Dr Greg Keenan
SENIOR LECTURER IN PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology
keenang@hope.ac.uk
I completed a PhD at the University of Bristol and subsequently worked as a post-doctoral researcher and then lecturer at the University of Liverpool. I subsequently moved to the University of Salford to run a new undergraduate programme on human and animal behaviour before moving to Liverpool Hope University as a senior lecturer in Psychology
My key research interests are:
1. Understanding why food insecurity (not knowing if you will have enough food to eat at your next meal) is associated with weight gain. With the number of people experiencing food poverty increasing, it is critical to identify the mechanisms underpinning this association. This will help with the development of potential countermeasures.
2. Looking for ways to promote sustainable diets. It is estimated that the global demand for food will increase by 60% by the year 2050. This demand far outstrips our current global potential for food production, particularly in terms of meat. It is essential we identify effective ways to change consumer behaviours and identify interventions.
3. Seeking to understand how and why environmental cues promote overconsumption. For example, the presence of larger portion sizes, distraction, or variety within meals (e.g. all you can eat buffets)
For details of grant funding and a full list of publications, please see:
Some highlighted publications:
Keenan, G. S., Royle, W. S., Marrow, L., Scholey, A. & Owen L (2024). Income loss and diet quality during the first COVID-19 lockdown in a UK and Australian sample: the role of distress as a potential mediator. Appetite. 107570, doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2024.107570
Gough, T., Christiansen, P., Hardman, C., & Keenan, G. S. (2024). The Development and Validation of the Food Insecurity Physical Activity Scale. Appetite, 107516, doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2024.107516
Blanchard, A., Keenan, G., Heym, N., & Sumich, A. (2023). Covid-19 prevention behaviour is differentially motivated by primary psychopathy, grandiose narcissism and vulnerable Dark Triad traits. Personality and Individual Differences, 24, 112060, doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.112060
Keenan, G. S., Christiansen, P., Owen, L., & Hardman, C. (2022). The association between COVID-19 related food insecurity and weight promoting eating behaviours: the mediating role of distress and eating to cope. Appetite, 169, 1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105835
Keenan, G. S., Christiansen, P., & Hardman, C. (2021) Food insecurity and diet quality: The mediating role of stress and eating to cope. Obesity. 29 (1), 143- 149. DOI: 10.1002/oby.23033
Puddephatt, J. Keenan, G. S., Fielden, A., Halford, J.C., & Hardman, C. (2020). Eating to survive: A qualitative analysis of factors influencing food choice and eating behaviour in a food-insecure population. Appetite, 147, 1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2019.104547
Keenan, G. S., Sheen, F. Haynes, A., Hardman, C. A. (2020) Are participants aware of how external factors might influence their intake? PsyArXiv, DOI: 10.31234/osf.io.8befm
Robinson, E., Henderson, J., Keenan, G.S., & Kersbergen, I. (2019). When a portion becomes a norm: Exposure to a smaller vs. larger portion of food affects later food intake. Food Quality and Preference, 75, 113-117. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2019.02.013
Keenan, G. S., Childs, L., Rogers, P., Hetherington, M. M., & Brunstrom, J. M. (2018). The portion size effect: women demonstrate an awareness of eating more than intended when served larger than normal portions. Appetite, 126, 54-60. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2018.03.009
Robinson, E., Keenan, G. S., Bertenshaw, E. & (2016). Remembered enjoyment and customer purchasing intentions. Report produced as part of a Unilever PLC funded project
Keenan, G. S., Ferriday, D., & Brunstrom, J. M. (2015). Effects of food variety on expected satiation: evidence for a perceived volume heuristic. Appetite, 89, 10-15 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2015.01.010
Kostopoulou, O., Russo, J. E., Keenan, G. S, Delaney, B. C., & Douiri, A. (2012). Information distortion in Physicians diagnostic judgments. Medical Decision Making, 32 (6), 831-839. DOI: 10.1177/0272989X12447241