Senior Lecturer
Teaching and supervision
I specialise in sport and exercise psychology but have also taught research methods and health psychology. I am currently module leader for the undergraduate and postgraduate modules in sport and exercise psychology and a level 6 module in exercise behaviour change. My most recent PhD student completed his doctorate in motivation for school-based dance and another has completed a series of studies on self-efficacy for high-board diving. My other PhD students are examining psychological issues in the context of a variety of behaviours including use of performance and image enhancing drugs, participation in voluntary opportunities at the University and teacher perceptions of physical education.
Research interests for potential research students
I welcome new doctoral students interested in the relationship between psychology (eg motivation, mental health and wellbeing) and health related physical activity.
Research
I am principle investigator of a research project examining barriers faced by mental health care workers when offering physical activity advice to patients with severe and enduring mental illness in collaboration with Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust Regional Affective Disorders Service. I also lead a project examining the mental health of elite athletes. I have an interest in the health and wellbeing of children and the role of physical activity participation and non participation. Currently I am part of a team assessing methods of fitness testing with school children.
Publications
Article
Johansen, Michael, Leyland, Sandra, Davis, Paul and Ling, Jonathan (2023) A scale to measure moral disengagement for occupational gains: a scale for use in illicit drug public health initiatives for vocational populations. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 77. ISSN 0143-005X
Johansen, Michael, Leyland, Sandra, Davis, Paul and Ling, Jonathan (2022) Development of a scale to measure moral disengagement for occupational gains to enhance our understanding of the use of Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs (PIEDs) in the workplace. Scientific Journal of Sport and Performance, 1 (4). pp. 273-284. ISSN 2794-0586
Leyland, Sandra, Currie, Alan, Board, Lisa, Mistry, Amit, Jaques, Rod and Ranson, Craig (2022) A Survey of the Mental Health of UK Olympic and Paralympic Sport Athletes. Journal of Athlete Development and Experience, 4 (2). pp. 160-172.
Ranson, Craig, Leyland, Sandra, Board, Lisa, Jaques, Rod and Currie, Alan (2021) Psychological distress and wellbeing in UK olympic and paralympic athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 55. A54-A55. ISSN 1473-0480
Whyte, Ian, Pattinson, Emily, Leyland, Sandra, Soos, Istvan and Ling, Jonathan (2020) Performance and image enhancing drugs use in active military personnel and veterans: A contemporary review. Translational Sports Medicine, ahead. ISSN 2573-8488
Leyland, Sandra, Currie, A, Board, E, Mistry, A, Jaques, R and Ranson, C (2020) A Survey of the Mental Health of UK Olympic and Paralympic sport athletes. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. (Submitted)
Leyland, Sandra, Currie, Alan, Anderson, Steven, Bradley, Eddie and Ling, Jonathan (2018) Offering physical activity advice to people with serious mental illness: The beliefs of mental health professionals. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 15. pp. 1-6. ISSN 1755-2966
Archer, David, Hogg, Robert, Coulson, Morcombe, Soos, Istvan, Anderson, Steven, Innerd, Paul and Leyland, Sandra (2017) Influence of body mass index and gender on physical activity in primary school children during PE and non-PE school days. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 76. E33-E33. ISSN 0029-6651
Anderson, Steven, Leyland, Sandra and Ling, Jonathan (2017) Gender differences in motivation for participation in extra-curricular dance: Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Research in Dance Education, 18 (2). pp. 150-160. ISSN 1464-7893
Pattinson, Emily M., Cotterill, Stewart T. and Leyland, Sandra (2017) Sources of Self-Efficacy in Springboard and Highboard Diving: A Qualitative Investigation. Sport & Exercise Psychology Review, 13 (1). ISSN 1745-4980
Leyland, Sandra, van Wersch, A and Woodhouse, D (2013) Testing an extended theory of planned behaviour to predict intention to participate in health-related exercise during long-distance flight travel. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. ISSN 1612-197X
Anderson, Steven, Leyland, Sandra and Ling, Jonathan (2013) UK Adolescent School Pupils' Beliefs about Participation in Extra-Curricular Dance. Sport and Art, 1 (3). pp. 75-81.
Anderson, Steven, Leyland, Sandra and Ling, Jonathan (2013) UK Adolescent School Pupils’ Beliefs about Participation in Extra-Curricular Dance. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 1 (3). pp. 75-81. ISSN 2381-4381
Reports, briefing/ working papers
Whyte, Ian, Pattinson, Emily, Leyland, Sandra, Soos, Istvan and Ling, Jonathan (2021) Performance and image-enhancing drug use in military veterans. Project Report. Forces in Mind Trust.
Conference or Workshop Item
Gambles, Ellen-Alyssa, Anderson, Steven, Leyland, Sandra and Ling, Jonathan (2023) Pre-service teachers’ influences, beliefs, and barriers to implementing Teaching Games for Understanding in England. In: TGfU SIG 40th Anniversary Conference, TGfU SIG, 2023, Online.
Johansen, Michael, Leyland, Sandra, Davis, Paul and Ling, Jonathan (2023) A scale to measure moral disengagement for occupational gains: a scale for the use in illicit drug public health initiatives for vocational populations. In: Society for Social Medicine and Population Health Annual Conference 2023, 6-8 Sep 2023, Newcastle upon Tyne. (In Press)
Gambles, Ellen-Alyssa, Anderson, Steven, Leyland, Sandra and Ling, Jonathan (2022) Barriers to Teaching Games for Understanding: Teachers’ Engagement and Implementation in England. In: TGfU SIG 40th Anniversary Conference, TGfU SIG, 2023, Online. (Submitted)
Ranson, Craig, Leyland, Sandra, Board, Lisa, Jaques, Rod and Currie, Alan (2021) 137 Psychological distress and wellbeing in UK olympic and paralympic athletes. In: IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport 2021, 25-27 Nov 2021, Monaco, France.
Anderson, Steven and Gambles, Ellen-Alyssa (2021) PE Teachers' Engagement with Teaching Games for Understanding and Perceived Barriers to Implementation. In: International Online Conference on Sports Science and Education, 21 Oct 2021, Pakistan. (Unpublished)
Perry, Kelly, Archer, David and Leyland, Sandra (2021) How to prepare graduates for future employability that meets the expectations of employer needs. In: 3rd Annual Faculty of Education & Society Staff Research Conference: Professions Facing, 14 June 2021, University of Sunderland.
Gambles, Ellen-Alyssa, Anderson, Steven, Leyland, Sandra and Ling, Jonathan (2021) PE teachers’ perspectives and identification of the barriers to implementing TGfU in England using Occupational Socialisation. In: 7th International Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) Conference, 7 Jun 2021, Pre-Conference Virtual Symposium. (Unpublished)
Whyte, Ian, Pattinson, Emily, Leyland, Sandra, Soos, Istvan and Ling, Jonathan (2020) UK Military Veterans: Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs Use. In: Society for the Study of Addiction, Annual Conference 2020, 5-6 Nov 2020, Online.
Leyland, Sandra, Board, Lisa and Currie, Alan (2019) Initial data from the EIS survey presented by associate Prof A Currie and the EIS Expert Mental Health Panel. In: UK Paralympic Performacne Conference, 12-13th March 2019, Manchester. (Unpublished)
Gambles, Ellen-Alyssa, Anderson, Steven, Leyland, Sandra and Ling, Jonathan (2018) Barriers and Facilitators underpinning PE teachers’ perspectives of the Teaching Games for Understanding approach using Occupational Socialisation. In: North East Postgraduate Conference 2018, 09 Nov 2018, Newcastle Civic Centre, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. (Unpublished)
Leyland, Sandra, Currie, Alan, Anderson, Steven, Bradley, Eddie and Ling, Jonathan (2018) Offering physical activity advice to people with serious mental illness: The beliefs of mental health professionals. In: Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust Research and Development Conference, 16 May 2018, Newcastle, UK. (Unpublished)
Gambles, Ellen-Alyssa, Anderson, Steven, Leyland, Sandra and Ling, Jonathan (2018) Occupational Socialisation Theory: Identification of the barriers and facilitators that underpin physical education teachers' perspectives of the Teaching Games for Understanding approach. In: BASES (British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences) Student Conference 2018, Apr 2018, Northumbria University. (Unpublished)
Johansen, M, Whyte, Ian, Davis, Paul and Leyland, Sandra (2017) Attitudes and Beliefs about taking Steroid and Image Enhancing Drugs (SIEDs): A systematic review of studies with gym users. In: Association for Applied Sports Psychology Student Conference 2017, 20-21st May 2017, University of Winchester.
Perry, Kelly, Archer, David and Leyland, Sandra (2017) Student motivation to take part in employability enhancing volunteering opportunities within Higher Education Sport and Exercise degree programmes. In: University of Sunderland Research conference, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Anderson, Steven, Leyland, Sandra and Graham, Sarah (2017) Transforming assessment: Using a rubric approach effectively to support learning. In: Three Rivers Conference, March 2017, University of Northumbria.
Perry, Kelly, Archer, David and Leyland, Sandra (2016) Theory of Planned Behaviour and student motivation to take part in employability enhancing volunteering opportunities within sport and exercise. In: RAISE 2016 Researching, Advancing & Inspiring Student Engagement, 8-9 Sep 2016, Loughborough, UK. (Unpublished)
- Sport and exercise psychology
- Health behaviour motivation and behaviour change
- The relationship between physical activity, mental health and wellbeing
