Dr Laura Thomas
Sport and Exercise Sciences
Faculty of Science
Email: L.B.Thomas@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 231 8097
Dr Laura Thomas (Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology) is an academic member of staff with teaching and research responsibilities. Laura is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and has been awarded Senior Fellowship to the Higher Education Academy.
Laura’s research interests include motivation, behaviour and well-being, specifically: 1) how the social environment triggers acute changes in motivational foci, 2) why and how developmental problems associated with more challenging social environments manifest differently in different people, and 3) individual differences in response to challenging events and how these responses affect adjustment. Central to these areas of interests is the development and application of Self Determination Theory.
Laura teacher across the Sport Psychology and Sport and Exercise Science BSc programmes as well as the MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology and Professional Doctorate. Laura supervises major project and placements students as undergraduate and postgraduate level and supervises a number of PhD candidates.
Degrees
2016, Aberystwyth University, United Kingdom, PhD
2014, Aberystwyth University, United Kingdom, PGCTHE
2010, Bangor University, United Kingdom, M.Sc Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology
2009, Bangor University, United Kingdom, B.Sc (Hons) Sport Science
Academic appointments
Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, 2018 - present
Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Northumbria University, 2015 - 2018
Journal article
Hudson J, Gowing R, Day M, Oliver EJ, Thomas LB, Legrand FD. 2024. Modifying physical selves with reversal-theory framed expressive writing Journal of Motivation, Emotion, and Personality: Reversal Theory Studies, 13 :1-8 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Crozier A, Cocks MS, Hesketh K, Miller GD, McGregor G, Thomas LB, Jones H. 2024. Mobile Health Biometrics to prescribe immediate remote physical activity for enhancing uptake to cardiac rehabilitation (MOTIVATE-CR+): protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial BMJ Open, 14 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Hudson J, Mason L, Waters T, Thomas LB, Oliver E. 2022. Reversing the paradigm: Motivational fluidity predicts lower student engagement Journal of Motivation, Emotion, and Personality: Reversal Theory Studies, 11 :8-16 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Thomas LB, Kolic P, Morse C, Hicks K. 2022. Presentation of self, impression management and the period: A qualitative investigation of physically active women’s experiences in sport and exercise Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Murdoch J, Varley A, McCulloch J, Jones M, Thomas LB, Clark A, Stirling S, Turner D, Swart AM, Dresser K, Howard G, Saxton J, Hernon J. 2021. Implementing supportive exercise interventions in the colorectal cancer care pathway: a process evaluation of the PREPARE-ABC randomised controlled trial BMC Cancer, 21 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Hernon J, Thomas LB. 2021. SupPoRtive Exercise Programmes for Accelerating REcovery after major ABdominal Cancer surgery trial (PREPARE‐ABC): study protocol for a multi‐centre randomised controlled trial Colorectal Disease, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Kolić PV, Sims DT, Hicks K, Thomas L, Morse CI. 2021. Physical Activity and the Menstrual Cycle: A Mixed-Methods Study of Women’s Experiences Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 29 :47-58 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Thomas LB, Fadeeva A, Oliver E. 2019. The double negative: Personality differentially predicts sensitivity to need support and thwarting, and subsequent behavioural response planning Personality and Individual Differences, 156 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Hudson J, Waters T, Holmes M, Agris S, Seymour D, Thomas LB, Oliver EJ. 2019. Using virtual experiences of older age: exploring pedagogical and psychological experiences of students Proceedings of the Virtual and Augmented Reality to Enhance Learning and Teaching in Higher Education Conference 2018, :61-72
Thomas LB, Hudson J, Oliver EJ. 2019. Modelling Motivational Dynamics: Demonstrating When, Why, and How We Self-Regulate Motivation Journal of Motivation, Emotion, and Personality, 7 :43-56 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Thomas LB, Oliver EJ. 2017. Application of feedback principles to marking proformas increases student efficacy, perceived utility of feedback, and likelihood of use Sport and Exercise Psychology Review, 13 Publisher Url Public Url
Oliver EJ, Hudson J, Thomas LB. 2016. Processes of identity development and behaviour change in later life: exploring self-talk during physical activity uptake Ageing and Society, 36 :1388-1406 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Thomas LB, Hudson J, Oliver EJ. 2015. Development and Validation of an Implicit Measure of Meta-Motivational States Journal of Motivation, Emotion and Personality, 4 :15-25 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Thomas L. 2010. Interactive Effects of Different Visual Imagery Perspectives and Narcissism on Motor Performance Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 32 :499-517 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Fadeeva A, Simmons J, Thomas LB, Baker K, Chun Man Ling F. Retirement Adjustment (R-Adj) Framework: Understanding the Interplay Between Individual and Contextual Factors Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion, Public Url
Dataset
Thomas L, Oliver E. 2023. Always ruminating on the dark side of life; Personality and rumination style, content, and duration. DOI Public Url
Conference publication
Hudson J, Waters T, Holmes M, Agris S, Seymour D, Thomas LB, Oliver E. 2018. Using virtual experiences of older age: exploring pedagogical and psychological experiences of students Hudson J, Kerton R. Proceedings of the Virtual and Augmented Reality to Enhance Learning and Teaching in Higher Education Conference 2018, VR/AR Conference 2018 :61-72 Publisher Url Public Url
Other
Thomas L. Dr NA,
Conference presentation:
Always ruminating on the dark side of life; Personality and rumination content, duration, and style., Self Determination Theory Conference, Orlando, Florida, Oral presentation. 2023
Personality differentially predicts sensitivity to need support and thwarting, and subsequent behavioural response planning, Self Determination Theory Conference, Oral presentation. 2019
Modelling motivational dynamics: Demonstrating why and how we self regulate motivation., Reversal Theory Conference, Oral presentation. 2017
How need balance is regulated: Effects of actual and anticipated need thwarting., Self Determination Theory Conference, Oral presentation. 2016
Examining meta-motivational state reversals as a mechanism for regulating balanced need satisfaction., International Congress of Applied Psychology, Oral presentation. 2014
Examining meta-motivational state reversals as a mechanism for regulating need satisfaction., Self Determination Theory Conference, Poster presentation. 2013
A theoretical and empirical examination of links between Self Determination Theory and Reversal Theory: Psychological need satisfaction and meta-motivational state reversal, International Conference on Motivation, Poster presentation. 2012
Membership of professional bodies:
CPsychol, British Psychological Society.
Conference organisation:
Reversal Theory Conference, Member of the conference organising committee.
Fellowships:
Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy.