Biography:
Stuart is primarily interested in children’s physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and health, and in particular interventions to modify behaviours. Within this area his work focuses on physical activity measurement and the role of multidimensional correlates in the promotion of physically active lifestyles among young people. A core setting to this work is the school environment. He has published over 100 peer reviewed papers and supervised 17 PhD candidates on these research topics.
Previous project work has involved: establishing baseline physical activity, physical self-perceptions, and health data for Wigan primary school children (Wigan PEPASS Project); evaluating a teacher training and playground marking multi-skills intervention (Manchester Learning to Move, Moving to Learn Pr
more...Stuart is primarily interested in children’s physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and health, and in particular interventions to modify behaviours. Within this area his work focuses on physical activity measurement and the role of multidimensional correlates in the promotion of physically active lifestyles among young people. A core setting to this work is the school environment. He has published over 100 peer reviewed papers and supervised 17 PhD candidates on these research topics.
Previous project work has involved: establishing baseline physical activity, physical self-perceptions, and health data for Wigan primary school children (Wigan PEPASS Project); evaluating a teacher training and playground marking multi-skills intervention (Manchester Learning to Move, Moving to Learn Project); assessing the effects of an early years physical activity intervention (Active Play Project); implementing a middle school physical activity intervention programme (HAPPY study in Bedfordshire); evaluating physical activity programmes for under 11’s (All-Ways Active Project), and implementing and evaluating the effects of the Children’s Health, Activity, and Nutrition: Get Educated! (CHANGE!) Project, which was a formative intervention based in Wigan to improve primary school children’s well-being through enhanced physical activity and eating behaviours. Other work includes assessing physical activity and home environments of low active Liverpool adolescents and their parents, and investigating physical activity promotion among children with intellectual learning disabilities.
More recently Stuart has completed collaborative research with LJMU and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to explore technology-based physical activity promotion strategies for children with cystic fibrosis. A Youth Sport Trust-funded project to develop physical activity self-report methods in UK children in collaboration with Iowa State University and LJMU was piloted in 2017 with plans to expand this area of work moving forward. Other recently completed and current externally funded projects include the evaluation of a school-based dance/fitness intervention in collaboration with Les Mills International, the development and evaluation of primary school physical activity interventions in low socioeconomic communities within West Lancashire, implementation of physical activity interventions in secondary school environments, and an evaluation of a community physical activity programme in older adults which is funded by Active Sefton as part of the Sport England ‘Get Health, Get Active’ programme. The latter three projects listed are led by full-time PhD candidates situated within the department. Current PhD student projects focus on resistance-based physical activity in male adolescents, and use of Social Identity Theory within a community healthy lifestyles programme. Stuart is Associate Editor for the Journal of Sports Sciences Physical Activity, Exercise, and Health Section, and is part of the Expert Working Group that is currently reviewing the UK Chief Medical Officers physical activity guidelines for children and young people. Stuart is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Limerick with the Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences.
Away from work Stuart enjoys all kinds of physical activity and regularly runs (more than often with the family dog) and cycles. He also coaches junior rugby league and is an avid Wigan Warriors supporter.