Ailsa Niven

Professor Ailsa Niven is a Personal Chair of Psychology of Physical Activity at the University of Edinburgh's Moray House School of Education and Sport, part-time since 2022. She holds roles as Co-Deputy Director of Research and has led initiatives such as the MRC PHIND grant on home-working sedentary behavior. Her research focuses on psychological determinants of physical activity and sedentary behavior across populations including adolescents, working adults, and individuals with mental health challenges.

Education:

• PhD in Professional practice in sport psychology, Coventry University
• MSc Sport and Exercise Sciences (Psychology), Liverpool John Moores University
• MA (Hons) Psychology, University of Edinburgh
• PGCert in Academic Practice, Heriot Watt University
• PGCert in Counselling Skills, University of Strathclyde

Research Interests:

• Interventions to reduce sedentary behavior in home office workers
• Walking promotion strategies for diverse populations (e.g., individuals with intellectual disabilities, mental health challenges)
• Role of social support in adolescent physical activity
• Feasibility of walking interventions for stroke survivors and those with serious mental illness

Grants & Projects:

• MRC PHIND £150K (2021): Reducing sedentary time during home working
• Baily Thomas £94K (2021): Walking interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities
• CHITIN Network £310K (2018): Walking for mental health
• SGSSS/ESRC PhD Scholarship (2017): Step Count Challenge evaluation

Awards:

• Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy

Labs & Affiliations:

• Physical Activity and Health Research Centre (PAHRC)
• Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences (ISPEHS)