Physical Activity & Exercise for Health Across the Lifespan

Our team investigates how being active - through exercise, sport, and everyday movement - shapes physical, mental, and social health. Through both qualitative and quantitative research methods, our group examines the mechanisms and outcomes of physical activity across different life stages from childhood to older adulthood.

Our research aims to maximise the benefits of being active by developing innovative and inclusive interventions in homes, schools, workplaces and communities, to promote lasting health and wellbeing.

Key areas of focus include the effects of movement on psychological (e.g., cognition, mood, quality of life) and physical (e.g., gait, balance, disease risk) functions. We also concentrate on the development and application of digital technologies (e.g., virtual reality and wearables) and addressing key determinants of health inequality in children and adults.

Our group has established partnerships with a range of community groups, charities and local authorities and NHS trusts.

Research Group Leader

• Dr Gavin Tempest

PGRs / Thesis Title / Submission Year

• Amelie Leach / Exercise and stress (buffering): The translational effects of exercise on physiological and psychological health / 2028
• Charlie Ward / Mental health & physical activity behaviour: Exercising to feel good, or feeling good enough to exercise? / 2028
• Katherine Wilkin / Understanding the role of online yoga and mindfulness in primary education / 2028
• Martin Ackah / Exploring principles of fatigue management, activity pacing and self-regulation in persons with chronically fatiguing conditions / 2026
• Sam Dixon / Moving, Thinking, Learning? An Investigation into the Cognitive and Academic Impacts of Acute School-based Physical Activity in Primary School Children / 2025
• Ioulia Barakou / Self-regulation and physical activity behaviour in individuals who are experiencing fatigue symptoms: designing a tailored intervention to promote physical activity through optimizing activity pacing / 2025
• Joyce Omojor-Oche / Addressing health inequality and wellbeing through physical activity: Identifying barriers and motivators to physical activity in children from ethnic minority groups / 2025
• Mohammed Khudair / Exploring automatic processes underlying the regulation of physical activity behaviour in children / 2024