People

Dr Carly Wood

Lecturer
School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences
Dr Carly Wood
  • Email

  • Telephone

    +44 (0) 1206 872274

  • Location

    ESA.3.11, Colchester Campus

Profile

Biography

Role: Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science Research Interests: My research interests are focused on the role of physical activity in promoting health and wellbeing. This work primarily falls under two key strands: I. the role of the exercise environment in promoting physical activity and improving health outcomes and; ii. the role of physical activity in modifying the psychophysiological responses to stress. In conducting this research I use physiological and psychological health measures to examine the impact of a variety of physical activity programmes in both healthy and vulnerable groups, such as those with physical or mental ill-health. I have worked with a number of schools and charities in order to conduct and share the findings of my research and am currently working alongside The Conversation Volunteers to develop a programme of research focused on the health impact of their community projects.

Qualifications

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice University of Essex, (2014)

  • PhD Sport and Exercise Science University of Essex, (2012)

  • BSc Sport and Exercise Science University of Essex, (2009)

Appointments

University of Essex

  • Lecturer in Sports and Exercise Science, University of Essex (1/4/2020 - present)

  • Postdoctoral Researcher in Sports and Exercise Science, University of Essex (1/9/2010 - 31/8/2015)

Other academic

  • Lecturer in Sports and Exercise Science, University of Essex (1/4/2020 - present)

  • Lecturer in Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, University of Westminster (1/9/2015 - 31/3/2020)

Research and professional activities

Conferences and presentations

Barriers and facilitators to referral and uptake of community gardening as a green social prescribing activity

International Social Prescribing Network Conference, 11/3/2022

Teaching and supervision

Current teaching responsibilities

  • Professional Skills and Development 1 (SE101)

  • Sport and Exercise Psychology (SE104)

  • Professional Skills 2 (SE201)

  • Health and Active Lifestyle (SE205)

  • Research Methods in Sport and Exercise (SE230)

  • Research Project (SE309)

  • Environments Shape Physical Activity: Translating Research into Practice (SE330)

  • Research Project (SE740)

Publications

Publications (1)

Wood, C., Barton, J. and Smyth, N., A cross-sectional study of physical activity behaviour and associations with wellbeing during the UK coronavirus lockdown

Journal articles (27)

Wood, C., Wicks, C. and Barton, J., (2023). Green spaces for mental disorders. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 36 (1), 41-46

Wicks, C., Barton, JL., Andrews, L., Orbell, S., Sandercock, G. and Wood, C., (2023). The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Contribution of Local Green Space and Nature Connection to Mental Health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 20 (6), 5083-5083

Wood, CJ., Barton, J. and Smyth, N., (2022). A cross-sectional study of physical activity behaviour and associations with wellbeing during the UK coronavirus lockdown. Journal of Health Psychology. 27 (6), 1432-1444

Smyth, N., Thorn, L., Wood, C., Hall, D. and Lister, C., (2022). Increased Wellbeing following Engagement in a Group Nature-Based Programme: The Green Gym Programme Delivered by the Conservation Volunteers. Healthcare. 10 (6), 978-978

Wood, CJ., Polley, M., Barton, JL. and Wicks, CL., (2022). Therapeutic Community Gardening as a Green Social Prescription for Mental Ill-Health: Impact, Barriers, and Facilitators from the Perspective of Multiple Stakeholders. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19 (20), 13612-13612

Wood, C., (2022). Editorial: Nature-based social prescriptions for improving health and wellbeing. Frontiers in Psychology. 13, 1095064-

Wood, CJ., Barton, JL. and Wicks, CL., (2022). The Impact of Therapeutic Community Gardening on the Wellbeing, Loneliness, and Life Satisfaction of Individuals with Mental Illness. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19 (20), 13166-13166

Kyriakidou, Y., Wood, C., Ferrier, C., Dolci, A. and Elliot, B., (2021). The effect of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on exercise-induced muscle damage. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 18 (1), 9-

Wood, C., Griffin, M., Barton, J. and Sandercock, G., (2021). Modification of the Rosenberg Scale to Assess Self-Esteem in Children. Frontiers in Public Health. 9, 655892-

Rogerson, M., Wood, C., Pretty, J., Schoenmakers, P., Bloomfield, D. and Barton, J., (2020). Regular Doses of Nature: The Efficacy of Green Exercise Interventions for Mental Wellbeing.. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17 (5), 1526-1526

Wood, CJ. and Smyth, N., (2020). The health impact of nature exposure and green exercise across the life course: a pilot study. International Journal of Environmental Health Research. 30 (2), 226-235

Wood, C., Flynn, M., Law, R., Naufahu, J. and Smyth, N., (2020). The effect of the visual exercise environment on the response to psychological stress: a pilot study. Anxiety, Stress and Coping. 33 (6), 716-729

Wood, C. and Fivian, E., (2019). The roles of social media, clean eating and self-esteem in the risk of disordered eating: A pilot study of self-reported healthy eaters. International Journal of Food Nutrition and Public Health. 10 (1), 28-39

Wood, C., Barron, D. and Smyth, N., (2019). The Current and Retrospective Intentional Nature Exposure Scales: Development and Factorial Validity.. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 16 (22), 4443-4443

Smyth, N., Flynn, M., Rajcani, J., F Hucklebridge, M., Thorn, L., Wood, C., Golding, J., Evans, P. and Clow, A., (2019). Attenuated cortisol reactivity to psychosocial stress is associated with greater visual dependency in postural control.. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 104, 185-190

Griffin, M., Bentley, J., Shanks, J. and Wood, C., (2018). The effectiveness of Lee Silverman Voice Treatment therapy issued interactively through an iPad device: a non-inferiority study.. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. 24 (3), 209-215

Wood, CJ., Clow, A., Hucklebridge, F., Law, R. and Smyth, N., (2018). Physical fitness and prior physical activity are both associated with less cortisol secretion during psychosocial stress. Anxiety, Stress and Coping. 31 (2), 135-145

Wood, CJ., Pretty, J. and Griffin, M., (2016). A case–control study of the health and well-being benefits of allotment gardening. Journal of Public Health. 38 (3), e336-e344

Barton, J., Bragg, R., Pretty, J., Roberts, J. and Wood, C., (2016). The Wilderness Expedition. Journal of Experiential Education. 39 (1), 59-72

Pretty, J., Barton, J., Pervez Bharucha, Z., Bragg, R., Pencheon, D., Wood, C. and Depledge, MH., (2016). Improving health and well-being independently of GDP: Dividends of greener and prosocial economies. International Journal of Environmental Health Research. 26 (1), 11-36

Wood, C. and Hall, K., (2015). Physical education or playtime: which is more effective at promoting physical activity in primary school children?. BMC Research Notes. 8 (1), 12-12

Barton, J., Sandercock, G., Pretty, J. and Wood, C., (2015). The effect of playground-and nature-based playtime interventions on physical activity and self-esteem in UK school children. International Journal of Environmental Health Research. 25 (2), 196-206

Wood, C., Sandercock, G. and Barton, J., (2014). Interactions between physical activity and the environment to improve adolescent self-esteem: A randomised controlled trial. International Journal of Environment and Health. 7 (2), 144-155

Wood, C., Gladwell, V. and Barton, J., (2014). A Repeated Measures Experiment of School Playing Environment to Increase Physical Activity and Enhance Self-Esteem in UK School Children. PLoS ONE. 9 (9), e108701-e108701

Wood, C., Angus, C., Pretty, J., Sandercock, G. and Barton, J., (2013). A randomised control trial of physical activity in a perceived environment on self-esteem and mood in UK adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Health Research. 23 (4), 311-320

Gladwell, VF., Brown, DK., Wood, C., Sandercock, GR. and Barton, JL., (2013). The great outdoors: how a green exercise environment can benefit all. Extreme Physiology & Medicine. 2 (1), 3-

Reed, K., Wood, C., Barton, J., Pretty, JN., Cohen, D. and Sandercock, GRH., (2013). A Repeated Measures Experiment of Green Exercise to Improve Self-Esteem in UK School Children. PLoS ONE. 8 (7), e69176-e69176

Books (1)

Barton, JL., Bragg, R., Wood, C. and Pretty, JN., (2016). Green Exercise Linking Nature, Health and Well-being. Routledge. 9781138807648

Book chapters (9)

Smyth, N., Rossi, E. and Wood, C., (2020). Effectiveness of stress-relieving strategies in regulating patterns of cortisol secretion and promoting brain health. In: International Review of Neurobiology. Elsevier. 219- 246. 9780128167526

Wood, C., Richardson, M. and Barton, J., (2018). Physical Activity in Natural Environments. In: Physical Activity A Multi-disciplinary Introduction. Editors: Draper, N. and Stratton, G., . 1138696625. 9781138696624

Barton, J., Wood, C., Pretty, J. and Rogerson, M., (2016). Green Exercise for Health: A Dose of Nature. In: Green Exercise Linking Nature, Health and Well-Being. Editors: Barton, J., Bragg, R., Wood, C. and Pretty, J., . Routledge. 1138807656. 9781138807655

Roberts, J., Barton, JL. and Wood, C., (2016). Green Care Interventions for Youth at Risk. In: Green Exercise Linking Nature, Health and Well-being. Editors: Barton, JL., Bragg, R., Wood, C. and Pretty, JN., . Routledge. 9781138807648

Roberts, J., Barton, J. and Wood, C., (2016). Wilderness and youth at risk: Approaches for positive behaviour change through the outdoors. In: Green Exercise: Linking Nature, Health and Well-being. 125- 138. 9781138807648

Barton, JL., Wood, C., Pretty, JN. and Rogerson, M., (2016). Green Exercise, Health and a Dose of Nature. In: Green Exercise Linking Nature, Health and Well-being. Editors: Barton, JL., Bragg, R., Wood, C. and Pretty, JN., . Routledge. 26- 36. 9781138807648

Wood, C., Bragg, R. and Pretty, J., (2016). The benefits of green exercise for children. In: Green Exercise: Linking Nature, Health and Well-being. 46- 52. 9781138807648

Pretty, J., Wood, C., Hine, R. and Barton, J., (2013). Nature for Rehabilitating Offenders and Facilitating Therapeutic Outcomes for Youth at Risk. In: Routledge International Handbook of Green Criminology. Routledge. 1317809009. 9781317809005

Wood, C., Barton, J., Colbeck, I., Hine, R., Mourato, S., MacKerron, G. and Pretty, J., (2011). Health Values from Ecosystems. In: UK National Ecosystem Assessment Technical Report

Grants and funding

2023

Growing Together Basildon � evaluation of the establishment of a new therapeutic community garden

University College London (Funder)

2022

Evaluation of Eastlight Community Homes All In programme

Eastlight Community Homes Limited

The benefits of being in nature

Brandnation

2021

What is the feasibility of prescribing community gardening to reduce loneliness and improve wellbeing in individuals with mental health problems?

University College London (Funder)

Tendring Loves Conservation. An evaluation of Essex Wildlife Trust's programme of engagement to connect local people to nature

Essex Wildlife Trust

Grow Care Farming: An evaluation of Natural England's project to build capacity and infrastructure of Care Farming

Social Farms & Gardens

Contact

cjwood@essex.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1206 872274

Location:

ESA.3.11, Colchester Campus

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