Newcastle University

Introduction

I am a chartered health psychologist and my main research interest is applying theories of behaviour change to understand health behaviours. My work focuses on testing theory and developing effective behaviour change interventions.
I am particularly interested in physical activity behaviour and behaviour change as primary prevention, and as secondary prevention in people with disabling conditions such as osteoarthritis.
I also have an interest in testing health behaviour theory and interventions at the individual level.

I have recently been granted a 2012 International Society of Behavioral Medicine Early Career Award. 

Qualifications 

PhD Health Psychology, University of Stirling (2010) Title: Physical activity and disability behaviours: an application of theoretical frameworks
MSc Health Psychology, University of Sussex (2003)
BSc Joint Honours Psychology and Philosophy, University of Leeds (2002)

Previous Positions

Research Fellow, Cancer Care Research Centre, University of Stirling (2010)
Health Psychologist (pain management), Human Rights Office of the Archbishop of Guatemala, Guatemala (2004-2007)

Memberships

Health Professions Council (Health Psychologist)

British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology

European Health Psychology Society

UK Society for Behavioural Medicine

Languages

English and Spanish

Research Interests

Testing and developing behaviour change theories and interventions
Using an n-of-1 (single case) methodology to test theory and interventions at the individual level
Physical activity and disability behaviours in people with chronic illness
Pain and pain management

Other Expertise

Chartered Psychologist (British Psychological Society)

Registered Health Psychologist (Health Professions Council) 

Current Work

I am the behaviour change research associate for the LiveWell research programme, funded through the MRC Lifelong Health & Wellbeing initiative. We are a multidisciplinary team developing and piloting behavioural interventions to improve health and wellbeing in people in the retirement transition.

Esteem Indicators

Invited speaker, University College London Health Behaviour Research Centre. "n-of-1 research designs: investigating health behaviours at the individual level and personalising medicine" (Februrary 2012). 

Invited workshop, Personal Training Academy, University of Stirling. "Increasing physical activity within individuals" (October 2009).

Invited speaker, Unilever Research Laboratory, Bedford. "Testing the causal structure of the Theory of Planned Behaviour in physical activity behaviours" (November 2008).

Invited workshop, Active Hastings, Hastings. "Increasing physical activity in older men and women: lessons from psychology" (November 2008).

Projects

• The LiveWell Programme: Developing pragmatic interventions to enhance health and wellbeing in later life
  Project Leader(s): Management team: Prof. John Mathers (Leader investigator), Prof. Martin White (co-investigator), Dr Thomas Meyer (co-investigator), Prof. Paula Moynihan (co-investigator), Prof. Lynn Rochester (co-investigator), Dr Falko Sniehotta (co-inverstigator).

Currently co-supervising two PhD students, one MRes/PhD student and one MSc dissertation.

I deliver a session on coding behaviour change techniques for the Public Health Intervention module of the MSc Public Health and Health Services Research.  

Successful  supervision of one MSc dissertation.

• Hobbs N, Godfrey A, Lara J, Errington L, Meyer TD, Rochester L, White M, Mathers JC, Sniehotta FF. Are behavioural interventions effective in increasing physical activity at 12-36 months in adults aged 55 to 70 years? A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Medicine 2013, 11, 75.
• Hobbs N, Dixon D, Johnston M, Howie K. Can the theory of planned behaviour predict the physical activity behaviour of individuals?. Psychology and Health 2013, 28(3), 234-249.
• Sniehotta FF, Presseau J, Hobbs N, Araújo-Soares V. Testing self-regulation interventions to increase walking using factorial randomized N-of-1 trials. Health Psychology 2012, 31(6), 733-737.
• Hobbs N, Sniehotta FF. Two-year findings of an implementation intention intervention for teenage women show reduced consultations for emergency contraception or pregnancy testing and a trend towards reduced pregnancy rates. Evidence-Based Nursing 2012, 15(2), 44-45.
• Hobbs N, Godfrey A, Mathers J, Rochester L, McDonald S, Araujo-Soares V, White M, Sniehotta F. A meta-analysis of physical activity interventions in the 'retirement window'. In: “Resiliance and Health” : 26th Conference of the European Health Psychology Society. 2012, Prague, Czech Republic: Routledge.
• Rodrigues AM, Hobbs N, French DP, Glidewell L, Sniehotta FF. Does answering questions about a health-related behaviour change that behaviour?. In: 26th Conference of the European Health Psychology Society. 2012, Prague, Czech Republic: Routledge.
• Hobbs N, Dixon D, Rasmussen S, Judge A, Dreinhöfer K, Günther K-P, Dieppe P. Patient pre-operative expectations of total hip replacement in European orthopedic centers. Arthritis Care & Research 2011, 63(11), 1521-1527.
• Judge A, Cooper C, Arden NK, Williams S, Hobbs N, Dixon D, Gunther K-P, Dreinhofer K, Dieppe P. Pre-operative expectation predicts 12-month post-operative outcome among patients undergoing primary total hip replacement in European orthopaedic centres. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2011, 19(6), 659-667.
• Hobbs N, Dixon D, Dieppe P, EUROHIP group. Predicting recovery after hip replacement: the role of pre-operative patient expectations. In: Psychology & Health: 24th Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society. 2010, Cluj-Napoca, Romania: Routledge.
• Judge A, Cooper C, Arden NK, Williams S, Hobbs N, Dixon D, Günther KP, Dreinhöfer K, Dieppe PA. Pre-operative expectation predicts 12-month post-operative outcome among patients undergoing primary total hip replacement in European orthopaedic centres. In: Osteoarthritis & Cartilage: World Congress on Osteoarthitis. 2010, Brussels, Belgium: Elsevier.
• Hobbs N, Dixon D. [abstract] Testing the causal structure of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) in physical activity behaviours. Psychology & Health 2008, 23(supplement 1), 143-144.
• Hobbs N. An interview with... Professor Joop van der Pligt. Health Psychology Update 2008, 17(4), 3-4.
• Hobbs N. The role of the biopsychosocial paradigm in a personal experience of health psychology in a developing country. Health Psychology Update 2007, 16(1-2), 48-51.