Dr Afroditi Stathi
Research Funding
- Medical Research Council (Lifelong Health and Well-being)
- Medical Research Council (National Prevention Research Initiative)
- NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme
- European Commission Framework V.
- Dunhill Medical Trust
- YMCA
- Bath and North East Somerset PCT
- Youth Sport Trust
- AVON Primary Care Research Collaborative Partnership
Profile
Afroditi joined the Department for Health at the University of Bath in September 2007. She is the Director of Studies for the MSc in Sport & Exercise Medicine. She graduated from University of Thrace, Greece in 1994 and with scholarships by the Greek State Scholarships Foundation and the A.S. Onassis Public Foundation she completed her postgraduate studies at Loughborough University (MSc) and Bristol University (PhD).
Afroditi’s major research interest is in the psychology of physical activity. The over-arching aim of her research is to identify effective ways of supporting people in their efforts to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods her research has focused on three inter-related themes which strategically inform each other: 1) Exploring the nature of the relationship between physical activity and well-being (particularly in older adults) 2) Understanding the social, psychological, and environmental determinants of physical activity participation and 3) Developing and evaluating lifestyle interventions targeting older adults and people with high cardiovascular risk. Based on strong multidisciplinary partnerships with national agencies, national and international academics, policy-makers, primary care trusts, public health departments, service providers, local councils, volunteer organisations and charitable trusts, the long term goal of her research is to produce cost-effective methods for physical activity promotion in a range of health and community settings.
Afroditi is the Knowledge Exchange Champion for the Department for Health and a member of the University’s Community Engagement Committee. She serves as a Trustee in the Golden Oldies Charitable Trust and she is a member of the advisory committee of the Care Forum organization.
Research interests
- Psychology of Physical Activity
- Promotion of Active Ageing
- Lifelong Health and Well-being
Current research projects
- 2012-14: Developing a model of volunteering action in promoting active ageing in the community: Project ACE (Active, Connected and Engaged).
- 2012-15: Personalised social marketing of multi-dimensional physical activity profiles in at risk men & women.
- 2011-13: Older People and Active Living Project. OPAL-PLUS: How have you been? A 3 year follow up to Project OPAL.
- 2010-12: Waste the Waist. A lifestyle intervention targeting people with high cardiovascular risk.
Teaching
Undergraduate
- HL20045: Psychology of exercise and health
- HL30062: Interdisciplinary study
- HL30059: Physical activity and health across the human lifespan
- HL30110: Research project
Postgraduate
Publications
Book Sections
Morres, I., Stathi, A., Martinsen, A. and Sorensen, M., 2013. Forthcoming. Physical exercise and major depressive disorder in adult patients. In: Papaioannou, A. and Hackfort, D., eds. Fundamental Concepts in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Taylor & Francis.
Stathi, A., 2008. Older People and Physical Activity. In: Graham, R., Dugdill, L. and Crone, D., eds. Physical Activity and health promotion: Evidence-based approaches to practice. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Stathi, A., 2001. Physical activity for the elderly: An overview for effective counseling. In: Faskunger, J., ed. Behaviour change for physical activity and health [Motivation För Motion: En Handbok För Hälsovägledning Steg För Steg]. , pp. 180-209.
Articles
Trayers, T., Lawlor, D. A., Fox, K. R., Coulson, J., Davis, M. and Stathi, A., 2013. Forthcoming. Associations of objectively measured physical activity with lower limb function in older men and women : findings from the older people and active living (OPAL) study. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity
Gillison, F. B., Greaves, C., Stathi, A., Ramsay, R., Bennett, P., Taylor, G., Francis, M. and Chandler, R., 2012. ‘Waste the waist’: the development of an intervention to promote changes in diet and physical activity for people with high cardiovascular risk. British Journal of Health Psychology, 17 (2), pp. 327-345.
Stamatakis, E., Davis, M., Stathi, A. and Hamer, M., 2012. Associations between multiple indicators of objectively-measured and self-reported sedentary behaviour and cardiometabolic risk in older adults. Preventive Medicine, 54 (1), pp. 82-87.
Stathi, A., Gilbert, H., Fox, K. R., Coulson, J., Davis, M. and Thompson, J. L., 2012. Determinants of neighborhood activity of adults age 70 and over: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 20 (2), pp. 148-170.
Davis, M. G., Fox, K. R., Hillsdon, M., Coulson, J. C., Sharp, D. J., Stathi, A. and Thompson, J. L., 2011. Getting out and about in older adults: the nature of daily trips and their association with objectively assessed physical activity. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 8 (Oct), 116.
Stathi, A. and Sebire, S. J., 2011. A process evaluation of an outreach physical activity program in an inner-city primary school. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 8 (Supplement 2), S239-S248.
Thompson, J. L., Bentley, G., Davis, M., Coulson, J., Stathi, A. and Fox, K. R., 2011. Food shopping habits, physical activity and health-related indicators among adults aged ≥70 years. Public Health Nutrition, 14 (9), pp. 1640-1649.
Fox, K. R., Hillsdon, M., Sharp, D., Cooper, A. R., Coulson, J. C., Davis, M., Harris, R., McKenna, J., Narici, M., Stathi, A. and Thompson, J. L., 2011. Neighbourhood deprivation and physical activity in UK older adults. Health & Place, 17 (2), pp. 633-640.
Stathi, A., McKenna, J. and Fox, K. R., 2010. Processes associated with participation and adherence to a 12-month exercise programme for adults aged 70 and older. Journal of Health Psychology, 15 (6), pp. 838-847.
Stathi, A. and Greaves, C., 2010. Getting motivated, staying motivated: physical activity promotion in later life. SportEx Health, 26.
Stathi, A., Gillison, F. and Riddoch, C., 2009. Opportunities and challenges in physical activity research in young people. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 12 (5), pp. 515-517.
Gilson, N., Ainsworth, B., Biddle, S., Faulkner, B., Murphy, M., Niven, A., Pringle, A., Puig-Ribera, A., Stathi, A. and Umstattd, M. R., 2009. A multi-site comparison of environmental characteristics to support workplace walking. Preventive Medicine, 49 (1), pp. 21-23.
Gilson, N., Brown, W. J., Faulkner, G., McKenna, J., Murphy, M., Pringle, A., Proper, K., Puig-Ribera, A. and Stathi, A., 2009. The International Universities Walking Project: development of a framework for workplace intervention using the Delphi technique. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 6 (4), pp. 520-528.
Gilson, N. D., Ainsworth, B., Biddle, S., Faulkner, G., Murphy, M., Niven, A., Pringle, P., Puig-Ribera, A., Stathi, A. and Umstattd, M. R., 2009. Interested in promoting walking at work? first things first, assess your workplace environment! Sport and Health, 26 (4), pp. 11-13.
Stathi, A. and Simey, P., 2007. Quality of life in the fourth age: Exercise experiences of nursing home residents. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 15 (3), pp. 272-286.
Dagkas, S. and Stathi, A., 2007. Exploring social and environmental factors affecting adolescents' participation in physical activity. European Physical Education Review, 13 (3), pp. 369-384.
Fox, K. R., Stathi, A., McKenna, J. and Davis, M. G., 2007. Physical activity and mental well-being in older people participating in the Better Ageing Project. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 100 (5), pp. 591-602.
Stathi, A., 2004. Perspectives on physical activity and well-being of older people. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 12 (3), pp. 298-299.
Stathi, A. and Fox, K. R., 2004. The dimensions of a well-being scale designed for older adults: The Ageing-Well Profile. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 12 (3), p. 300.
Stathi, A., McKenna, D. and Fox, K. R., 2004. The experiences of older people participating in exercise referrat schemes. Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, 124 (1), pp. 18-23.
Stathi, A., McKenna, J. and Fox, K. R., 2003. The contribution of physical activity to the subjective well-being of older adults enrolled in exercise referral schemes. Journal of Sports Sciences, 21 (4), pp. 359-360.
Stathi, A., Fox, K. R. and McKenna, J., 2002. Physical activity and dimensions of subjective well-being in older adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 10 (1), pp. 76-92.
Stathi, A. and Fox, K., 2002. Physical activity and mental health in older adults: Current evidence and future perspectives. Psychologia, 9 (4), pp. 563-580.
Conference or Workshop Items
Morres, I., Stathi, A., Arpin-Cribbie, C. and Theodorakis, Y., 2013. Dose-response relationship between exercise and clinical depression. A Systematic Review. In: 21st World Congress of Social Psychiatry, 2013-06-29 - 2013-07-03, Lisbon.
Greaves, C., Stathi, A., Gillison, F. and Taylor, G., 2013. Waste the waist: A pilot trial of a theory based intervention to support lifestyle change for people with high cardiovascular risk. In: BPS Division of Health Psychology, 2013-09-11 - 2013-09-13, Brighton.
Fox, K. R., Davis, M., Hillsdon, M., Coulson, J. C., Sharp, D. J., Stathi, A. and Thompson, J. L., 2011. Getting out and about in older adults: Implications for physical activity and food shopping. In: UKSBM 7th Scientific Meeting / NPRI Annual Scientific Meeting, 2011-12-14 - 2011-12-15, Stirling.
