About us

Behavioural Science lies at the heart of the Special Interest Group of Behaviour Change Intervention Design and Communication. Any intervention that aims to change behaviour needs careful consideration.

Intervention mapping (Bartholomew et al., 2001) provides a protocol for considerations that may improve our understanding of behaviour change when planning interventions.

However, there are many intertwined and overlapping models and theoretical approaches that could be drawn upon when developing, delivering and evaluating programmes.

Research from this group draws on the leading and most recent approaches, most specifically the Behaviour Change Wheel and COM-B (Michie et al., 2011), alongside key communication skills such as Motivational Interviewing, in a combined Intervention Design, Delivery, Evaluation and Adoption System (IDDEAS: Chater, 2015) to support health, wellbeing and behaviour change.

Staff Members

• Professor Angel Chater (SIG Lead)
• Dr Julia Fruer
• Dr Mike Newell
• Dr Steve Kozub
• Dr Lindsey Smith
• Kev Wyld
• Stuart Wilson
• Dr Jane Williams

Key external collaborators

• Dr Dan Bailey
• Dr Neil Howlett
• Dr Hannah Family
• Professor Molly Courtenay

PhD students

1. Jamie Whitehall “Behaviour Change Approaches to Weight Management Interventions for Adults Living with Obesity and Weight Self-Stigma.”
2. Fani Liapi (cross-institute – IHR/ISPAR) “Evaluation of the Luton-based Total Wellbeing programme: An integrated care pathway for physical and mental health”
3. Bert Klemmer (external - Loughborough University) “How can structured sport and exercise interventions enhance the mental health of adolescents with mild to moderate mental health problems?”
4. Hannah Allcott-Watson (external - University of Hertfordshire) “Exploring needs, barriers and facilitators to changing physical activity and eating behaviours in adolescents.”

Recent PhD student Alumni

• Dr Marsha Brierley (completed 2021) “Development and evaluation of a workplace intervention to reduce prolonged sedentary behaviour.”
• Dr Samson Ojo (cross-institute – IHR/ISPAR - completed 2020) “Development and evaluation of a tailored workplace intervention to reduce and break up sitting time in office workers”
• Dr Neil Howlett (external – University of Hertfordshire - completed 2019) “Evidence-Based and Theoretically-Driven Behaviour Change Interventions for Physical Activity to Enhance Health and Wellbeing.”
• Dr Edwina Prayogo (external – University College London – completed 2018) “Fresh into Foodbank: An intervention study investigating the impact of a monetary and psychological-based intervention in improving fruit and vegetable intake in Foodbank clients”

Current grants/funding

• Team Beds and Luton, as part of the Sport England funded Satellite Clubs. £3,000 Chater, A. & Williams, J. (2021 - Delayed start due to COVID-19). Development of a physical activity intervention to support young people who have experienced a significant bereavement. 12 month delivery grant.
• Medical Research Council: Public Health Intervention Development Scheme (MRC PHIND). £140,565. Holley, C., Farrow, C., Haycroft, E. & Chater, A. (Nov 2020). Co-developing an app-based intervention to increase children’s consumption of vegetables. 15 month research grant.
• Diabetes UK. £137,510. Bailey, D., Chater, A., Dong, F., Edwardson, C., Hewson, D., Pang, D., Pappas, Y., Biddle, S. (July 2019). A tailored intervention to reduce sitting behaviour in people with Type 2 Diabetes: A randomised-controlled feasibility study. 18-month research grant.
• National Institute for Health Research: Health Technology Assessment Programme (NIHR HTA). £2,255,188. Trivedi, D., Wellsted, D., Wyatt, S., Swanepoel, A., Chater, A., Bottoms, L., Howlett, A., Jones, J., Clark, A., Turner, D., Wilson, J., Sharma, S., Jones, J. & David, L. (Aug 2019). The clinical and cost-effectiveness of exercise intervention for depression in adolescents: a phased multi-site randomised controlled trial. A Randomised controlled trial of Energetic Activity for Depression in Young people (The READY Trial). 56-month research grant.
• University of Bedfordshire VC office. £9,200. Bailey, D., Mitchell, A., Hewson, D., Kinman, G., Birtwisle, C., Gilbert, N. & Chater, A. (Apr 2019). #ActiveCampus. 6-month research and public engagement grant. Behaviour Change Lead.
• Total Wellbeing Luton £30,000 matched funded with the Institute for Health Research, University of Bedfordshire £30,000. (Total £60,000). Pappas, Y., Chater, A. & Randhawa, G. (Nov 2018). Evaluation of the Total Wellbeing Programme Luton: Supporting commissioning, learning and participation through research. 3-year PhD studentship.
• Ergotron. £12,400. Bailey, D., Ojo, S., Chater, A. & Hewson, D. (Mar, 2018). What is the Effect of Interrupting Sitting in the Workplace on Cardiometabolic Risk and Worker Productivity? Ergonomic research donation.
• National Institute for Health Research: Programme Grant for Applied Research (NIHR PGfAR) – £1,959,981. Roposch, A., Nazareth, I., Freemantle, N., Wood, J., Ray, D., Morris, S., Koczan, P., Nightingale, R., Lewis, L., Reilly, R., Morley, E., Chater, A., & Green, J., (Nov, 2017). Evaluation of an aid to diagnosis for congenital dysplasia of the hip in general practice: controlled trial randomised by practice. 60-month grant.
• Institute for Sport and Physical Activity (ISPAR): University of Bedfordshire. £11,988. Smith, L., Bailey, D. & Chater, A. (Mar, 2017). Development and evaluation of a workplace intervention to reduce prolonged sedentary behaviour. PhD Studentship. 36 months.
• Herts Sports Partnership. £36,400. Chater, A. (2016, Dec). Changing Physical Activity Behaviour: The Active Herts Programme. 24 month grant.
• PharmAlliance. £21,061. Smith, F. (UCL), Chater, A. (UCL), Pyzik, O. (UCL), Sleath, B. (UNC), Carpenter, D. (UNC), Bailey, S. (UNC), Biggers, L. (UNC), Wayman, B (UNC),El-sabae, H. (UNC), & Gilmartin, J. (Monash). (2016, Jan). Developing skills and confidence of pharmacy students to communicate with adolescents about health and medicines. 12 month seed funding.
• MRC Public Health Intervention Development Scheme (PHIND). £149,783. Family, H., Scott, J., Neale, J., & Chater, A. (2015, May). Opportunistic contraception advice and support for women receiving opiate substitution therapy from community pharmacies. 24 month research grant
• University of Bedfordshire Institute for Health Research (IHR). £9,350. Cook, E, Powell, F., Armitage, C & Chater, A. (2013). Can an intervention enhancing positive affect lead to weight loss? A pilot Randomised Control Trial. 24 month research grant.

Recent papers

• Williams, J., Shorter, G. W., Howlett, N., Zakrzewski-Fruer, J., & Chater, A. M. (2021). Can physical activity support grief outcomes in individuals who have been bereaved? A systematic review. Sports Medicine Open, 7(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-021-00311-z
• Bailey, D. P., Edwardson, C. L., Pappas, Y., Dong, F., Hewson, D. J., Biddle, S. J., Brierley, M. L. & Chater, A. M. (2021). A randomised-controlled feasibility study of the REgulate your SItting Time (RESIT) intervention for reducing sitting time in individuals with type 2 diabetes: study protocol, Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 7(1), 1-11.
• Howlett, N., Bottoms, L., Chater, A., Clark, A.B., Clarke, T., David, L., Irvine, K., Jones, A., Jones, J., Mengoni, S.E., Murdoch, J. Pond, M., Sharma, S., Sims, E. J., Turner, D. A., Wellsted, D. Wilson, J., Wyatt, S. & Trivedi, D. (2021). A randomised controlled trial of energetic activity for depression in young people (READY): a multi-site feasibility trial protocol. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 7(1), 1-19.
• Bottoms, L., Howlett, N., Chater, A., Jones, A., Jones, J., Wyatt, S., Mengoni, E., Sharma, S., Irvine, K., Trivedi, D. & Wellsted, D. (2021). Energy Matching of a High Intensity Exercise Protocol with a Low Intensity Exercise Protocol in Young People. Sport Sciences for Health doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00774-3
• Chater, A., Milton, S., Green, J., Gilworth, G., & Roposch, A. (2021). Understanding physician behaviour in the 6–8 weeks hip check in primary care: a qualitative study using the COM-B. BMJ Open, 11(3), e044114.
• Thomas, R., Williams, M., Smit, G., & Chater, A. (2020). Replacing sugary snacks with fruit, nuts and seeds at nurses’ stations within a UK oncology unit: a pilot intervention study. British Journal of Medical Practitioners, 13(2), a013.
• Gilworth, G., Milton, S., Chater, A., Nazareth, I., Roposch, A., & Green, J. (2020). Parents’ expectations and experiences of the 6-week baby check: a qualitative study in primary care. British Journal of General Practitioners Open. 4(5). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgpopen20X101110
• Ojo, S. O., Bailey, D. P., Hewson, D. J., & Chater, A. M. (2019). Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Breaking Up Sitting Time among Desk-Based Office Workers: A Qualitative Investigation Using the TDF and COM-B. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(16), 2903.
• Ojo, S. O., Bailey, D. P., Brierley, M. L., Hewson, D. J., & Chater, A. M.(2019). Breaking barriers: using the behavior change wheel to develop a tailored intervention to overcome workplace inhibitors to breaking up sitting time. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 1-17
• Brierley, M. L., Chater, A. M., Smith, L. R., & Bailey, D. P. (2019). The Effectiveness of Sedentary Behaviour Reduction Workplace Interventions on Cardiometabolic Risk Markers: A Systematic Review. Sports Medicine, 1-29.
• Chater, A. & Courtenay, M. (2019). Community nursing and antibiotic stewardship: the importance of communication and training. British Journal of Community Nursing. 24(7), 338-342.
• Chater, A. (2018). Seven steps to help patients overcome a ‘Fear of Finding Out - FOFO’. Nursing Standard. 33, (1), 24-25
• Ojo, S. O., Bailey, D. P., Chater, A. M. & Hewson, D. J. (2018). The impact of active workstations on workplace productivity and performance: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(3), 417. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030417 *cited 21 times
• Howlett, N., Trivedi, D., Troop, N. A., & Chater, A. M. (2018). Are physical activity interventions for healthy inactive adults effective in promoting behavior change and maintenance, and which behavior change techniques are effective? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Translational Behavioral Medicine. doi.org/10.1093/tbm/iby010
• Steed, L., Sohanpal, R., James, W.Y., Rivas, C., Jumbe, S., Chater, A., Todd, A., Edwards, E., MacNeill, V., Macfarlane, F. & Greenhalgh, T. (2017). Equipping community pharmacy workers as agents for health behaviour change: developing and testing a theory-based smoking cessation intervention. BMJ Open 7:e015637. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015637
• Cook, E., Randhawa, G., Guppy, A., Chater, A., Pang, D. Large, S. (2016). The impact of location of the uptake of telephone based healthcare. International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering, 6, (6), 39-47.
• Chater, A. (2016). The power of language and emotion in specialist obesity services The European Health Psychologist,18, (5), 184-188.
• Jubraj, B., Barnett, N., Grimes, L., Varia, S., Chater, A., & Auyeung, V. (2016). Why we should understand the patient experience: Clinical empathy and Medicines Optimisation. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 24(5), 367-370. doi: 10.1111/ijpp.12268
• Hagger M., Luszczynska A., de Wit J., Benyamini Y., Burkert S., Chamberland P., Chater A., Dombrowski S., van Dongen A., French D., Gauchet A., Hankonen N., Karekla M., Kinney A., Kwasnicka D., Hing Lo S., López-Roig S., Meslot C., Marques M., Neter E., Plass A., Potthoff S., Rennie L., Scholz U., Stadler G., Stolte E., ten Hoor G., Verhoeven A., Wagner M., Oettingen G., Sheeran P., Gollwitzer P. (2016). Implementation intention and planning interventions in health psychology: recommendations from the Synergy Expert Group for research and practice, Psychology and Health, 31 (7), 814-839.
• Cook, E., Randhawa, G., Large, S., Guppy, A., Chater, A, & Ali, N. (2015) Satisfaction of using a nurse-led telephone based healthcare service among mothers and caregivers of young children. Journal of Health Policy and Technology.5: 113-122. doi:10.1016/j.hlpt.2015.12.002
• Chater, A. (2015). Behavioural problems: The power of language: Why patient consultations often fail to change behaviour. The Brewery at Freuds: Health and Behaviour Special Issue, 68-71.
• Howlett, N., Trivedi, D., Troop, N. A. & Chater, A. M. (2015). What are the most effective behaviour change techniques to promote physical activity and/or reduce sedentary behaviour in sedentary adults? A systematic review protocol. BMJ Open, 5 :e008573 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008573
• Kolotourou, M., Radley, D., Gammon, C., Smith, L., Chadwick, P., & Sacher, P. M. (2015). Long-Term Outcomes following the MEND 7–13 Child Weight Management Program. Childhood Obesity, 11(3), 325-330.
• Martin, J., Chater, A. & Lorencatto, F. (2013). Effective behaviour change techniques in the prevention and management of childhood obesity. International Journal of Obesity, 37(10), 1287-1294.

Recent conference presentations

• Brierley, M. L., Smith, L. S., Chater, A. M.,& Bailey, D. P. The A-REST (Activity to Reduce Excessive Sitting Time) Study: Preliminary efficacy in police staff. Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR) Annual Conference (Online, September, 2020).
• Brierley, M.L., Chater, A.M.,Smith, L.R., and Bailey, D.P. Development of a sedentary behaviour workplace intervention for police staff using the behaviour change wheel. British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Conference (Leicester, November 2019) 
• Howlett, N., Trivedi, D., Troop, N. A., Jones, A. J. & Chater, A. M.How effective is community physical activity promotion in areas of deprivation for inactive adults? A pragmatic observational evaluation of the 'Active Herts' physical activity programme. UK Society for Behavioural Medicine (Birmingham, December 2018). 
• Deans, F. & Freeman, A. on behalf of the Active Herts team. How effective is community physical activity promotion in areas of deprivation for inactive adults with cardiovascular disease risk and/or mental health concerns? Sport England Symposium. International Society for Physical Activity and Health 7^thCongress (London, October 2018). 
• Family, H., Scott, J., Alhusein, N., Neale, J. & Chater, A.Motivation and Behaviour Change in Pharmacy. Improving the Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Practice with Behaviour Change Conference (Bath, September 2018) 
• Prayogo, E., Chater, A.,Chapman, S., Barker, M., Rahmawati, N. D., Waterfall, T. J., & Grimble, G. When a ’healthy’ diet becomes a luxury: Investigating the impact of income crisis and food insecurity on foodbank users’ dietary quality. KCL Multi-disciplinary research conference on food and poverty in the UK: taking stock, moving forward (Kings College London, April 2018) 
• Gilmartin-Thomas, J., Sleath, B., Cooper Bailey, S., Carpenter, D., Chater, A.,MacAllister, C., Pyzik, O., Wayman, B., Annis, I. & Smith, F. Development and Evaluation of An On-line Short Course to Help Train Pharmacy Students to Communicate Effectively with Youth.  American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Annual Meeting & Exposition (Nashville, TN, March 2018).
• Chater, A., Howlett, N., Trivedi, D. & Troop, N. Effective behaviour change techniques to promote physical activity in inactive adults: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Paper presented at British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, (Aberdeen, August, 2016).
• Howlett, N., Trivedi, D., Troop, N. & Chater, A.  What are the most effective behaviour change techniques to promote physical activity and/or reduce sedentary behaviour in sedentary adults? A systematic review. Paper presented at BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, (London, September, 2015).
• Prayogo, E., Grimble, G., Barker, M. & Chater, A., Who uses UK Foodbanks? A qualitative investigation of clients experiences, quality of diet, fruit and vegetable intake and well-being. BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, (London, September, 2015).
• Chance, C. J. & Smith, L. R.  The effectiveness of body composition tracking on overweight/obese GP Exercise Referral Scheme clients in achieving weight loss goals. Paper presented at BASES Student Conference. (April, 2015).
• Cook, E., Powell, F & Chater, A.  Can an intervention enhancing positive affect lead to weight loss? A feasibility study. Paper presented at International Society of Behavioural Medicine 36^th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions, (Texas, April 2015).