Dr Andrew Brinkley
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Email
andrew.brinkley@essex.ac.uk -
Telephone
+44 (0) 1206 876214
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Location
ESA.3.12, Colchester Campus
Profile
Biography
I am a Lecturer in Exercise Psychology within the School of Sport, Rehabilitation, and Exercise Sciences at the University of Essex, a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol), and the Programme Lead for BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Psychology. Before my appointment, I worked as a Research Associate at Loughborough University within the NCSEM and as a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Loughborough College. Using a mixed-methods approach and across the life course, my research addresses how complex and systems-based physical activity interventions and programmes can be developed, implemented, and evaluated. I have a particular interest in systems-thinking methods and evaluation. Examples include workplace sports and exercise interventions designed to improve employee and organisational health, programmes developed to improve educational and social outcomes in young people educated within pupil referral units, and nationwide Walking Netball programmes established to improve quality of life, loneliness, and mental health. Across a variety of settings, I am interested in how real-world physical activity interventions and programmes underpinned by behaviour-change theory and systems-thinking can be effectively evaluated and translated into practice and policy. I have published my work in leading journals and presented my research at conferences and to the population, it seeks to serve through research consortiums and public engagement events.
Qualifications
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PhD Loughborough University, (2018)
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MRes Sport Science (Sports Psychology Pathway) Nottingham Trent University, (2011)
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BSc (Hons) Sport Psychology and Physical Activity and Health University of Derby, (2010)
Appointments
University of Essex
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Lecturer (Exercise Psychology), School of Sport, Rehabilitation, and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex (1/9/2021 - present)
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Programme Lead BSc Sport and Exercise Psychology, School of Sport, Rehabilitation, and Exercise Science, University of Essex (3/1/2022 - present)
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Third-Year Organiser, School of Sport, Rehabilitation, and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex (1/9/2023 - present)
Other academic
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Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Loughborough College (1/9/2017 - 1/9/2021)
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Research Associate, National Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Loughborough University (1/5/2018 - 1/7/2021)
Research and professional activities
Research interests
Physical Activity and Health
Teaching and supervision
Current teaching responsibilities
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Professional Skills and Development 1 (SE101)
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Sport and Exercise Psychology (SE104)
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Professional Skills 2 (SE201)
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Health and Active Lifestyle (SE205)
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Sport and Performance Psychology (SE207)
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Research Methods in Sport and Exercise (SE230)
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Developing Self and Others (SE231)
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Promoting Health and Activity (SE233)
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Research Project (SE309)
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Research Project (SE318)
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Participation and Wellbeing (SE734)
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Further Research Methods in Sport, Exercise and Health (SE738)
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Research Project (SE740)
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Social psychology in sport and exercise (SE743)
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Understanding Self and Others (SE752)
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Promoting Health and Activity (SE755)
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Digital Skills in Sport (SE237)
Current supervision
Publications
Publications (2)
Brinkley, AJ., Cusimano, KM., Freeman, P., Southall-Edwards, R. and Gladwell, VF., (2024). ‘It's About Collaboration’: A Whole-Systems Approach to Understanding and Promoting Movement in Suffolk
Cusimano, K., Freeman, P., Pettican, A. and Brinkley, AJ., (2024). Can Place-Based Modifications Make a Difference to Local Health Inequalities in Urban Essex: An Evaluation Protocol
Journal articles (14)
Brinkley, AJ., Cusimano, KM., Freeman, P., Southall-Edwards, R. and Gladwell, VF., (2025). ‘It's about collaboration’: a whole-systems approach to understanding and promoting movement in Suffolk. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 22 (1), 7-
Kirby, E., MacMillan, A., Brinkley, A., X W Liew, B. and Bateman, A., (2025). Evaluating musculoskeletal imaging communication interventions using behavioural science: a scoping review using the COM-B model. BMJ Open. 15 (4), e085807-e085807
Simmons, T., Brinkley, AJ., Quarmby, T., Horner, L., Sherar, LB., Hooper, OR. and Kinnafick, FE., (2024). Sport and exercise-based interventions for young people in alternative provisions ‘what, where, how, and for who’: a realist review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 1-31
Brinkley, A., Sandercock, G., Lowry, R. and Freeman, P., (2024). What determines participation in sport for older adults in England: A multilevel analysis of Active Lives data.. PLoS One. 19 (4), e0301790-e0301790
Brinkley, A., (2024). Physical activity, sports participation and school exclusion: An analysis of the millennium cohort study.. British Journal of Educational Psychology. 94 (2), 571-585
Kirby, E., MacMillan, A., Liew, BXW., Brinkley, A. and Bateman, A., (2023). Characterising the interventions designed to affect the reporting of musculoskeletal imaging: a scoping review protocol using the COM-B model.. BMJ Open. 13 (11), e072150-e072150
Brinkley, A., Sherar, L. and Kinnafick, F., (2022). A sports-based intervention for pupils excluded from mainstream education: A systems approach to intervention acceptability and feasibility. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 61, 102217-102217
Mann, GJ. and Brinkley, AJ., (2021). Life in the army reserves – the balance of work, training and physical activity: an ethnographic study. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 13 (6), 1-16
Brinkley, A., Freeman, J., McDermott, H. and Munir, F., (2021). What are the Facilitators and Obstacles to Participation in Workplace Team Sport? A Qualitative Study. AIMS Public Health. 4 (1), 94-126
Kinnafick, F., Brinkley, A., Bailey, S. and Adams, E., (2021). Is Walking Netball an Effective, Acceptable and Feasible Method to increase physical activity and improve Health in middle- to older age women?: A RE-AIM Evaluation. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 18 (136), 136-
Munir, F., Yarker, J., Duckworth, J., Chen, Y-L., Brinkley, A., Varela-Mato, V., Lewis, R. and Clemes, S., (2021). Evaluation of a natural workspace intervention with active design features on movement, interaction and health. Work. 70 (4), 1229-1241
Brinkley, A., McDermott, H. and Munir, F., (2017). What benefits does team sport hold for the workplace? A systematic review. Journal of Sports Sciences. 35 (2), 136-148
Brinkley, A., McDermott, H., Grenfell-Essam, R. and Munir, F., (2017). It's Time to Start Changing the Game: A 12-Week Workplace Team Sport Intervention Study. Sports Medicine - Open. 3 (1), 30-
Brinkley, A., McDermot, H. and Munir, F., (2017). Team Sport in the Workplace? A RE-AIM Process Evaluation of ‘Changing the Game’. AIMS Public Health. 4 (5), 466-489
Conferences (1)
Kinnafick, F., Brinkley, A. and Sherar, L., (2021). Co-Created Sports programme for young people permanently excluded from mainstream schools: An ethnographic evaluation of the Active Link Sports Programme
Reports and Papers (2)
Brinkley, A., Pagay, I. and White, O., (2023). Promoting Incidental Patient Movement and Reducing Hospital Associated Deconditioning: A PRISMA Scoping Review and Systems-Thinking Approach
Kinnafick, F., Brinkley, A., Adams, E. and Bailey, S., (2020). Study Design and Protocol for a RE-AIM Evaluation of a National Walking Netball Programme for Middle Age and Older Women
Grants and funding
2025
Evaluation PHAB Sport for Confidence
Sport for Confidence
NHS Funded PhD Studentship
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
2024
Evaluation of the Pat Benson Boxing Academy Health and Wellbeing Programmes
Pat Benson Boxing Academy
EFDC PHAB Evaluation
Epping Forest District Council
2023
Sport for Confidence PhD Studentship
Sport for Confidence
