Dr Rachel Povey

Associate Professor

Health, Education, Policing and Sciences

I'm an Associate Professor in Health Psychology, and Co-Director of the Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology. I am a Chartered Psychologist and a Health Psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.

I completed my PhD whilst working on an ESRC-funded research programme entitled “Ambivalence in Health-Related Dietary Change” with Professor Mark Conner at the University of Leeds. After working as a Research Assistant within a multi-disciplinary team at the Manchester Diabetes Centre, I was appointed as a Health Psychology Research Fellow at Staffordshire University. In 2000 I was appointed Lecturer in Health Psychology, took over as Director of the Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology in 2004.

Professional memberships and activities

  • Registered with the HCPC
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society

Academic qualifications

  • PhD, “The Psychological Determinants of Health-Related Dietary Change”, University of Leeds.
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Higher and Professional Education, Staffordshire University.
  • BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Nottingham

Expertise

  • Health Psychology
  • Interventions to Promote Dietary Change
  • Psychological Aspects of Diabetes

Research interests

  • Psychological Interventions to Promote Dietary Change
  • Psychological Aspects of Diabetes
  • Barriers to Attendance at Diabetes Prevention Programmes
  • Development of Resources for Healthcare Professionals 

Teaching

  • Supervise trainees on Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology
  • Professional Skills and Consultancy in Health Psychology
  • Healthy eating

Publications

Books

Povey, R., Hallas, C. & Povey, R. (2006) Living with a Heart Bypass. London: Sheldon Press.

Povey, R., Morrell, J. & Povey, R. (January, 2005) Eating for a Healthy Heart. London: Sheldon Press.

Journal Articles

Begum, S., Povey, R., Ellis, N. & Gidlow, C. (2020) A systematic review of recruitment strategies and behaviour change techniques in group-based diabetes programmes focusing on uptake and retention. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 166, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2020.108273 .

Povey, R., Cowap, L., Scholtens, K & Forshaw, M. (2020) “She’s not obese, she’s a normal five year old and she keeps up with the other kids”. Families’ reasons for not attending a family-based childhood weight management program. Perspectives in Public Health, 140(3), 148-152. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913919868509.

Sumodhee, D., Povey, R. and Pontikos, N. (2020) ‘It’s a bit of a grey area’: Challenges faced by stop smoking practitioners when advising on e-cigarettes. Journal of Smoking Cessation, 15, 1, 44-49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/jsc.2019.25

Clancy, L., Povey, R. and Rodham, K. (2020). “Living in a Foreign Country”: Experiences of staff-patient communication in inpatient stroke settings for people with post stroke apahsia and those supporting them. Disability and Rehabilitation, 42, 3, 324-334. DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2018.1497716

Calvert, S., Dempsey, R. & Povey, R. (2020) A qualitative study investigating food choices and perceived psychosocial influences on eating behaviours in secondary school students. British Food Journal. Accepted 12th February, 2020.

Riley, V.A., Gidlow, C.J., Ellis, N.J., Povey, R., Barnes, O., Clark-Carter, D., 2019. Improving Cardiovascular Disease Risk Communication in the UK National Health Service Health Check Programme. Patient Educ. Couns. 102, 11, 2016-2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2019.05.01

Povey, R., Cowap, L., Scholtens, K & Forshaw, M. (2019) “She’s not obese, she’s a normal five year old and she keeps up with the other kids”. Families’ reasons for not attending a family-based childhood weight management program. Perspectives in Public Health

Calvert, S., Dempsey, R. & Povey, R. (2019) Delivering in-school interventions to improve dietary behaviours amongst 11- to 16 year olds: A systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 20, 4, 543-553. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12797

Dugdale, S., Semper, H., Povey, R., Elison-Davies, S., Davies, G. & Ward, J. (2019) Offenders’ perceptions of the UK prison smoking ban. International Journal of Prisoner Health, 15, 2, 114-125. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-06-2018-0034

Vas, S., Povey, R. and Clark-Carter (2018) “I would describe myself as a deformed troll”: Using interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore body image struggles among palliative care patients. Palliative Medicine, 33, 2, 232-240 doi: DOI: 10.1177/0269216318811723

Clancy, L., Povey, R. and Rodham, K. (2018). “Living in a Foreign Country”: Experiences of staff-patient communication in inpatient stroke settings for people with post stroke apahsia and those supporting them. Disability and Rehabilitation, Sep 27, 1-11 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2018.1497716

Povey, R., Cowap, L. & Gratton, L. (2016). Children’s beliefs about fruit and vegetables. British Food Journal, 118, 12, 2949-2962. DOI: 10.1108/BFJ-03-2016-0131

Semper, H., Povey, R. & Clark-Carter, D. (2016) A systematic review of the effectiveness of smartphone applications that encourage dietary self-regulatory strategies for weight loss in overweight and obese adults. Obesity Reviews., 17, 9, 895-906.

Dean, S.E., Povey, R.C. & Reeves, J. (2015) Assessing interventions to increase compliance to patching treatment in children with amblyopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Ophthalmology, DOI:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2015-307340.

Newson, L., Povey, R., Casson, A. & Grogan, S. (2013) The Experiences and understandings of obesity: Families’ perspectives on attending a childhood obesity intervention. Psychology and Health, 28, 11, 1287-1305. DOI:10.1080/08870446.2013.803106

Elwell L., Povey, R., Grogan, S., Prestwich, A. & Allen, C. (2013) Patients’ and Practitioners’ Views on Health Behaviour Change: A Qualitative Study. Psychology and Health. DOI:10.1080/08870446.2012.744008

Sherwood, S. A. (née Pullen), Povey, R. C. (2011) Influences on women’s completion of a Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 18, 5, 266-277.

Pullen, S., Povey, R. and Grogan, S. (2009). Deciding to attend cardiac rehabilitation: A female perspective. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 16, 4, 207-217.

Adams, C., Povey, R. and White, D. G. (2008). Predicting women’s intentions to use pain relief medication using the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Self-Efficacy Theory. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 26, 3, 168-179.

Povey, R. and Clark-Carter, D. (2007). Diabetes and Healthy Eating: A systematic review of the literature. The Diabetes Educator, 33, 931-959.

Crabtree, L., Povey, R. and Clark-Carter D. (2007). Promoting children’s fruit and vegetable consumption: Interventions using the Theory of Planned Behaviour as a framework. British Journal of Health Psychology, 12, 639-650.

Newson, L. & Povey, R. (2007). The development of a training programme for nurses working in cardiac rehabilitation: Understanding and applying psychological techniques. Health Psychology Update, 16, 1 & 2, 26-33.

Gallagher, S. & Povey, R. (2006). Determinants of older adults’ intentions to vaccinate against influenza: A theoretical application. Journal of Public Health, 28, 2, 139-144.

Povey, R.C., Hallas, C.N., White, D.G., Clarke, T. and Samuel, T.J. (2005). Children’s beliefs about the impact of their type 1 diabetes on their family and peers: An exploratory study. Practical Diabetes International, 22, 9, 333-338.

Morris, J., Povey, R., & Street, C. (2005). The experiences of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have changed from oral medication to self-administered insulin injections: A qualitative study. Practical Diabetes International, 22, 7, 229 – 274.

Armitage, C.J., Povey, R. and Arden, M. A. (2003). Evidence for discontinuity patterns across stages of change: A role for attitudinal ambivalence. Psychology and Health, 18, 3, 373-386.

Conner, M., Povey, R., Sparks, P., James, R., & Shepherd, R. (2003). Moderating role of attitudinal ambivalence within the Theory of Planned Behaviour. British Journal of Social Psychology, 42, 75-94.

Conner, M., Sparks, P., Povey, R., James, R., Shepherd, R. and Armitage, C. J. (2002). Moderator effects of attitudinal ambivalence on attitude-behaviour relationships. European Journal of Social Psychology, 32, 705-718.

Povey, R., Wellens, B. & Conner, M. (2001). Attitudes towards following meat, vegetarian and vegan diets: An examination of the role of ambivalence. Appetite, 37, 1 pp. 15-26.

Sparks, P., James, R., Conner, M., Povey, R., & Shepherd, R. (2001). Ambivalence about health-related behaviours: An exploration in the domain of food choice. British Journal of Health Psychology, 6, pp. 53-68

Povey, R., Conner, M., Sparks, P., James, R., & Shepherd, R. (2000). Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour to two eating behaviours: Roles of perceived control and self-efficacy. British Journal of Health Psychology, 121-139.

External profiles

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021