Dr Sinead Currie

Senior Lecturer

Psychology University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Sinead Currie

Contact details

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http://www.stir.ac.uk/people/sineadcurrie

About me

I joined the Division of Psychology at Stirling as a lecturer in health psychology in September 2015.

Prior to this I was based in the Manchester Centre for Health Psychology at the University of Manchester where I was a lecturer.

I completed my PhD at Ulster University in 2014. This funded PhD aimed to address physical activity during pregnancy with a theory based, behaviour change intervention.

I have taught a wide range of students and health professionals, led undergraduate and postgraduate modules and supervised student projects.

My research centres around the health of women, children and their families before, during and after pregnancy, specifically around the application of health psychology.

I am interested in a range of behaviours which relate to the preconception, antenatal and postnatal period including:

physical activity, breastfeeding, weight management, diet.

My research interests range from exploratory work to large scale interventions. Multidisciplinary working is essential in my research and enhancing impact of research is a priority of mine.

Education

BSc (hons) Psychology
University of Stirling and University of California, Santa Barbara

MSc Health Psychology
University of Stirling

PhD entitled "What effects does an individually tailored intervention have on the physical activity of primigravida pregnant women?"
Ulster University

Professional membership

Fellowship of Higher Education Academy
Higher Education Academy

Professional qualification

Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology
British Psychological Society

Research projects (5)

Development and Validation of a Behavior Change Tool for the 'Why Weight' Child Healthy Weight Program Evaluation
PI: Dr Sinead Currie
Funded by: NHS Forth Valley
–

Co-production of an intervention promoting preconception health and reducing childhood obesity in deprived areas of Scotland
PI: Dr Sinead Currie
Funded by: Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity
–

The Efficacy of a Post-Partum Physical Development Programme
PI: Dr Sinead Currie
Funded by: BAE Systems
–

HPIT Supervision
PI: Dr Sinead Currie
Funded by: NHS Education for Scotland
–

Use of Breast Pumps to improve breastfeeding outcomes: development and feasibility testing of a novel incentive intervention
PI:
Funded by: Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity
–

Outputs (29)

Article

Feasibility study of a co-designed, evidence-informed and community-based incentive intervention to promote healthy weight and well-being in disadvantaged communities in Scotland

Cowie J, Findlay S, Archibald R, Currie S, Campbell P, Hutcheon D, van der Pol M, MacLennan G, Cook E, Lock B & Hoddinott P (2025) Feasibility study of a co-designed, evidence-informed and community-based incentive intervention to promote healthy weight and well-being in disadvantaged communities in Scotland. BMJ Open, 15, Art. No.: e092908. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-092908

Article

Increasing breastfeeding initiation and duration in women with a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2: developing an intervention from theory to acceptability

Lyons S, Currie S, Peters S, Lavender DT, Turnbull E, Bhatia R, Khan Z & Smith DM (2025) Increasing breastfeeding initiation and duration in women with a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2: developing an intervention from theory to acceptability. International Breastfeeding Journal, 20 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-025-00720-w

Article

Tackling inequalities in preconception health and care: barriers, facilitators and recommendations for action from the 2023 UK preconception EMCR network conference

Schoenaker D, Hall J, Stewart C, Hanley SJ, Cassinelli EH, Benton M, Wynn-Jones AA, Chawla M & Currie S (2024) Tackling inequalities in preconception health and care: barriers, facilitators and recommendations for action from the 2023 UK preconception EMCR network conference. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 15, Art. No.: e24. https://doi.org/10.1017/s204017442400031x

Article

Quality, Features, and Presence of Behavior Change Techniques in Mobile Apps Designed to Improve Physical Activity in Pregnant Women: Systematic Search and Content Analysis

Hayman M, Alfrey K, Cannon S, Alley S, Rebar AL, Williams S, Short CE, Altazan A, Comardelle N, Currie S, Denton C, Harrison CL, Lamerton T, Mena GP & Moran L (2021) Quality, Features, and Presence of Behavior Change Techniques in Mobile Apps Designed to Improve Physical Activity in Pregnant Women: Systematic Search and Content Analysis. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 9 (4), Art. No.: e23649. https://doi.org/10.2196/23649

Article

Using the theoretical domains framework to explore primary health care practitioner's perspectives and experiences of preconception physical activity guidance and promotion

Sissions A, Grant A, Kirkland A & Currie S (2020) Using the theoretical domains framework to explore primary health care practitioner's perspectives and experiences of preconception physical activity guidance and promotion. Psychology, Health and Medicine, 25 (7), pp. 844-854. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2019.1679846

Article

A systematic mapping review of the associations between pregnancy intentions and health-related lifestyle behaviours or psychological wellbeing

Hill B, Kothe EJ, Currie S, Danby M, Lang AY, Bailey C, Moran LJ, Teede H, North M, Bruce LJ & Skouteris H (2019) A systematic mapping review of the associations between pregnancy intentions and health-related lifestyle behaviours or psychological wellbeing. Preventive Medicine Reports, 14, Art. No.: 100869. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.100869

Conference Abstract

Breast-milk expression policies and practices in Scotland: a document analysis

Gillespie N, McInnes R, Hoddinott P, Elders A & Currie S (2018) Breast-milk expression policies and practices in Scotland: a document analysis. Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood Conference, Grange Over Sands, Cumbria, 10/06/2017 - 14/06/2017. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 14 (S2). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mcn.12587; https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12587

Article

The application of psychological methods, models and theories to the understanding of health in the pregnancy and postpartum period: A review of a BPS funded seminar series

Currie S & Atkinson L (2015) The application of psychological methods, models and theories to the understanding of health in the pregnancy and postpartum period: A review of a BPS funded seminar series. Health Psychology Update, 24 (2), pp. 56-59. http://shop.bps.org.uk/publications/publication-by-series/health-psychology-update/health-psychology-update-vol-24-no-2-autumn-2015.html

Teaching

I am deputy programme lead for the MSc Health Psychology.

I lead and/or teach health psychology related topics on a range of courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level, this includes:

BSc/ BA Psychology final year special interest topics MSc Health Psychology Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology

Research programmes

Research centres/groups

Research themes