Fehmidah Munir is a Professor of Health Psychology. She studied BSc Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University, and was awarded her PhD at the University of Nottingham in 1999.
Prior to her arrival at Loughborough in 2006, Fehmidah was a lecturer for five years at the Institute of Work, Health & Organisations, University of Nottingham.
Professor Munir is a Chartered Health Psychologist, an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Professor Munir’s current research focuses on the promotion of health and management of ill-health and well-being in occupational and community settings. She has particular expertise in the prevention of, and intervention for, chronic conditions impacting quality of life, work engagement, and fitness for work; understanding the effects of health behaviours on recovery from ill-health; understanding the influence of bio-psychosocial factors related to ill-health, sickness absence, and work outcomes; designing self-led interventions for recovery, enhancement of well-being or work engagement.
Research Activites
Obesity and physical activity among firefighters; Sedentary behaviour, physical activity and work-related psychosocial factors in Northern Ireland Civil Servants: The Stormont Study (collaboration with colleagues from the University of Nottingham and the University of Ulster); Physical activity interventions among cancer patients; Physical activity interventions among Bangladeshi females; Interventions to reduce workplace sedentary behaviour; Return to work outcomes among those with chronic conditions.
Research grants
Interventions in the workplace
2014: Department of Health; 36 months; ‘SMArT Work: Stand More AT Work’; Principle Investigator; £540k
Cancer and work
2014 IOSH, 18 months; ‘Return to work after cancer: developing guidance and case studies to aid employers manage return to work.’ Co-Investigator; £10k
2011 National Cancer Survivorship Initiative, 5 months; ‘Developing a work-focused tool for people caring for those affected by cancer’; Principle Investigator; £10k
2010 National Cancer Survivorship Initiative, 9 months, ‘Developing a work-focused ‘power questions’ self-management tool for people with cancer’ Principle Investigator £50k
2008 Breast Cancer Campaign, 12 months ‘Exploring interventions for chemotherapy-related cognitive problems and ability to work’; Principle Investigator; £11k.
Chronic conditions and sickness absence
2008 British Occupational Health Research Foundation, 18 months, ‘Identifying the line management competencies required to encourage and support an employee’s effective return to work following a period of sickness absence’; Co-Investigator; £70k
2006 Mental Health Foundation, 18 months, ‘The role of depression in returning to work’; Principle Investigator; £50K
2004 European Social Fund, 18 months, ‘Managing chronic health conditions at work: facilitating effective coping for employees & organisations’; Principle Investigator; £135K
Women working in higher education
2015 Leadership Foundation; 60 months; ‘Onward and upwards? Longitudinal analysis of the career trajectories, aspirations and work experiences of Aurora programme participants’, Principle Investigator; £107k
2013 Equality Challenge Unit, 6 months; Advancing women’s careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine: evaluating the effectiveness and impact of the Athena SWAN Charter; Principle Investigator £40k
Associate Editor, BMC Public Health
BPS/HCPC Supervisor for Health Psychology Accreditation
Featured publications
- Munir, F., Kalawsky, K., Wallis D., & Donaldson-Feilder, E. (2013). Using intervention mapping to develop a work-related guidance tool for those affected by cancer. BMC Public Health, 13, 6. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-6. URL:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/13/6
- Munir, F., Clemes, S., Houdmont, J., & Randall R. (2012). Overweight and obesity in UK firefighters. Occupational Medicine, 62, 362-365.
- Munir, F., Yarker, J., Hicks, B., & Donaldson-Feilder, E. (2012). Returning employees back to work: Developing a measure for Supervisors to Support Return to Work (SSRW). Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 22, 196-208.
- Bains., M., Munir, F., Yarker, J., Steward, W.,& Thomas., S. (2011). Return-to-work guidance and support for colorectal cancer patients. Cancer Nursing, 36, E1-E12.
- Munir F, Houdmont JH, Clemes SA, Wilson K, Kerr R, Addley K (2015). Work engagement and its association with occupational sitting time: results from the Stormont Study. BMC Public Health, 15:30
- Clemes S, Houdmont J, Munir F, Wilson K, Kerr R, Addley R. K. (in press). Descriptive epidemiology of domain-specific sitting in working adults: The Stormont Study. Journal of Public Health.
- Houdmont J, Clemes, S, Munir F, Wilson K, Kerr R, Addley R. K (2015). Psychosocial Work Environment and Leisure-Time Physical Activity: The Stormont Study. Occupational Medicine65, 215–219
- Amlani NM & Munir F (2014). Does physical activity have an impact on sickness absence? A review. Sports Medicine, 44(7): 887-907.