Ewch i’r prif gynnwys
Andy Smith BSc PhD FBPsP CPsychol FRSM

Yr Athro Andy Smith

BSc PhD FBPsP CPsychol FRSM

Athro

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Trosolwyg

My research covers the areas of Occupational and Health Psychology with the major emphasis being on well-being.

Specifically, I have conducted extensive research on the non-auditory effects of noise on cognition and health. In addition, I conduct research on stress and fatigue in both the workplace and life in general.

My interests in health psychology cover two main themes: health-related behaviours (effects of nutrition, caffeine and chewing gum on behaviour) and minor illnesses (psychosocial risk factors for susceptibility to colds and influenza; effects of upper respiratory tract infections on mood and cognition).

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Articles

Book sections

Books

Conferences

Monographs

Videos

Websites

Ymchwil

Research areas

Non-auditory effects of noise

My research on the effects of noise started 35 years ago with the late Donald Broadbent. The main areas that I have been active in are: noise and cognition; noise and health; noise and accidents; combined effects of noise and other occupational health hazards; and noise and mental health.

I have been Chair of the Noise and performance team of the International Commission for the Biological Effects of Noise (ICBEN) and an expert on the Department of Health/Health protection Agency Noise Group. I am currently a member of the European Noise Network (ENNAH) and have the remit for advising on new methods for use in noise research.

Occupational stress and fatigue

This research has been supported by the Health and Safety Executive, IOSH, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the EU. It has involved studies of the scale of occupational stress; seafarers fatigue; effects of drugs and medication in the workplace; stress in ethnic minorities; safety culture; and what makes a good job. Current projects are concerned with well-being at work and health and safety in the maritime industry.

The research involves both collaboration with other academics, with industry (eg ConnectAssist) and charities (e.g. the Well-being Wales Network).

The psychology of the common cold and other infections

This research has examined two areas. The first has been concerned with psychosocial risk factors (eg stress) for infection and illness. The second has examined the behavioural malaise (negative mood, impaired cognition) associated with upper respiratory tract illnesses.

This research has involved both laboratory studies and simulations of real-life activities (eg driving). Surveys have also investigated occupational risk factors for minor illnesses and the effects of such illnesses on productivity and safety. Combined effects of minor illnesses and other stressors have been examined. Pharmacological studies have also examined the neurotransmitter changes that underlie malaise.

Functional disorders

Initial studies of post-viral fatigue have led to extensive research in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Again, a major interest has been the cognitive impairments associated with CFS.

The role of psychosocial factors in the pathogenesis of the disorder has also been investigated. Recent research has evaluated multi-convergent therapy and shown that it can have benefits for those with CFS. We are now starting a similar programme to investigate irritable bowel syndrome.

Nutritional Neuroscience

While conducting research on mood and performance at different times of day I became interested in the behavioural effects of meals. Similarly, I became interested in the beneficial effects of caffeine in low alertness situations (e.g. working at night). The research has been extended to examine behavioural effects of macro-nutrients, micro-nutrients and pre-and pro-biotics.

Current interests include effects of chewing gum on stress, mood and cognitive function. We have also developed methods of investigating effects of diet on well-being. These have been used to examine high fibre diets and effects of fruit/vegetable consumption.

Funding

  • Sixth Framework Programme. European Framework for safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly ship operations (FLAGSHIP). 10,215,000 euros
  • IOSH. The relationship between work/working and improved health, safety and well-being. £106,944
  • Seventh Framework Programme. European Noise Network (ENNAH) 993,852 euros
  • KESS studentship with Connect Assist. Researching and developing mental health and wellbeing assessment tools for supporting employees and employers in Wales. £99,804
  • CASCADE: Model-based co-operative and  adaptive ship based context aware design. FP7-SST-2012-RTD-1. 4,380,346 euros.

Research group

Well-being Connect

Research collaborators

Current collaborators in Cardiff include:

  • Professor Keith Whitfied (Business School)
  • Professor David Walters (Soc.Sci)
  • Professor Tony Campbell (Medicine)
  • Dr John Green (Medicine)
  • Dr John Watkins (Medicine)
  • Dr John Gallacher (Medicine)
  • Dr I Johnson (Dentistry).

Collaborators in the UK include:

  • Professor Ted Dinan (Cork)
  • Professor Jaroslav Flegr (Prague)
  • Solveig Bøggild Dohrmann (University of Southern Denmark)
  • R. Capasso (University of Naples).

Bywgraffiad

Undergraduate education

  • University College London, 1970-1973.

Postgraduate education

  • University College London, 1973-1976. PhD: The processing and effects of emotion words.

Anrhydeddau a dyfarniadau

  • Chartered Psychologist (C.Psychol)
  • Fellow of the British Psychological Society (FBPsS)
  • Fellow of Royal Society of Medicine (FRSM).

Aelodaethau proffesiynol

  • Royal Society of Medicine
  • British Psychological Society
  • American Psychological Association
  • UK Society for Behavioural Medicine
  • European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology.

Pwyllgorau ac adolygu

  • Associate Editor, Noise and Health
  • Associate Editor, Current topics in Nutraceutical Research
  • Editorial Board: International Maritime Health.

Meysydd goruchwyliaeth

A number of different research topics are currently being investigated in the Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology and the following would be appropriate areas in which to do a PhD:

  • nutritional neuroscience
  • behavioural effects of caffeine
  • effects of chewing gum
  • effects of minor illnesses on behaviour
  • occupational stress and fatigue
  • noise
  • health and performance
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

If you are interested in applying for a PhD, or for further information regarding my postgraduate research, please contact me directly, or submit a formal application.

Current students

  • K.Webb Common mental health problems, School of Psychology, Cardiff University
  • G. Williams Researching and developing mental health and wellbeing assessment tools for supporting employees and employers in Wales, KESS studentship with Connect Assist
  • J. Berrill Functional abdominal symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, joint with Medicine and Pharmacology
  • J. Galvin Stress in clinical psychologists, School of Psychology, Cardiff University
  • G. Richards Junk food, energy drinks, attainment and behaviour, Waterloo Foundation/School of Psychology
  • J. Fonberg Factors influencing well-being (self-funded)
  • K. Nelson Stress in the Jamaican police force, Commonwealth Studentship
  • H. Alhenaidi Effect of information overload on wellbeing (self-funded).

Contact Details

Email SmithAP@caerdydd.ac.uk
Telephone +44 29208 74757
Campuses 63 Plas y Parc, Ystafell Room 1.01, Cathays, Caerdydd, CF10 3AT

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