Dr Helen Humphreys BSc, MSc, PhD
Senior Research Fellow
- Department of Psychology Sociology and Politics
- Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology
- Social and Economic Research Institute
Summary
About
I am a senior research fellow in the Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology. My PhD, awarded in 2018, used a human-centred design approach to develop physical activity pathways for NHS services across a number of long-term health conditions. I subsequently worked as a researcher in the Physical Activity, Wellbeing and Public Health group at Sheffield Hallam University where I explored the impact of lifestyle interventions on quality of life for people living with long-term conditions, and the role of exercise in enhancing wellbeing and clinical outcomes.
I joined the Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology as a senior research fellow in 2022. Here I lead a variety of research projects applying behavioural science theory to explore factors and design interventions that influence behaviour. I specialise in participatory research approaches that engage professional stakeholders and members of the public in research and intervention planning, including a range of qualitative methods, realist evaluation and co-design. My work draws on behaviour change theory and concepts from positive psychology, human-centred design and circular design. I am particularly interested in the role of behaviour change within innovation and undertake research consultancy related to innovation in elite sport.
Specialist areas of interest
Human-centred design
Participatory approaches
Physical activity
Publications
Journal articles
Saxton, J.M., Pickering, K., Wane, S., Humphreys, H., Crank, H., Anderson, A.S., ... Wilson, C. (2022). Co-designed weight management intervention for women recovering from oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancer. BMC Cancer, 22 (1). http://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-022-10287-y
Robinson, R., Crank, H., Humphreys, H., Fisher, P., & Greenfield, D.M. (2022). Time to embed physical activity within usual care in cancer services: a qualitative study of cancer healthcare professionals' views at a single centre in England. Disability and rehabilitation. http://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2134468
Shearn, K., Brooks, A., Humphreys, H., & Wardle, C. (2022). Mixed methods Participatory Action Research to inform service design based on the Capabilities Approach, in the North of England. Children and Society: the international journal of childhood and children's services, 36 (4), 450-471. http://doi.org/10.1111/chso.12496
Fowler Davis, S., Humphreys, H., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Withers, S., Lowe, A., & Copeland, R. (2022). Understanding the Needs and Priorities of People Living with Persistent Pain and Long-Term Musculoskeletal Conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Public Involvement Project. Healthcare, 10 (6). http://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10061130
O'Doherty, A.F., Humphreys, H., Dawkes, S., Cowie, A., Hinton, S., Brubaker, P.H., ... Nichols, S. (2021). How has technology been used to deliver cardiac rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic? An international cross-sectional survey of healthcare professionals conducted by the BACPR. BMJ Open, 11 (4). http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046051
Humphreys, H., Kilby, L., Kudiersky, N., & Copeland, R. (2021). Long COVID and the role of physical activity: a qualitative study. BMJ Open, 11 (3). http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047632
Speake, H., Copeland, R., Breckon, J., & Till, S. (2019). Challenges and opportunities for promoting physical activity in health care: a qualitative enquiry of stakeholder perspectives. European Journal of Physiotherapy. http://doi.org/10.1080/21679169.2019.1663926
Humphreys, L., Crank, H., Frith, G., Speake, H., & Reece, L. (2017). Bright spots, physical activity investments that work: Active Everyday, Sheffield’s physical activity service for all people living with and beyond cancer. British Journal of Sports Medicine. http://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-098672
Speake, H., Copeland, R., Till, S., Breckon, J., Haake, S., & Hart, O. (2016). Embedding physical activity in the heart of the NHS: the need for a whole-system approach. Sports Medicine, 46 (7), 939-946. http://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0488-y
Conference papers
Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2022). A systematic review using the socio-ecological model for physical activity interventions aiming to prevent type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes (abstract only). Journal of Sports Sciences, 40 (Sup 1), 7. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02640414.2022.2125766
Pickering, K., Wane, S., Speake, H., Crank, H., Anderson, A., Cain, H., ... Saxton, J. (2021). The new normal; adjusting to remote ways of providing bespoke weight management support to breast cancer survivors during the COVID-19 global pandemic. CANCER RESEARCH, 81 (4).
Theses / Dissertations
Speake, H. (2018). Exploring the user-centred design of aphysical activity pathway in NHS care. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Copeland, R. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00087
Internet Publications
Humphreys, H., Kilby, L., Kudiersky, N., & Copeland, R. (2020). Long Covid and the role of physical activity: a qualitative study. http://doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.03.20243345
Postgraduate supervision
PhD - Natalie Grinvalds - Development of realist theory of the co-location of health and leisure facilities to promote physical activity (completed 2022)
PhD - Nik Kudiersky - Feasibility and effects of early-initiated aerobic exercise in stroke patients
PhD - Gabbi Frith - Optimising Secondary Prevention in Early Cardiac Rehabilitation
PhD - Alex Bugg - Sarcopenia in patients with Chronic Heart Failure PhD
PhD - Elysa Ioannau - Preventing Diabetes after Gestational Diabetes: A co-produced qualitative study in minoritised communities