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Dr Ross Wadey

Professor in Sport Psychology

Dr Ross Wadey

About Research

Email: ross.wadey@stmarys.ac.uk
Tel: 020 8240 4177

Biography

Ross Wadey is a Professor in Sport Psychology at St Mary’s University. Ross is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society and a Full Member of the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology. He sits on the Editorial Board for The Sport Psychology and Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. In addition to his teaching and research activities, Ross is a Trustee to the charity LimbPower that aims to engage amputees and individuals with limb impairments in physical activity to improve quality of life and aid lifelong rehabilitation.

 

Research

Areas of research supervision

  • Psycho-social-cultural considerations in the prevention of, and recovery from, sport injury
  • Patient and staff experiences of hospital settings, amputation rehabilitation, and the role of physical activity.

Research profile

He received his PhD from Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2009, which won the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) international award for research of outstanding merit. Ross’s research now involves working with external stakeholders (e.g., NHS, English Institute of Sport) to develop programmes of research that meet their needs.

Currently, his research operates at the at the intersections between disciplines (e.g., sport psychology, sports sociology, sports medicine, sports communication) and aims to work with professionals operating across various fields (e.g., sport, military, health, performing arts) to support their craft (i.e., performance, health, well-being) and, where appropriate, to bring about social justice. Ross’s research is at the forefront of advancing knowledge on three complimentary themes:

  1. Psycho-social-cultural considerations in the prevention of, and recovery from, sport injury
  2. Patient and staff experiences of hospital settings, amputation rehabilitation, and the role of physical activity
  3. Multilevel learning following adversity in sport and beyond

By invitation, Ross has been honoured to present his work at various locations (e.g., Headley Court, Wellington Hospital, Queen Mary's Hospital, Guy's Hospital), where he has often left inspired by stories of human resilience and friendship.

PhD students

  • Dr Simon Crampton (completed)
  • Dr Jade Salim (completed)
  • Dr Francesca Cavallerio (completed)
  • Dr Kylie-Roy Davis (completed)
  • Dr Giampaolo Santi (completed)
  • Dr Enda King (completed)
  • Dr Chris Hammer (completed)
  • Dr Chris Pocock (completed)
  • Dr Phoebe Sanders (completed)
  • Dr Atefeh Omrani (completed)
  • Dr Kimberley Humphreys (completed)
  • Ms. Hannah Level
  • Mr John Downey
  • Ms. Sunita Kerai
  • Ms. Ciara Everard
  • Ms. Fiona Leggat
  • Ms. Cindy Okonkwo
  • Mr. Graham McKenzie
  • Ms. Lisa Trainor
  • Mr. Eva Brockschmidt
  • Ms. Jade Eccles

If you’re interested in doing a PhD with Ross, please contact him directly.

Publications

Edited Books
  • Wadey, R., Day, M., & Howells, K. (2020). Growth Following Adversity in Sport. Routledge. London.
  • Wadey, R. (2020). Sport Injury Psychology: Cultural, Relational, Methodological, and Applied Considerations. Routledge. London.
Book Chapters
  • Wadey, R. (2020). Introduction. In R. Wadey (Ed.), Sport Injury Psychology: Cultural, Relational, Methodological, and Applied Considerations. New York, Routledge.
  • Wadey, R. (2020). Challenging the status quo of sport injury psychology. In R. Wadey (Ed.), Sport Injury Psychology: Cultural, Relational, Methodological, and Applied Considerations. New York, Routledge.
  • Wadey, R., Day, M., & Howells, K. (2020). Introduction. In R. Wadey, M. Day, & K. Howells (Eds.), Growth Following Adversity in Sport: A Mechanism to Positive Change (pp. xvi-xxi). New York: Routledge.
  • Wadey, R., Day, M., & Howells, K. (2020). Growth following adversity: A conceptual perspective. In R. Wadey, M. Day, & K. Howells (Eds.), Growth Following Adversity in Sport: A mechanism to positive change (pp. 3-18). New York: Routledge.
  • Howells, K., Wadey, R., & Day, M. (2020). Growth following adversity: A theoretical perspective. In R. Wadey, M. Day, & K. Howells (Eds.), Growth Following Adversity in Sport: A mechanism to positive change (pp. 19-33). New York: Routledge.
  • Day, M., Howells, K., & Wadey, R. (2020). Growth following adversity: A methodological perspective. In R. Wadey, M. Day, & K. Howells (Eds.), Growth Following Adversity in Sport: A mechanism to positive change (pp. 34-46). New York: Routledge.
  • Wadey, R., & Everard, C. (2020). Sport injury-related growth: A conceptual foundation. In R. Wadey, M. Day, & K. Howells (Eds.), Growth Following Adversity in Sport: A mechanism to positive change (pp. 189-203). New York: Routledge.
  • Howells, K., & Wadey, R. (2020). Nurturing growth in the aftermath of adversity: A narrative review of evidence-based practice. In R. Wadey, M. Day, & K. Howells (Eds.), Growth Following Adversity in Sport: A mechanism to positive change (pp. 219-234). New York: Routledge.
  • Wadey, R., Day, M., & Howells, K. (2020). Taking stock and making hay: Growth following adversity research in applied sport psychology. In R. Wadey, M. Day, & K. Howells (Eds.), Growth Following Adversity in Sport: A mechanism to positive change (pp. 257-275). New York: Routledge.
  • Wadey, R., Day, M., Cavallerio, F., & Martinelli, L. (2019). Multilevel Model of Sport Injury (MMSI): Can coaches impact and be impacted by injury? In R. Thelwell & M. Dicks (Eds.), Professional Advances in Sports Coaching: Research and Practice (pp. 336-357). London: Routledge.
  • Wadey, R., & Griffins, L. (2019). Reaction to returning to the decks: Melissa Scruton, a professional disc jockey. In M. Arvinen-Barrow & D. Clement (Eds.), Psychology of Sport and Performance Injury: An Interprofessional Case-Based Approach. London: Routledge.
  • Wadey, R. (2014). An examination of hardiness throughout the sport injury process. In R. Neil, S. Hanton, S. Fleming, & K. Wilson (Eds.), The research process in sport, exercise and health: The experiences of active researchers (pp. 154-178). London: Routledge.
  • Wadey, R., & Hanton, S. (2014). Psychology of sport injury: Resilience and thriving. In F. G. O’Conner & R. Wilder (Eds.) Running Medicine (pp. 932-951). Healthy Learning.
  • Wadey, R., & Evans, L. (2011). Working with injured athletes: Research and practice. In S. Hanton & S. D. Mellalieu (Eds.), Professional Practice in Sport Psychology: A review (pp. 107-132). London: Routledge.

Refereed Academic Journal Papers

  • Brockschmidt, E., & Wadey, R. (under re-review). Runners’ experiences of street harassment in London. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise, & Health.
  • Cavallerio, F., Wadey, R., & Wagstaff, C. (2021). An ethnodrama of the conversations has between parents at an elite gymnastics club. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise, & Health.
  • Omrani, A., Wakefield-Scurr, J., Smith, J., Wadey, R., & Brown, N. (2020). Breast education improves adolescent girls’ breast knowledge, attitudes to breasts and engagement with positive breast habits. Frontiers (Public Health).
  • Pocock, C., Bezodis, N. E., Wadey, R., & North, J. (2020). Understanding key constraints and practice design in rugby union place kicking: Experiential knowledge of professional kickers and experienced coaches. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching.
  • Wadey, R., Day, M., & Howells, K. (2020). Growth following adversity: An inspirational and cautionary tale. Association of Applied Sport Psychology, Newsletter.
  • Cropley, B., Sellers, P., Mellalieu, S. D., Neil, R., Wagstaff, C. D., & Wadey, R. (2020). Researchers’ corner: Exploring the mental health and well-being of individuals working in performance sport. Association of Applied Sport Psychology, Newsletter.
  • Cropley, B., Sellers, P., Mellalieu, S. D., Neil, R., Wagstaff, C. D., & Wadey, R. (2020). Psychological well-being: Lessons learnt from sports coaches and sport science staff. Association of Applied Sport Psychology, Newsletter.
  • Cropley, B., Sellers, P., Mellalieu, S. D., Neil, R., Wagstaff, C. D., & Wadey, R. (2020). Mental health and well-being of individuals working in performance sport. The Sport & Exercise Scientist, 59, 28-29.
  • Sanders, P., Wadey, R., Day, M., & Winter, S. (2020). Narratives of recovery over the first year after major lower limb loss. Qualitative Health Research.
  • Sanders, P., Wadey, R., Day, M., & Winter, S. (2020). Prosthetic rehabilitation in practice: An exploration of experiential knowledge in the multi-disciplinary team. Qualitative Health Research.
  • Howells, K., Wadey, R., Roy-Davis, K., & Evans, L. (2020). A systematic review of interventions to promote growth following adversity. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 48.
  • Cavallerio, F., Wadey, R., & Wagstaff, C. (in press). Member reflections with elite gymnasts and coaches: Looking back to look forward. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health, 12, 48-62.
  • Salim, J., & Wadey, R. (2020). Using gratitude to promote sport injury-related growth. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology.
  • Wadey, R., Evans, L., Hanton, S., Sarkar, M., & Oliver, H. (2020). Can preinjury adversity affect postinjury responses? A five-year prospective, multi-study analysis. Frontiers.
  • Wadey, R., Roy-Davis, K., Evans, L., Howells, J., Salim, J., & Diss, C. (2020). Sport psychology consultants’ perspectives on facilitating sport injury-related growth. The Sport Psychologist (Professional Practice), 33, 244-255.
  • *Kerai, S., Wadey, R., & Salim, J. (2019). Sports physiotherapists’ experiences of stressors in elite sport. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 8, 255-272. (*Winner of the British Psychological Society, MSc Dissertation of the Year Award)
  • Sanders, P., Wadey, R., Day, M., & Winter, S. (2019). Qualitative fieldwork in medical contexts: Confessions of a neophyte researcher. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health, 11, 106-118.
  • King, E., Richter, C., Franklin-Miller, A., Wadey, R., Moran, R., & Strike, S. (2019). Back to normal symmetry? Biomechanical variables remain more asymmetrical than normal during jump and change of direction testing 9 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 47, 1175-1185.
  • Hammer, C., Podlog, L., Wadey, R., Galli, N., Forber-Pratt, A. J., & Newton, M. (2020). Cognitive processing following acquired disability for para sport athletes: A serial mediation model. Disability and Rehabilitation, 42, 2492-2500.
  • Hammer, C., Podlog, L., Wadey, R., Galli, N., Forber-Pratt, A., Newton, M., Hall, M., & Greviskes, L. (2019). Understanding posttraumatic growth of paratriathletes with acquired disability. Disability and Rehabilitation, 41, 674-682.
  • Hammer, C., Podlog, L., Wadey, R., Galli, N., Forber-Pratt, A. J., & Newton, M. (2018). From core belief challenge to posttraumatic growth in para sport athletes: Moderated medicated by needs satisfaction and deliberate rumination. Disability and Rehabilitation, 25, 1-9.
  • King, E., Richter, C., Franklyn-Miller, A., Daniels, K., Wadey, R., Jackson, M., Moran, R., Strike, S. (2018) Biomechanical but not timed performance asymmetries persist between limbs 9 months after ACL reconstruction during planned and unplanned change of direction, Journal of Biomechanics, 81, 93-203.
  • King, E., Richter, C., Franklyn-Miller, A., Daniels, K., Wadey, R., Moran, R., Strike, S. (2018). Whole body biomechanical differences between limbs persist 9 months after ACL reconstruction across jump/landing tasks. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sport, 28, 2567-2578.
  • Wadey, R., & Day, M. (2018). A longitudinal examination of leisure time physical activity following amputation in England. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 37, 251-261.
  • Day, M., & Wadey, R. (2018). Living with a lower limb amputation: Everyday experiences of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ days. Disability and Rehabilitation, 25, 1-10.
  • Salim, J., & Wadey, R. (2018). Can emotional disclosure promote sport injury-related growth? Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 30, 376-387.
  • Cavallerio, F., Wadey, R., & Wagstaff, C. (2018). Life after gymnastics: A narrative account of former elite gymnasts. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health, 9, 533-545.
  • Day, M., & Wadey, R. (2018). Researching growth following adversity in sport and exercise: Methodological implications and future recommendations. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health, 9, 499-513.
  • Roy-Davis, K., Wadey, R., & Evans, L. (2018). A grounded theory of sport injury-related growth. Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology, 6, 35-52.
  • Cropley, B., Baldock, L., Mellalieu, S.D., Neil, R., Wagstaff, C. R. D., & Wadey, R. (2016). Coping with the demands of professional practice: Sport psychology consultants’ perspectives. The Sport Psychologist, 3, 290-302.
  • Cavallerio, F., Wadey, R., & Wagstaff, C. R. D. (2016). Understanding overuse injuries in rhythmic gymnastics: A 12-month ethnographic study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 25, 100-109.
  • Salim, J., Wadey, R., & Diss, C. (2016). Examining the relationship between hardiness, coping, and stress-related growth. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 28, 154-169.
  • Day, M., & Wadey, R. (2016). Narratives of trauma and recovery: The complex role of sport following permanent acquired disability. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 22, 131-138.
  • Wadey, R., Podlog, L., Galli, N., & Mellalieu, S. D. (2015). Stress-related growth following sport injury: Examining the applicability of the organismic valuing theory. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 26, 58-68.
  • Podlog, L., Banham, S., Wadey, R., & Hall. (2015). Psychological readiness to return to sport following sport injury. The Sport Psychologist, 29, 1-14.
  • Salim, J., Wadey, R., & Diss, C. (2015). Examining the relationship between hardiness and stress-related growth. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 19, 10-17.
  • Wadey, R., Podlog, L., Hall, M., Hamson-Utley, J., Hicks-Little, C., & Hammer, C. (2014). Re-injury anxiety, coping, and return-to-sport outcomes: A multiple mediation analysis. Rehabilitation Psychology, 59, 256-266.
  • Wadey, R., Evans, L., Hanton, S., & Neil, R. (2013). The effect of dispositional optimism pre- and post-injury. Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 45, 387-394.
  • Podlog, L., Wadey, R., Stark, A., Lochbaum, M., Hannon, J., & Newton, M. (2013). An adolescent perspective on injury recovery and the return to sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14, 437-446.
  • Wadey, R., Clark, S., Podlog, L., & McCullough, D. (2013). Coaches’ perceptions of athletes’ stress-related growth following sport injury. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14, 125-135.
  • Evans, L., Wadey, R., Hanton, S., & Mitchell, I. (2012). Stressors experienced by injured athletes. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30, 917-927.
  • Wadey, R., Evans, L., Hanton, S., & Neil, R. (2012). An examination of hardiness throughout the sport injury process: A qualitative follow-up study. British Journal of Health Psychology, 17, 872-893.
  • Wadey, R., Evans, L., Hanton, S., & Neil, R. (2012). An examination of hardiness throughout the sport injury process. British Journal of Health Psychology, 17, 103-128
  • Wadey, R., Evans, L., Evans, K., & Mitchell, I. (2011). Perceived benefits following sport injury: A qualitative examination of their antecedents and underlying mechanisms. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 23, 142-158.
  • Connaughton, D., Hanton, S., Jones, G., & Wadey, R. (2008). Mental toughness research: Key issues in this area. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 39, 192-204.
  • Connaughton, D., Wadey, R., Hanton, S., & Jones, G. (2008). The development and maintenance of mental toughness: Perceptions of elite performers. Journal of Sports Sciences, 26, 83-95.
  • Hanton, S., Wadey, R., & Mellalieu, S. D. (2008). Advanced psychological strategies and anxiety responses in sport. The Sport Psychologist, 22, 472-490.
  • Wadey, R., & Hanton, S. (2008). Basic psychological skills usage and competitive anxiety responses: Perceived underlying mechanisms. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 79, 363-373.
  • Hanton, S., Wadey, R., & Connaughton, D. (2005). Debilitative interpretations of competitive anxiety: A qualitative examination of elite performers. European Journal of Sports Science, 5, 123-136.

Media enquiries

For media enquiries, please contact our Press Office Team by emailing press.office@stmarys.ac.uk.