MARIA-CHRISTINA KOSTELI

Dr. Maria-Christina Kosteli is a Senior Lecturer of Psychology in Sport and Physical Activity at Edge Hill University. She has held academic positions at institutions including Kingston University, Nottingham Trent University, and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance. Her research focuses on psychosocial determinants of physical activity, barriers/enablers in older adults, and body image issues in female athletes, with a particular interest in mental imagery techniques. She holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham (2016), an MSc in Counseling Psychology from Springfield College (2009), and a BSc in Psychology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2007).

• Education:
  • PhD, University of Birmingham (2016)
  • MSc Counseling Psychology, Springfield College (2009)
  • BSc Psychology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2007)
• Research Groups:
  • Sport, Work and Health Research Group
  • Sports Performance, Exercise and Nutrition Research Group

Her work emphasizes the role of mental imagery in promoting physical activity, particularly in older adults and COPD patients. Key research areas include understanding psychosocial factors influencing health behaviors, developing interventions for chronic disease management, and exploring body image dynamics in athletes. She has supervised one documented research project. Dr. Kosteli's contributions have been widely cited, reflecting her impact on health psychology and sport science.

Her articles analyze topics ranging from youth sport motivation to COPD patient engagement, with a focus on translating theoretical frameworks like Self-Determination Theory into practical interventions. She actively collaborates on projects addressing public health challenges through interdisciplinary approaches.