Dr Hazel Wallace-Williams BSc, MSc, PhD, Cert Ed.
About
Biography
I consider myself to be a developmental psychologist with a focus on emerging adulthood, positive psychology, behaviour change and exercise. Before joining the University of Surrey I completed a PhD in Psychology at the University of Greenwich funded by Health Education England. The ultimate aim of my PhD was to improve resilience and retention of students of nursing and midwifery via positive psychology interventions (contact with nature, assertiveness, meditation and exercise). Whilst researching I worked as a Guest Lecturer, FE Lecturer and Teacher of Psychology across BSc, MSc, Access to HE and A level courses.
I received a scholarship from the University of Greenwich for my MSc Psychology (Childhood and Adolescence) for which I investigated the effects of positive psychology interventions on adolescents' moral development focusing on pro-environmental behaviours. My BSc dissertation investigated the effect of a positive psychology intervention on adult exercise behaviours.
Areas of specialism
My qualifications
Previous roles
ResearchResearch interests
My research interests focus on positive behaviour change in order to promote health and wellbeing across the lifespan. I am especially interested in the links between physical and psychological health.
Research projects
The development of a wellbeing intervention for nursing and midwifery students: A qualitative scoping and evaluation study. (PhD thesis)It has been suggested that inclusion of programmes for developing resilience skills should be integral to undergraduate education, especially for health care students. The aim of this research was to explore perceived issues which undermine and promote wellbeing. A qualitative investigation was conducted using student focus groups and stake holder interviews. A new, integrated model was devised to represent the domain-permeable factors reported, within the context of established theories, models and frameworks. This stage informed the design, implementation and evaluation of an intervention to test feasibility for large scale interventions. An optional online module with activities (exercise, assertiveness, meditation and contact with nature) was delivered and evaluative, qualitative data was collected. The intervention was reported as a positive experience, however the impact of Covid-19 imposed severe limitations on planned second stage quantitative data collection and it was not possible to assess feasibility of the study. There was, however, a serendipitous opportunity to collect data on students experiences of health care environments during Covid-19.
Research interests
My research interests focus on positive behaviour change in order to promote health and wellbeing across the lifespan. I am especially interested in the links between physical and psychological health.
Research projects
It has been suggested that inclusion of programmes for developing resilience skills should be integral to undergraduate education, especially for health care students. The aim of this research was to explore perceived issues which undermine and promote wellbeing. A qualitative investigation was conducted using student focus groups and stake holder interviews. A new, integrated model was devised to represent the domain-permeable factors reported, within the context of established theories, models and frameworks. This stage informed the design, implementation and evaluation of an intervention to test feasibility for large scale interventions. An optional online module with activities (exercise, assertiveness, meditation and contact with nature) was delivered and evaluative, qualitative data was collected. The intervention was reported as a positive experience, however the impact of Covid-19 imposed severe limitations on planned second stage quantitative data collection and it was not possible to assess feasibility of the study. There was, however, a serendipitous opportunity to collect data on students experiences of health care environments during Covid-19.