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Lou Atkinson

Dr

 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1613-3791
    20112019
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    Personal profile

    Teaching Activity

    I teach on both the BSc Psychology (single & joint hons) and MSc Health Psychology (on campus & online) programmes. I am also joint Head of Final Year for the BSc Psychology programme. I supervise research projects for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

    Undergraduate modules

    • PY3022 Psychology of Physical Activity & Exercise (module convenor)
    • PY2240 Lifespan Development
    • PY3351 Child Development

    Postgraduate modules

    • PYM703 Health Behaviours (module convenor)
    • PYM733 Health Behaviours (module convenor)
    • PYM704 Health Inequalities through the lifespan
    • PYM707 Research Project
    • PYM737 Research Project

    Research Interests

    My research is inspired by a desire to understand the complex determinants of human behaviour relating to health, and to develop interventions to empower and enable individuals to live healthier lives. Health behaviour during pregnancy and early childhood has such an influence on lifelong health and wellbeing that I am driven to find ways to support parents and health professionals in their desire to give children a healthy start and develop positive health behaviours for life. Therefore my main research topics are:

    • Maternal obesity and weight management in pregnancy
    • Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in pregnancy
    • Parental engagement in family weight management/healthy lifestyle services
    • Development and evaluation of theory- and evidence-based behaviour change interventions
    • Assessment and development of behaviour change competencies in health professionals

    PhD Supervision

    I currently supervise six PhD students, three at Aston University and three at Coventry University. The PhDs under my supervision all relate to behaviour change, mostly relating to physical activity, and cover the lifespan, from children to adults and older adults. 

    Employment

    Aug 2017 - Present - Lecturer in Psychology, Aston University

    Nov 2010 - July 2017 - Senior Researcher/Research Fellow, Coventry University

    Feb 2008 - Nov 2010 - Research Assistant, Coventry University

     

    Contact Details

    Phone:  0121 204 4541
    Email:   l.atkinson1@aston.ac.uk
    Room number: SW410f

    Education/Academic qualification

    PhD

    MSc, University of Bedfordshire

    BSc

    External positions

    Associate Editor

    May 2018 → …

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    • 22 Similar Profiles
    Weights and Measures Medicine & Life Sciences
    Pregnancy Medicine & Life Sciences
    Pregnant Women Medicine & Life Sciences
    Midwifery Medicine & Life Sciences
    Exercise Medicine & Life Sciences
    Weight Gain Medicine & Life Sciences
    Meta-Analysis Medicine & Life Sciences
    Parents Medicine & Life Sciences

    Network Recent external collaboration on country level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots.

    Research Output 2011 2019

    Bump start needed: linking guidelines, policy and practice in promoting physical activity during and beyond pregnancy

    Mills, H., Atkinson, L., Olander, E., Smith, D., Hayes, L., Currie, S., Newham, J., Foster, C. & De Vivo, M., 29 Nov 2019, In : British journal of sports medicine.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial

    Open Access
    File

    Fear of inducing guilt or shame affects midwives’ communication about body weight with pregnant women

    Atkinson, L., 31 Jul 2018, In : Evidence Based Nursing.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate

    Open Access
    File

    Healthcare professionals' and parents' experiences of the confirmatory testing period: A qualitative study of the UK expanded newborn screening pilot

    Moody, L., Atkinson, L., Kehal, I. & Bonham, J. R., 8 May 2017, In : BMC Pediatrics. 17, 1, 121.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

    Open Access
    File
    Parents
    Newborn Infant
    Delivery of Health Care
    Communication
    Interviews

    Objectively assessed physical activity and sedentary behaviour during pregnancy in portuguese women: Differences between trimesters and weekdays and weekends

    Duncan, M. J., Atkinson, L., Abreu, S., Montenegro, N., Mota, J. & Santos, P. C., 1 Apr 2017, In : Current Women's Health Reviews. 13, 1, p. 34-37 4 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

    Open Access
    File
    Exercise
    Pregnancy
    Second Pregnancy Trimester
    First Pregnancy Trimester
    Guidelines

    Acceptability of a Weight Management Intervention for Pregnant and Postpartum Women with BMI ≥30 kg/m2: A Qualitative Evaluation of an Individualized, Home-Based Service

    Atkinson, L., Olander, E. K. & French, D. P., 1 Jan 2016, In : Maternal and Child Health Journal. 20, 1, p. 88-96 9 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

    Open Access
    Postpartum Period
    Pregnant Women
    Weights and Measures
    Mothers
    Pediatric Obesity