Dr Rachel Crockett

Lecturer

Psychology University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Rachel Crockett

Contact details

About me

I completed my MSc (2002, funded by the MRC) and PhD (2008, funded by the Wellcome Trust) in Health Psychology at  King's College London. Before training in Psychology I had a background in health and social care. During my PhD I was seconded to the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology at Westminster (funded by a Wellcome Trust POST Fellowship). I undertook postdoctoral research at King's College London on the impact of nutritional labelling on eating behaviour (funded by an NIHR personal postdoctoral fellowship). I subsequently worked in a number of University Psychology and Health Services Research Departments before taking up my lectureship at the University of Stirling

My research focuses on behaviour and health using a variety of research methods including systematic reviewing, epidemiological analyses, experimental investigations and qualitative studies. I have many years of experience of researching behaviour change in national and international populations including women, older adults and those living in more socially deprived areas. More recently, as a cancer survivor, my interest in behaviour change has evolved to to focus on individuals living with long term conditions and the role of behavioural self-management in promoting well being. Projects include:

Living Better with Breast Lymphoedema (The LIBBY Project).

Breast lymphoedema is a long-term consequence of conservative treatment for breast cancer. It leads to in swelling of the breast with potentially serious physical and psychological effects. It can be managed through a range of behaviours but is not well recognised and is poorly researched. I have been awarded one year’s research leave by Stirling University in 2024 to further develop this project in collaboration with the Forth Valley Lymphoedema Service.

Understanding Self-management of Lipoedema.

Lipoedema is a poorly understood condition affecting fat and connective tissue which results in accumulation of body fat particularly around the waist and in the legs. It mainly affects women and may develop or worsen at puberty, pregnancy and menopause. I work with patients and professional colleagues from health psychology, nursing and nutrition on research to better understand the condition and the self-management needs of patients.

Quality of Life of South African HIV Patients

Once HIV patients reach viral load suppression, they still have to live with, and manage, the long term psychological and physical consequences of the virus and it’s treatment. I currently supervise a PhD student investigating well-being in this population with colleagues based at both Walter Sisulu University in the Eastern Cape and Stirling University.

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