Francesca Cavallerio

Francesca Cavallerio is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University, based in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Psychology, Sport and Sensory Science. She is a chartered psychologist in both the UK and Italy, with a strong background in youth sport, athlete welfare, and qualitative research methods. She has been supervising multiple PhD students since 2019 and continues to consult with gymnastics clubs across England.

Education:

• PhD in Sport Psychology, St Mary’s University, Twickenham
• MSc in Sport Psychology, University of Roehampton
• MSc in Clinical and Community Psychology, University of Torino, Italy
• BSc in Psychology, University of Torino, Italy

Research Interests:

Francesca’s research focuses on the psychosocial aspects of sport, particularly in youth athletes. She is deeply invested in understanding athlete welfare, abuse in sport, the psychology of sport injury, and the use of creative and arts-based methods to communicate research findings to non-academic audiences. Her work often explores athletic retirement, sustainability in high-performance sport, and qualitative inquiry.

Her recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on creative nonfiction, ethnodrama, and poetic representations of athlete experiences, particularly in gymnastics. She has explored themes such as maltreatment, injury, coach-athlete relationships, and the psychological transitions athletes face.

Scientific Awards:

• Learning and Teaching Award 2019, Anglia Ruskin University
• British Psychological Society Early Career Conference Bursary
• Learning and Teaching Award 2018, Anglia Ruskin University

Teaching and Supervision:

Francesca is the Course Leader for the BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching and Physical Education and teaches across multiple undergraduate and postgraduate programs. She supervises six ongoing PhD students and is actively involved in curriculum development and student engagement initiatives.

Professional Affiliations:

She is a member of several professional bodies including the British Psychological Society, the Italian Order of Psychologists, QRSE, BASES, and FEPSAC. She also serves on the editorial board of the Sport and Exercise Psychology Review and reviews for numerous peer-reviewed journals.