Dr. Rachel Stocker
I’m Dr Rachel Stocker and I joined Newcastle University in early 2016, moving to my current lectureship in 2022. As a lecturer in exercise and health psychology, I’m particularly interested in how our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours influence our physical health. My research focuses on helping people engage in various aspects of healthy lifestyles, especially those living with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Breaking down the barriers
For people with chronic illnesses, there are often extra psychological barriers that make it hard to stay active. An example is those living with insulin-treated diabetes. Whilst we know that exercising is good for us, many people with diabetes worry about managing their blood glucose levels during exercise. Resistance training, however, carries less risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) than aerobic forms of exercise. Resistance training involves working against a force to build strength—think weightlifting, or resistance band exercises. Research shows that resistance exercise is not only safe but also beneficial for managing insulin-treated diabetes.
In fact, resistance training can help stave off sarcopenia—the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength—and frailty, a syndrome that involves decreased physical reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors, which can lead to poor health outcomes. Both conditions are common in older adults, especially in those with insulin-treated diabetes, and contribute significantly to loss of independence. The evidence suggests that regular resistance exercise can slow down the progression of sarcopenia, improving muscle strength and overall physical function. This, in turn, reduces the risk of frailty and helps maintain quality of life.
In my current research, I’m investigating the experiences of older adults with insulin-treated diabetes who are mildly frail, and exploring the psychological and practical challenges they face when engaging in resistance exercise. Using qualitative methods, I’m identifying their fears and barriers to exercising, and also, the strategies they’ve developed to stay active. This work will be important in designing tailored interventions that encourage more people to take up resistance training, ultimately improving health and reducing frailty in this population.
Other research projects
As a chartered psychologist specialising in health psychology, I really enjoy applying health psychology and behaviour science principles in different settings and disease/illnesses. Alongside my work in diabetes, I’m involved in some exciting projects that look at other health issues. One of these explores the experiences of patients using the NHS specialist Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy service, focusing on their psychosocial and supportive care needs and how to address them. Another project is about increasing physical activity to reduce dementia risk in ethnically minoritised communities in the North East of England, by working together to create interventions that really fit their needs.
Supporting future health researchers
Another part of my work that I’m passionate about is supervising PhD students. For example, Ayat Bashir is working on improving the diagnosis and management of diabetes secondary to chronic pancreatitis. Keaton Irvine is researching how to improve health for individuals with type 2 diabetes from historically underrepresented groups. Blossom Bell is exploring the long-term care experiences of haematopoietic stem cell recipients, and Evridiki Iliaki is studying how museum experiences can promote mindfulness and social unity in the Middle East.
Looking ahead
Ultimately, my aim is to make healthy lifestyles more accessible for everyone, particularly for those living with chronic health conditions. By understanding the psychological factors that affect exercise and dietary behaviour, we can design strategies that don’t just improve physical health but also have a positive impact on mental wellbeing and quality of life.