Research Output per year
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 → …Fingerprint Dive into the research topics where Lou Atkinson is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
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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 2018
Fear of inducing guilt or shame affects midwives’ communication about body weight with pregnant women
Atkinson, L., 31 Jul 2018Research 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, 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, 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
Beyond the 'teachable moment' - A conceptual analysis of women's perinatal behaviour change
Olander, E. K., Darwin, Z. J., Atkinson, L., Smith, D. M. & Gardner, B., 1 Jun 2016, 29, 3, p. e67-e71Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
Motivation
Health Behavior
Pregnancy
Midwifery
Research