Centre staff
Dr Jeff Breckon
Principal research fellow
Phone 0114 225 4353
E-mail j.breckon@shu.ac.uk
Jeff is a BPS chartered sport and exercise psychologist and chief assessor for the Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP). He has over 17 years of clinical experience in physical activity referral schemes and lifestyle behaviour change.
His PhD examined the efficacy of physical activity counselling (using motivational interviewing) in GP referral schemes and was examined by Professors Stuart Biddle and Steve Rollnick. He is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES). Jeff delivered the international Training New Trainers programme for MINT in Barcelona (2009).
Professional memberships
- British Psychological Association chartered psychologist (chief examiner/assessor for the Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology)
- Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (since 2000, Quebec)
- British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)
- Member of Institute of Learning and Teaching
Research interests/current work
Jeff has been an active researcher since 1999 and worked clinically in physical activity behaviour change since 1993. He has been a co-applicant on four successful research bids and principal investigator on two current bid submissions (and a co-applicant on two further bids). All of these projects involve cross-faculty working with other research centres including the Centre for Health and Social Care, Biomedical Research Centre and Centre for Regional, Economic and Social Research.
Jeff leads the evaluation of the SHU Wellness programme and the monitoring and evaluation of the future programme design. This involves analysis of the cognitive, behavioural and epidemiological facets of the programme across the determinants of physical activity, diet/nutrition and mental health as well as cost benefit, utilisation and cultural factors.
His main area of interest is in health behaviour change and he has implemented innovative approaches to research projects CSES are involved in, which includes behaviour change counselling and treatment fidelity (TF; Breckon et al., 2008) which have now been embedded into a number of projects. Jeff is the first researcher in CSES to apply combined and enhanced motivational enhancement therapies into research bids including facets such as formulation from CBT into health behaviour change. He has introduced competence testing as part of the TF framework into projects such as the HTA PA Booster trial to ensure internal reliability. Jeff has published internationally on these topics and have reviewed for more than 10 journals and book publishers (over 30 reviews) as well as reviewing research grant submissions for the NIHR (2008 and 2009)
Selected publications since 2005
Hind, D., Scott, E.J., Copeland, R.J., Breckon, J.D., Crank, H., Walters, S.J., Brazier, J.E., Nicholl, J., Cooper, C. and Goyder, E. (2010) A randomised controlled trial and cost-effectiveness evaluation of 'booster' interventions to sustain increases in physical activity in middle-aged adults in deprived urban neighbourhoods. BMC Public Health,10(3),
Hutchison, A., Johnston, L.H., Breckon, J.D. (2009) Using QSR-NVivo to facilitate the development of a grounded theory project: An account of a worked example. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. April 2009.
Hutchison, A., Johnston, L. H. and Breckon, J. D. (2009) Grounded Theory Based Research within Sport and Exercise Psychology: A Critical Review. Qualitative Research in Psychology.
Johnston, L. H., Breckon, J. D. and Hutchison, A. (2009) Influencing Health Behaviour: Applying Theory to Practice. In, L. Dugdill, D. Crone and R. Murphy (Eds) Physical Activity and Health Promotion (pp21-38) Oxford: Blackwell.
Hutchison, A., Breckon, J. D. and Johnston, L. H. (2008) Physical activity behaviour change interventions based on the transtheoretical model: A systematic review. Health Behaviour Research, July 2008.
Breckon, J. D., Johnston, L. H. and Hutchison, A. (2008) Physical activity counseling content and competency: A systematic review. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 5, 398-417
Lindsay, P., Breckon, J. D., Thomas, O. and Maynard, I. W. (2007) In Pursuit of Congruence: A personal reflection upon methods and philosophy in applied practice. The Sport Psychologist. 21, 335-352.
Breckon, J. D. (2005) Exercise Motivation and Adherence: The Use of Motivational Interviewing. The Sport and Exercise Scientist. BASES. (March 2005).
Conference communications
Dalton, C.F., Breckon, J.D., De Silva, N., Copeland, R.J., Hall, A.J., Kesterton, S.W. and Reynolds, G.P. (2010) Polymorphisms in serotonin and dopamine receptor genes influence weight loss, motivation and eating behaviours. 'Behind and Beyond the Brain' The 8th Bial Symposium with a theme of 'Intuition and Decision-making' Casa do Médico, PortoBIAL, Portugal, 8 April 2010.
Breckon, J.D. (2010) Using Motivational Interviewing to Support Elite Athletes. Lifestyle Support Event; DCMS Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS). Reading; UK. April 2010.
Breckon, J.D. (2010) Motivational Interviewing and its Role in Vocational Rehabilitation. Health and Wellbeing at Work, Birmingham NEC, March 2010.
Breckon, J.D. (2010) Changing lifestyle with Motivational Interviewing. Annual meeting of the Icelandic Medical Association, Reykjavik, Iceland. (January, 2010)
Breckon, J. D. (2009) Motivational Interviewing: Potential Role in Psychiatric Practice. Psychiatry Grand Rounds, School of Medicine/Health Sciences Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook. December 2009.
Breckon, J. D. (2009) Health Behaviour Change and Programme Adherence. The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Occupational Health and Ergonomics. 'Health Matters' National Conference. May 2009, Warwick University.
Hutchison, A., Johnston, L.H. and Breckon, J.D. (June 2009) A Grounded Theory of Long Term Physical Activity Behaviour Change. International Qualitative conference in Sport and exercise, Roehampton, June 2009.
Hutchison, A., Johnston, L.H., Breckon, J.D. (2008) Using QSR NVivo to facilitate the development of a grounded theory project. BPS Qualitative Methods in Psychology
Section Inuagural Conference, Leeds, UK Sept 1st-4th 2008. Hutchison, A., Johnston, L. H. and Breckon, J. D. (2008) A Grounded Theory of Long Term Physical Activity Behaviour Change: A Preliminary Model. BPS Qualitative Methods in Psychology Section Inaugural Conference, Leeds, UK Sept 1st-4th 2008
Havenar, J. M. and Breckon, J. D. (2007) Adapted Motivational interviewing for increasing physical activity: A 12 month clinical trial. [poster presentation] Research Frontiers in Nutritional Sciences Conference, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Oct 22-23, 2007), Tucson, AZ.
Ward, R. and Breckon, J. D. (2006) The effect of motivational interviewing on physical activity adherence to an exercise referral scheme. [Abstract] British Association of Sport and Exercise Science, 2006 conference.
