PhD Student

Course start: October 2020

Supervisor: Dr Angel Chater
Second Supervisor: Dr Louise Ferrandino

Working thesis title

The evaluation of community physical activity programmes for the benefit of long term conditions.

Abstract

Community physical activity is essential to maintaining and supporting the health and wellbeing of people with long term conditions, who are experiencing difficulties in their local community due to ill health, poor wellbeing or disability. While there are many forms of physical activities that can be identified as motivators for health-promoting behaviours, dance combines numerous factors encouraging positive health outcomes including: cognitive and physical stimulation, emotion, imagination and social interaction.
Engagement in dance and the forming of healthy habits provides intrinsic motivations in creating healthier behaviours, acting as a multidimensional component for improving health. This combination can lead to a number of positive responses in the biopsychosocial aspects of the individual or group; allowing people to accept who and where they are at right now, while supporting cross-sectoral collaboration, including the national health service, social work, and mental health services.

Research Aims

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a community physical activity program, designed for social prescribing for those who have long term conditions.
• To develop and implement a behaviour change intervention using dance as physical activity.
• To give people with long term conditions the same chance to feel included as everyone else in a safe space allowing time to grow and flourish, while enhancing the richness and quality of their lives in a multifaceted way.
• To improve population health and reduce social inequities at the personal and societal levels.

Want to take part in my research?

I welcome and appreciate anyone who feels they would like to take part in my research. Participants must have a long term health condition, either physical or mental or both. If you or anyone you know could possibly benefit from participation please feel free to contact me.

About Me

Upon completing an MSc in Dance Science at the University of Bedfordshire in 2019, I began working here as a visiting lecturer within the dance department. My primary focus has taken a directional shift from dancer health and biomechanics to public health in the form of health wellbeing and behaviour change. It is a dream to be both a student and lecturer; simultaneously being able to appreciate both sides of the same coin. I have been aiming to get to this point for 6 years and now it is real, I will be combining everything I have learned so far and everything I have yet to learn into my PhD.

Contact information

E: sarah.mackin1@study.beds.ac.uk
Twitter: @_SarahMackin
LinkedIn: Sarah Mackin