I am Reader in Psychology (Health). H​aving had a previous career in the financial services and banking industry and knowing that it was not going to be my passion for the remainder of my working life, I made the decision to change direction. I first read Psychology at the Open University achieving 1st Class BSc (hons) in psychology. Having chosen to specialise as a Health Psychologist I undertook a MSc Health Psychology at the University of Surrey before continuing on to undertake a PhD alongside my health psychology Stage 2 training Postgraduate Certificate in Health Psychology Practice. In addition to undertaking a number of consultancy positions I have worked at the University of Surrey before moving to the University of Winchester in 2016.

I am Co-Convener of the Engaging Communities Research Centre and a member of the Healthy Lives Research Group.

Higher Education Teaching Qualification: Higher Education Academy Associate Fellowship (FHEA).

Research interests

​As a chartered health psychologist I specialise in behaviour change intervention design and evaluation as well as research that focuses on the wider aspects of behaviour within a health context. My research interests include patient experience and decision making; sleep; adolescent health, and health inequalities.

I am a mixed-method researcher and enjoy using a range of research methods to investigate ideas and interventions. Above all I am interested in the science of behaviour change and health and therefore will be open to discussing ideas and potential collaborations within this field.

If you would like to discuss opportunities for research collaboration and consultancy, please do get in touch.

Supervision of research students

I welcome enquiries about research supervision; my areas of supervision are: the science of behaviour change and health: behaviour change intervention design and evaluation; behaviour within a health context (with a particular focus on patient experience and decision-making around treatment choices); sleep; adolescent health, and health inequalities.

• Hollands, C., Gray, D., Marren, A., Hindley, R. & Husted, M., (2025), Empowering patient choice: a systematic review of decision aids for benign prostatic hyperplasia. BJUI International 136/3, 359-371. https://doi.org/10.1111/bju.16797 

• Belfrage, S., Husted, M., Fraser, S., Patel, S. & Faulkner, J., 2025, Health literacy profiling of parents in two disadvantaged inner-city areas in the United Kingdom. Health Literacy and Communication Open 3, 1. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/28355245.2025.2489383

• Belfrage, S., Faulkner, J., Husted, M., Fraser, S. & Patel, S., (2024) Generating qualitative evidence of the validity of the Health Literacy Questionnaire Parent. European Journal of Public Health 34, Supplement 3 https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckae144.1668  
• Oftadeh Moghadam, S., Husted, M., Aznar, A. & Gray, D. (2024), A Person-Based Web-Based Sleep Intervention Aimed at Adolescents (SleepWise): Randomized Controlled Feasibility Study JMIR Formative Research 8, e51322
https://formative.jmir.org/2024/1/e51322

• Husted M, Gray D, Golding SE, Hindley R. 2022; Reaching a Tipping Point: A Qualitative Exploration of Quality of Life and Treatment Decision-Making in People Living With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Qualitative Health Research 32(13): 1979-1992 https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323221129262

• Petley, B., Husted, M., Lees, A., & Locke, R. (2021) The effectiveness of interventions and behaviour change techniques to reduce stress in student nurses: a systematic review, Nurse Education Today, Vol. 109,  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.105212

• Sly, D., Husted, M., McKeague, L., & Everington, T. (2021) Atrial Fibrillation Patient’s Treatment Experience: A Qualitative Analysis of Rivaroxaban and Warfarin. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. Vol. 28 https://doi.org/10.1111/jep.13628

•  Husted, M., & Dalton, R. (2021) ‘Don’t show that you’re scared’: resilience in providing healthcare in a UK low-to-medium secure hospital, Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 9:1, 84-103, 10.1080/21642850.2021.1874956

• Husted, M., & Naylor, L. (2020) Constructs of sleep disturbance and mental well-being in older adolescents in the UK. Health Psychology Update. 27-36, Volume 29 Spring Ed.

• Husted, M., Seiss, E., & Banks, A. (2019) The relationship between dietary restraint and deficits in reasoning about causes of weight-gain. Psychology & Health. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2019.1623890

• Abdin, S.,Lavallée, J., Faulkner, J., & Husted, M. (2019) A Systematic Review of The effectiveness of physical activity interventions in adults with breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology. 2019 https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5101

• Lavallée, J., Abdin, S., Faulkner, J., & Husted, M. (2019) Barriers and facilitators to participating in physical activity for adults with breast cancer receiving adjuvant treatment: a qualitative meta-synthesis. Psycho-Oncology. Vol 28 (3). 468-476. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4980

• Bowles, K., & Husted, M. (2019) Understanding what influences people’s attitudes towards individuals with dementia, Health Psychology Update, Vol. 28 Spring 2019. ISSN 0954-2027.

• Husted, M., Banks, A. P., & Seiss, E. (2016). Eating behaviour associated with differences in conflict adaptation for food pictures. Appetite, 105, 630–637. Read it online
• Husted, M., & Ogden, J. (2014). Emphasising personal investment effects weight loss and hedonic thoughts about food after obesity surgery. Journal of Obesity, 2014, 810374. Read it online
• Husted, M., Banks, A. P., & Seiss, E. (2014). External Eating Behaviour Affects Performance in Food Picture Flanker Task. Appetite, 83, 360. Read it online
• Husted, M., Seiss, E., & Banks, A. (2013). Causal reasoning about obesity – What’s logic got to do with it? Appetite, 71, 478. Read it online

Funding awards

2024 British Academy funding for project Understanding the Landscape: Imposter Participants and Fraudulent Data in UK Qualitative Research £8783

2024 NHS South Central continuation funding for Raising Voices in Research (RViR) £7000

2022 Optimise Project - Optimising patients' surgicial treatment choices in male benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) £150,000 Joint PI

2020 NIHR Applied Research Collaboration PhD Studentship £75,107 Joint PI

2019 Integral Study:Insights into the decision-making process for men selecting therapy for non-neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms £34493.50 PI

2018 Pact Study: Comparing patient experience and adherence with rivaroxaban or warfarin: A qualitative interview study. £20,000 CI

2017 Research Knowledge Exchange Grant. A mixed method study of public perceptions of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and its implications for health. £4584. PI

2011-2014 DHP Health Psychology stipend – £30,000

Memberships

• Health Care Professionals Council – Practitioner Psychologist (Health)
• British Psychology Society & Division of Health Psychology – Chartered Psychologist and Full Divisional Membership