. Nicki O’Brien tells us about her innovative work using animated GIFs to teach people about COVID-19 health behaviors like mask wearing and hand washing in Guatemala. She also discusses a funded PhD project starting October 2022. Applications due February 18, 2022. Show notes: To follow Nicki on…
The Big 5 Episode 8 Alyson Dodd “Measuring student well-being in line with student priorities” (PhD opportunity)
On this episode, Alyson tells us about her research on student well-being and what students struggle with during their transition to university. She also tells us about a funded PhD studentship opportunity! (See link below.) Shownotes: Find Dr. Alyson Dodd: on Twitter @alysondodd and on her staff profile. You can learn more about SMaRteN and…
Funded PhD Opportunity: Understanding persuasive effects of message framing for vaccination uptake in university students
In this post, Dr Angela Rodrigues and Dr Nicki O’Brien discuss their current vacancy for a PhD programme investigating vaccination uptake in university students.
The Big 5 podcast: Episode 7 Sarah Docherty “I wondered for over 70 year olds, what would you want to improve in your life.”
This week PhD student, Sarah Docherty, tells us about her research on the pandemic’s effect on elderly adults and her surprising results on what health means to older adults. Sarah also has some advice for PhD students on being successful during your studies.
Funded PhD Opportunity: Languageless visual messages to prevent Covid-19 transmission
In this post, Dr Nicki O’Brien, Dr Santosh Vijaykumar, Dr Michael Craig and Ellie Land discuss their current vacancy for a PhD programme to develop GIFs to promote Covid-19 preventive behaviours in Latin America and the UK
The Big 5 episode 3: Dr. Nick Neave on Digital Hoarding “We keep possessions and form attachment to possessions. That’s what humans do.”
On #CleanYourVirtualDesktopDay, Dr. Nick Neave tells us about his research on Digital Hoarding. We learn more about how humans anthropomorphise their possessions and why we have such a hard time throwing things away. Show notes: You can find the transcript of this episode here: Episode 3 Nick Neave transcript.docx For more information on Nick’s research,…
Understanding Menopause
Its World Menopause Day. In this post, Professor Crystal Haskell-Ramsay explains the basics of menopause and tell us about her teams current research projects.
Northumbria researchers win Prolific Grant Competition
A team in our department were the overall winners of the Prolific Grant Competition, providing valuable funding for research on risk perception. In this post, Richard Brown tells us about the winning project!
Treatments for Mental Health Problems
In this blog Dr David Smailes takes a look at some data on how well mental health treatments work versus treatments for other health problems and talks about a key reason why we may have stalled in developing novel, more effective treatments.
COVID smell loss can have profound effects on your life, from weight change to intimacy barriers
In this post, Professor Vincent Deary and Dr Duika Burges Watson discuss how COVID smell loss can have profound effects on life, from weight change to intimacy barriers
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Northumbria University Psychology Department 