Dr Sarah Golding
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Academic and research departments
School of Psychology, Environmental Psychology Research Group (EPRG), Health Psychology research group, Institute for Sustainability.黑料社
Biography
I am a 'more-than-human' health psychologist and my work is situated within a framework. My passions lie in applied health and environment research, and I enjoy working on projects that involve collaborations with colleagues from outside academia, as well as academic colleagues from other disciplines. Specifically, I focus on examining the psychological, social and environmental dimensions of:
- Infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (e.g., treatment decisions, long-term impacts, infection prevention and control, zoonotic risk)
- Humans' relationships with the rest-of-nature (e.g., nature & wellbeing, biodiversity conservation, inequalities in nature access).
I currently work as a Lecturer in Clinical Health Psychology for the Clinical Psychology PsychD training programme. I am also Programme Director for the PhD in Health Psychology with Stage 2 Training. I am a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society and a Registered Health Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council. I also sit on the on the British Psychological Society's and am Deputy Editor for . At the 黑料社, I am embedded within the internationally-renowned Environmental Psychology Research Group.
Affiliations and memberships
News
In the media
ResearchResearch interests
I am a health psychologist by training and an interdisciplinary social scientist by practice. My research is situated within a One Health framework and spans issues related to public and animal health, health inequalities, and people-environment interactions. I examine how psychological, social and environmental factors influence health outcomes for humans, animals, and ecosystems.
Postdoctoral career
Since completing my PhD, I have been involved in several interdisciplinary projects. Most recently, I worked as a Knowledge Exchange Fellow on (Advancing Capacity for Climate and Environment Social Sciences) where I contributed to the and workstreams. This 5-year transdisciplinary program of work is championing the contribution that the social sciences offer in addressing key environmental challenges spanning biodiversity, sustainability and decarbonisation.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, I was involved with projects examining among homeworkers, and the role of , , and in helping people to support their wellbeing. I have also worked on projects examining how quality of life is affected in people living with long-term conditions such as and troublesome (LUTS).
Doctoral training
In 2019, I completed a PhD in Health Psychology (including Stage 2 health psychology training). My , funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, explored antimicrobial stewardship in UK livestock farming from a One Health perspective. I used both qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate and the concept of amongst farm veterinarians, farmers, and .
While working towards my Stage 2 health psychology training, I was involved in projects exploring diverse topics including , stress and wellbeing in , and . I also completed a 6-month , working in their Behavioural Insights Team. During this time I worked on a variety of projects, including work focused on across the health economy and food purchasing in and .
Research interests
I am a health psychologist by training and an interdisciplinary social scientist by practice. My research is situated within a One Health framework and spans issues related to public and animal health, health inequalities, and people-environment interactions. I examine how psychological, social and environmental factors influence health outcomes for humans, animals, and ecosystems.
Postdoctoral career
Since completing my PhD, I have been involved in several interdisciplinary projects. Most recently, I worked as a Knowledge Exchange Fellow on (Advancing Capacity for Climate and Environment Social Sciences) where I contributed to the and workstreams. This 5-year transdisciplinary program of work is championing the contribution that the social sciences offer in addressing key environmental challenges spanning biodiversity, sustainability and decarbonisation.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, I was involved with projects examining among homeworkers, and the role of , , and in helping people to support their wellbeing. I have also worked on projects examining how quality of life is affected in people living with long-term conditions such as and troublesome (LUTS).
Doctoral training
In 2019, I completed a PhD in Health Psychology (including Stage 2 health psychology training). My , funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, explored antimicrobial stewardship in UK livestock farming from a One Health perspective. I used both qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate and the concept of amongst farm veterinarians, farmers, and .
While working towards my Stage 2 health psychology training, I was involved in projects exploring diverse topics including , stress and wellbeing in , and . I also completed a 6-month , working in their Behavioural Insights Team. During this time I worked on a variety of projects, including work focused on across the health economy and food purchasing in and .
Supervision
Postgraduate research supervision
In my role as Programme Director for the PhD in Health Psychology with Stage 2 Training, I supervise towards successful completion of their 鈥榩ortfolio of competence鈥. The training is accredited by the British Psychological Society, and upon graduation successful trainees will be eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as Practitioner (Health) Psychologists.
Teaching
I have guest lectured for undergraduate and postgraduate students across the University. Topics have included, 鈥榯uberculosis鈥, 'infectious diseases', 鈥榟ealth inequalities鈥 and 'nature engagement and tourism'. I have also lectured on 'qualitative research methods' and 鈥榠nterdisciplinary working, knowledge exchange and impact鈥.
Sustainable development goals
My research interests are related to the following:
Publications
Journal articles
Golding, S. E. (2024). An early career perspective on the value of interdisciplinary training networks: Reflections on the Medical Research Foundation鈥檚 National PhD Training Programme in Antimicrobial Resistance Research. Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal, 12(1), Article 1.
Gatersleben, B., White, E. V., Wyles, K. J., Golding, S. E., Murrell, G., Scarles, C., Xu, T., Brockett, B. F. T., & Willis, C. (2024). Everyday places to get away 鈥 Lessons learned from Covid-19 lockdowns. Landscape and Urban Planning, 246, 105026.
Weber, C., Golding, S. E., Yarker, J., Teoh, K., Lewis, R., Ratcliffe, E., 鈥 Windlinger, L. (2023). Work fatigue during COVID-19 lockdown teleworking: The role of psychosocial, environmental, and social working conditions. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1856.
Mart铆nez, E. P., Golding, S. E., van Rosmalen, J., Vinueza-Burgos, C., Verbon, A., & van Schaik, G. (2023). Antibiotic prescription patterns and non-clinical factors influencing antibiotic use by Ecuadorian veterinarians working on cattle and poultry farms: A cross-sectional study. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 105858.
Husted, M., Gray, D., Golding, S. E., & Hindley, R. G. (2022). Reaching a tipping point: A qualitative exploration of quality of life and treatment decision-making in people living with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Qualitative Health Research, Online First.
Dibb, B., & Golding, S. E. (2022). A longitudinal investigation of quality of life and negative emotions in misophonia. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 900474.
Weber, C., Golding, S. E., Yarker, J., Lewis, R., Ratcliffe, E., Munir, F., 鈥 Windlinger, L. (2022). Future teleworking inclinations post-COVID-19: Examining the role of teleworking conditions and perceived productivity. Frontiers in Psychology, 1907.
Bunten, A., Shute, B., Golding, S. E., Charlton, C., Porter, L., Willis, Z., 鈥 Chadborn, T. (2022). Encouraging healthier grocery purchases online: A randomised controlled trial and lessons learned. Nutrition Bulletin.
Golding, S. E., Higgins, H. M., & Ogden, J. (2022). Assessing knowledge, beliefs, and behaviours around antibiotic usage and antibiotic resistance amongst veterinary students: A multi-site, cross-sectional survey. Antibiotics, 11, 256.
Golding, S. E., Ogden, J., & Higgins, H. M. (2022). 鈥業deal鈥 versus 鈥榬eal-world鈥: Application of vignettes to investigate antibiotic prescribing decisions by farm vets. Cattle Practice, 30(1), 71鈥81 (open access pre-print version available: PsyArXiv Preprints. )
Golding, S. E., Bondaronek, P., Bunten, A., Porter, L., Maynard, V., Rennie, D., 鈥 Chadborn, T. (2022). Interventions to change purchasing behaviour in supermarkets: A systematic review and intervention content analysis. Health Psychology Review, 16(2), 305-345.
Xu, S., Murrell, G., Golding, S. E., Brockett, B. F. T., Gatersleben, B., Scarles, C., 鈥 Wyles, K. J. (2021). #Springwatch #WildMorningswithChris: Engaging with nature via social media and wellbeing during the Covid-19 lockdown. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 701769.
Dibb, B., Golding, S. E., & Dozier, T. H. (2021). The development and validation of the Misophonia Response Scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 149, 110587.
Golding, S. E., Ogden, J., & Higgins, H. M. (2021). Examining the effect of context, beliefs, and values on UK farm veterinarians鈥 antimicrobial prescribing: A randomized experimental vignette and cross-sectional survey. Antibiotics, 10, 445.
Russell, P. S., Smith, D. M., Birtel, M. D., Hart, K. H., & Golding, S. E. (2021). The role of emotions and injunctive norms in breastfeeding: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review.
Weber, C., Golding, S. E., Ratcliffe, E., Yarker, J., Lewis, R., & Munir, F. (2020). Homeworking during COVID-19 lockdown: Relationships between the physical and social environments at home, work-related burnout, and musculoskeletal pain. Health Psychology Update, 29(Special Issue), 55鈥56. Retrieved from
Golding, S. E. (2020). 鈥淐elebrating Health Psychology鈥 webinar: Event review and reflections. Health Psychology Update. 29(Special Issue), 19鈥20. Retrieved from
Golding, S. E. (2020). Coronavirus and other pathogens: Reflecting on the relationship between health psychology and infectious disease. Health Psychology Update, 29(Autumn), 3鈥6. Retrieved from
Golding, S. E., Ogden, J., & Higgins, H. M. (2019). Shared goals, different barriers: A qualitative study of UK veterinarians鈥 and farmers鈥 beliefs about antimicrobial resistance and stewardship. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 6.
Shaw, K., Golding, S. E., Knight, J., Chadborn, T., Dempster, L., Finistrella, V., 鈥 Dempster, L. (2019). A unique approach to the development of infection prevention and control resources for front-line health care workers. Infection Prevention in Practice, 1(1), 100004.
Golding, S. E., Gatersleben, B., & Cropley, M. (2018). An experimental exploration of the effects of exposure to images of nature on rumination. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(2), 300.
Golding, S. E., Horsfield, C., Davies, A., Egan, B., Jones, M., Raleigh, M., 鈥 Cropley, M. (2017). Exploring the psychological health of emergency dispatch centre operatives: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. PeerJ, 5, e3735.
Golding, S. E., & Cropley, M. (2017). Effects of community-based interventions on rates of organ donor registration: a systematic narrative review. Progress in Transplantation, 27(3), 295鈥308.
Higgins, H. M., Golding, S. E., Mouncey, J., Nanjiani, I., & Cook, A. J. C. (2017). Understanding veterinarians鈥 prescribing decisions on antibiotic dry cow therapy. Journal of Dairy Science, 100(4), 2909鈥2916.
Book chapters
Marselle, M. R., & Golding, S. E. (2023). Applying the behaviour change wheel to mitigate the biodiversity crisis. In B. Gatersleben & N. Murtagh (Eds.), Handbook on pro-environmental behaviour change. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd [Open Access version: ]
Other articles and reports
Golding, S. E., Hatcher, K., Burningham, K., Gatersleben, B., & Hood, T. (2026). 鈥婣CCESS-CECAN systems mapping workshop 2024: Event evaluation report. ACCESS; 黑料社.
Golding, S. E., Hatcher, K., Burningham, K., Gatersleben, B., & Hood, T. (2025). ACCESS summer school 2023: Event evaluation report. 黑料社.
Devine-Wright, P., Golding, S. E., Hatchard, J., Hamilton, J., Gajparia, J., & Baker, S. (2025). ACCESS annual assembly 2025: Event evaluation report. University of Exeter.
Hatchard, J., Guilbert, S., Golding, S. E., Burningham, K., Hartley, S., Barr, S., Warren, G., & Gajparia, J. (2025). Guiding principles鈥擯ractical dilemmas: Research workshops summary, July 2025. University of Exeter.
Devine-Wright, P., Hatchard, J., Thorn, S., Varley, S., Baker, S., Golding, S. E., & Hamilton, J. (2025). Insights for the management of flexible funds: ACCESS Flex Fund Round 2 evaluation report. ACCESS; University of Exeter.
Golding, S. E., Gatersleben, B., & Johnson, C. (2025). Outdoor leadership training 鈥 Survey headlines April 2025 (quantitative findings); [Unpublished - Internal interim report for NEAT]
Golding, S. E., Hamilton, J., & Devine-Wright, P. (2025). ACCESS annual assembly 2024: Event evaluation report. 黑料社.
Hood, T., Golding, S. E., Burningham, K., & Gatersleben, B. (2024). ACCESS 1-1 mentoring scheme: Reflections 2024. 黑料社.
Golding, S. E., Barr, S., Warren, G. W., Devine-Wright, P., Gatersleben, B., & Guilbert, S. (2024). To fly or not to fly? How did we make this decision? A reflective Q & A about conference travel with the ACCESS team. ACCESS; 黑料社.
Golding, S. E., Burningham, K., Gatersleben, B., Hatcher, K., Hood, T., & Lefort, P. (2024). ACCESS Winter School 2023: Event Evaluation Report. 黑料社.
White, E. V., Golding, S. E., Gatersleben, B., Scarles, C., Wyles, K. J., Murrell, G., & Xu, S. (2024). Trees and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic (Research Report No. 2). Forest Research.
Devine-Wright, P., Golding, S. E., & Lefort, P. (2023). ACCESS annual assembly 2023: Event guide and evaluation report. University of Exeter.
Devine-Wright, P., Golding, S. E., & Spruce, M. (2023). ACCESS flex fund round one evaluation report. University of Exeter.
Golding, S. E. (2023). ACCESS annual assembly 2022: Event evaluation report (September 2022). 黑料社.
Barr, S., Burningham, K., Golding, S. E., Guilbert, S., & Hartley, S. (2023). ACCESS Guiding Principles V4 - March 2023. University of Exeter.
Golding, S. E., Gatersleben, B., Guilbert, S., Hartley, S., & Mitchell, C. (2023). ACCESS contributions to scoping future UKRI social science and interdisciplinary research. Phase I and Phase II combined report (December 2022).
White, E. V., Gatersleben, B., Wyles, K. J., Murrell, G., Golding, S. E., Scarles, C., & Xu, S. (2021). Gardens and wellbeing during the first UK COVID-19 lockdown (Research Report No. 1, July-2021). Retrieved from https://bit.ly/people-nature-pandemic
Gatersleben, B., Scarles, C., Wyles, K. J., Xu, S., Golding, S. E., White, E. V., & Murrell, G. (2021). Nature engagement and wellbeing pre-, during, and post COVID-19: Supporting the UK (green) recovery. Progress report July 2021. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/people-nature-pandemic
Gatersleben, B., Scarles, C., Wyles, K. J., Xu, S., Golding, S. E., White, E. V., & Murrell, G. (2021). Nature engagement and wellbeing pre-, during and post COVID-19: Supporting the UK (green) recovery. Progress report January 2021. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/people-nature-pandemic
Gatersleben, B., Scarles, C., Wyles, K. J., Xu, S., Golding, S. E., White, E. V., 鈥 Willis, C. (2020). People and nature in a pandemic: Interactive online event Dec 2020. Workshop Report. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/people-nature-pandemic
Golding, S. E. (2017). Applying health psychology to a public health threat: encouraging the responsible use of antibiotics. Health Psychology in Public Health Network Newsletter.
Golding, S. E., Wylie, B., & Reaves, D. (2015). Event Review: 鈥淧sychology4Students & Psychology4Graduates 2014.鈥 Health Psychology Update, 24(2), 60鈥61
Rhodes, E., Lambert, H., Rodham, K., & Golding, S. E. (2015). Tackling the antibiotics problem. The Psychologist, 28(12), 960. Retrieved from
Golding, S. E. (2014). Conference review: 鈥淧sychological Perspectives on Health & Wellbeing.鈥 Open University Psychological Society (OUPS) Newsletter.
Guest Blogs & Media Articles
Golding, S. E. (2026). . Advancing Capacity for Climate and Environment Social Science (ACCESS).
Golding, S. E. (2026). . Advancing Capacity for Climate and Environment Social Science (ACCESS).
Seymour, V., Golding, S. E., & Marselle, M. R. (2025). The Applied Ecologist.
Golding, S. E. (2024). . Advancing Capacity for Climate and Environment Social Science (ACCESS)
Golding, S. E., Twigger-Ross, C., Craig, T., & Warren, G. W. (2024). . Advancing Capacity for Climate and Environment Social Science (ACCESS).
Golding, S. E., Bornioli, A., Warren, G. W., & Marselle, M. R. (2024). . The Psychologist, May.
Golding, S. E. (2023). . The Applied Ecologist.
Golding, S. E., Guilbert, S., Marshall, H., Spruce, M., Torres Contreras, G. A., & Seymour, V. (2023). . The Applied Ecologist.
Golding, S. E. (2023). Advancing Capacity for Climate and Environment Social Science (ACCESS).
White, E. V., & Golding, S. E. (2021). . The Conversation.
Golding, S. E., Ollis, L., Cogdell-Brooke, L., & Lynden, J. (2019). . 黑料社 Researchers鈥 Blog.
Golding, S. E. (2018). . 黑料社 Researchers鈥 Blog.
Golding, S. E. (2017). . Division of Health Psychology.
Open Project Records
Gatersleben, B., Wyles, K. J., Xu, S., Golding, S. E., White, E. V., Murrell, G., 鈥 Scarles, C. (2023). Nature engagement and wellbeing pre-, during and post- Covid-19: Supporting the UK (green) recovery [Project Record]. Open Science Framework.
Husted, M., Gray, D., Golding, S. E., & Hindley, R. G. (2021). INTEGRAL - Insights into the decision-making process for men selecting therapy for non-neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms [Project Record]. Open Science Framework.
Open Datasets
Golding, S. E., Higgins, H. M., & Ogden, J. (2022). Cross-sectional survey about antibiotics with UK undergraduate veterinary students, 2018. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Service.
Golding, S. E., Ogden, J., & Higgins, H. M. (2021). Experimental vignette and cross-sectional survey with farm veterinarians 2018. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Service.
Systematic Review Registrations
Russell, S., Smith, D., Hart, K., Birtel, M., & Golding, S. E. (2018). A systematic review of the impact of moral norms and affect on breastfeeding [registration]. PROSPERO,
Golding, S. E., Bunten, A., Chadborn, T., Alamoudi, S., Ellis, D., & Maynard, V. (2017). Drivers of food and drink purchasing behaviour in supermarkets: a systematic review and behavioural analysis [registration]. PROSPERO,
Cockle, S., Golding, S. E., Marks, L., & Ogden, J. (2015). The impact of psychological coping on psychological outcomes (quality of life and wellbeing) in people with cancer: A systematic review [registration]. PROSPERO, .
Cropley, M., Jones, M., Horsfield, C., Start, K., Egan, M., Raleigh, M., Quinn, T., Golding, S. E., Squires, A., Davies, A. (2014). Exploring the psychological health of emergency dispatch centre operatives: A systematic review [registration]. PROSPERO, .
Cropley, M., & Golding, S. E. (2014). Effects of community-based interventions on rates of registration for posthumous solid organ donation: A systematic review [registration]. PROSPERO,
Policy Impact
I have contributed to the following policy-facing documents:
British Psychological Society Climate and Environment Action Co-ordinating Group. (2023). The climate and ecological crisis: BPS position statement. Available
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. (2018). Reducing UK antibiotic use in animals. Available
Health and Social Care Committee's Inquiry on Antimicrobial Resistance. (11-09-2018). Written evidence to the inquiry from the Medical Research Foundation National PhD Training Programme in Antimicrobial Resistance. Available
NHS Improvement. (2017). Preventing healthcare associated Gram-negative bloodstream infections (GNBSI): An improvement resource. Available