Katherine Parsons

Katherine Parsons

Lecturer

Department of Psychology

Contact Details

Profile

My research interests are predominantly in Behavioural Science and Implementation Science. My PhD focuses on codesigning a behaviour change intervention to increase physical activity in autistic young people. In addition, I have worked on a diverse range of projects in the discipline of social marketing, applying behavioural science to campaigns aimed at tackling ‘wicked’ social problems. I have supported the development of campaigns for obesity prevention, breastfeeding uptake, nutrition, smoking cessation, county lines/child criminal exploitation, and gender-based violence.

I am a steering group member for the Welsh Innovation Network's Health and Wellbeing programme. The Health and Wellbeing steering group takes a multidisciplinary approach to “Healthy Places, Healthy Behaviours,” with a particular emphasis on diet, physical activity, and obesity. Its work is underpinned by cross-cutting themes of place, health inequalities, and co-approaches such as coproduction. I have an ongoing project which aligns with the network's Health and Wellbeing programme, exploring the drivers of Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs).

Alongside a colleague, I organised and delivered the Neurodiversity Network Conference for two years (2023 and 2024), where we showcased the talent of neurodivergent researchers and students here at Aberystwyth University. 

 

Teaching

Module Coordinator
Coordinator
Lecturer
Tutor

Lecturer

PS11520- Applications of Psychology

PS21310- Quantitative Research Methods

PS20310- Qualitative Research Methods

PSM0320- The Psychology of Behaviour Change

PSM0120- Implementation Science

 

Responsibilities

Student recruitment and marketing. 

Psychology social media.

Publications

Parsons, K, Payne, S, Sudhish Bhaskar, L, Wallace, J & Holt, N 2025, 'A systematic review of behaviour change techniques employed in interventions aimed to change physical activity behaviour in autistic individuals', Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 79, 102867. 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.102867
Parsons, K, Payne, S, Holt, N & Wallace, J 2024, 'A qualitative study of physical activity drivers in autistic individuals using COM-B: Autistic and non-autistic perspectives', Research in Autism Spectrum Disorder, vol. 111, 102331. 10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102331
Parsons, K, Payne, S, Codling, S & Murphy, M 2024, 'A reflection on the co-design approach to the development of the Medway Can campaign: A whole systems approach to obesity prevention using COM-B', Health Marketing Quarterly, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 33-49. 10.1080/07359683.2023.2235501
Parsons, K 2023, To design, deliver and evaluate a social marketing behaviour change campaign aimed at increasing uptake of breastfeeding initiation and maintenance in Nottingham. in Behavioural Science and Public Health Network. Behavioural Science and Public Health Network (BSPHN). <https://www.bsphn.org.uk/resource/bsphn-2023-annual-conference-using-behavioural-and-social-science-to-create-healthy-futures>
More publications on the Research Portal