Dr Ruth Lowry
Back to Sport and Exercise Psychology staff
Acting Field Leader in Sport and Exercise Psychology
Senior Lecturer in Exercise and Sport Psychology
Contact Details
Office: N338 Telephone: +44 (0) 1243 816309 |
Introduction
Ruth started to work at the University of Chichester in 2008. Prior to this Ruth was a lecturer in Exercise and Sport Psychology at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (from 2004) and a teaching fellow at Queen’s University Belfast (from 2002).
In her spare time Ruth is a first-aid instructor and enjoys hill walking, swimming and kayaking. Ruth has been involved with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Award Association since finishing her Gold Award and has assessed expeditions (Mourne Mountains expedition’s panel) and has led a number of international exchange projects and trainings.
Education
1998 - BSc in Applied Psychology, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland
2002 - PhD in Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland
Teaching
MSCBPS01 - Psychology of Exercise and Health
The aim of the module will be to further students’ knowledge of exercise motivation and the influence of exercise upon the psychological health of the individual. A consideration of the application of theoretical models to the understanding of exercise and physical activity behaviour. Students will examine the utility of prescribed exercise for different clinical populations as well as the wider health benefits for member of the public.
SPL332 - Exercise and Physical Activity Interventions
Physical inactivity is recognised as a key predictor of a range of adverse health and social outcomes. Increasing activity levels in the general population is now a priority of government and opportunities for activity professionals are increasing. This module builds upon the core knowledge of exercise psychology gained in SPL205 Psychology of Physical Activity and Health. Students will integrate a complex knowledge base derived from sport and exercise, health and mainstream psychology as well as the discipline of health promotion to provide a theoretical underpinning to the professional practice of activity promotion and intervention.
SPL205 - Psychology of Physical Activity and Health
The discipline of exercise psychology is concerned with the application of psychological principles to the context of physical activity and health related quality of life. This module will seek to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the psychological theories applied to the contexts of physical activity and health and to evaluate the positive and negative psychological effects of participation in activities.
SPL102 - Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology
Sport and exercise contexts provide a fascinating and complex opportunity to investigate elements of the psychology of human behaviour. The impact of social psychological factors on the participation in and performance of sport and exercise behaviour is critical for both coaches and performers to understand. Theoretical perspectives and research findings from a range of concepts from social psychology provide practitioners with guidance on how behaviour can be shaped in both sporting and exercise environments.
Administration
Ruth holds a number of administrative roles within the University including
Acting Field Leader for Sport & Exercise Psychology (Sept 11 – Sept 12)
Programme Co-ordinator
MSc Psychology of Sport and Exercise and the MSc Sport & Exercise Psychology (BPS)
Ruth is the Press Officer for the Division of Sport & Exercise Psychology of the British Psychological Society (since 2008).
Ruth is a member of the scientific organising committee for the BPS annual conference 2012 and was a member of the scientific organising committee for the DSEP bi-annual conference 2011
External Examining:
Ruth was involved in the revalidation process of undergraduate degrees as an external panel member at the University of Abertay (June 2011).
Research Interests
Ruth's main research interest lies in the area of participation motivation toward sport and exercise involvement. She has previously been involved with projects that have included the use of pedometers to increase physical activity with insufficiently active adults (community and primary care settings). Specifically, examining the role of neighbourhood environmental perceptions in physical activity. Ruth's other research interests include the influence of physical self-concept (body image) on motivation and participation; the role peer acceptance and friendships play in childhood and adolescent involvement in sport and physical activity and volunteerism amongst young people and sport leaders.
Director of Studies
Ruth has supervised a number of postgraduate students to completion:
PhD: Graham Baker – Are pedometers effective motivational tools to increase walking in inactive adults?
PhD: Annemarie Wright – Perceptions of the physical and psychosocial environment in relation to walking behaviour.
MPhil: Victoria Clark – Coaching pathways in Scottish Hockey
Ruth is currently co-supervising the following postgraduate students:
PhD: Phil Birch (University of Chichester) – Mental Toughness in Sport
PhD: Audrey Fleming (University of the West of Scotland) - Motivational Climate and Collective Team Efficacy
Ruth has been the internal examiner for 1 MPhil student (University of Strathclyde), 2 PhD upgrades (University of Chichester) and 1 PhD (University of Chichester).
Membership
1995- Member of British Psychological Society (BPS)
2004- Founder member of the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology (DSEP), BPS
2009- Press Officer and committee member for the DSEP, BPS
2007- Member of European network for the promotion of health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA)
2008-Member of International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA)
Professional Accreditation
2004- Fellow (formerly Practitioner) of the Higher Education Academy
2007- Chartered Scientist
2007- Chartered BPS Psychologist
Research Grant Income
- The role of peers and friends in support of elite athletes - Principal Investigator
(£2800- 2009-2010; Research Incentive Fund, University of Chichester)
- Smart Move? - Study: A natural experiment of the health, wellbeing, economic and environmental impacts of a changing university environment – Co-investigator
(£14,000; 2008, University of Strathclyde, Research Enhancement Group through Bridging the Gap Plus, an extension of the EPSRC funded Bridging the Gap programme)
- Paths to Health – Evaluation of Pedometer Loan Pack Evaluation, Phase 2 – Co-investigator
(£25,000; 2006-2007; Paths for All Partnership, Scotland)
Publications
Academic Journal Papers:
Baker, G., Gray, S., Wright, A., Fitzsimons, C., Nimmo, M., Lowry, R., & Mutrie, N. (2008). The effect of a pedometer-based community walking intervention on physical activity levels and health outcomes: a 12-week randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Behaviour, Nutrition and Physical Activity.
Baker, G., Mutrie, N., & Lowry, R.(2008). Using pedometers as motivational tools to increase walking: are goals set in minutes? The International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 46, 21 – 26.
Fitzsimons, C., Baker, G., Wright, A., Nimmo, M., Ward Thompson, C., Lowry, R., et al. (2008). The 'Walking for Wellbeing in the West' randomised controlled trial of a pedometer-based walking programme in combination with physical activity consultation with 12 month follow-up: rationale and study design. BMC Public Health, 8, 259
McKay, J., Wright, A. Lowry, R., Steele, K., & Mutrie, N. (2009). Walking on prescription: The utility of a pedometer pack for increasing physical activity in primary care. Patient Education and Counselling, 76, 71-76.
Muldoon, O. T., Lowry, R. G., Prentice, G. & Trew, K. (2005). The Factor Structure of the Multidimensional Measure of Children's Perceptions of Control. Personality and Individual Differences, 38, 647-657.
Nelson, N. M., Wright, A., Lowry, R. G. & Mutrie, N. (2008) Where is the theoretical basis for understanding and measuring the environment for physical activity? Environmental Health Insights, 2, 1-6.
Scully, D. & Lowry, R. (2002). Why we do - and why we don't! The Psychologist, 15, 418 - 420.
Book Chapters
Lowry, R. G. (2008). Doing small scale quantitative research. In R. Murray (Ed.) The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Open University Press-McGraw-Hill
Lowry, R. G., Kremer, J., & Trew, K. (2007). Physical health: recreation, exercise and sport. In J. Coleman, L. Hendry & M. Kloep (Eds.). Adolescence and health. J. W. Wiley.
Lavallee, D., Kremer, J., Moran, A.P., & Williams, M. (2004). Sport Psychology: Contemporary Themes. Hampshire: Palgrave. Contributor to Chapter 4 - Motivation.
Davey, G. (Ed.) (2005). Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Psychology. London: Arnold. Contributor - motivation and sport, Positive Affect, Negative Affect, the PANAS scale, Reversal theory and telic dominance.
Recent Conference Abstracts (2008 onwards)
Fitzsimons, C., Baker, G., Wright, A., Gray, S., Nimmo, M., Lowry R. & Mutrie, N. (April 2008). Association between step counts and psychological, physiological and environmental variables in men and women aged 18-65 years in the West of Scotland. International Physical Activity and Public Health conference, Amsterdam
Lowry, R. (September 2008). An Evaluation of a pedometer pack used in the primary care setting with inactive Scottish adults. Health Enhancing Physical Activity Conference, Glasgow, Scotland.
Lowry, R. & Campbell, L. (April 2008). The Actor-Observer asymmetry: How divergent are the attributions of badminton players from fellow team-members? British Psychological Society Annual Conference, Dublin, Ireland
Lowry, R., Clarke, C., & Clarke, P. (April 2008). The perception of stressors experienced by Association Football (Soccer) Referees at differing levels of competition in Scotland. British Psychological Society Annual Conference, Dublin, Ireland
Mutrie, N., Baker, G., Fenwick, E., Fitzsimons, C., Gray, S., Lowry, R. et al. (April 2008). Walking for Well-being in the West: A collaborative inter-disciplinary study aimed at understanding the determinants and consequences of increasing activity through walking. International Physical Activity and Public Health conference, Amsterdam.
Nelson, N., Lowry, R., Rogerson, R., Agapiou, A., Ferguson, N., Fitzsimons, C., Rowe, D., & Mutrie, N. (September 2008). Smart Move? A natural experiment of the health, wellbeing, economic and environmental impacts of a changing university environment. European network for the promotion of health-enhancing physical activity, Glasgow, Scotland.
Rowe, D., Trim, V., Lowry, R., Mitchell, L., Grieve, A., Taylor, R., & Campbell, T. (September 2008). Classroom physical activity breaks for additional special needs settings. European network for the promotion of health-enhancing physical activity, Glasgow, Scotland.
Wright, A., Lowry, R., Baker, G., Fitzsimons, C., & Mutrie, N. (September 2008). How did WWW participants view their physical environment? Overview of results and methodological issues. European network for the promotion of health-enhancing physical activity, Glasgow, Scotland.
Wright, A., Lowry, R., Baker, G., Fitzsimons, C., & Mutrie, N. (May 2008). Factors influencing perceptions of the neighbourhood environment across a physical activity intervention: findings from Walking for Well-being in the West (WWW), a randomised controlled trial. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Banff, Canada.
Journal Reviewer for:
- British Journal of Educational Psychology
- Journal of Sport Science
- Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
- International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology
- Sport and Exercise Psychology Review
- The Psychologist