Research cluster: Stress, health and performance
We help people to live healthier lives, fulfil their potential in demanding performance environments, and thrive in today’s fast-paced, digital society.
About our research
About our research
Our research focuses on the psychology and physiology of stress.
We explore how:
- technology and working patterns impact our health, wellbeing and productivity
- people function and perform in extreme environments - such as expeditions, space travel, emergency situations and the military
- patterns of cardiovascular reactivity under stress that predict ‘challenge’ and ‘threat’ states impact health and performance
- early-life exposure to trauma and adverse experiences impacts the ability to function later on in life
- exposure to nature can improve quality of life and wellbeing
- appearance concern is linked to sun tanning, exercise and quitting smoking
We have expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods and analyses, systematic review and meta-analysis.
Our collaborations
We have ongoing links with business, elite sport, the emergency services and health organisations that inform our approaches and benefit from our research.
Our work has attracted funding from:
- Medical Research Council
- Nuffield Health
- National Institute for Health Research
- professional sports clubs and organisations
- industry and FP7 European research funding programmes
Hear from our lead researcher
In this three-minute film, Professor Marc Jones discusses how the cluster’s work helps to improve health, wellbeing and performance.Our featured research
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Key publications
- EC. Braithwaite, A. Pickles, N. Wright, H. Sharp, J. Hill (2020). Sex differences in foetal origins of child emotional symptoms: a test of evolutionary hypotheses in a large, general population cohort. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 61(11), pp.1194-1202.
- Carenzo, L., Braithwaite, E. C., Carfagna, F., Franc, J., Ingrassia, P. L., Turner, M., Slater, M. Jones, M. V. (2020). Cognitive appraisals and team performance under stress: a simulation study. Medical Education.
- MJ. Slater, MJ. Turner, AL. Evans, MV. Jones (2018). Capturing hearts and minds: The influence of relational identification with the leader on followers’ mobilization and cardiovascular reactivity. The Leadership Quarterly. 29(3), pp.379-388.
- MI. Cordero, DA. Moser, A. Manini, F. Suardi, A. Sancho-Rossignol, et al. (2017). Effects of interpersonal violence-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on mother and child diurnal cortisol rhythm and cortisol reactivity to a laboratory stressor involving separation. Horm Behav. 90, pp.15-24.
Contact
Contact us
You can contact individual members of the team through their staff profiles.
For general enquiries, please contact research group lead Professor Marc Jones.