Close
Dr Daisy Fancourt
Senior Research Associate
Behavioural Science and Health
Institute of Epidemiology & Health
- Joined UCL
- 14th Aug 2017
Research summary
Daisy's research focuses on the effects of social and cultural participation on health. She and her team explore:
1. The effects of different types of social factors (including loneliness, isolation, social prescribing, community interventions, and arts & cultural engagement) on health outcomes
2. The psychological, biological, social & behavioural mechanisms underlying these effects
3. The modifying role of individual and group-level characteristics on effects
4. Differential patterns, barriers and enablers of engagement amongst different groups
Research is carried out under four core programmes:
1. Mechanism studies (incl. psychological, neuroendocrine, neuro-immune and cardiometabolic responses to loneliness, isolation, social & cultural participation, and wellbeing)
2. Behavioural studies (incl. patterns and predictors of behaviour and behaviour change interventions)
3. Intervention studies (incl. RCTs, natural experiments and implementation science studies)
4. Population studies (incl. cohort studies and NHS electronic patient records).
The team also works on impact and engagement programmes including:
1. Public engagement (e.g. media work, public engagement events and as research partner to the BBC Get Creative Festival)
2. Development of practice (e.g. evaluations of social prescribing, and work with Arts Councils & community organisations nationally)
3. Research development (e.g. running the Arts Health Early Career Research Network and MARCH Network: a £1.25m national UKRI programme of 1,000 members focused on social, cultural & community assets and mental health)
4. Policy development (e.g. working with WHO, Public Health England, Public
Health Wales, NHS Health Scotland and various government departments).
