Centre for Health Behaviour Research - Waterford Institute of Technology

The Centre for Health Behaviour Research conducts research and policy-relevant projects with a public health focus. CHBR staff are engaged in international, EU, national and regional projects.

The key areas of expertise include:

Physical activity interventions at the community and population level
Active Travel evaluation and interventions
Drug and alcohol use and misuse
Social disadvantage and physical activity
Men’s health

National physical activity plan development

Older adult physical activity in care settings

Professor Adrian Bauman from the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney is Associate Professor to the Department. Details of Prof Bauman’s extensive expertise can be found on the following link http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/people/academics/profiles/adrianb.php

CHBR Postgraduate Research

The Centre has graduated students at PhD and Masters level. Currently, students are undertaking postgraduate study in the areas of sedentary behavior and health, social disadvantage and physical activity, drug use, and active travel.

Research

In the area of physical activity, current and recent research work includes:

Evaluation of the impact of mass events on population physical activity levels, in collaboration with the Irish Sports Council
http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie/Research/Mass_Participation_Sporting_Events_2010_
Evaluation of active travel behavior in 3 Irish towns, and interventions to promote active travel
http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx
Participation in a physical activity networking project, funded by the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe, on physical activity and social disadvantage. Bonn, Germany 10th April 2011 and 19th March 2012. Publication of outputs in December 2012.
http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/135149/e94835.pdf
Membership of the writing group for the Irish physical activity guidelines
http://www.getirelandactive.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Get-Ireland-Active-Guidelines-GIA.pdf
EU Preparatory Action for Sport project JoinIn- production of good practice guides and key principles for promoting social inclusion of migrant youth through sport
http://international.nisb.nl/page/s990778

Contact:

Dr Niamh Murphy Email: [email protected]

HBR Fulltime Faculty Members

• Dr Niamh Murphy
• Dr Paula Carroll
• Dr Mary Cowman
• Mr Barry Lambe
• Dr Aoife Lane
• Ms AnnaLouise Muldoon
• Dr Elaine Mullan
• Dr Marie Claire Van Hout
• Dr Jean McArdle

Final Report full version - Do mass participation sporting events have a role in making populations more active?

LEGit Booklets

LegIt Brochure 1 - Time to Get Moving is designed to target participants in the earliest stages of motivational readiness to change. It includes information on the benefits of physical activity, minimum physical activity guidelines and a step by step guide on how to increase motivation.

LegIt Brochure 2 - Keep Moving is tailored to participants who are already somewhat active. It includes more detailed information on the term ‘moderate intensity’, tips for overcoming barriers and tips for being active at home.

LegIt Brochure 3 - Is designed to assist people using a motivational aid such as a pedometer in their quest to become more active. It includes instructions on how to use a pedometer and further tips and ideas to promote walking.

Lane A, Murphy NM, Bauman A. (2012). Active for a day: predictors of relapse among previously active mass event participants. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 9, 48-52.

Mullan, E. (2012). Exercise, weather, safety and public attitudes: a qualitative exploration of leisure cyclists views on cycling for transport. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 50:5, 229-237

Cummins NM, Jakeman PM, Sestak I, Murphy N and Carroll P (2012). The effect of behavioural risk factors on osteoporosis in Irish women. Irish Journal of Medical Science 2012, s11845-012-0840-7. 2012.

Kirby M., Beatty S., Stack J., Harrison M., Greene I., McBrinn S., Carroll P., Nolan J. (2011) Changes in macular pigment optical density and serum concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin in response to weight loss. British Journal of Nutrition, 105(7): 1036-46

Bauman A, Murphy N, & Lane A. (2008) ‘The role of community programs and mass events in promoting physical activity to patients’, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2009; 43;44-46.

Cummins NM, Towler MR, Wren A, Rushe N, Saunders J, Jakeman PM, Carroll P. and Murphy, N. (2007) Raman Spectroscopy of Keratin: A Comparison with other Methods of Evaluating Bone Health. Conference proceedings, Oral Presentation, European Society of Biomaterials, Brighton, UK, Sept.

Cummins NM, Carroll P and Jakeman PM. The validity of using an uncoupling index as a tool in the assessment of bone health. Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland (RAMI) Biomedical Sciences Meeting, Limerick, Ireland, June 2006 (oral).

Harrison M, Murphy N, Burns C, Heslin J, McGuinness M. Influence of a health education intervention on physical activity and screen inactivity in Irish primary school children: Switch Off-Get Active. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2006, 9, 5, 388-394.

Lambe, B., Connolly, C. & McEvoy, R. (2008) ‘The determinants of lifestyle counselling among practice nurses in Ireland’, International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 2008 46 (3) 94-99.

Murphy N.M. & Bauman A. (2008) ‘Mass sporting and physical activity events: are they bread and circuses or public health interventions to increase population levels of physical activity?’, Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2007, 4, 193-202.

Murphy NM, Ni Dhuinn M, Brown P, O’Rathaile, M. Physical activity for bone health in inactive teenage girls-is a supervised, teacher-led program or self-led program best? Journal of Adolescent Health, 2006, 39, 4, 508-514.

Murphy NM, Carroll P The effect of physical activity and its interaction with nutrition on bone health. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2003, 62, 1-10.

Salmon J, Booth M.L., Phongsavan, P. Murphy, N. & Timperio, A. (2007) ‘Promoting physical activity participation among children and adolescents: a narrative review’, Epidemiologic Reviews, June 2007; 1-15.

Stratton, G. & Mullan, E. (2005). The effect of multi-colour playground markings on children’s physical activity level during recess. Preventive Medicine, 41, 828-833.

Van Hout, M.C (2009). Perception of social context and activity following participation in a physical fitness intervention during residential adolescent addiction treatment. American Journal of Recreation Therapy. Fall, Volume 7, Number 4, 27-45.

Van Hout, M.C (2009). Drug and alcohol use among rural Irish adolescents- a Brief Exploratory Study.. Drug and Alcohol Today, Volume 9, Issue 1. 20-26.

Van Hout, M.C (2009). An exploratory study of substance use among Irish Youth- A Service Providers perspective? . Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse. Volume 8, Issue 1, 99-111.

Van Hout, M C (2009). An Illustrative Picture of Irish Youth Substance Use. Letter to the Editor. Journal of Drug and Alcohol Education. Volume 53, No 1 , April, 7-14.

Van Hout, M C (2009). Irish Travellers and Drug Use- An Exploratory Study. Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Social Care. Volume 2, Issue 1, 42-49.

Van Hout, M C (2009). Travellers and Substance Use- Implications for Service Provision. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education. In press.
Van Hout, MC (2009). Alcohol Use and the Traveller Community in the west of Ireland. Drug and Alcohol Review. In press.
Van Hout, MC (2009). Irish parent’s perceptions of Rural Youth Alcohol and Drug Use, Journal of Rural and Remote Health. In press.

Conference Proceedings/Conferences/Symposia

Murphy NM. Reaching physical activity recommendations in the school environment. Keynote presentation. Irish Association for the Study of Obesity conference ‘Obesity through the lifecycle’. 6th September 2012, Pearse Library, Dublin.

Fitzpatrick, G. and Lane, A. (2012). ‘Team Cohesion. Success with Teenage Attitudes’. GAA National Coaching Conference. Croke Park, 14 January. Dublin: GAA.

Lane, A., Harrison, M. and Murphy, N. (2012). ‘Correlates and Implications of High Screen Time among High and Low Active Irish Nine-Year Olds. International Conference of Physical Activity and Public Health. Sydney Convention Centre, 31 October. Sydney: Be Active 2012.

Carroll P., Kirwin L., Lambe B. Engaging vulnerable men in community based health promotion. Health Promotion Summer School, ‘Embracing New Agendas for Health Promotion Action: Developing workforce competencies for effective practice’. NUI Galway, June 2012

Murphy NM. The Olympic effect on spontaneous physical activity. Keynote presentation. ‘Obesity. Where do we stand and where do we go from here?’. Nutrition and Health Foundation conference 19 September 2012. Gibson Hotel, Dublin

Brennan L., Kirwin L., Lambe B., Carroll P. An investigation into the partnership process of community based Health Promotion for men. Health Promotion Summer School, ‘Embracing New Agendas for Health Promotion Action: Developing workforce competencies for effective practice’. NUI Galway, June 2012

Murphy NM. ‘Sports and physical activity participation-whose job is it?’ Irish Sport Pedagogy Forum, Mardyke Pavilion, 23rd May 2012

Murphy NM. Impact of social disadvantage on physical activity levels in Europe-a review of the evidence and recommendations for action. HEPA Europe conference, September 2011. Amsterdam: Netherlands.

Lane, A, Murphy, N, Bauman A . Sedentary behaviour of Irish females participating in a mass event. . HEPA Europe conference, September 2011. Amsterdam: Netherlands.

Cowman, M & McCarthy, A (2012) An investigation of organizational context factors affecting training transfer over time. Proceedings in the 2012 AHRD International Research Conference in the Americas. Denver, Colorado

Cowman, M. & McCarthy, A. (2012) An investigation of organizational context factors affecting training transfer over time. Proceedings of the 13th UFHRD International Conference; An Investigation of Organizational Context Factors Affecting Training Transfer Over Time. The Lusiada University of Vila Nova de Famalicao, Portugal.

Van Hout, M C (2009). Irish Travellers and Alcohol. Oral Presentation and Discousant. Kettil Bruun Society for Social and Epidemiological Research on Alcohol. Epidemiology section of the International Council on Alcohol and Addictions (ICAA). Copenhagen, Denmark. June 1-5 2009.

Van Hout, M C (2009). Travellers and Drug Use in Ireland. National Institute on Drug Abuse International Conference (NIDA). Nevada, USA. Poster Presentation. Published as Abstract Proceedings. June 2009. Recipient Early Career Research grant.

Van Hout, M C (2009). Irish Travellers and Substance Use- A Service Providers Dilemma. College on Drugs and Drug Dependence International Conference (CPDD). Nevada, USA. Poster Presentation. Published as Abstract Proceedings. June 2009.

Poster Presentations

Kirwin L., Lambe B. , Carroll P. More than Just a Physical Activity Programme. Future perspectives for intervention, policy and research on men and masculinities: an international forum for the sharing and exchange of knowledge, Quebec, Canada, March 2011.

Muldoon, A. & Mullan, E. (2008) ‘Workplace Physical Activity Promotion-A critical evaluation’, International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health Amsterdam, 2008, VU University.
Other.

Lane A., Murphy N.M. & Bauman A. (2008) ‘The impact of participation in the Flora Women’s mini-marathon on physical activity behaviour in women’, Research Report 1. Ireland, Centre for Health Behaviour Research, Department of Health Sport and Exercise Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology and Irish Sports Council.

Mc Ardle, J. Brennan, L. & Bookle. P (2009) ‘Health and Lifestyle Behaviours of adolescent youth in Kilkenny City’, Research Report, Centre for Health Behaviour Research, Department of Health Sport and Exercise Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology and Ossory Youth programme, Kilkenny.

Murphy NM, Ni Lionain G. Exercise provision for older adults in care settings. Health Promotion Department, South Eastern Health Board, 2003.