I completed my undergraduate degree in 2008 and then went on to complete the MSc in Health Psychology, both at Staffordshire University, in 2010. In 2012 I began training as a Health Psychologist and in 2019 I was awarded my Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology from Staffordshire University. During this time, I was first employed as a Project Officer on a research study aiming to prevent smoking initiation in young people, funded by the Medical Research Council. Most recently I have been employed as a Senior Researcher, working on a project funded by the National Institute of Health Research Health Technology Assessment, exploring the communication of cardiovascular disease risk in the NHS Health Check Programme.
Professional memberships and activities
British Psychological Society (BPS)
BPS Division of Health Psychology
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
Academic qualifications
Professional Doctorate Health Psychology (Pass), Staffordshire University, 2019
MSc Health Psychology (Distinction), Staffordshire University, 2010
BSc (Hons) Psychology (2:1), Staffordshire University, 2008
Expertise
My expertise is within Health Psychology and conducting research employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
Research interests
My research background is in Health Psychology and I have several research interests including health promotion, obesity (particularly paediatric obesity), smoking behaviour in young adults and cardiovascular disease risk communication.
Enterprise and commercial interests
I have previously been involved in consultancy work for the following organisations: Knowsley Integrated Provider Service (KIPS) @ 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Staffordshire County Council, Stoke City Council, Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trust (PCT) and North Staffordshire NHS/Lesniak Swann.
Teaching
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Postgraduate Teaching
Level 7
Level 8
* Module Leader **Co-module Leader
Publications
- Povey, R., Cowap, L., Scholtens, K. & Forshaw, M. (2019). “She’s not obese, she’s a normal five-year-old and she keeps up with the other kids”: Families’ reasons for not attending a family-based obesity management programme. Perspectives in Public Health. doi.org: 10.1177/1757913919868509.
- Conner, M., Grogan, S., Simms-Ellis, R., Scholtens, K., Sykes-Muskett, B., Cowap, L., ... & Torgerson, C. (2019). Patterns and predictors of e-cigarette, cigarette and dual use uptake in UK adolescents: Evidence from a 24-month prospective study. Addiction. doi.org: 10.1111/add.14723.
- Conner, M., Grogan, S., Simms-Ellis, R., Flett, K., Sykes-Muskett, B., Cowap, L., ... & Torgerson, C. (2019). Evidence that an intervention weakens the relationship between adolescent electronic cigarette use and tobacco smoking: a 24-month prospective study. Tobacco control, published online first: 28 June 2019. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2018-054905.
- Conner, M., Grogan, S., West, R., Simms-Ellis, R., Scholtens, K., Sykes-Muskett, B., ... & Schmitt, L. (2019). Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of repeated implementation intention formation on adolescent smoking initiation: A cluster randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87(5), 422. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000387.
- Gidlow, C. J., Ellis, N. J., Cowap, L., Riley, V., Crone, D., Cottrell, E., ... & Clark-Carter, D. (2019). A qualitative study of cardiovascular disease risk communication in NHS Health Check using different risk calculators: protocol for the RIsk COmmunication in NHS Health Check (RICO) study. BMC Family Practice, 20(1), 11. doi.org:10.1186/s12875-018-0897-0.
- Conner, M., Grogan, S., Simms-Ellis, R., Flett, K., Sykes-Muskett, B., Cowap, L., ... & West, R. (2018). Do electronic cigarettes increase cigarette smoking in UK adolescents? Evidence from a 12-month prospective study. Tobacco Control, 27(4), 365-372. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053539.
- Burton, A.E., Clancy, L. & Cowap, L. (2018). Exploring the facilitators and barriers to physical activity in older people with sight loss. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, (24), 1-29. doi:10.1123/japa.2016-0123