Health and Well-being

The Health and Wellbeing research theme brings together an interdisciplinary group of researchers interested in health and wellbeing.

The Health and Wellbeing research theme explores a range of subjective and objective health and wellbeing measures, using quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods approaches.

The theme also brings together researchers who are interested in inequalities in health and wellbeing (financial, relational, and subjective). Focusing on people as the unit of analysis, it considers the role of geography and institutions in health and wellbeing.

Theme lead: Harriet Clarke

Selected publications

Clasby, B., Bennett, M.R., Meadham, H., Hodges, E., Hinder, D., Williams, W. H., Mewse, A., and Hughes, N. (2019). The Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury from the Classroom to the Courtroom: Understanding Pathways Through Structural Equation Modelling. Disability and Rehabilitation. 42(23): 1-10 https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2019.1635214

Hall, K., Needham, C. and Allen, K. (2019) Micro entrepreneurship in the care sector: motives, values and practices, Voluntary Sector Review, vol 10, no 3, 311–328, available online at: https://doi.org/10.1332/204080519X15738068469662

Ramos, M., Bennett, M R., Massey, D., and Hewstone, M. (2019). Humans Adapt to Social Diversity Over Time. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116 (25): 12244-12249.

Simcock, N., Thomson, H., Petrova, S., and Bouzarovski, S. (eds). (2018). Energy Poverty and Vulnerability: A Global Perspective. Oxford: Routledge.

Kamerāde, D., and Bennett M. R. (2017). Rewarding Work: Cross-national differences in benefits, Volunteering During Unemployment, Well-being and Mental Health. Work, Employment and Society, 32(1): 38-56. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017016686030

Thomson, H., Snell, C., and Bouzarovski, S. (2017). Health, well-being and energy poverty in Europe: a comparative study of 32 European countries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(6).

Hall, K. and Hardill, I. (2016) Retirement migration, the 'other' story: caring for frail elderly British citizens in Spain, Ageing and Society, 36(3), pp. 562-585.

Hall, K., Miller, R. and Millar, R. (2016) Public, Private or Neither? Analysing the Publicness of Healthcare Social Enterprises, Public Management Review, 18(4), pp. 539-557.

Liddell, C., Morris, C., Thomson, H., and Guiney, C. (2016) Excess winter deaths in 32 European countries: a critical review of methods. Journal of Public Health, 38(4), 806-814.

Needham, C., Allen, K. and Hall, K. (2016) Micro-enterprise and personalisation: What size is good care? Bristol: Policy Press.

Tod, A., and Thomson, H. (2016) Health impacts of cold housing and energy poverty. In K. Csiba (eds.) Energy Poverty Handbook. Brussels: The Greens / European Free Alliance in the European Parliament.

Snell, C., Bevan, M., and Thomson, H. (2015) Welfare reform, disabled people and fuel poverty. Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 23: 229-244.

Snell, C., Bevan, M., and Thomson, H. (2015) Justice, fuel poverty and disabled people in England. Energy Research & Social Science, 10: 123–132.

Research projects

Current and recent projects

The Impact of Ethnic Diversity on Wellbeing and Health
Exploring the relationship between ethnic heterogeneity, intergroup relations and stress
Wellbeing and Tenure – does home ownership really add up for social tenants?
A tenant's journey: Social housing and life-chances
Embedding action research in energy teaching to foster inclusive knowledge societies in Oaxaca
The EU Energy Poverty Observatory (EPOV)
The Sustainable Care Research Programme
Shifting Shapes: how can local care markets support quality and choice for all?
Brexit and vulnerable older British migrants in Spain

Members

Dr Jennifer Allsopp
Birmingham Fellow
Jennifer's research centres on how people move and mobilise to support what they perceive to be viable futures for themselves, their families and their societies in the context of migration.
Professor Adele Atkinson
Professor of Practice in Financial Literacy and Wellbeing (CHASM)
Professor Adele Atkinson is a Professor of Practice in Financial Literacy and Wellbeing in the School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham.
Dr Kayleigh Garthwaite
Associate Professor
Dr Kayleigh Garthwaite is a Birmingham Fellow in the Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology in the School of Social Policy and Society, University of Birmingham.
Dr Lisa Goodson
Lecturer
Dr Lisa Goodson is a Lecturer in the School of Social Policy, Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology, University of Birmingham.
Dr James Gregory
Assistant Professor
Dr James Gregory is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Policy and Society in the University of Birmingham.
Professor Kelly Hall
Professor of Social Policy
Kelly has a particular interest in the role of voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in the social care sector, as well as international retirement migration.

Professor Paul Montgomery-Marks
Professor of Social Intervention
Professor Paul Montgomery-Marks' research examines how interventions and systems influence health, wellbeing, and social outcomes.
Dr Louise Overton
Associate Professor in Social Policy
Louise's research interests focus on older people and personal finance (and personal finance-related issues), including financial security, financial advice, and the regulation of consumer financial services.
Dr Sandra Pertek
UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at the School of Government and School of Social Policy and Society
Dr Sandra Pertek is a Research Fellow in the School of Government, University of Birmingham
Dr Miguel Ribeiro Ramos
Senior Lecturer
Dr Miguel Ribeiro Ramos is a Senior Lecturer is the Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology in the School of Social Policy and Society at the University of Birmingham
Dr Frankie Rogan
Associate Professor of Sociology
Dr Rogan teaches and researches in the areas of gender, sexuality, media and culture.
Dr Chris Q Smith
Assistant Professor in Sociology & Social Policy
Dr Chris Q Smith is an Assistant Professor in Sociology & Social Policy at the University of Birmingham

Dr Neil Stephens
Associate Professor in Technology and Society
Neil Stephens is Associate Professor in Technology and Society in the School of Social Policy and Society at the University of Birmingham
Dr András Vörös
Associate Professor in Quantitative Methods
Dr András Vörös, Associate Professor in Quantitative Methods in the School of Social Policy and Society
Dr Maxine Watkins
Research Fellow
Maxine Watkins is a Research Fellow in the School of Social Policy at the University of Birmingham.
Dr Samantha Weston
Associate Professor
Dr Samantha Weston is an Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham.