Hi James, can you tell us a bit about your research, and how your work is improving people’s wellbeing?

My current research focuses on understanding the factors that influence people's health in Wakefield. This work is part of a £5,000,000 National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)-funded project aimed at improving health outcomes for Wakefield residents. The project seeks to increase research activity within the local authority and deepen our understanding of the factors shaping people's lives. By doing so, it provides elected politicians with better information to make decisions on a range of influences on health and wellbeing, such as transport, education, public services, and more.

What is health promotion? And how can everyday people make a difference to the public health agenda?

Health promotion focuses on empowering people to take greater control over their circumstances and lives. However, some individuals are less able to influence the factors affecting their health due to issues like political and educational barriers or being marginalised within their community.

In my recent inaugural lecture, I highlighted disparities in life expectancy within Leeds, where there can be up to a 12-year gap between the poorest and most affluent communities. Health promotion addresses the root causes of poor health and aims to create supportive environments that enhance health and wellbeing, rather than diminish it.

You have conducted extensive research around the 'health-promoting prison' – what are your tips for doing research with people who may be sceptical about research and the academic world?

Conducting research within populations that may be sceptical of research and academia presents significant challenges. In my experience, emphasising the tangible benefits research can bring to individuals and communities helps foster trust and participation. It is also vital to present all necessary information about research participation in a clear, accessible, and culturally sensitive manner.

Using appropriate and inclusive language is key to encouraging engagement in research activities.  ‘Parachuting’ into communities and exiting quickly without following-through on how people’s contributions have been used in the research process is definitely to be avoided!

And what are the challenges around researching people’s real-life experiences such as prisoners or families, and measuring the impact of your research?

To truly understand people's real-life experiences with their health and daily lives, we must be highly effective listeners. We also need to build rapport and trust through our research practices to create a safe, supportive space where participants feel comfortable sharing their experiences.  This requires careful consideration of how questions are framed and the overall context in which research is conducted.

Measuring the impact of research is a complex challenge. However, through the Research Excellence Framework (REF), we have demonstrated how our research with people in prison and their families has influenced policies and practices. These improvements have led to better support for the health and wellbeing of incarcerated individuals and their families.

Is there anything we can learn at the university around improving staff health through your research?

We recently conducted a systematic review examining interventions and support mechanisms to improve the health and wellbeing of prison staff.  Regarding the transferability of this research to a university setting, it became evident that implementing thoughtful policy interventions and fostering a supportive work environment—where individuals feel comfortable discussing challenges—was particularly beneficial.

At the university, we have a range of support services available for staff. However, a key challenge remains: promoting a healthy work-life balance. For many academics, achieving this balance can be difficult. Leaders within teams that encourage work-life balance within the sector is crucial.

What can we do, as researchers at any career stage, to make our research accessible to people in the community?

It is so important to have a dissemination strategy for research – obviously peer-reviewed journal articles are useful in sharing findings with other researchers and academics, but of course these publications have a limited audience.  Creating lay summaries of your research can be a good way to share findings with people outside of academia.  Social media is also a good way of promoting research are sharing findings with people.  In our NIHR project in Wakefield, we work closely with communication experts to ensure our research has wide-ranging reach.  We also have great expertise in research communication at Leeds Beckett.

What is your advice for PhD students and Early Career Researchers (ECRs) as someone who has progressed from PhD student to Professor?

My advice for PhD students and early career researchers is to enjoy the research process and focus on progress rather than perfection.  Every research study will have limitations due to resource and time constraints. What matters most is that researchers learn from their experiences and grow in confidence with each project.

It is also essential to develop a niche research interest—mine being the relationship between health promotion and prisons. However, it is equally important to remain open to exploring other areas that may overlap or share methodological similarities.

How do you look after your own mental health and wellbeing?

Regarding my own mental health and wellbeing, I try to maintain discipline by avoiding prolonged periods of sitting at a desk or looking at a screen. Engaging in physical activity is particularly beneficial for my mental health, especially during the winter months!

Finally, what are your top tips for researchers to achieve a healthy work-life balance?

The academic sector is notorious for long working hours and high workloads. It is important to identify areas where one can exert control over their working environment.  As an academic and researcher, I feel privileged to have some autonomy in scheduling my day. I make an effort to allocate time away from meetings for focused writing and other essential tasks where I can.

As a line manager, I am fortunate to be aware of various supportive interventions and resources available across the university. Knowing that I can access these support systems if and when needed is invaluable.

For more information on Wellbeing Support at the university, please visit our Wellbeing pages for colleagues and for students.