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Lou Atkinson

Dr

 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1613-3791
20112018
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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 → …

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.

  • 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 2018

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

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, In : Women and Birth. 29, 3, p. e67-e71

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate

Motivation
Health Behavior
Pregnancy
Midwifery
Research