Anthony Papathomas
Biographic Data
| ID | 3801770 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Anthony Papathomas |
| GIVEN NAMES | Anthony |
| FAMILY NAME | Papathomas |
| SIGNATURE | PAPATHOMAS A |
| AFFILIATIONS | Loughborough University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-1031-9256 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 9 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 7 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 9 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2015 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
The narrative construction of a de-stigmatised identity
There is limited research offering experiential knowledge of severe mental illness in elite athletes. Adopting a narrative approach, this study explored how an Olympic athlete constructed his illness identity and how this construction shaped his experience of living with bipolar disorder. We conducted five semi-structured interviews with Darrel, a male Olympic athlete diagnosed with bipolar disorder, over a ten-month period in the lead-up to the …
‘You won’t get left behind’
There has been limited research into the impact of community-based running mental health peer support groups. This study explored participants’ experiences of Run Talk Run; a group which combines exercise with talking about mental health. We recruited 15 participants from three Run Talk Run groups. To support a more immersive data collection process, we combined video recordings of runs with follow-up interviews. Through a reflexive thematic anal…
Stories of acceptance and resistance
Mental illness identities are personally and socially constructed and impact psychological wellbeing.This study explored how athletes diagnosed with a personality disorder construct their illness identity and the various ways this impacted experience.Guided by an interpretivist paradigm, we recruited two powerlifters, Samantha and Alex, who engaged in a series of one-to-one interviews.In total, 11 hours of data was collected and analysed using di…
Concussion in professional wrestling
In this article, we utilise the social dynamics of concussion in professional wrestling to examine and critique calls for cultural change as a solution to the crisis of concussion in sport. Drawing on interview data from wrestlers, promoters, referees and healthcare providers in UK professional wrestling, we illustrate the experiences, attitudes and subcultural norms exhibited in relation to concussion. Despite increasing concerns that brain inju…
Embodied experiences of injured endurance runners
A meta-synthesis was conducted to explore the experiences of ultra-runners who had sustained a running related injury. We identified 10 narrative studies which were synthesised thematically before being re-organised within an Embodiment framework producing 5 taxonomies; The Disciplined Body, Embodied Distress, Corporeal Running Identity, Intersubjectivity of pain and Embodied Coping. Ultra-running is a body centred activity exemplifying Merleau-P…
Preparing for a physical activity intervention in a secure psychiatric hospital
The medical model for treating severe mental illness has been critiqued for its insensitivity to the subjective and contextual facets of patients’ illness and recovery experiences. For many, mental health service efforts are a function of the social and institutional contexts in which they occur. Understanding this therapeutic context is therefore critical to planning effective care strategies. In this confessional tale, the first author reflects…
Being physically active through chronic illness
Despite the therapeutic potential of exercise for people with arthritis, they are considerably less active than the general population. To explain this phenomenon, research rarely moves beyond descriptive accounts of exercise barriers and facilitators. Although a useful start point, such studies list decontextualised factors without situating these within the wider experience of living with chronic illness. As such, we know little about what phys…
Exercise is medicine? Most of the time for most; but not always for all
Based on extensive research on the relationship between exercise and health, exercise as a form of medicine is a powerful concept of growing popularity within health care, academia and policy. Proponents of this exercise is medicine (EiM) movement frame exercise as a panacea for a variety of health issues and uncritically promote exercise as good for all. Two clinical populations particularly influenced by the EiM agenda are spinal cord injury (S…
Family experiences of living with an eating disorder
Families are considered important in the management and treatment of eating disorders. Yet, rarely has research focused on family experiences of living with an eating disorder. Addressing this gap, this study explores the experiences of an elite 21-year-old triathlete with an eating disorder in conjunction with the experiences of her parents. Family members attended interviews individually on three separate occasions over the course of a year. In…
Family experiences of living with an eating disorder
Families are considered important in the management and treatment of eating disorders. Yet, rarely has research focused on family experiences of living with an eating disorder. Addressing this gap, this study explores the experiences of an elite 21-year-old triathlete with an eating disorder in conjunction with the experiences of her parents. Family members attended interviews individually on three separate occasions over the course of a year. In…
Family experiences of living with an eating disorder
Families are considered important in the management and treatment of eating disorders. Yet, rarely has research focused on family experiences of living with an eating disorder. Addressing this gap, this study explores the experiences of an elite 21-year-old triathlete with an eating disorder in conjunction with the experiences of her parents. Family members attended interviews individually on three separate occasions over the course of a year. In…
Exercise is medicine? Most of the time for most; but not always for all
Based on extensive research on the relationship between exercise and health, exercise as a form of medicine is a powerful concept of growing popularity within health care, academia and policy. Proponents of this exercise is medicine (EiM) movement frame exercise as a panacea for a variety of health issues and uncritically promote exercise as good for all. Two clinical populations particularly influenced by the EiM agenda are spinal cord injury (S…
Being physically active through chronic illness
Despite the therapeutic potential of exercise for people with arthritis, they are considerably less active than the general population. To explain this phenomenon, research rarely moves beyond descriptive accounts of exercise barriers and facilitators. Although a useful start point, such studies list decontextualised factors without situating these within the wider experience of living with chronic illness. As such, we know little about what phys…
Preparing for a physical activity intervention in a secure psychiatric hospital
The medical model for treating severe mental illness has been critiqued for its insensitivity to the subjective and contextual facets of patients’ illness and recovery experiences. For many, mental health service efforts are a function of the social and institutional contexts in which they occur. Understanding this therapeutic context is therefore critical to planning effective care strategies. In this confessional tale, the first author reflects…
Embodied experiences of injured endurance runners
A meta-synthesis was conducted to explore the experiences of ultra-runners who had sustained a running related injury. We identified 10 narrative studies which were synthesised thematically before being re-organised within an Embodiment framework producing 5 taxonomies; The Disciplined Body, Embodied Distress, Corporeal Running Identity, Intersubjectivity of pain and Embodied Coping. Ultra-running is a body centred activity exemplifying Merleau-P…
Concussion in professional wrestling
In this article, we utilise the social dynamics of concussion in professional wrestling to examine and critique calls for cultural change as a solution to the crisis of concussion in sport. Drawing on interview data from wrestlers, promoters, referees and healthcare providers in UK professional wrestling, we illustrate the experiences, attitudes and subcultural norms exhibited in relation to concussion. Despite increasing concerns that brain inju…
Stories of acceptance and resistance
Mental illness identities are personally and socially constructed and impact psychological wellbeing.This study explored how athletes diagnosed with a personality disorder construct their illness identity and the various ways this impacted experience.Guided by an interpretivist paradigm, we recruited two powerlifters, Samantha and Alex, who engaged in a series of one-to-one interviews.In total, 11 hours of data was collected and analysed using di…
‘You won’t get left behind’
There has been limited research into the impact of community-based running mental health peer support groups. This study explored participants’ experiences of Run Talk Run; a group which combines exercise with talking about mental health. We recruited 15 participants from three Run Talk Run groups. To support a more immersive data collection process, we combined video recordings of runs with follow-up interviews. Through a reflexive thematic anal…
The narrative construction of a de-stigmatised identity
There is limited research offering experiential knowledge of severe mental illness in elite athletes. Adopting a narrative approach, this study explored how an Olympic athlete constructed his illness identity and how this construction shaped his experience of living with bipolar disorder. We conducted five semi-structured interviews with Darrel, a male Olympic athlete diagnosed with bipolar disorder, over a ten-month period in the lead-up to the …
Psychology (8 works) · Medicine (5 works) · Mental health (4 works) · Narrative (4 works) · Psychotherapist (4 works) · Physical therapy (3 works) · Sport Psychology and Performance (3 works) · Aesthetics (2 works) · Athletes (2 works) · Developmental psychology (2 works)