Chris Wagstaff

Chris Wagstaff is a Professor of Applied Psychology at the University of Portsmouth, affiliated with the Faculty of Science & Health and the School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences. He leads research in organizational sport psychology, focusing on elite sport systems, resilience, and psychological safety. His work influences national and international policies, including Olympic sport governance and practitioner ethics.

Research Interests: Chris integrates psychological and sociological approaches to study organizational culture, employee well-being, and high performance environments in sport. He has published over 100 papers and shaped global standards in sport psychology training and ethics through roles at the British Psychological Society and International Olympic Committee.

Recent Articles: His 2025 work includes studies on self-care among sport psychology practitioners, emotional contagion measurement, and organizational culture interventions. These highlight his focus on practitioner well-being, systemic approaches, and evidence-based policy.

• Scientific Awards: Dorothy Harris Memorial Award (2017)

Advising & Grants: Chris leads projects like Norwich FC's psychologically informed environments and migrant athlete mental health initiatives. He managed a 33-member performance team for the UK Sports Institute ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Centre for Integrated Health and Wellbeing, he collaborates globally with organizations like the IOC and UK Sport. His editorial roles include Editor of the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology.