Dr Paul Freeman
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Email
pfreeman@essex.ac.uk -
Telephone
+44 (0) 1206 872179
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Location
ESA.3.10, Colchester Campus
Profile
Biography
Paul is a Chartered Psychologist and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His research interests focus on cognitive and social factors (including cognitive appraisals, social support, and motivation) underpinning performance under pressure and physical activity behaviour. He possesses excellent methodological and statistical skills, and has conducted laboratory-based experiments, survey designs, single-subject multiple baseline designs, qualitative research (focus groups and interviews), and systematic literature reviews. Paul has received research funding from a range of organisations, including the International Olympic Committee, Active 糖心Vlog, 糖心Vlog County Council, and the Economic and Social Research Council. From 2019-21, he was co-lead of the evaluation team working on the 糖心Vlog Local Delivery Pilot funded by Sport England. In 2022, he led the evaluation of the Prevention and Enablement Model, which tested how the health and social care system in 糖心Vlog can use physical activity to enable independence, improve population health, and develop inclusive communities. He has also designed and delivered a range of workshops on topics such as Behaviour Change Models and Psychological Skills Training.
Qualifications
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Ph.D. Sport and Health Sciences University of Exeter,
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BSc Hons., Exercise and Sport Sciences (1st class) University of Exeter,
Appointments
糖心Vlog
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Lecturer>Senior Lecturer, School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, 糖心Vlog (1/9/2014 - present)
Research and professional activities
Conferences and presentations
The coach social support-athlete burnout relationship: The mediating role of perceived stress.
British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Student Conference, 24/4/2023
Nothing about us without us鈥�: The challenges and opportunities of collaborative approaches to data collection and analysis
School of Health and Social Care Staff & Student research Conference, 糖心Vlog, Colchester, United Kingdom, 15/6/2022
Teaching and supervision
Current teaching responsibilities
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Professional Skills and Development 1 (SE101)
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Sport and Exercise Psychology (SE104)
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Professional Skills 2 (SE201)
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Sport and Performance Psychology (SE207)
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Research Methods in Sport and Exercise (SE230)
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Applied Sports Psychology (SE304)
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Research Project (SE309)
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Research Project (SE318)
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Further Research Methods in Sport, Exercise and Health (SE738)
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Research Project (SE740)
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Professional practice in sport and exercise psychology (SE741)
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Psychological Skills and Strategies (SE742)
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Social psychology in sport and exercise (SE743)
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Research Project (SE777)
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Physical Activity, Nutrition and Cardio-Metabolic Disease (SE336)
Current supervision
Previous supervision
Degree subject: Health Studies
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 9/1/2025
Degree subject: Sport and Exercise Science
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 9/2/2024
Degree subject: Sport and Exercise Psychology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 17/5/2023
Degree subject: Sport and Exercise Psychology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 30/8/2022
Degree subject: Sport and Exercise Psychology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 19/8/2022
Degree subject: Sport and Exercise Psychology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 15/8/2019
Degree subject: Sport and Exercise Science
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 22/5/2019
Degree subject: Sport and Exercise Psychology
Degree type: Doctor of Philosophy
Awarded date: 12/9/2018
Publications
Publications (1)
Brinkley, AJ., Cusimano, KM., Freeman, P., Southall-Edwards, R. and Gladwell, VF., (2024). 鈥業t's About Collaboration鈥�: A Whole-Systems Approach to Understanding and Promoting Movement in Suffolk
Journal articles (60)
Chapman, M., Quick, S. and Freeman, P., An in situ exploration of practising football coaches using a new method: TAPSR. International Journal of Sport Coaching
Winter, M., Freeman, P., Griffin, M., Soundy, A. and Maynard, I., . Sport Psychologist
Brinkley, AJ., Cusimano, KM., Freeman, P., Southall-Edwards, R. and Gladwell, VF., (2025). 鈥業t's about collaboration鈥�: a whole-systems approach to understanding and promoting movement in Suffolk. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 22 (1), 7-
Hase, A., Korte, IE., Dokter, M., Schiphof-Godart, L. and Freeman, P., (2025). . Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. 14 (2), 369-381
Cusimano, K., Freeman, P. and Moran, J., (2025). . Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 39 (5), 553-561
Cusimano, K., Freeman, P., Moran, J. and Yamaguchi, M., (2024). . Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 38 (1), 180-184
Cusimano, K., Freeman, P., Pawaar, J. and Moran, J., (2024). . Strength and Conditioning Journal. 46 (4), 468-484
Pettican, A., Southall-Edwards, R., Reinhardt, GY., Gladwell, V., Freeman, P., Low, W., Copeland, R. and Mansfield, L., (2024). . BMC Public Health. 24 (1), 636-
Brinkley, A., Sandercock, G., Lowry, R. and Freeman, P., (2024). . PLoS One. 19 (4), e0301790-e0301790
Moran, J., Sandercock, G., Shaw, BS., Freeman, P., Kerr, C. and Shaw, I., (2024). . PLoS One. 19 (5), e0303575-e0303575
Moran, J., Raga, VC., Jones, B., Tallent, J., Howe, L., Clemente, FM., Arede, J. and Freeman, P., (2024). . International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching. 19 (5), 1984-1994
Grasel Barbosa, D., Freeman, P., Teresinha Corazza, S., Silva Beltrame, T., Santos Silva, DA. and Gomes Felden, EP., (2024). Validity evidence of the Perceived Available Support in Sport Questionnaire (PASS-Q) in young Brazilian athletes. CES Psicolog铆a. 17 (2), 17-29
Chapman, M., Quick, SN. and Freeman, P., (2024). . Journal of Coaching and Sports Science. 3 (2), 99-112
Low, W., Freeman, P., Butt, J., Stoker, M. and Maynard, I., (2023). . Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. 35 (4), 710-730
Black, C., Mallows, A., Waterworth, S., Freeman, P., Hope, E. and Liew, BXW., (2023). . PLoS One. 18 (4), e0284754-e0284754
Winter, M., Freeman, P., Griffin, M., Soundy, A. and Maynard, I., (2023). . Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. 36 (3), 499-518
Low, W., Butt, J., Freeman, P., Stoker, M. and Maynard, I., (2022). . Sport Psychologist. 36 (3), 162-170
McLoughlin, E., Arnold, R., Freeman, P., Turner, J., Roberts, G., Fletcher, D., Slavich, G. and Moore, L., (2022). . Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology. 44 (6), 427-438
Pettican, A., Goodman, B., Bryant, W., Beresford, P., Freeman, P., Gladwell, V., Kilbride, C. and Speed, E., (2022). . Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 15 (2), 202-219
Liew, BXW., Syrett, J., Freeman, P. and Evans, DW., (2022). . PLoS One. 17 (10), e0276983-e0276983
Low, W., Freeman, P., Sandercock, G., Winter, M., Butt, J. and Maynard, I., (2021). . Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. 0 (1), 149-163
Behnke, M., Hase, A., Kaczmarek, LD. and Freeman, P., (2021). . Scientific Reports. 11 (1), 18083-
Fu, D., Hase, A., Goolamallee, M., Godwin, G. and Freeman, P., (2020). . Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. 10 (1), 15-26
Hase, A., aan het Rot, M., de Miranda Azevedo, R. and Freeman, P., (2020). Threat-related motivational disengagement: Integrating blunted cardiovascular reactivity to stress into the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping. 33 (4), 355-369
Hase, A., O'Brien, J., Moore, L. and Freeman, P., (2019). . Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. 8 (2), 123-144
Hase, A., Hood, J., Moore, LJ. and Freeman, P., (2019). . Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 45, 101550-101550
Moore, LJ., Freeman, P., Hase, A., Solomon-Moore, E. and Arnold, R., (2019). . Frontiers in Psychology. 10 (JULY), 1778-
Hase, A., Gorrie-Stone, T. and Freeman, P., (2019). . Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. 8 (1), 80-92
Moore, LJ., Young, T., Freeman, P. and Sarkar, M., (2018). . Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. 28 (1), 340-347
Flowers, EP., Freeman, P. and Gladwell, VF., (2018). . Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 39, 213-221
Moll, T., Rees, T. and Freeman, P., (2017). . Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 30, 30-37
Sammy, N., Anstiss, PA., Moore, LJ., Freeman, P., Wilson, MR. and Vine, SJ., (2017). . Anxiety, Stress and Coping. 30 (6), 619-629
Coffee, P., Freeman, P. and Allen, MS., (2017). . Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 33, 55-65
Flowers, EP., Freeman, P. and Gladwell, VF., (2017). . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14 (10), 1172-1172
Flowers, EP., Freeman, P. and Gladwell, V., (2016). . BMC Public Health. 16 (1), 420-
Moore, LJ., Vine, SJ., Wilson, MR. and Freeman, P., (2015). . Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 37 (3), 339-343
Coussens, AH., Rees, T. and Freeman, P., (2015). . Journal of sport & exercise psychology. 37 (1), 51-62
Soundy, A., Freeman, P., Stubbs, B., Probst, M., Roskell, C. and Vancampfort, D., (2015). . Advances in Psychiatry. 2015, 1-8
Freeman, P., Coffee, P., Moll, T., Rees, T. and Sammy, N., (2014). . Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 36 (2), 189-202
Hamlyn-Williams, CC., Freeman, P. and Parfitt, G., (2014). . BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation. 6 (1), creators-Freeman=3APaul=3A=3A
Moore, LJ., Vine, SJ., Wilson, MR. and Freeman, P., (2014). . International Journal of Psychophysiology. 93 (2), 267-273
Soundy, A., Stubbs, B., Freeman, P., Coffee, P. and Roskell, C., (2014). . International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation. 21 (5), 210-218
Soundy, A., Freeman, P., Stubbs, B., Probst, M., Coffee, P. and Vancampfort, D., (2014). . Psychiatry Research. 220 (1-2), 11-19
Soundy, A., Freeman, P., Stubbs, B., Probst, M. and Vancampfort, D., (2014). . Journal of Mental Health. 23 (5), 256-260
Hamlyn-Williams, CC., Freeman, P. and Parfitt, G., (2014). Acute affective responses to prescribed and self-selected exercise sessions in adolescent girls: an observational study. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation. 6 (1), 35-
Vine, SJ., Freeman, P., Moore, LJ., Chandra-Ramanan, R. and Wilson, MR., (2013). Evaluating stress as a challenge is associated with superior attentional control and motor skill performance: Testing the predictions of the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat.. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied. 19 (3), 185-194
Moore, LJ., Vine, SJ., Freeman, P. and Wilson, MR., (2013). Quiet eye training promotes challenge appraisals and aids performance under elevated anxiety. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 11 (2), 169-183
Moore, LJ., Wilson, MR., Vine, SJ., Coussens, AH. and Freeman, P., (2013). Champ or Chump?: Challenge and Threat States During Pressurized Competition. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 35 (6), 551-562
Moore, LJ., Vine, SJ., Wilson, MR. and Freeman, P., (2012). The effect of challenge and threat states on performance: An examination of potential mechanisms. Psychophysiology. 49 (10), 1417-1425
Rees, T., Freeman, P., Bell, S. and Bunney, R., (2012). Three Generalizability Studies of the Components of Perceived Coach Support. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 34 (2), 238-251
Freeman, P., Coffee, P. and Rees, T., (2011). The PASS-Q: The Perceived Available Support in Sport Questionnaire. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 33 (1), 54-74
McGrath, JS., Moore, L., Wilson, MR., Freeman, P. and Vine, S., (2011). 鈥楥HALLENGE鈥� AND 鈥楾HREAT鈥� STATES IN SURGERY: IMPLICATIONS FOR SURGICAL PERFORMANCE AND TRAINING. BJU International. 108 (6), 795-796
Rees, T. and Freeman, P., (2010). Social Support and Performance in a Golf-Putting Experiment. The Sport Psychologist. 24 (3), 333-348
Freeman, P. and Rees, T., (2010). Perceived social support from team鈥恗ates: Direct and stress鈥恇uffering effects on self鈥恈onfidence. European Journal of Sport Science. 10 (1), 59-67
Freeman, P. and Rees, T., (2009). How Does Perceived Support Lead to Better Performance? An Examination of Potential Mechanisms. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. 21 (4), 429-441
Freeman, P., Rees, T. and Hardy, L., (2009). An Intervention to Increase Social Support and Improve Performance. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. 21 (2), 186-200
Rees, T. and Freeman, P., (2009). Social Support Moderates the Relationship Between Stressors and Task Performance Through Self-Efficacy. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 28 (2), 244-263
Freeman, P. and Rees, T., (2008). The effects of perceived and received support on objective performance outcome. European Journal of Sport Science. 8 (6), 359-368
Rees, T. and Freeman, P., (2007). The effects of perceived and received support on self-confidence. Journal of Sports Sciences. 25 (9), 1057-1065
Rees, T., Hardy, L. and Freeman, P., (2007). Stressors, social support, and effects upon performance in golf. Journal of Sports Sciences. 25 (1), 33-42
Book chapters (4)
Freeman, P., (2021). Social support. In: Stress, Well-Being, and Performance in Sport. Editors: Arnold, R. and Fletcher, D., . Routledge. 240- 258. 9780429295874
Wood, N., Parker, J., Freeman, P., Black, M. and Moore, L., (2018). . In: Progress in Brain Research. Elsevier. 1- 17. 9780444641878
(2013). How important are the values of significant others? The influence of physical education teachers鈥� values and types of school on youth sport values. In: Values in Youth Sport and Physical Education. Routledge. 198- 210
Rees, T. and Freeman, P., (2011). Coping in sport through social support. In: Coping and Emotion in Sport: Second Edition. 102- 117
Conferences (2)
Goodman, B., Pettican, A., Speed, E., Gladwell, V. and Freeman, P., (2022). Learning from the Voices for Inclusive Activity (VIA) project: using digital methods to facilitate inclusive and accessible research
Clements, K., Mills, J. and Freeman, P., (2020). Development of the Youth Coaching Effectiveness Scale
Thesis dissertation (1)
Winter, ME., Freeman, P., Griffin, M., Soundy, A. and Maynard, I., (2024).
Grants and funding
2025
Evaluation PHAB Sport for Confidence
Sport for Confidence
2024
EFDC PHAB Evaluation
Epping Forest District Council
2023
Going along together: Piloting an innovative participatory research methodology with disabled people and people living with enduring health conditions
UOE Participatory Research Fund
Sport for Confidence PhD Studentship
Sport for Confidence
2022
Evaluation: 糖心Vlog County Council Local Delivery Pilot 1 year extension
Active 糖心Vlog
Evaluation of North East 糖心Vlog Alliance Neighbourhood & Live Well Domain Programmes
North East 糖心Vlog Clinical Commissioning Group
2021
Together We Grow: The impact of gardening on physical, psychological and social outcomes
糖心Vlog (ESRC IAA)
2019
Well-being of staff and compressed working hours
Century office Equipment (糖心Vlog) Ltd
Additional work in the action research workload in stage 2 (evaluation) and stage 3 analysis and report writing.
糖心Vlog County Council
Evaluation_Local Delivery Pilot for Sport England
Sport England
Evaluation: Local Delivery Pilot for Sport England
Sport England
2018
Improving workplace wellbeing by engaging with nature
糖心Vlog
Attitudes towards higher education: An evaluation of the Jump Higher project
Make it Happen
糖心Vlog Local Delivery Pilot (LDP) - A Tender specification for the second phase of the evaluation of the initial 'Action Research Test and Learn' programme
糖心Vlog County Council
Evaluating physical activity behaviour change in 糖心Vlog: Part of the local delivery pilot
糖心Vlog County Council
Evaluating physical activity behaviour change in 糖心Vlog: Part of the local delivery pilot
糖心Vlog County Council
2016
Coach, Athlete, and Relational Influences on Development Athletes' Attitudes, Intentions and Willingness to Dope
International Olympic Committee
