Dr Amy Isham

Lecturer in Psychology, Psychology

a.m.isham@swansea.ac.uk

Office - 713
Seventh Floor
Vivian Building
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6089-709X

ResearchGate

Google Scholar

About

Dr Amy Isham is Lecturer in Psychology. She is an Environmental Psychologist whose research explores the relationship between psychological wellbeing and ecological sustainability. This work covers the factors that can help or hinder people’s ability to live both well and sustainably. She has particular interests in the impact of consumer culture upon personal and societal wellbeing as well as how psychological states such as flow or mindfulness may be able to support less materialistic flourishing.

Amy completed her PhD at the University of Surrey, working within the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP). Her PhD research examined the relevance of psychological 'flow' to the relationship between materialism and reduced personal well-being. Amy continues to collaborate with CUSP on research relating to the psychological dimensions of sustainable prosperity.

Prior to starting her PhD, Amy completed a BSc (Hons) in Psychology at the University of Warwick and a MSc in Psychology of Advertising at Lancaster University. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Areas Of Expertise

• Environmental Psychology
• Positive Psychology
• Flow
• Materialism
• Wellbeing
• Productivity
• Behaviour Change
• Quantitative and Experimental Methods

Publications

Research Highlights

Isham, A., Gatersleben, B., & Jackson, T. (2019). Flow Activities as a Route to Living Well With Less. Environment and Behavior, 51(4), 431-461.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916518799826, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61461
Elf, P., Isham, A., & Leoni, D. (2023). Moving Forward by Looking Back. History of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals, 65(1), 33-62.
https://doi.org/10.3368/hopp.65.1.33, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64792
Isham, A., Morgan, G., & Kemp, A. (2023). Nurturing wellbeing amidst the climate crisis: on the need for a focus on wellbeing in the field of climate psychology. Frontiers in Psychology, 14
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1205991, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63969
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1205991
Isham, A. & Jackson, T. (2023). Whose ‘flow’ is it anyway? The demographic correlates of ‘flow proneness’. Personality and Individual Differences, 209, 112207
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2023.112207, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63247
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2023.112207
Isham, A. & Jackson, T. (2023). Flow Experiences in Shopping Activities: Testing Materialistic Goal Orientation as an Antecedent. Psychological Reports, 0, 003329412311596
https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941231159615, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62665
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00332941231159615
Isham, A., Elf, P., & Jackson, T. (2022). Self-transcendent experiences as promoters of ecological wellbeing? Exploration of the evidence and hypotheses to be tested. Frontiers in Psychology, 13
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1051478, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61902
Isham, A., Geusen, J., & Gatersleben, B. (2022). The Influence of Framing Plant-Based Products in Terms of Their Health vs. Environmental Benefits: Interactions with Individual Wellbeing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 11948
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911948, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61463
Dittmar, H. & Isham, A. (2022). Materialistic value orientation and wellbeing. Current Opinion in Psychology, 46, 101337
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101337, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61454
Isham, A., Verfuerth, C., Armstrong, A., Elf, P., Gatersleben, B., & Jackson, T. (2022). The Problematic Role of Materialistic Values in the Pursuit of Sustainable Well-Being. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), 3673
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063673, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61455
Isham, A., Elf, P., & Jackson, T. (2022). CUSP Working Paper Series32
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61903
https://cusp.ac.uk/themes/s1/wp32/
Isham, A. & Jackson, T. (2022). Finding flow: exploring the potential for sustainable fulfilment. The Lancet Planetary Health, 6(1), e66-e74.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s2542-5196(21)00286-2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61456
Isham, A., Gatersleben, B., & Jackson, T. (2021). Why do materialistic values undermine flow experiences? The role of self-regulatory resources. European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 5
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61457
https://www.nationalwellbeingservice.org/volumes/volume-5-2021/
Isham, A., Mair, S., & Jackson, T. (2021). Worker wellbeing and productivity in advanced economies: Re-examining the link. Ecological Economics, 184, 106989
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.106989, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61458
Isham, A., Gatersleben, B., & Jackson, T. (2021). Materialism and the Experience of Flow. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22(4), 1745-1768.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00294-w, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61459
Elf, P., Isham, A., & Gatersleben, B. (2021). Above and beyond? How businesses can drive sustainable development by promoting lasting pro‐environmental behaviour change: An examination of the IKEA Live Lagom project. Business Strategy and the Environment, 30(2), 1037-1050.
https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2668, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61460
Isham, A., Mair, S., & Jackson, T. (2020). 22
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61904
https://cusp.ac.uk/themes/aetw/wp22/

All Research

Journal Articles

Elf, P., Isham, A., & Leoni, D. (2023). Moving Forward by Looking Back. History of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals, 65(1), 33-62.
https://doi.org/10.3368/hopp.65.1.33, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64792
Isham, A., Morgan, G., & Kemp, A. (2023). Nurturing wellbeing amidst the climate crisis: on the need for a focus on wellbeing in the field of climate psychology. Frontiers in Psychology, 14
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1205991, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63969
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1205991
Isham, A. & Jackson, T. (2023). Whose ‘flow’ is it anyway? The demographic correlates of ‘flow proneness’. Personality and Individual Differences, 209, 112207
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2023.112207, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63247
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2023.112207
Isham, A. & Jackson, T. (2023). Flow Experiences in Shopping Activities: Testing Materialistic Goal Orientation as an Antecedent. Psychological Reports, 0, 003329412311596
https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941231159615, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62665
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00332941231159615
Isham, A., Elf, P., & Jackson, T. (2022). Self-transcendent experiences as promoters of ecological wellbeing? Exploration of the evidence and hypotheses to be tested. Frontiers in Psychology, 13
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1051478, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61902
Isham, A., Geusen, J., & Gatersleben, B. (2022). The Influence of Framing Plant-Based Products in Terms of Their Health vs. Environmental Benefits: Interactions with Individual Wellbeing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 11948
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911948, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61463
Dittmar, H. & Isham, A. (2022). Materialistic value orientation and wellbeing. Current Opinion in Psychology, 46, 101337
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101337, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61454
Isham, A., Verfuerth, C., Armstrong, A., Elf, P., Gatersleben, B., & Jackson, T. (2022). The Problematic Role of Materialistic Values in the Pursuit of Sustainable Well-Being. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), 3673
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063673, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61455
Isham, A. & Jackson, T. (2022). Finding flow: exploring the potential for sustainable fulfilment. The Lancet Planetary Health, 6(1), e66-e74.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s2542-5196(21)00286-2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61456
Isham, A., Gatersleben, B., & Jackson, T. (2021). Why do materialistic values undermine flow experiences? The role of self-regulatory resources. European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 5
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61457
https://www.nationalwellbeingservice.org/volumes/volume-5-2021/
Isham, A., Mair, S., & Jackson, T. (2021). Worker wellbeing and productivity in advanced economies: Re-examining the link. Ecological Economics, 184, 106989
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.106989, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61458
Isham, A., Gatersleben, B., & Jackson, T. (2021). Materialism and the Experience of Flow. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22(4), 1745-1768.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00294-w, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61459
Elf, P., Isham, A., & Gatersleben, B. (2021). Above and beyond? How businesses can drive sustainable development by promoting lasting pro‐environmental behaviour change: An examination of the IKEA Live Lagom project. Business Strategy and the Environment, 30(2), 1037-1050.
https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2668, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61460
Isham, A., Gatersleben, B., & Jackson, T. (2019). Flow Activities as a Route to Living Well With Less. Environment and Behavior, 51(4), 431-461.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916518799826, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61461

Other Research Outputs

Isham, A., Elf, P., & Jackson, T. (2022). CUSP Working Paper Series32
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61903
https://cusp.ac.uk/themes/s1/wp32/
Isham, A., Mair, S., & Jackson, T. (2020). 22
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61904
https://cusp.ac.uk/themes/aetw/wp22/

Supervision

Exploring the impact of foraging as a nature-based activity on human and ecological wellbeing (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Jennifer Gatzemeier
Impact of air pollution on preterm birth outcomes in Wales (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Kate Ellis-Davies
Examining ecotherapy as a driver of improvements in personal, collective, and planetary wellbeing (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Luke Jefferies
Flow in Nature: Cultivating Environments of Optimal Experience for Ecological Wellbeing (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Jason Davies

Taught Modules

PS-M24 Research Project

The research module will involve constructing and executing a substantial research project, usually conducted in connection to an abnormal and clinical research topic/theme. Previous research projects have spanned various applicable clinical settings linked to NHS trusts, mental health charities, forensic units and topics generated by academics based within the department of psychology. We also encourage students who come to the program with connections as a consequence of previous professional experience, to undertake projects that are linked to interests they have already established.
PSA100 Academic Skills and Foundational Concepts in Statistics and Research Methods (Joint Honours)

This module will introduce Psychology students to foundational concepts in statistics and research methods. Students will be introduced to the British Psychological Society¿s ethical principles, and will explore ethics in research through the study of historical case studies of problematic research. This module will cover experimental and observational research designs, and how we can measure psychological constructs such as traits, attitudes, and emotions. Students will receive a solid grounding in statistical theory, and will learn to summarise, present, analyse, and interpret data. Additionally, through small group sessions led by their Personal Academic Mentor, students will develop key academic skills, including literature searching, essay planning and writing, oral presentation skills, making use of feedback, and academic referencing.
PSY100 Academic Skills and Foundational Concepts in Statistics and Research Methods

This module will introduce Psychology students to foundational concepts in statistics and research methods. Students will be introduced to the British Psychological society¿s ethical principles, and will explore ethics in research through the study of historical case studies of problematic research. This module will cover experimental and observational research designs, and how we can measure psychological constructs such as traits, attitudes, and emotions. Students will receive a solid grounding in statistical theory, and will learn to summarise, present, analyse, and interpret data. Additionally, through small group sessions led by their Personal Academic Mentor, students will develop key academic skills, including literature searching, essay planning and writing, oral presentation skills, making use of feedback, and academic referencing.

Key Grants and Projects

Flow, materialism, and wellbeing: exploring the psychology of sustainable prosperity 2016 - 2019

Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Powering Productivity: Mapping the Evidence Base on Energy, Wellbeing, and Productivity in the UK 2019 - 2020

Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Live Lagom 1.5: Evaluating the effectiveness of behaviour change interventions in IKEA’s plan to support their customers to live more sustainable lifestyles at home. 2022

Funded by IKEA
Places Called Home: Examining the effects of local, community projects focused on enhancing social or ecological wellbeing across the UK. 2021 - 2022

Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and IKEA UK
Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP) 2015 - 2025

Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), with PI Professor Tim Jackson, University of Surrey

Invited Presentations, Lectures and Conferences

Invited talk: “Applying the distractor devaluation effect to online impulse buying.”

2016

Meeting of the Experimental Psychology Society, Durham, UK
Invited talk: “Wellbeing and productivity: Updated understandings from a participatory systems mapping and review process.”

2020

Norwich Business School, UK
Invited talk: “Wellbeing and (labour) productivity in advanced economies.”

2021

The Productivity Institute, Online
Invited talk: “Finding Flow: Human Flourishing on a Finite Planet.”

2022

Torrance Festival of Ideas, University of Georgia, Online
Invited talk: “Beyond consumerism: Why we need an alternative vision of prosperity.”

2022

Adfree Cities National Conference, London, UK

Other Roles

Editorial Board Member, Journal of Global Environmental Psychology

2022 - Present

Dr Amy Isham

Email address

Twitter Account

LinkedIn Account

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Research Highlights

All Research

Exploring the impact of foraging as a nature-based activity on human and ecological wellbeing (current)

Impact of air pollution on preterm birth outcomes in Wales (current)

Examining ecotherapy as a driver of improvements in personal, collective, and planetary wellbeing (current)

Flow in Nature: Cultivating Environments of Optimal Experience for Ecological Wellbeing (current)

PS-M24 Research Project

PSA100 Academic Skills and Foundational Concepts in Statistics and Research Methods (Joint Honours)

PSY100 Academic Skills and Foundational Concepts in Statistics and Research Methods

Flow, materialism, and wellbeing: exploring the psychology of sustainable prosperity 2016 - 2019

Powering Productivity: Mapping the Evidence Base on Energy, Wellbeing, and Productivity in the UK 2019 - 2020

Live Lagom 1.5: Evaluating the effectiveness of behaviour change interventions in IKEA’s plan to support their customers to live more sustainable lifestyles at home. 2022

Places Called Home: Examining the effects of local, community projects focused on enhancing social or ecological wellbeing across the UK. 2021 - 2022

Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP) 2015 - 2025

Invited talk: “Applying the distractor devaluation effect to online impulse buying.”

Invited talk: “Wellbeing and productivity: Updated understandings from a participatory systems mapping and review process.”

Invited talk: “Wellbeing and (labour) productivity in advanced economies.”

Invited talk: “Finding Flow: Human Flourishing on a Finite Planet.”

Invited talk: “Beyond consumerism: Why we need an alternative vision of prosperity.”

Editorial Board Member, Journal of Global Environmental Psychology