Dr Florence Kinnafick

Florence completed her UG degree, BSc Sport Science and Psychology, at the University of Southampton before gaining her MSc in Exercise and Health Science at the University of Bristol in 2006. From there, she worked as a research assistant at UCL on the ESRC-funded Millennium Cohort Study. She graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2013 with a PhD before joining the University of Northampton as a Lecturer in Exercise Psychology from 2012-2016.

Florence is a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) of the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Florence’s research employs both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to explore the social contextual and environmental determinants of physical activity behaviour change (long-term persistence, drop out and lapses). More specifically she has investigated who and what is perceived as a source of support for behaviour change. This has included facilitating increased quality of motivation using mobile technology and also investigating the effect of exercise intensity and the physical environment on psychological well-being. She has worked with various population groups including school aged youth, employees and mental health service users.

Selected grant funding

• Kinnafick, F., Bayes, N., Jones, K (2016) Lifestyle Management Intervention (Pilot). Commissioned by First for Wellbeing: Community Interest Company. £4,000, 6 months. Principal Investigator

• Kinnafick, F., Burn, N., &Jones, K (2016) Table tennis in the workplace: Employee wellbeing. Commissioned by Table Tennis England. £7,045, 6 months. Principal Investigator

• Kinnafick, F., Smith, N., Appleton, P., Bayes, N. & Jones, K. (2015-2018) Get Set To Go: An evaluation of the effectiveness of a national initiative to increase physical activity for mental health recovery. Commissioned by MIND, the mental health charity. £101,500 3 years. Principal Investigator.

• Sixsmith, J., Kinnafick, F., Smith, N. & Bayes, N. (2015-2018) PE2020: An evaluation of the effectiveness of a secondary school intervention aimed to increase physical activity. Commissioned by Youth Sport Trust.  £75,000, 3 years. Co-Investigator.

• Sixsmith, J., Kinnafick, F., & Lang, M. (2015-2016) School Staff Wellbeing: An exploratory study to determine the factors underpinning staff wellbeing in primary and secondary schools in Northamptonshire. Commissioned by Northamptonshire County Council.  £22,773, 1 year. Co-Investigator

• Sixsmith, J., Kinnafick, F., & Bayes, N. (2014-2017) The Healthier Child: An evaluation of the effectiveness of an initiative to increase physical activity and improve nutrition among key stage two children. Commissioned by Northamptonshire County Council.  £68,000, 3 years. Co-Investigator.

• Kinnafick, F., Sanchez-Oliva, D., Garcia-Calvo, T. (2013) The effect of the social climate on physical activity intentions and behaviour in adolescents taking part in PE classes in British Secondary Schools. Commissioned by Santander: £1,000, 1 year. Principal Investigator.

Florence regularly presents her work at various international conferences. She has won academic prizes including 1^st place for the Early Career Researcher prize at International Society Behavioural Nutrition Physical Activity in San Diego, 2014, and equal 5^th for the Young Investigator Award at the European Congress Sport Science, 2013.

•  Smith, N., Kinnafick, F., Cooley, S. J., & Sandal, G. (2016) Reported growth following mountaineering expeditions: The role of personality and perceived stress. Environment and Behaviour
•  Smith, N., Kinnafick, F., Saunders, B. (2016) Coping Strategies Used During An Extreme Antarctic Expedition. Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments.
• Kinnafick FE., Thogersen-Ntoumani, C., Duda, J. (Jan 2016). The effects of need supportive text messages on motivation and physical activity behaviour. Journal of Behavioural Medicine.
• Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C, Loughren, E.A., Kinnafick, F.E., Taylor, I., Duda, J. & Fox, K. (2015) Changes in work affect in response to lunchtime walking in previously physically inactive employees: A randomised trial. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.
• Kinnafick, F.E. & Thogersen-Ntoumani, C. (2014) The effect of the physical environment and levels of activity on affective states. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 38, 241-251.
• Kinnafick, F.E., Thogersen-Ntoumani, C. & Duda, J. (2014) Physical Activity adoption to adherence, lapse, and dropout: A Self-determination Theory. Qualitative Health Research 24 (5), 706-718.
• Kinnafick, F.E., Thogersen-Ntoumani, C., Duda, J. & Taylor, I. (2014) Sources of autonomy support, subjective vitality and physical activity behaviour associated with participation in a lunchtime walking intervention for physically inactive adults. Psychology of Sport and Exercise .2 (15), 190-197.
• Sanchez-Oliva, D., Sanchez-Miguel, P. A., Miguel Leo, F., Kinnafick, F.E. & Garcia-Calvo, T. (2014) Physical education lessons and physical activity intentions within Spanish Secondary Schools: A Self-Determination perspective. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. 2 (33).
• Pulsford, R., Cortina-Borja, M., Rich, C., Kinnafick, F.E., Dezateux, C. & Griffiths, L. (2011). Actigraph Accelerometer-Defined Boundaries for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Intensities in 7 Year Old Children. PLoS ONE. 6.8.
• Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C., Loughren, E.A., Duda, J., Fox, K. & Kinnafick, F.E. (2010) “Step by Step”. A feasibility study of a lunchtime walking intervention designed to increase walking, improve mental well-being and work performance in sedentary employees: BMC Public Health. 10, 578.
• Haase, A.M. & Kinnafick, F.E. (2007). What factors drive regular exercise behaviour? Exploring the concept and maintenance of habitual exercise.  Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology. 29, S165-168.