LATEST RESEARCH

A black and white cartoon illustration of a monkey hanging from a tree branch, holding a banana in one hand, with a cheerful expression.

Research led by Dr Mickey James

My research focusses on children's health and wellbeing but in particular play and physical activity. My research involves advocating for the wants and needs of young people to improve their health and happiness. My work is primarily co-produced with young people to help give them a voice on matters that affect them.

Click the research description to take you to the full text link.

This large Welsh study of 16,731 primary school children shows that being more active and less sedentary is linked with better wellbeing and mental health — but it’s kids’ confidence, sense of autonomy and feeling safe that matter most. It highlights that just increasing activity time isn’t enough; instead, opportunities that build confidence, competence and choice may be the key to happier, healthier children.
Teenagers know exactly what would help them be more active. Drawing on focus groups with young people in South Wales, it reveals why cost, lack of local options, poor-quality facilities, and adult-designed activities put teens off, and what would actually work instead. It’s a compelling case for designing physical activity with young people, not for them.
This study used routine HAPPEN survey data to compare children’s health and well-being during the initial COVID-19 school closures (April–June 2020) with the same periods in 2018–2019, revealing higher reported physical activity, sleep, happiness and overall well-being during lockdown. However, it also found that children eligible for free school meals did less physical activity, ate fewer fruits and vegetables and showed lower school competence, suggesting schools play a crucial role in reducing health inequalities.
This Welsh study surveyed 6,291 young people aged 8–25 to find out what really influenced their wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing that wellbeing was higher in younger children and boys, and lower in teens, girls, and those preferring not to state gender. It shows that play and time with friends were key supports for younger kids, while older youths wanted more mental health and education-related support, highlighting how age and social context shaped pandemic wellbeing.
This study explored 20,000 primary school kids’ responses about play before and after COVID-19 school closures to see how the pandemic changed what they want and need to be happy and healthy. It shows that children consistently ask for more space to play, more time with friends, and protected opportunities for play both at school and at home, highlighting the deep importance of play for wellbeing through and beyond the pandemic.
This Welsh study tracks health and wellbeing trends in 36,951 primary school children (2014–2022) and reveals worrying declines in physical abilities (like swimming and cycling), diet quality, emotional wellbeing and competence well before and continuing through the COVID-19 period. The findings suggest that children’s health was deteriorating over several years, highlighting a need for targeted interventions and policy action to reverse these long-term negative trends.