Dr Sally Akehurst
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Job title: Head of Sport and Exercise
Email: s.akehurst@derby.ac.uk
Phone No: 01332 591774
Room: N207
Recent publications
Recent Publications: Akehurst, S., & Thatcher, J. (2010). Narcissism, social anxiety and self-presentation in exercise. Personality and Individual Differences. 49, 130-135.
Woodman, T., Akehurst, S., Hardy, L., & Beattie, S. (2010). Self-confidence and performance: A little self-doubt helps. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 11, 467-470.
Akehurst, S. (2009). Self-love: Understanding the narcissistic sport performer. The Sport and Exercise Scientist, 21, 27.
Faculty: Education, Health and Sciences
School: School of Science
Subject Area: Sport and Exercise
I am Head of Sport and Exercise and a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology. I actively research in the area of sport and exercise psychology within the Centre for Psychological Research and consult with a range of athletes at an applied level for Team Derby Performance and the Derbyshire Institute of Sport.
Teaching responsibilities
I teach on the following modules as part of the Sport and Exercise Science and Studies programmes:
- Principles of Sport and Exercise Psychology (Level 4),
- Sport and Exercise Psychology (Level 5),
- Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology (Level 6),
- Academic and Applied Skills in Sport and Exercise,
- Research Methods for Sport and Exercise,
- Supervise undergraduate research projects for our Independent Studies for Sport and Exercise Module (Level 6).
- Starting Septemeber 2012 I will be involved in mentoring students on the new Negotiated Module (Level 7) and supervise postgraduate research projects for students on the new MRes in Sport and Exercise Programme.
Professional interests
I first graduated from the University of Brighton in 2000 with a 1st Class BA Hons degree in Leisure and Sport Studies. I then pursued my postgraduate education at the University of Wales Bangor where I completed an MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology achieving a Distinction in 2002, and proceeded to complete a PhD in Sport Psychology from 2001-2006. I completed a postgraduate certificate for teaching in higher education with a Distinction, in 2005 from Bangor University. I have been teaching in sport and exercise psychology since 2001 and I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. In 2005 I was appointed as a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Aberystwyth University where I pursued my academic career as a lecturer, researcher and consultant. I became a BASES Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist in Psychology Support in 2008 and have worked as a consultant with a range of athletes since 2001. In 2010 I was appointed Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of Derby where I lecture on the sport and exercise programmes; pursue research within the field of sport and exercise psychology, and continue to provide psychology support to athletes. In 2012 I was appointed Head of Subject and currently lead the Sport and Exercise team at the University of Derby.
Research interests
My research investigates performing under pressure in relation to individual differences. My early work focused on the mechanisms by which performance breaks down under pressure and then moved towards exploring the influence of individual difference factors. In particular, my research focuses on the relationship between confidence, effort and anxiety and the interaction of narcissism and trait self-consciousness and choking. Further areas of interest include passion in sport, and impression management in sport and exercise contexts. I currently supervise a PhD student exploring the Yips in sport and liaise with internal and external colleagues on projects exploring stress responses and motivation.
Membership of professional bodies and advisory committees
- Professional Member of the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP);
- British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES);
- High Education Academy (HEA);
- European Congress of Sport Sciences (ECSS).
Recent Conferences
Invited Presentations and Symposiums:
Akehurst, S. (2009, October). An Introduction to Sport Psychology. Talk presented at the All Wales Coaching Conference: What can the performance coach do for the archer? Builth Wells, Wales. Funded by the Welsh Archery Association Coaching Group.
Akehurst, S., Tod, D., Thatcher, J., Lavallee, D., & Anderson, A. (2008, October). To what extent is there reciprocity between psychology and sport and exercise psychology? Chair of Symposium at Nordic International Conference: Halmsted, Sweden. Funded by BASES International Travel Grant. A
kehurst, S. (2008, October). Exploring narcissism in sport: Adoption, application, and development of narcissistic understanding from mainstream psychology to sport psychology and back. Oral presented at Nordic International Conference: Halmsted, Sweden. Funded by BASES International Travel Grant.
Recent Conferences:
Akehurst, S., Leszczynska, O., & Oliver, E. (2011). Passion for dance: A negative dependency that enhances risky behaviour? Poster presented at European Congress of Sport Sciences International Annual Conference: Liverpool John Moores University, UK. Funded by University of Derby Sport and Exercise Department.
Akehurst, S., Woodman, T., Hardy, L., & Beattie, S. (2010, September). Self-confidence and performance: A little self-doubt helps. Oral presented at British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences National Annual Conference: Glasgow, UK.
Akehurst, S., Hardy, L., & Woodman, T. (2009, September). Examining the influence of narcissism and trait self-consciousness on choking under pressure in gymnasts. Oral presented at Association for Applied Sport Psychology International Annual Conference: Salt Lake City, Utah. Funded by Aberystwyth University Learned Societies Fund.
Akehurst, S., & Thatcher, J. (2009, September). I love me but what is that to you? Narcissism, social anxiety and self-presentation in exercise. Poster presented at British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences National Annual Conference: Leeds Met, UK. Funded by Aberystwyth University Sport and Exercise Science Department.
Akehurst, S., Woodman, T., & Hardy, L. (2008, October). Two studies investigating the interactive effects of narcissism and trait self-consciousness upon dispositional choking, and the role of confidence. Poster presented at Nordic International Conference: Halmsted, Sweden. Funded by BASES International Travel Grant.
Akehurst, S., Woodman, T., & Hardy, L. (2008, September). Effects of confidence and mental effort on performance breakdown under pressure. Oral presented at British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences National Annual Conference: Brunel, UK. Funded by Aberystwyth University Learned Societies Fund.
Akehurst, S., & Hardy, L. (2008, April). The influence of trust and confidence on conscious processing and performance. Poster presented at British Psychological Society National Annual Conference: Dublin, UK. Funded by Aberystwyth University Learned Societies Fund.
Additional Interests and Activities
Research Awards:
Winner of the Sportesse Sport Science Award for best oral presentation of Established Researchers at the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science National Annual Conference at the University of Glasgow, UK (2010).
Self-confidence and performance:
A little self-doubt helps (S. Akehurst, T. Woodman, L. Hardy, & S. Beattie). 3rd Prize in the Young Investigators Award at the Nordic International Conference in Halmsted, Sweden (2008). Two studies investigating the interactive effects of narcissism and trait self-consciousness upon dispositional choking, and the role of confidence (S. Akehurst, T. Woodman, & L. Hardy).
Research Grants (Successful)
Akehurst, S., & Oliver, E. (2010). Establishing the influence of personality and intrapersonal regulatory style on performance under pressure. Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships, Aberystwyth University (£14,000.00 - Successful).
Oliver, E., & Akehurst, S. (2010). Motivation for individual study engagement: The roles of competency and autonomy. Learning and Teaching Enhancement Fund, Aberystwyth University (£1393.97).
Akehurst, S. (2009). Investigating choking resilience and susceptibility in golfers. Department of Sport and Exercise Science Summer Bursary Fund, Aberystwyth University (£480.00).
Akehurst, S., Woodman, T., & Hardy, L. (2008). Interactive effects of narcissism and trait self-consciousness on choking under pressure in aesthetic sports. Aberystwyth University Research Fund (£2000.00 ).
Professional Consultancy - BASES Accrediated Sport Scientist (Psychology Support)
Provision of psychology support to athletes from a range of sports and levels.
Sports have included: archery (Welsh Archery Association), athletics, golf, ice skating, tennis, trampolining, and sailing (Welsh Yachting Association).
Clients have included: Club to International level, juvenile to adult performers, and coaches.
Other Professional Activities
PhD Supervisor - Thesis entitled 'Impression Management in Sport' since 2006 BASES Supervised Experience Supervisor since 2009 Peer Reviewer - Journal of Sports Sciences since 2008 and Personality and Individual Differences since 2010
Undergraduate qualifications
- BA (Hons) Leisure and Sport Studies, University of Brighton
Postgraduate qualifications
- MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology, University of Wales, Bangor
- Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education, University of Wales, Bangor
Research qualifications
- PhD - Choking under pressure: Mechanisms and individual differences, University of Wales, Bangor
