My research focuses on activity pacing, fatigue management, and self-regulation among adults with chronic conditions. Fatigue is a common symptom reported in adults with chronic conditions. When people are fatigued, intense exercise can cause a negative affective load leading to strong fatigue responses, which then makes them less likely to engage in activities again. My work investigates perceived fatigue as a barrier to physical activity participation and will explore if and how activity pacing, fatigue management, and self-regulation strategies can help to overcome this barrier. Through collaboration with the Cresta Fatigue Clinic at Newcastle, my project aims on a better understanding of activity pacing and its elements. Based on the findings, we could develop an optimal activity pacing intervention in the future.
My BSc was in Exercise Science with a minor in Health Sciences from Missouri Baptist University in St.Louis, MO, USA. It was followed by a MSc in Human Movement Sciences specializing in Rehabilitation at University of Groningen in the Netherlands. While studying for my MSc, I developed a particular interest in promoting physical activity and its barriers when I joined the Rehabilitation, Sports and Active Lifestyle (ReSpAct) research team. The purpose of the ReSpAct study is to evaluate a tailored counselling program in inpatients and outpatients in the Dutch rehabilitation care. The program aims to stimulate an active lifestyle during and after the rehabilitation period in people with a physical disability and/or chronic disease. Within the team I worked on different projects including my master thesis, which was on perceived fatigue and physical activity associations towards naturalistic activity pacing in adults with chronic disabilities.
