Health and Wellbeing
We investigate a range of health-related areas including diabetes, obesity, exercise, smoking, diet, risk perception and risk communication, supported by grants from numerous sources including the EU, the Wellcome Trust, the MOD, NIHR, the Nuffield Foundation, the MRC, ESRC, FSA, DoH and the National Institute of Health (USA).
The group has four broad research clusters:
Processing Risk Information
Our risk processing research focuses on the relationship between risk estimates and associated behaviour in the context of health hazards including food contaminants and toxicants, smoking and STDs. We also examine public perception of risk related to technological advances, including those associated with nuclear power and genetic engineering.
Chronic Illness and Stress
We investigate a number of chronic illnesses including obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease and brain injury and address issues relating to both onset and management. We also investigate responses to stress-inducing situations, including strategies for managing work-life balance and stress as experienced by members of the emergency services. We also consider the relationship of perceived stress to individual and group identities and the importance of teamwork in stressful occupations.
Clinical, Psychotherapy and Counselling
Surrey has a strong record of clinical and psychotherapeutic research with a strong emphasis on applied contexts. Much of this research is done by postgraduates in the department as part of our well-established clinical and counselling doctorate programs and has a heavy emphasis on practice in real therapeutic environments.
Health Behaviours and Behaviour Change
We investigate the processes involved in changing attitudes and behaviours in health-related contexts, such as dietary habits, safe sex and smoking cessation and are currently particularly focused on addressing sustained changes in behaviour for the longer term. Current research also includes studying implicit attitudes and dual attitudes as well as investigating methodological developments in attitude measurement.
Related Programmes
Group Members
- Marcela Acuna-Rivera
- Dora Brown
- Kerry Brown
- Mark Cropley
- Paul Davis
- Riccardo Draghi-Lorenz
- Bernadette Egan
- Anja Fragodt, Charo Hodgkins
- Amelia Hollywood
- Mary John
- Sarah Johnstone
- Martin Milton
- Linda Morison
- Jane Ogden (Group Leader)
- Natalia Pliakou
- Monique Raats
- Victoria Senior
- Laura Simonds
- Clara Strauss
- Paul Tibbles
- Lada Timotijevic
- Arlene Vetere
- Fiona Warren
- Naomi Wilson
Current and Recent Funded Research
- The Relationship Between Repressive Coping, Childhood Experiences and Adult Romantic Attachment
- Work-Life Balance: Are We Asking the Right Questions?
- Work-Life Balance Working Group
- A measure of recovery for use in specialist mental health services for children and young people
- Effect of Vitano® on physiological and psychological responses to psychological stress assessed under laboratory conditions and in everyday life
- The Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Weight Loss and Psychological Adjustment
The Group also conducts extensive research via its postgraduate researchers.
Many of the projects conducted within Surrey's Food, Consumer, Behaviour and Health Research Centre also have a strong health psychology component. For information about these projects please click on this link.
