Beth Daniels

Professor Beth Daniels is the Director of the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol. She holds a Professorship in the Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences (HAS). Previously, she held academic positions at the University of Colorado (Colorado Springs), Oregon State University (Cascades), and the University of Oregon (Central Oregon Programs). She earned her PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of California Santa Cruz and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Sport Psychology at UCLA.

Her research focuses on media effects on body image, particularly among girls and young women, emphasizing protective factors like physical activity and sport participation. She employs a sociocultural perspective to examine how gender, race, and other identities shape experiences of sexual objectification and embodiment. Key areas include:

• Impact of media sexualization on psychological well-being
• Cultivation of positive body image
• Sport participation as a counter to objectification

Publications highlight trends in:

• Social media's role in self-objectification
• Racial dynamics in self-sexualization
• STEM pipeline barriers for girls

Prof. Daniels serves on editorial boards for Body Image and Emerging Adulthood, and previously held roles with Sex Roles and Psychology of Women Quarterly. She actively engages the public via media interviews, lay articles, and community talks.