Dr Claire Thornton

Assistant Professor

Department: Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation

Claire joined the university in February 2017. She has worked in the higher education sector for over 15 years while studying part time for both an MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology (Staffordshire University) and a PhD (University of Derby). Claire has coached a number of sports including netball, football and badminton and has worked with athletes from a range of backgrounds/abilities. Her teaching interests centre on sport and exercise psychology and research methods.

Campus Address

NB 234
Northumberland building, City campus

Email Claire

Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

Claire joined the university in February 2017. She has worked in the higher education sector for over 15 years while studying part time for both an MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology (Staffordshire University) and a PhD (University of Derby). Claire has coached a number of sports including netball, football and badminton and has worked with athletes from a range of backgrounds/abilities. Her teaching interests centre on sport and exercise psychology and research methods.

Claire’s thesis focused on pain responses in contact and non-contact athletes. Her work explores the mechanisms for differences in pain tolerance, perception and coping between athlete groups. She has explored pain coping styles, pain bothersomeness, challenge and threat appraisals and performance whilst in pain. She is interested in the attentional demands of pain and the psychological factors that influence pain reporting.

Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Teacher-Led Yoga/Mindfulness in the Key Stage 1 Classroom. Survey of Educators Across North-East England, Wilkin, K., Thornton, C., Allen-Baker, G. 11 Mar 2025, In: Early Childhood Education Journal
Athletes and Experimental Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Thornton, C., Sheffield, D., Baird, A. 1 Jun 2024, In: Journal of Pain
Barriers to using yoga and mindfulness in the Key Stage 1 classroom: perspectives of educators working in faith and non-faith state schools across North East England, Wilkin, K., Thornton, C., Allen, G. 25 Dec 2024, In: Cogent Education
The current state of concussion knowledge and attitudes in British American Football, Travis, E., Scott-Bell, A., Thornton, C. 2 Jan 2024, In: Physician and Sportsmedicine
The effects of school-based yoga on the executive functioning skills of children between three and seven years of age. A meta-analysis of existing research, Wilkin, K., Allen-Baker, G., Thornton, C. Oct 2024, In: Mental Health and Physical Activity
A national survey of clubs medical provision and facilities in BUCS American Football 2019- 2020, Travis, E., Scott-Bell, A., Thornton, C. 1 Oct 2023, In: Irish Journal of Medical Science
'If lecturers are at home, they can’t tell their kids to shut up’: University student engagement with blended learning during Covid-19: A mixed methods study, Thornton, C., Peart, D., Hicks, K., McCullogh, N., Allen, G. 21 Apr 2023, In: Journal of Further and Higher Education
Investigation into the transition to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, between new and continuing undergraduate students, Briggs, M., Thornton, C., McIver, V., Rumbold, P., Peart, D. 1 Jun 2023, In: Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education
Concussion Reporting and Safeguarding Policy Development in British American Football: An Essential Agenda, Travis, E., Thornton, C., Scott-Bell, A. 4 Jun 2021, In: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Exposure to contact sports results in maintained performance during experimental pain, Thornton, C., Sheffield, D., Baird, A. Jan 2021, In: Journal of Pain

PGR Supervision

Clare Norman Start Date: 01/03/2025
Benjamin Morris The Role of Superstitious Rituals on Injury-Avoidance Behaviours in Contact Sports Start Date: 01/10/2021