Dr Helen Humphreys BSc, MSc, PhD
Senior Research Fellow
- Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences
- Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology
- Social and Economic Research Institute
Summary
About
I am a senior research fellow in the Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology. My PhD, awarded in 2018, used a human-centred design approach to develop physical activity pathways for NHS services across a number of long-term health conditions. I subsequently worked as a researcher in the Physical Activity, Wellbeing and Public Health group at Sheffield Hallam University where I explored the impact of lifestyle interventions on quality of life for people living with long-term conditions, and the role of exercise in enhancing wellbeing and clinical outcomes.
I joined the Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology as a senior research fellow in 2022. Here I lead a variety of research projects applying behavioural science theory to explore factors and design interventions that influence behaviour. I specialise in participatory research approaches that engage professional stakeholders and members of the public in research and intervention planning, including a range of qualitative methods, realist evaluation and co-design. My work draws on behaviour change theory and concepts from positive psychology, human-centred design and circular design. I am particularly interested in the role of behaviour change within innovation and undertake research consultancy related to innovation in elite sport.
Specialist areas of interest
Human-centred design
Participatory approaches
Physical activity
Publications
Journal articles
Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2024). Barriers and system improvements for physical activity promotion after gestational diabetes: A qualitative exploration of the views of health care professionals. Diabetic Medicine, 41 (12). http://doi.org/10.1111/dme.15426
Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2024). Preventing Type 2 Diabetes after Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic Review Mapping Physical Activity Components using the Socio-Ecological Model. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 28 (8), 1354-1379. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-024-03948-w
Humphreys, H., Paddock, D., Brown, S., Berry, C., Cowie, A., Dawkes, S., & Nichols, S. (2024). Living with myocardial ischaemia and no obstructive coronary arteries: a qualitative study. Open Heart, 11 (1). http://doi.org/10.1136/openhrt-2023-002569
Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2024). Beyond the individual: socio-ecological factors impacting activity after Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetic Medicine. http://doi.org/10.1111/dme.15286
Robinson, R., Crank, H., Humphreys, H., Fisher, P., & Greenfield, D.M. (2023). Allied health professional's self-reported competences and confidence to deliver physical activity advice to cancer patients at a single Centre in England. Disability and rehabilitation, 45 (24), 4058-4064. http://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2143580
Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2023). Physical activity after gestational diabetes: more motivation or change the situation? The Sport and Exercise Scientist, 77 (Autumn).
Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2023). A systematic review and thematic synthesis of the barriers and facilitators to physical activity for women after Gestational Diabetes: A socio-ecological approach. British Journal of Diabetes, 23 (1). http://doi.org/10.15277/bjd.2023.413
Humphreys, L., Frith, G., Humphreys, H., Crank, H., Dixey, J., Greenfield, D.M., & Reece, L.J. (2023). Evaluation of a city-wide physical activity pathway for people affected by cancer: the Active Everyday service. Supportive Care in Cancer, 31 (2). http://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07560-y
Saxton, J.M., Pickering, K., Wane, S., Humphreys, H., Crank, H., Anderson, A.S., ... Wilson, C. (2022). Co-designed weight management intervention for women recovering from oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancer. BMC Cancer, 22 (1). http://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-022-10287-y
Robinson, R., Crank, H., Humphreys, H., Fisher, P., & Greenfield, D.M. (2022). Time to embed physical activity within usual care in cancer services: a qualitative study of cancer healthcare professionals' views at a single centre in England. Disability and rehabilitation. http://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2134468
Shearn, K., Brooks, A., Humphreys, H., & Wardle, C. (2022). Mixed methods Participatory Action Research to inform service design based on the Capabilities Approach, in the North of England. Children and Society: the international journal of childhood and children's services, 36 (4), 450-471. http://doi.org/10.1111/chso.12496
Fowler Davis, S., Humphreys, H., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Withers, S., Lowe, A., & Copeland, R. (2022). Understanding the Needs and Priorities of People Living with Persistent Pain and Long-Term Musculoskeletal Conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Public Involvement Project. Healthcare, 10 (6). http://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10061130
O'Doherty, A.F., Humphreys, H., Dawkes, S., Cowie, A., Hinton, S., Brubaker, P.H., ... Nichols, S. (2021). How has technology been used to deliver cardiac rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic? An international cross-sectional survey of healthcare professionals conducted by the BACPR. BMJ Open, 11 (4). http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046051
Humphreys, H., Kilby, L., Kudiersky, N., & Copeland, R. (2021). Long COVID and the role of physical activity: a qualitative study. BMJ Open, 11 (3). http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047632
Speake, H., Copeland, R., Breckon, J., & Till, S. (2019). Challenges and opportunities for promoting physical activity in health care: a qualitative enquiry of stakeholder perspectives. European Journal of Physiotherapy. http://doi.org/10.1080/21679169.2019.1663926
Humphreys, L., Crank, H., Frith, G., Speake, H., & Reece, L. (2017). Bright spots, physical activity investments that work: Active Everyday, Sheffield’s physical activity service for all people living with and beyond cancer. British Journal of Sports Medicine. http://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-098672
Speake, H., Copeland, R., Till, S., Breckon, J., Haake, S., & Hart, O. (2016). Embedding physical activity in the heart of the NHS: the need for a whole-system approach. Sports Medicine, 46 (7), 939-946. http://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0488-y
Conference papers
Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2022). A systematic review using the socio-ecological model for physical activity interventions aiming to prevent type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes (abstract only). Journal of Sports Sciences, 40 (Sup 1), 7. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02640414.2022.2125766
Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2022). A systematic review using the socioecological model for physical activity interventions aiming to prevent type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes [abstract only]. Journal of Sports Sciences. http://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2022.2125766
Pickering, K., Wane, S., Speake, H., Crank, H., Anderson, A., Cain, H., ... Saxton, J. (2021). The new normal; adjusting to remote ways of providing bespoke weight management support to breast cancer survivors during the COVID-19 global pandemic. CANCER RESEARCH, 81 (4).
Reports
Arden, M., Humphreys, H., Wilcockson, H., Paddock, D., Thorneloe, R., Rutkauskas, L., & Millings, A. (2024). Behavioural science: Increasing uptake of family hub services. UK Government Social Research. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/behavioural-insights-increasing-uptake-of-family-hub-services
Arden, M., Millings, A., Thorneloe, R., Wilcockson, H., Humphreys, H., Paddock, D., & Clarke, E. (2024). Behavioural Science: Increasing uptake of family hub services. Evaluation Protocols. UK Government. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65df2d11b8da630011c86397/Intervention_development_and_evaluation_protocols_report.pdf
Millings, A., Wilcockson, H., Clarke, E., Lamb, M., Humphreys, H., Paddock, D., ... Coldwell, M. (2022). Applying behavioural science to promoting uptake of family hubs services Research report summary. Department for Education. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1123978/Summary_Applying_behavioural_science_to_promoting_uptake_of_family_hubs_services.pdf
Millings, A., Wilcockson, H., Clarke, E., Lamb, M., Humphreys, H., Paddock, D., ... Coldwell, M. (2022). Applying behavioural science to promoting uptake of family hubs services Research report. (1284). Department for Education. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1123977/Applying_behavioural_science_to_promoting_uptake_of_family_hubs_services.pdf
Copeland, R., Lowe, A., Humphreys, H., Breckon, J., Haake, S., & Heller, B. (2021). UOA2403 REF3 Placing Physical Activity at the Heart of the NHS. Sheffield Hallam University. https://www.shu.ac.uk/research/in-action/projects/move-more
Theses / Dissertations
Speake, H. (2018). Exploring the user-centred design of aphysical activity pathway in NHS care. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Copeland, R. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00087
Internet Publications
Humphreys, H., Kilby, L., Kudiersky, N., & Copeland, R. (2020). Long Covid and the role of physical activity: a qualitative study. http://doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.03.20243345
Presentations
Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2023). “I know what I need to do, it’s just doing it” a Socio-Ecological analysis of Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity after Gestational Diabetes. Presented at: Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network (WiSEAN) Conference, Liverpool John Moores University
Posters
Bugg, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Carter, A., Humphreys, H., & Nichols, S. (2023). A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess the Prevalence of Poor Sarcopenia Specific Quality of Life in Mid-Life Adults. Presented at: International Sarcopenia Translational Research Conference, Newcastle University, 2023
Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2023). “I’m doing all I can” wider Constraints to Physical Activity after Gestational Diabetes: a Socio-Ecological approach. Presented at: The 11th International Symposium on Diabetes (DIP), Hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome and Pregnancy: Innovative Approaches in Maternal Offspring Health, Thessaloniki
Postgraduate supervision
PhD - Natalie Grinvalds - Development of realist theory of the co-location of health and leisure facilities to promote physical activity (completed 2022)
PhD - Nik Kudiersky - Feasibility and effects of early-initiated aerobic exercise in stroke patients
PhD - Gabbi Frith - Optimising Secondary Prevention in Early Cardiac Rehabilitation
PhD - Alex Bugg - Sarcopenia in patients with Chronic Heart Failure PhD
PhD - Elysa Ioannau - Preventing Diabetes after Gestational Diabetes: A co-produced qualitative study in minoritised communities