Dr Nicola Buckland
Department of Psychology
Senior Lecturer in Psychology
Departmental Postgraduate Tutor
+44 114 222 6508
Full contact details
Department of Psychology
Interdisciplinary Centre of the Social Sciences (ICOSS)
219 Portobello
Sheffield
S1 4DP
- Qualifications
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Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching for Learning in Higher Education (University of Sheffield)
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PhD Psychology (University of Leeds)
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BSc Psychology with American Studies (University of Sussex)
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- Research interests
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My research investigates drivers of behaviour, and ways to increase engagement in healthy and sustainable behaviours. My main research areas are in the psychology of eating behaviour and weight management, including dietary and psychological strategies for appetite control, weight management and weight stigma. I am also interested in and have led research projects investigating ways to encourage environmentally sustainable behaviours, such as reducing dietary meat intake and encouraging sustainable waste behaviours. I am currently leading the behavioural workstream of an industry-academic consortium on compostable packaging (funded by UKRI Innovate UK). Furthermore, a main theme of my research is investigating individual variability – understanding the psychological characteristics which contribute to why some individuals are more or less likely to engage in health or pro-environmental behaviours, and the implications of this for individually-tailored interventions.
My research career began with a BSc in Psychology from the University of Sussex. During this time, I undertook research positions at Arizona State University’s Health and Ageing Laboratory and Conditioned Feeding Laboratory which inspired my interest in human appetite research. I subsequently obtained my PhD from the University of Leeds in 2013 which examined the impact of environmental prompts on snack and meal intake. I then spent three years as a post-doctoral researcher in the Human Appetite and Research Unit at the University of Leeds conducting a clinical trial which investigated the effects of energy density on appetite control and weight loss. Following my post-doctoral positions, in 2017 I joined the University of Sheffield as a lecturer in Psychology.
- Publications
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Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- The impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown on weight management practices in UK adults: A self-regulation perspective. Health Psychology Open, 10(2).
- Exploring the pathways from the power of food to food cravings in a sample of Brazilian young adults. Appetite, 181.
- Motivation to consume palatable foods as a predictor of body image dissatisfaction : using the Power of Food Scale in a Brazilian sample. Eating Behaviors.
- Methods for the economic evaluation of obesity prevention dietary interventions in children: a systematic review and critical appraisal of the evidence. Obesity Reviews.
- An assessment of Behavior Change Techniques in two versions of a dietary mobile application: The Change4Life Food Scanner. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. View this article in WRRO
- Manipulated exposure to television-style healthy food advertising and children's healthy food intake in nurseries. Appetite. View this article in WRRO
- Low craving control predicts increased high energy density food intake during the COVID-19 lockdown : result replicated in an Australian sample. Appetite, 166. View this article in WRRO
- Perceptions about meat reducers : results from two UK studies exploring personality impressions and perceived group membership. Food Quality and Preference, 93. View this article in WRRO
- Free-living energy balance behaviors are associated with greater weight loss during a weight loss program. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8. View this article in WRRO
- Do registered dietitians, nutrition students, and laypeople perceive individuals with obesity differently?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(17). View this article in WRRO
- Susceptibility to increased high energy dense sweet and savoury food intake in response to the COVID-19 lockdown: The role of craving control and acceptance coping strategies.. Appetite, 158. View this article in WRRO
- Women with a low-satiety phenotype show impaired appetite control and greater resistance to weight loss. British Journal of Nutrition, 122(8), 951-959. View this article in WRRO
- Commentary: Methodological and reporting practices for laboratory studies assessing food intake using fixed and ad libitum test meals. Appetite, 130, 336-338. View this article in WRRO
- Disentangling the relationship between sedentariness and obesity: Activity intensity, but not sitting posture, is associated with adiposity in women. Physiology and Behavior, 194, 113-119. View this article in WRRO
- Priming food intake with weight control cues: systematic review with a meta-analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 15. View this article in WRRO
- A Low Energy–Dense Diet in the Context of a Weight-Management Program Affects Appetite Control in Overweight and Obese Women. The Journal of nutrition, 148(5), 798-806. View this article in WRRO
- A novel integrative procedure for identifying and integrating three-dimensions of objectively measured free-living sedentary behaviour. BMC Public Health, 17. View this article in WRRO
- Towards a satiety map of common foods: Associations between perceived satiety value of 100 foods and their objective and subjective attributes. Physiology & Behavior, 152, 340-346.
- Associations between nutritional properties of food and consumer perceptions related to weight management. Food Quality and Preference, 45, 18-25.
- Combining Self-Affirmation and Implementation Intentions: Evidence of Detrimental Effects on Behavioral Outcomes. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 47(2), 137-147.
- Resistance reminders: Dieters reduce energy intake after exposure to diet-congruent food images compared to control non-food images. Appetite, 73, 189-196.
- Slimming starters. Intake of a diet-congruent food reduces meal intake in active dieters. Appetite, 71, 430-437.
- Pre-exposure to diet-congruent food reduces energy intake in restrained dieting women. Eating Behaviors, 14(3), 249-254.
- Are dietitians with obesity perceived as competent and warm? Applying the Stereotype Content Model to weight stigma in Brazil. Frontiers in Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition.
Chapters
- Diet and eating behavior: Appetite control and satiety, Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition (pp. 57-66). Elsevier
All publications
Journal articles
- The impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown on weight management practices in UK adults: A self-regulation perspective. Health Psychology Open, 10(2).
- Economic and health impacts of the Change4Life Food Scanner app: findings from a randomized pilot and feasibility study. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10.
- Exploring the pathways from the power of food to food cravings in a sample of Brazilian young adults. Appetite, 181.
- Improving children’s dietary intake: Mapping behaviour change techniques onto the Change4Life Food Scanner app. Appetite, 179, 106196-106196.
- Motivation to consume palatable foods as a predictor of body image dissatisfaction : using the Power of Food Scale in a Brazilian sample. Eating Behaviors.
- Methods for the economic evaluation of obesity prevention dietary interventions in children: a systematic review and critical appraisal of the evidence. Obesity Reviews.
- An assessment of Behavior Change Techniques in two versions of a dietary mobile application: The Change4Life Food Scanner. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. View this article in WRRO
- Manipulated exposure to television-style healthy food advertising and children's healthy food intake in nurseries. Appetite. View this article in WRRO
- Low craving control predicts increased high energy density food intake during the COVID-19 lockdown : result replicated in an Australian sample. Appetite, 166. View this article in WRRO
- Perceptions about meat reducers : results from two UK studies exploring personality impressions and perceived group membership. Food Quality and Preference, 93. View this article in WRRO
- Free-living energy balance behaviors are associated with greater weight loss during a weight loss program. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8. View this article in WRRO
- Do registered dietitians, nutrition students, and laypeople perceive individuals with obesity differently?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(17). View this article in WRRO
- Susceptibility to increased high energy dense sweet and savoury food intake in response to the COVID-19 lockdown: The role of craving control and acceptance coping strategies.. Appetite, 158. View this article in WRRO
- Women with a low-satiety phenotype show impaired appetite control and greater resistance to weight loss. British Journal of Nutrition, 122(8), 951-959. View this article in WRRO
- Commentary: Methodological and reporting practices for laboratory studies assessing food intake using fixed and ad libitum test meals. Appetite, 130, 336-338. View this article in WRRO
- Disentangling the relationship between sedentariness and obesity: Activity intensity, but not sitting posture, is associated with adiposity in women. Physiology and Behavior, 194, 113-119. View this article in WRRO
- Priming food intake with weight control cues: systematic review with a meta-analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 15. View this article in WRRO
- A Low Energy–Dense Diet in the Context of a Weight-Management Program Affects Appetite Control in Overweight and Obese Women. The Journal of nutrition, 148(5), 798-806. View this article in WRRO
- A novel integrative procedure for identifying and integrating three-dimensions of objectively measured free-living sedentary behaviour. BMC Public Health, 17. View this article in WRRO
- Towards a satiety map of common foods: Associations between perceived satiety value of 100 foods and their objective and subjective attributes. Physiology & Behavior, 152, 340-346.
- Associations between nutritional properties of food and consumer perceptions related to weight management. Food Quality and Preference, 45, 18-25.
- Combining Self-Affirmation and Implementation Intentions: Evidence of Detrimental Effects on Behavioral Outcomes. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 47(2), 137-147.
- Resistance reminders: Dieters reduce energy intake after exposure to diet-congruent food images compared to control non-food images. Appetite, 73, 189-196.
- Slimming starters. Intake of a diet-congruent food reduces meal intake in active dieters. Appetite, 71, 430-437.
- Pre-exposure to diet-congruent food reduces energy intake in restrained dieting women. Eating Behaviors, 14(3), 249-254.
- Are dietitians with obesity perceived as competent and warm? Applying the Stereotype Content Model to weight stigma in Brazil. Frontiers in Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition.
Chapters
- Diet and eating behavior: Appetite control and satiety, Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition (pp. 57-66). Elsevier
Preprints
- Development and Psychometric Validation of the Women-Sexually Objectifying Media Exposure Scale (W-SOMES) and Men-Sexually Objectifying Media Exposure Scale (M-SOMES), Research Square Platform LLC.
- Measuring Self-Objectification in Cisgender Heterosexual Women and Men: A Psychometric Validation of Three Widely Used Self-Objectification Scales, Research Square Platform LLC.
- The impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown on weight management practices in UK adults: A self-regulation perspective. Health Psychology Open, 10(2).
- Research group
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Social and Behavioural Change
PhD students
Current:
- Ankita Sehrawat with Dr Chantelle Wood. Topic: weight stigma and health behaviours.
- Luthfi Dahriyanto with Dr Harriet Baird and Dr Rebecca Webster. Topic: understanding and encouraging pro-environmental behaviours in the UK and Indonesia.
- Bixuan Yan with Dr Sam Caton, 2021-2024. Topic: meal timing and weight management
Completed:
- Sundus Mahdi with Prof. James Chilcott, 2018-2023. Topic: Public health interventions to reduce sugar intake
- Vibhuti Patel with Prof. Helen Kennedy, 2018-2023. Grantham Centre Scholar. Topic: social influences and meat intake
- Zhuozhuo Hu with Dr Chantelle Wood, 2019-2022. Topic: self-objectification
- Denisa Genes with Dr Fuschia Sirois, 2018-2022. Topic: Strategies for weight loss maintenance
- Laura von Nordheim with Dr Mark Blades and Dr Caroline Oates. Topic: healthy food adverts for children.
- Grants
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- Improving research cultures around career development for Postgraduate Researchers. University of Sheffield internal funding via Research England, £14,857 (October – July 2024)
- Exploring barriers and enablers to recruiting community-based participants to psychological studies. University of Sheffield internal funding via Research England, £8252 (February – July 2023)
- UKRI Innovate UK, Capturing and Processing Compostable Packaging - Behaviour Change Interventions, £264,843 (May 2022 – April 2024)
- White Rose Collaboration Fund, £10,997 (Jan 2020-2021)
- Cancer Research UK, BUPA Foundation Fund Innovation grant, £20,000 (2016-2019)
- N8 Industry Innovation grant, £2,300 (2015)
- Teaching activities
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I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Authority (since 2020). I supervise MSc Research Projects in Psychology and I teach on the following modules as part of the undergraduate Psychology degree:
- PSY1001 and PSY2001 Social Psychology I & II (Module Organiser between 2019-2023)
- PSY331 Extended Essay in Psychology
- PSY335 Health Psychology
- PSY346 Research Project in Psychology
- PSY31002 Psychology of Eating Behaviour and Weight Management (Module Organiser)
- Professional activities and memberships
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Professional Activities
The Association for the Study of Obesity and lead for the ASO Yorkshire network (see here)
British Feeding and Drinking Group
Society for the Study of Ingestive Behaviour
Public Engagement and Collaborations
I am keen to share my research with the public. For example, I have previously worked with theatre makers as part of the Festival of the Mind 2020, to produce a show that communicated issues related to body image and weight stigma (see podcast and see show here). My research has also regularly featured in the press since 2013.
I am also keen to work with cross disciplinary academics, industry, local authorities, practitioners and providers, health professionals, community groups and patient groups so please get in touch with me if you are interested in working with me.
- Office Hours
- During term time, students can book a meeting with me in the ICOSS Building by selecting an appointment slot here: https://tinyurl.com/y6wrra4y
- Please allow at least 24-hours’ notice when booking an appointment. If my office hours clash with your teaching timetable, please email me directly to make an alternative appointment (n.buckland@sheffield.ac.uk).