Michael Smith

Dr Michael Smith

Associate Professor

School: Psychology

Dr Michael Smith completed his PhD in Psychology at the University of Western Australia in 2009, before undertaking postdoctoral work at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and Curtin University in Perth, Australia. Michael then joined the Department of Psychology at 51�� in 2010. He is currently the Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange for the Department of Psychology. Michael leads undergraduate and postgraduate modules in Health Psychology, and contributes to research supervision of undergraduate, Masters and PhD students.

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Michael’s current research programmes are investigating the psycho(bio)logical causes and consequences of stress. He has further expertise in developing and evaluating simple techniques for alleviating stress and promoting wellbeing, such as expressive writing. Further, Michael has an interest in behaviour change, and is currently using models of behaviour change to investigate the processes which promote engagement with a variety of behaviours, including i) use of stress reduction techniques and ii) sustainable energy behaviours.

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Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

Stress

Wellbeing

Behaviour Change

Key Publications

Facilitators and barriers to engaging in expressive writing among health and social care professionals, Smith, M., Hoult, L., Rippon, D., O’Brien, N., Branley-Bell, D., Byrne-Davis, L., Collins, C., Gallagher, S., Kinman, G., Mark, A., O’Connor, D., Vedhara, K., Williams, G., Wetherell, M. 25 Aug 2025, In: PLoS One
Positive expressive writing interventions, subjective health and wellbeing in non-clinical populations: A��systematic review, Hoult, L., Wetherell, M., Edginton, T., Smith, M. 21 May 2025, In: PLoS One
Using the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model to investigate end-user barriers and facilitators to low-rise district heating retrofit in the United Kingdom, Smith, M., Doughty, F. 18 Nov 2025, In: Energy Research and Social Science
Facilitators and barriers to engaging in expressive writing among health and social care professionals, Smith, M., Hoult, L., Rippon, D., O'Brien, N., Branley-Bell, D., Byrne-Davis, L., Collins, C., Gallagher, S., Kinman, G., Mark, A., O'Connor, D., Vedhara, K., Wetherell, M. 28 Oct 2024
Friendships, loneliness and psychological wellbeing in older adults: a limit to the benefit of the number of friends, Thompson, A., Smith, M., McNeill, A., Pollet, T. 1 May 2024, In: Ageing & Society
The Moderating Role of Dietary Quality and Dietary Fibre Intake on the Mood Effects of Positive Expressive Writing: A Pilot Study, Levová, L., Smith, M. 27 Aug 2024, In: Nutrients
Effects of chewing gum on nitric oxide metabolism, markers of cardiovascular health and neurocognitive performance after a nitrate-rich meal, Ong, S., Bondonno, N., Downey, L., Scholey, A., Smith, M., Stough, C., Blekkenhorst, L., Woodman, R., Croft, K., Hodgson, J., Bondonno, C. 17 Feb 2022, In: Journal of the American College of Nutrition
Examining the role of employability as a mediator in the relationship between psychological capital and objective career success amongst occupational psychology professionals, Elsey, V., Van der Heijden, B., Smith, M., Moss, M. 14 Dec 2022, In: Frontiers in Psychology
Positive expressive writing as a tool for alleviating burnout and enhancing wellbeing in teachers and other full-time workers, Round, E., Wetherell, M., Elsey, V., Smith, M. 31 Dec 2022, In: Cogent Psychology
Using a Realist approach in understanding Youth Offending Service delivery requirements for young people who offend with speech, language and communication needs in England., Redgate, S., Dyer, W., Smith, M. 1 Nov 2022, In: Discover Social Science and Health

PGR Supervision

Sarah Chalhoub Assessing the impact of psychological risk to women experiencing sexual changes during menopause Start Date: 21/12/2021 End Date: 28/02/2025