Dr Gemma Hurst

• Chartered Psychologist

• Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and Division of Health Psychology

• Health and Care Professions Council Registered Practitioner Psychologist (Health Psychologist)

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)

• PgC Research Supervision (2016), Staffordshire University
• Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology (2015), Staffordshire University
• PhD Health Psychology - Evaluation of a Behaviour Change Intervention (2013), Staffordshire University
• PgC Higher Professional Education (2009), Staffordshire University
• PgC Research Methods (2009), Staffordshire University
• MSc (Hons) Health Psychology (2006), Staffordshire University
• BSc (Hons) Psychology (2005), University of Durham

My areas of expertise include:

• The evaluation of health promotion programmes using mixed methods
• Exploring the social and environmental determinants of health and health inequalities

My research interests cover a number of areas including: the evaluation of health promotion programs using both quantitative and qualitative research methods; reducing health inequalities through community-led interventions and partnership working; the social and environmental determinants of health; and understanding the positive health effects of different environments.

Example Research Projects;

• Physical Activity Insight Reports – Leader researcher on a SASSOT funded project exploring the provision of physical activity in areas in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, 2015.

• PHENOTYPE – Post-doctoral research officer on the European FP7 funded PHENOTYPE project investigating the positive health effects of the natural environment.

• My Health Matters – Lead researcher on an NHS Stoke-on-Trent and Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funded project evaluating the use of community-led interventions to reduce health inequalities relating to physical activity and healthy eating, 2009-2012.

• Community Health Education in Stoke-on-Trent (CHEST) Project Evaluation – Lead Researcher on the Evaluation of the CHEST project funded by the Worker’s Education Association (WEA), 2010.

• Walk to Beijing Programme Evaluation – Lead researcher on the evaluation of a physical activity programme in Sandwell, West Midlands. Funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and Sandwell PCT, 2007-2009.

Postgraduate

• MSc Health Psychology
• Module Leader: Contexts and Perspectives in Health Psychology; Psychological Research Design and Planning; and Dissertation: Conducting and Disseminating Psychological Research
• Module Tutor: Applications of Health Psychology; Applied Health Psychology Placement; and Psychology Research Methods
• Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology
• Module Leader: Teaching and Training in Health Psychology

Undergraduate

• Psychological Interventions (L6)
• Health Psychology (Level 6)

• MSc Health Psychology Dissertation Supervision
• Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology Trainee Supervision
• PhD Student Supervision

Masterson, D., Triguero-Mas, M., Marquez, S., Zijlema, W., Martinez, D., Gidlow, C., Smith, G., Hurst, G., Cirach, M., Grazuleviciene, R., et al. (2022). Use of the Natural Outdoor Environment in Different Populations in Europe in Relation to Access: Implications for Policy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(4):2226. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042226

Lloyd, J., Nicklin, L. L., Rhodes, S. K., & Hurst, G. (2021). A qualitative study of gambling, deprivation and monetary motivations. International Gambling Studies, 21(2), 307–325. https://doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2021.1883093

Lega, C., Gidlow, C., Jones, M., Ellis, N., & Hurst, G., (2021). The relationship between surrounding greenness, stress and memory. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 59, 126974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126974

Kruize, H., van Kamp, I., van den Berg, M., van Kempen, E., Wendel-Vos, W., Ruijsbroek, A., Hurst, G., ... & Nieuwenhuijsen, M. (2020). Exploring mechanisms underlying the relationship between the natural outdoor environment and health and well-being–Results from the PHENOTYPE project. Environment international, 134, 105173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105173

Kondo, M. C., Triguero-Mas, M., Donaire-Gonzalez, D., Seto, E., Valentín, A., Hurst, G., ... & Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J. (2020). Momentary mood response to natural outdoor environments in four European cities. Environment International, 134, 105237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105237

Gidlow, C., van Kempen, E., Smith, G., Triguero-Mas, M., Kruize, H., Gražulevičienė, R., Hurst, G., ... & Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J. (2018). Development of the natural environment scoring tool (NEST). Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 29, 322-333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2017.12.007

Romeo-Velilla, M., Ellis, N., Hurst, G., Grogan, S., & Gidlow, C. (2018). A qualitative study of disengagement in disadvantaged areas of the UK:‘You come through your door and you lock that door’. Health & place, 52, 62-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.04.002

Triguero-Mas, M., Donaire-Gonzalez, D., Seto, E., Valentín, A., Smith, G., Martínez, D., Hurst, G., & Martínez-Íñiguez, T. (2017). Living Close to Natural Outdoor Environments in Four European Cities: Adults’ Contact with the Environments and Physical Activity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(10), 1162.

Triguero-Mas, M., Donaire-Gonzalez, D., Seto, E., Valentín, A., Martínez, D., Smith, G., Hurst, G., et al. (2017). Natural outdoor environments and mental health: Stress as a possible mechanism. Environmental Research, 159, 629-638.

Zijlema, W.L., Triguero-Mas, M., Smith, G., Cirach, M., Martinez, D., Dadvand, P., Gascon, M., Jones, M., Gidlow, C., Hurst, G. and Masterson, D., (2017). The relationship between natural outdoor environments and cognitive functioning and its mediators. Environmental Research, 155, 268-275.

Triguero-Mas, M., Gidlow, C.J., Martínez, D., de Bont, J., Carrasco-Turigas, G., Martínez-Íñiguez, T., Hurst, G., Masterson, D., Donaire-Gonzalez, D., Seto, E. & Jones, M.V., (2017). The effect of randomised exposure to different types of natural outdoor environments compared to exposure to an urban environment on people with indications of psychological distress in Catalonia. PloS one, 12(3), e0172200.

Ruijsbroek, A., Droomers, M., Kruize, H., van Kempen, E., Gidlow, C.J., Hurst, G., Andrusaityte, S., Nieuwenhuijsen, M.J., Maas, J., Hardyns, W. & Stronks, K., (2017). Does the Health Impact of Exposure to Neighbourhood Green Space Differ between Population Groups? An Explorative Study in Four European Cities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(6), 618.

Gidlow, C. J., Jones, M. V., Hurst, G., Masterson, D., Clark-Carter, D., Tarvainen, M. P., & Nieuwenhuijsen, M. (2016). Where to put your best foot forward: Psycho-physiological responses to walking in natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 45, 22-29.

Van den Berg, M., van Poppel, M., van Kamp, I., Andrusaityte, S., Balseviciene, B., Cirach, M., Danileviciute, A., Ellis, N., Hurst, G., Masterson, D. & Smith, G., (2016). Visiting green space is associated with mental health and vitality: A cross-sectional study in four European cities. Health & Place, 38, 8-15.

Davey, R. C., Hurst, G. L., Smith, G. R., Grogan, S. C., & Kurth, J. (2011). The impact and process of a community-led intervention on reducing environmental inequalities related to physical activity and healthy eating-a pilot study. BMC Public Health, 11(1), 697.