My current research explores the effects of mindfulness practice and physical activity on student mental health. In particular, I am interested in the benefits that arise from combining the two approaches over and above either method individually.

My aim is to develop and evaluate a digital intervention in collaboration with the University’s Student Services, Department of Computer Science and the B&NES division of Public Health England. This new tool will be created through extensive consultation with its target audience, young adults. Their input will guide the initial design and their feedback upon testing it in a preliminary randomised controlled trial will inform later modifications. Through this work I hope to expand the understanding of how the effects of mindfulness practice can help people engage in physical activity more regularly, and how this impacts their psychological well-being.

The project is supported by the ESRC SWDTP and supervised by Professor Paul Chadwick, Dr Ben Ainsworth and Dr Max Western from the University of Bath, and by Dr Olivia Maynard from the University of Bristol.