Elaine de Vos

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Health & Wellbeing (2019 cohort)

Physical activity has been proven to boost mental wellbeing and help in reducing social isolation, a risk factor for depression. Yet issues surrounding the role of sport in decreasing health and wellbeing remain, with evidence of detrimental effects of injury, retirement, addictive behaviours and disordered eating. This project aims to further study the impact of sport on mental health and wellbeing by focussing on female participants within the predominantly masculine domain of boxing.  By conducting an ethnographic study examining the lived experience of female participants, it aims to establish how gendered expectations and identity are negotiated and how this affects their mental health and wellbeing. 

Prior to having a family, I worked in IT for many years, first as a programmer then as a Project Manager. Whilst taking a career break to raise my children, I graduated from the Open University with First Class Honours (BSC Open) and from Birmingham City University (BCU) with a Masters distinction in Criminology. Whilst at BCU I was nominated for the ‘Outstanding Student of the Year’ award and was also awarded the Executive Dean’s prize for outstanding postgraduate contribution in the School of Social Sciences.