Dr Melissa Day
Reader in Qualitative Sport Psychology
About
Mel is the programme coordinator for the BSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology.
She is BASES accredited and HCPC registered. Mel teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate level and currently supervises three PhD students.
Her areas of interest include stress, appraisal and coping, injury, trauma and disability, and the use of qualitative methods.
She regularly reviews for a range of journals and is on the editorial board of Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health.
Professional
EDUCATION
- 2003 BSc. (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, St Mary’s University College
- 2004 MSc Sport and Exercise Science (Psychology pathway) University College Chichester
- 2007 Ph.D. The underlying properties of stress. University of Wales, A
TEACHING
Interpersonal Skills SPL 122
Aims
Communicating and interacting with others is a natural occurrence in everyday life. In both psychology and sport and exercise psychology these skills are essential and require person to person interaction and development of sound working relationships. The aim of this module is to provide a basis to explore the nature of communication and interpersonal skills.
Psychology of Training and Competition SPL 227
Aims
One of the fundamental concerns of sports psychologists and coaches is enabling an athlete to perform to their potential when training and competing. In order to do this sport scientists and coaches must understand the psychological pressures that are inherent in training and competition and the potential consequences of these pressures. This module will seek to develop the student’s understanding of the psychological demands of training and performance and seek to explore ways in which these demands can be managed, regulated and controlled.
Psychology of Injury and Rehabilitation STL 302
Aims:
This module aims to enable students to explore the social and psychological factors in injury risk, theories of psychological reactions and responses of sports participants to injury, and psychological factors that impact on recovery from injury and adherence to rehabilitation programmes. It will critically evaluate theory and research, and consider practical approaches to working with athletes to assist them with their response to and rehabilitation from injury experiences.
ADMINISTRATION
Programme Co-ordinator:
- BSc Sport and Exercise Psychology
- External Examining
- External panel member for the revalidation BSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology – Liverpool Hope University (2011)
- External PhD examiner at Aberystwyth University (2013)
Key Publications
Academic Journal Papers:
Thatcher, J., & Day, M. C. (2008). Re-appraising stress appraisals: The underlying properties of stress in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 9(3), 318-335.
Day, M. (2009). Clearing the final hurdle: The PhD viva. Sport and Exercise Psychology Review, 5(2), 54-56.
Day, M. & Thatcher, J. (2009) “I’m really embarrassed that I’m telling you this but…” Reflections on
using qualitative diaries in research. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 6, 249-259.
Dolleans, R., Hauw, D., Day, M., & Saramejane, P. (2011). Psychological processes involved during acrobatic performance: a review. Sport Science: International Scientific Journal of Kinesiology,1, 19-29.
Day, M. C. & Schubert, N. (2012). The impact of witnessing athletic injury: A qualitative examination of vicarious trauma in artistic gymnastics. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30, 743-753.
Hudson, J. & Day, M. C. (2012). Athletes’ experiences of expressive writing about sports stressors. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 13, 798-806.
Day, M. C., & Thatcher, J. (2012). Reflections on using writing in sport and exercise psychology research and practice. Qualitative Methods in Psychology Bulletin.
Day, M. C., Bond, K., & Smith, B. (2013) Holding it together: Coping with vicarious trauma in sport.
Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14, 1-11.
Day, M. C. (2013). The role of initial physical activity experiences in promoting posttraumatic growth in Paralympic athletes with an acquired disability. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-9.
Submitted/Awaiting Minor Revisions:
Sitch. M. A., & Day. M. C. (in review) Using a daily diary approach to understand the psychological
experiences of making weight. The Sport Psychologist.
Books:
Thatcher, J., Thatcher, R., Day, M. C., Portas, M., & Hood, S. (2009). Sport and Exercise Science. Exeter: Learning Matters.
Thatcher, J., Day, M.C., & Rahman, R. (2011). Sport and Exercise Psychology. Exeter: Learning Matters.
Book Chapters:
Day, M. C., (2012). Coping with trauma in sport. In J. Thatcher, M. Jones, & D. Lavallee (Eds). Coping and Emotion in Sport. London: Routledge.
Conference Presentations
Day, M., Thatcher, J., Greenlees, I., & Woods, B. (2004). The causes of and psychological responses to lost move syndrome. The British Psychological Society Annual Conference Proceedings, 12 (2), 167.
Thatcher, J., Kerr, J., Amies, K. & Day, M. (2005). The ups and downs of athletic Injury: a reversal theory interpretation of psychological and emotional responses. Poster presented at the 2nd All Wales Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine Conference. Cardiff University.
Day, M. & Thatcher, J. (2006). Re-appraising stress appraisals: The underlying properties of stress in sport. Poster presented at the 3rd All Wales Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine Conference. University of Wales, Institute Cardiff.
Thatcher, J., & Day, M. (2007) Stress appraisals in elite sport competitors. Symposium on Stress, Appraisal and Coping at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference. York.
Day, M. & Thatcher, J. (2007). Underlying properties of stress in sport: appraisal patterns and emotions. Paper presented at the European College of Sport Science, Jyvaskyla, Finland.
Day, M. (2007) I’m so embarrassed that you’re going to read this but…” Reflections on using qualitative diaries in sport psychology research. Paper presented at the Psypag Annual Conference, London.
Day, M. & Thatcher, J. (2008). Coping with stress in sport: An alternative approach. Paper presented
at the European College of Sport Science, Estoril, Portugal.
Day, M. (2009). Coping with stress in sport: An Olympian task. Presented at the British Psychological Society Psychology for All event. London.
Thatcher, J., & Day, M. (2009). Reinterpreting competitive stressors with a reversal theory framed expressive writing intervention. Poster presented at the European College of Sport Science, Norway.
Day, M. & Thatcher, J. (2009). “I’m really embarrassed that I’m telling you this but…” using qualitative diaries in research. Paper presented at the 3rd International Conference for Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise. Roehampton
Day, M. (2010). Vicarious Trauma in Sport. Presented at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference, Stratford upon Avon.
Day, M. (2011). Realisations of vulnerability: The impact of witnessing athletic injury Poster presented at the European Congress of Sport psychology, Madeira, Portugal.
Day, M. (2012). The Paralympic journey from trauma to triumph: using the 2012 Paralympic Games as a force for positive psychological change. Presented at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference, London.
Day, M. (2012) The role of Paralympic participation in fostering posttraumatic growth following disability. Paper presented at the International Convention for Science, Exercise, and Medicine in Sport (ICSEMIS), Glasgow.
Day, M. (2013). The paradox of trauma and psychological growth: Examining the experiences of Paralympic athletes. Paper presented at the European College of Sports Science (ECSS), Barcelona.
Journal reviewer for:
- Journal of Sports Sciences
- Psychology of Sport and Exercise
- Journal of Applied Sport Psychology
- International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
- The Sport Psychologist
- Anxiety, Stress and Coping
- European Journal of Sports Sciences
- Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health
Research
RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY
Interests
Mel has research interests in the following areas:
- Stress, appraisal and coping
- Trauma and disability
- Psychology of injury
- Lost move syndrome
- Qualitative methods
Director of Studies:
PhD:Laura Shafe– Vicarious trauma in sport
PhD: Kim Humphries – Psychological responses to the initial onset of injury
Membership
British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
Health and Care Professions Council
Research Output
Articles
Everard, C., Wadey, R., Day, M. C. and Howells, K. (2024) Examining the applied value of narratives for professional practice: an exploration of sports injury narratives in action. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. pp. 1-22. ISSN 1041-3200 10.1080/10413200.2024.2370793
Hudson, J., Gowing, R., Day, M. C., Oliver, E., Thomas, L. B. and Legrand, F. (2024) Modifying physical selves with reversal theory framed expressive writing. Journal of Motivation, Emotion and Personality, 13. pp. 1-10. ISSN 2331-2343 10.12689/jmep.2024.1301
Richards, T., Figgins, S. G., Day, M. C., Slater, M. and Easterbrook, M. (2023) O.5.1-6 Bucking the mid-life inactivity trend: a study of 40–64-year-olds' participation in Zwift, a real-time online exercise community, through a social identity lens. European Journal of Public Health, 33 (S. 1). i95. ISSN 1464-360X 10.1093/eurpub/ckad133.236
Welsh, M. R., Mosley, E., Laborde, S., Day, M. C., Sharpe, B. T., Burkill, R. A. and Birch, P. D. J. (2023) The use of heart rate variability in esports: a systematic review. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 69. pp. 1-38. ISSN 1469-0292 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102495
Leggat, F., Wadey, R., Day, M. C. and Winter, S. (2023) Bridging the Know-Do Gap Using Integrated Knowledge Translation and Qualitative Inquiry: A Narrative Review. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 15 (2). pp. 188-201. ISSN 2159-676X 10.1080/2159676X.2021.1954074
Everard, C., Wadey, R., Howells, K. and Day, M. C. (2022) Construction and communication of evidence-based video narratives in elite sport: Knowledge translation of sports injury experiences. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 35 (5). pp. 731-754. ISSN 1533-1571 10.1080/10413200.2022.2140225
Day, M. C., Hine, J., Wadey, R. and Cavallerio, F. (2022) A letter to my younger self: using a novel written data collection method to understand the experiences of athletes in Chronic Pain. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. pp. 1-17. ISSN 2159-676X 10.1080/2159676x.2022.2127860
Wadey, R. and Day, M. C. (2022) Challenging the status quo of sport injury psychology to advance theory, research, and applied practice: An epilogue to a special issue. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 34 (5). pp. 1029-1036. ISSN 1533-1571 10.1080/10413200.2022.2100006
Day, M. C. and Wadey, R. (2022) Sport injury psychology: An overview and introduction to the special issue. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 34 (5). pp. 913-915. ISSN 1533-1571 10.1080/10413200.2022.2100007
Levi, H., Wadey, R., Bunsell, T., Day, M. C., Hays, K. and Lampard, P. (2022) Women in a man's world: Coaching in elite sport. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 35 (4). pp. 571-597. ISSN 1041-3200 10.1080/10413200.2022.2051643
Sanders, P., Wadey, R., Day, M. C. and Winter, S. (2020) Narratives of recovery over the first year after major lower limb loss. Qualitative Health Research, 30 (13). pp. 2049-2063. ISSN 1049-7323 10.1177/1049732320925794
Sanders, P., Wadey, R., Day, M. C. and Winter, S. (2020) Prosthetic rehabilitation in practice: An exploration of experiential knowledge in the multi-disciplinary team. Qualitative Health Research. pp. 1-14. ISSN 1049-7323 10.1177/1049732320933272
Szedlak, C., Smith, M. J., Callary, B. and Day, M. C. (2019) Using Written, Audio, and Video Vignettes to Translate Knowledge to Elite Strength and Conditioning Coaches. International Sport Coaching Journal, 6 (2). pp. 199-210. ISSN 2328-9198 10.1123/iscj.2018-0027
Day, M. C. and Hunt, E. (2019) Narratives of Chronic Pain in Sport. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 13 (1). pp. 1-26. ISSN 1932-9261 10.1123/jcsp.2017-0003
Szedlak, C., Smith, M. J., Day, M. C. and Callary, B. (2018) Using vignettes to analyse potential influences of effective strength and conditioning coaching on athlete development. The Sport Psychologist. pp. 1-11. ISSN 1543-2793 10.1123/tsp.2017-0060
Wadey, R. and Day, M. C. (2018) A Longitudinal Examination of Leisure Time Physical Activity Following Amputation in England. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 37. pp. 251-261. ISSN 1469-0292 10.1016/j.psychsport.2017.11.005
Day, M. C., Wadey, R. and Strike, S. (2018) Living with limb loss: Everyday experiences of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ days in people with lower limb amputation. Disability and Rehabilitation, 41 (20). pp. 2433-2442. ISSN 0963-8288 10.1080/09638288.2018.1467502
Sanders, P., Wadey, R., Day, M. C. and Winter, S. (2017) Qualitative fieldwork in medical contexts: Confessions of a neophyte researcher. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. pp. 1-13. ISSN 2159-676X 10.1080/2159676X.2017.1351390
Day, M. C. and Wadey, R. (2017) Researching Growth Following Adversity in Sport and Exercise: Methodological Implications and Future Recommendations. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 9 (4). pp. 499-513. ISSN 2159-676X 10.1080/2159676X.2017.1328460
Martinelli, L. A., Day, M. C. and Lowry, R. G. (2016) Sport coaches’ experiences of athlete injury: The development and regulation of guilt. Sports Coaching Review. ISSN 2164-0629 10.1080/21640629.2016.1195550
Day, M. C. and Wadey, R. (2016) Narratives of trauma, recovery, and growth: The complex role of sport following permanent acquired disability. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 22. pp. 131-138. ISSN 1469-0292 10.1016/j.psychsport.2015.07.004
Szedlak, C., Smith, M. J., Day, M. C. and Greenlees, I. A. (2015) Effective Behaviours of Strength and Conditioning Coaches as Perceived by Athletes. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 10 (5). pp. 967-984. ISSN 1747-9541 10.1260/1747-9541.10.5.967
Hudson, J., Day, M. C. and Oliver, E. J. (2015) A ‘new life’ story or ‘delaying the inevitable’? Exploring older people’s narratives during exercise uptake. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 16 (3). pp. 112-120. ISSN 1469-0292
Sitch, M. and Day, M. C. (2015) Using a daily diary approach to understand the psychological experiences of making weight. The Sport Psychologist, 29 (1). pp. 29-40. ISSN 0888-4781 10.1123/tsp.2013-0098
Day, M. C. (2013) The role of initial physical activity experiences in promoting posttraumatic growth in Paralympic athletes with an acquired disability. Disability and Rehabilitation. pp. 1-9. ISSN 0963-8288 10.3109/09638288.2013.805822
Day, M. C., Bond, K. and Smith, B. (2013) Holding it together: Coping with vicarious trauma in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 14 (1). pp. 1-11. ISSN 1469-0292 10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.06.001
Hudson, J. and Day, M. C. (2012) Athletes’ experiences of expressive writing about sports stressors. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 13 (6). pp. 798-806. ISSN 1469-0292 10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.05.005
Day, M. C. and Schubert, N. (2012) The impact of witnessing athletic injury: A qualitative examination of vicarious trauma in artistic gymnastics. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30 (8). pp. 743-753. ISSN 0264-0414 10.1080/02640414.2012.671530
Dolléans, R., Hauw, D., Day, M. C. and Saramejane, P. (2011) Psychological processes involved during acrobatic performance: A review. Sport Science, 4 (1). pp. 19-29. ISSN 1840-3670
Day, M. C. and Thatcher, J. (2009) “I'm really embarrassed that you’re going to read this ...": reflections on using diaries in qualitative research. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 6 (4). pp. 249-259. ISSN 1478-0887 10.1080/14780880802070583
Thatcher, J. and Day, M. C. (2008) Re-appraising stress appraisals: the underlying properties of stress in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 9 (3). pp. 318-335. ISSN 1469-0292 10.1016/j.psychsport.2007.04.005
Thatcher, J., Kerr, J., Amies, K. and Day, M. C. (2007) A reversal theory analysis of psychological responses during sports injury rehabilitation. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 16 (4). pp. 343-362. ISSN 1056-6716
Day, M. C., Thatcher, J., Greenlees, I. A. and Woods, B. (2006) The causes of and psychological responses to lost move syndrome in national level trampolinists. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 18 (2). pp. 151-166. ISSN 1041-3200 10.1080/10413200600653782
Book Sections
Day, M. C. (2011) Coping with trauma in sport. In: Coping and Emotion in Sport. Routledge, pp. 77-94. ISBN 9780415578196
Conference or Workshop Items
Welsh, M. R., Mosley, E., Laborde, S., Day, M. C., Sharpe, B. T., Burkill, R. A. and Birch, P. D. J. (2024) The use of heart rate variability in esports: a systematic review. In: 17th European Congress of Sport Psychology, 15 - 19 July 2024, Innsbruck, Austria. (Unpublished)
Welsh, M. R., Mosley, E., Laborde, S., Day, M. C., Sharpe, B. T., Burkill, R. A. and Birch, P. D. J. (2023) The use of heart rate variability in esports: a systematic review. In: Annual Research Conference 2023, University of Chichester, 5 - 6 July 2023, Bognor Regis, England.
Books
Thatcher, J., Rahman, R. and Day, M. C. (2011) Sport and Exercise Psychology. Active Learning in Sport Series . Learning Matters, SAGE, Exeter. ISBN 9781844458394
Thatcher, J., Thatcher, R., Day, M. C., Portas, M. and Hood, S. (2009) Sport and Exercise Science. Active Learning in Sport Series . Learning Matters, SAGE, Exeter. ISBN 9781844451876
