About

I am the Programme Director for the MSc in Health Psychology (campus) and a senior lecturer in Health Psychology.

Teaching responsibilities

I predominately teach on our MSc in Health Psychology (campus). I am the module leader for the Psychology of Illness module and the Clinical and Professional Skills for Practitioner Psychologists module. I also lead the qualitative element of the Advanced Psychological Research Methods in Context Module and co-ordinate the Empirical Research Project module.

In addition to my core teaching responsibilities on the MSc Health Psychology programme, I contribute guest sessions across a range of modules on the BSc Psychology programme, the MSc Behaviour Change programme and the online MSc Health Psychology programme in relation to my areas of expertise.

Professional interests

I am interested in the development of professional identity and professional competence in the context of health psychology and in relation to interprofessional development. I am one of the College Leads for Interprofessional Development in the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care.

Research interests

My research interests are mainly in the area of health psychology and my current focus is on overweight and obesity, specifically weight bias and weight stigma.

This includes but is not limited to:

• the experience of obesity and overweight (stigma and bias)
• predictors and correlates of internalised weight bias and associated outcomes
• self-regulation and weight management-related behaviour
• health promotion and behaviour change (in the context of overweight/obesity management)
• individual, family and professional (health and care) perspectives on overweight and obesity

I am also interested in a range of chronic metabolic disorders associated with overweight and obesity.

Membership of professional bodies

I am a Chartered Psychologist (C.Psychol), an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS) and a full member of the BPS Division of Health Psychology (DHP).

I am also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).

Qualifications

Undergraduate Qualifications:

• BSc (Hons) Psychology

Postgraduate Qualifications:

• MSc Health Psychology
• D.Health.Psy
• PG Cert. HE

Experience in industry

I have provided consultancy to the pharmaceutical industry in relation to patient outcomes research, specifically the selection of appropriate measures for use in clinical trials.

I have served as a member of the British Psychology Society Division of Health Psychology Training Committee (DHPTC) for over nine years, contributing to the development of the Standards for the accreditation of Masters and Doctoral programmes in health psychology and undertaking accreditation reviews and visits on behalf of the Society.

Recent publications

Richardson, M., Maspero, M., Golightly, D., Sheffield, D., Staples, V. & Lumber, R. (2019). Chapter: Nature: a new paradigm for well-being and ergonomics. In Neville A. Stanton, Paul M. Salmon, Guy Walker. New Paradigms in Ergonomics. Routledge.

Faghy, M.A., Armstrong-Booth, K.E., Staples, V., Duncan, M.J. and Roscoe, C.M., (2021) Multi-Component Physical Activity Interventions in the UK Must Consider Determinants of Activity to Increase Effectiveness. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 6(3), 56.

Bunten, A., Burgess-Allen, J., Howell-Jones, R., Jackson, J., Ward, D., Staples, P., Staples, V., Rowthorn, H., van Schaik, P., Saei, A., Tydeman, E., Blair, P., Hugueniot, O., Porter, P. and Chadborn, T. (2021). The Derby Packed Lunch Trial; using behavioural insights to reduce primary school children’s sugar consumption. Appetite. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2020.104987

Gaffiero, D., Staples, P., Staples, V. and Maratos, F.A. (2022) Interpretation Biases in Pain: Validation of Two New Stimulus Sets. Frontiers in Psychology. 12:784887. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.784887

Ndupu, L.B., Faghy, M., Staples, V. et al. (2023). Exploring the predictors of physical inactivity in a university setting. BMC Public Health  23, 59. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14953-5

Npudu, L.B., Staples, V., et al., (2023). Application of theoretical domains framework to explore the enablers of, and barriers to, physical activity among university staff and Students: A qualitative study". BMC Public Health 23, 670. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15588-w

Courses

• Health Psychology MSc