Laura Healy

Role

Dr. Laura Healy is an Associate Professor of Sport & Exercise Psychology. She researches in areas associated with motivation, goal pursuit, and mental health/well-being across the sport and physical activity spectrum. She has published 24 peer-reviewed papers and has attracted external grant funding of around £116k (£48k as PI). Dr. Healy supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research in areas related to sport and exercise psychology, and teaches on the BSc Sport and Exercise Science and Sport Science MRes programmes.

Career overview

Dr Healy joined Nottingham Trent University in September 2017. She has worked in a variety of academic roles. This includes work as a Research Associate, first at Bangor University before working on an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded research project at the University of Birmingham. Most recently, she worked as a Lecturer in Sport Coaching Science at Newman University, Birmingham. She successfully defended her Doctorate in Sport Psychology from the University of Birmingham in July 2015, which was funded by the ESRC.

External activity

Dr Healy is a member of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES). She is on the editorial board for both The Sport Psychologist and International Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology. Dr. Healy regularly reviews for high-quality peer reviewed journals, such as Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, Psychology of Sport & Exercise, Motivation and Emotion and Journal of Sports Sciences.

Sponsors and collaborators

Current and recent research is being carried out in collaboration with, or funded by:

• IOC Olympic Studies Centre
• British Swimming Coaches Association
• British University and College Sport
• Rethink Mental Illness
• The English Football Association
• Centre for Sport Studies/FIFA Research Scholarship

Research funding has included:

• McLoughlin, E. (PI), Johnston, J., Healy, L.C., & Stanford, J. (2024). The Mental Health And Well-Being Of Swimming Coaches In The United Kingdom. British Swimming Coaches Association. £8,242.56.
• Saward, C. (PI), Sarkar, M., McGlinchey, T., & Healy, L.C. (2024-2025). The mental health experiences of academy players facing deselection. International Centre for Sport Studies - FIFA Research Scholarship. $12,000.
• Giles, S., (PI), Sarkar, M., Healy, L.C., McLoughlin, E. Johnston, J., & Cumming, S. (2023-2025). Evaluating the effectiveness of the implementation of elite athlete mental health support services in the United Kingdom. IOC Olympic Studies Centre. $38,500.
• Healy, L. (PI), Benkwitz, A., Sarkar, M., & McVinnie, Z. (2021-2022). An evaluation of Rethink Mental Illness’ Physical Health Navigation Project. Rethink Mental Illness/Mental Health UK. £15,000.
• Healy, L.C. (PI), Sarkar, M., Benkwitz, A., Karanika-Murray, M., & Nevill, M. (2018-2021). Impact of embedding physical activity into peer support groups. Rethink Mental Illness, £30,000
• Healy L.C. (PI), Sarkar, M., & Johnston, J.P. (2018-2019). Understanding the "I" and the "team": An examination of both individual and team goal motives in the pursuit of shared goals. British Academy SRG18R1\180233. £2,151.
• Saward, C. (PI), Sarkar, M., & Healy, L.C. (2021-2022). Understanding BUCS Football Athletes - Motivations and Profiles. British University and College Sport. £10,000.
• Sarkar, M. (PI), Morris, J., & Healy, L.C. (2019-2023). Psychological safety, fear of failure and resilience in a national sport organisation. The English FA. £7,500.

NTU collaborators

• Dr Mustafa Sarkar
• Dr Julie Johnston
• Dr Chris Saward
• Dr Sam Giles
• Dr Ella McLoughlin
• Dr Christopher Matthews
• Dr Philip Hennis
• Dr Ruth James
• Dr Daniele Magistro
• Prof. Simon Cooper

External collaborators

• Dr Adam Benkwitz, Newman University, Birmingham, U.K.
• Dr Desmond McEwan, University of British Columbia, Canada
• Drs Matt Bird & Trish Jackman, University of Lincoln, U.K.
• Dr Katrien Fransen, KU Leuven, Belgium
• Dr Ross Roberts, Bangor University
• Prof. Pete Coffee, Heriot Watt University
• Dr  Luke Wilkins, La Trobe University