Dr Christopher White
Lecturer in Health, Mental Health and Well-Being
Chris joined the Health and Wellbeing Department of Wrexham University in February 2021 (having previously taught at the University of Chester, Manchester Metropolitan University, and Newman University). He completed his PhD through the University of Chester in 2023, having also completed his MSc in the Sociology of Sport and Exercise, and BSc in Sport and Exercise Science at the same institution. His PhD thesis explored active travel as a public health issue amongst various public health practitioners.
Recent research activities include an active institutional lead role with the Welsh Institute of Physical Activity, Heath and Sport, and projects alongside organisations such as Flintshire Council, and Wrexham AFC.
Outside of higher education, Chris has led a number of residential Summer Schools and is a very keen (if not terribly fast) runner and run leader.
- Active travel
- Policy design and implementation
- The inner workings of local authorities and public health groups
- Systems working
- Identity
- Figurational sociology
Publications
| Year | Publication | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Perspectives on relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S): A qualitative case study of athletes, coaches and medical professionals from a super league netball club, [DOI] O'Donnell, Justine;White, Chris;Dobbin, Nick |
Peer Reviewed Journal |
| 2022 | Are you lookin' at me? A mixed-methods case study to investigate the influence of coaches' presence on performance testing outcomes in male academy rugby league players, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCE & COACHING. [DOI] Richardson, Ben;Dobbin, Nick;White, Christopher;Bloyce, Daniel;Twist, Craig |
Peer Reviewed Journal |
Outreach Activities
| Title | Description | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| It’s healthy, it’s good for the environment, it can be fun… but we’re not quite there yet | Chris provided an overview of the title and what led him to undertake his PhD research in this area. The audience was introduced to the concept of active travel, the health benefits and the history of active travel within the UK. During the 1950s cycling accounted for almost 15% of all trips, now cycling only accounts for around 2-3% of trips in the UK. Chris talked though the importance of health and wellbeing in the context of prevention over illness, understanding the wider determinants of health and considering policy, strategies, and the theoretical/academic underpinnings. Devolution, funding and policy implementation were then considered in detail, exploring the impact this has had on active travel and how local authorities can make active travel more effective beyond soft interventions. Chris closed proceedings by summarising the PhD findings including how the issue has become medicalised, ownership of responsibility and power and the reluctance to advocate within public health networks. | Wrexham University Public Lecture |
Programs/ Modules Coordinated
| Title | Subject |
|---|---|
| Key Concepts in Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing | HLT428 |
| Research methods for health, mental health and wellbeing | HLT710 |
| Introduction to Wellbeing | HLT430 |
| Health Behaviour across the Life Course | HLT524 |
| Preparing for Real World Research in Health | HLT529 |
| Study Skills for Success | FY312 |