Staff profile

• Wellbeing and Community Wellbeing
• Critical Medical Humanities
• Spaces and practices of care of the body
• Arts, health and wellbeing

• 2019: Key-note speaker 19th International Medical Geography Symposium, Queenstown, New Zealand:
• 2019: Key-note speaker, Conference on Existential Medical Humanities, Södertörn University, Stockholm, Sweden Swedish Network for Medical Humanities:
• 2016: Key-note speaker, ISRF funding workshop on 'Financialisation, Social Investment and Wellbeing' Roskilde, Denmark:
• 2015: Invited key-note speaker at the International Workshop: Medical humanities: Exploring advantages and disadvantages in an emerging interdisciplinary field, University of Lund, Sweden.:
• 2014: Invited member: WHO international steering group, the cultural determinants of wellbeing, WHO Copenhagen:
• 2014: Invited speaker: History, humanities and global health, WHO Geneva.:
• 2014: Invited speaker: The rise of well-being in public health, WHO Copenhagen.:
• 2014: Invited speaker, seminar series on Politics of Wellbeing:
• 2014: Key-note speaker: Annual Conference of the Nordic Network for Health Research within Social Sciences (NNHSH), Helsinki, Finland:

Chapter in book

• Atkinson, S. (in press). Art Spaces. In G. Andrews, V. Crooks, J. Pearce, & J. Messina. (Eds.), COVID-19 and Similar Futures: Pandemic Geographies. Springer Verlag
• Atkinson, S. (in press). Reanimating the radical possibilities of wellbeing: commentary on Part 1 approaching wellbeing. In B. Searle, J. Pykett, & M. Alfaro-Simmonds (Eds.), The Modern Guide to Wellbeing Research (23-28). Edward Elgar Publishing
• Atkinson, S. (2021). Resilience. In M. Botha, & P. Waugh (Eds.), Future theory : a Bloomsbury handbook to critical concepts. Bloomsbury
• Hunt, R., & Atkinson, S. (2020). GeoHumanities and Health. In S. Atkinson, & R. Hunt (Eds.), GeoHumanities and Health (1-19). Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21406-7_1
• Tan, M., & Atkinson, S. (2019). Multiplicity and Encounters of Cultures of Care in Advanced Ageing. In S. Atkinson, & R. Hunt (Eds.), Geohumanities and health (241-259). Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21406-7_14
• Atkinson, S. (2019). Wellbeing and the wild, blue 21st-century ctizen. In R. Foley, R. Kearns, T. Kistemann, & B. Wheeler (Eds.), Blue space, health and wellbeing : hydrophilia unbounded (190-204). Taylor and Francis
• Atkinson, S. (2017). Mixing and fixing: managing and imagining the body in a global world. In C. Herrick, & D. Reubi (Eds.), Global health and geographical imaginaries (54-71). Routledge
• Atkinson, S. (2017). Health and Wellbeing. In D. Richardson, N. Castree, M. Goodchild, L. Weidong, A. Kobayashi, & R. Marston (Eds.), The International Encyclopedia of Geography: People, the Earth, Environment, and Technology. Wiley-Blackwell/AAG. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118786352.wbieg0770
• Atkinson, S. (2016). Care, kidneys and clones: the distance of space, time and imagination. In A. Whitehead, A. Woods, S. Atkinson, J. Macnaughton, & J. Richards (Eds.), The Edinburgh companion to the critical medical humanities (611-626). Edinburgh University Press
• Atkinson, S., & Vaguet, A. (2011). La Mondialisation à la Loupe des Géographes de la Santé. In S. Fleuret, & A. Hoyez (Eds.), Santé et Géographie: Nouveaux Regards (15-37). Economica
• Atkinson, S. (2007). Health and Disease. In I. Douglas, R. Huggett, & C. Perkins (Eds.), Companion encyclopaedia of geography : from local to global (157-168). Routledge
• Atkinson, S. (2006). Approaches to studying decentralisation. In R. Saltman, V. Bankauskaite, & K. Vrangbaek (Eds.), Decentralization in health care: strategies and outcomes. OUP
• Atkinson, S. (2002). Local management and the quality of urban health services: prenatal care in Northwest Brazil. In R. Akhtar (Ed.), Urban Health in the Third World. APH Publishing Corporation

Edited book

• Atkinson, S., & Hunt, R. (Eds.). (2019). Geohumanities and Health. Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21406-7
• Whitehead, A., Woods, A., Atkinson, S., Macnaughton, J., & Richards, J. (Eds.). (2016). The Edinburgh Companion to the Critical Medical Humanities. Edinburgh University Press
• Atkinson, S., Fuller, S., & Painter, J. (Eds.). (2012). Wellbeing and place. Ashgate Publishing

Journal Article

• Atkinson, S., Bradby, H., Gadebusch Bondio, M., Macnaughton, J., Hallberg, A., & Söderfeldt, Y. (online). Seeing the value of experiential knowledge through COVID-19. History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences,
• Atkinson, S. (2024). Cultural contexts of adolescent anxiety: Paradox, ambivalence, and disjuncture. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 10, Article 101081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.101081
• Atkinson, S. (2021). The Toxic Effects of Subjective Wellbeing and Potential Tonics. Social Science & Medicine, 288, Article 113098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113098
• Curtis, S., Cunningham, N., Pearce, J., Congdon, P., Cherrie, M., & Atkinson, S. (2021). Trajectories in mental health and socio-spatial conditions in a time of economic recovery and austerity: a longitudinal study in England, 2011-2017. Social Science & Medicine, 270, Article 113654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113654
• Atkinson, S. (2021). Adolescent anxiety through the wrong end of the telescope. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 5(11), 777-778. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642%2821%2900313-8
• Atkinson, S. (2020). Commentary: Wellbeing, Space and Society. Wellbeing, Space and Society, 1, Article 100015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2020.100015
• Atkinson, S., Bagnall, A.-M., Corcoran, R., South, J., & Curtis, S. (2020). Being well together: individual subjective and community wellbeing. Journal of Happiness Studies, 21(5), 1903-1921. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00146-2
• Curtis, S., Congdon, P., Atkinson, S., Corcoran, R., Peasgood, T., & MaGuire, R. (2020). Adverse conditions for wellbeing at the neighbourhood scale in England: potential and challenges for operationalising indicators relevant to wellbeing in and of places. Wellbeing, Space and Society, 1, Article 100009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2020.100009
• Tupper, E., Atkinson, S., & Pollard, T. (2020). Doing more with movement: constituting healthy publics in a movement volunteering programme. Palgrave communications, 6, Article 94. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-020-0473-9
• Coyle, L., & Atkinson, S. (2019). Vulnerability as practice in diagnosing multiple conditions. Medical Humanities, 45(3), 278-287. https://doi.org/10.1136/medhum-2017-011433
• Coyle, L., & Atkinson, S. (2018). Imagined Futures in Living with Multiple Conditions: Positivity, Relationality and Hopelessness. Social Science & Medicine, 198, 53-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.12.022
• de Leeuw, S., Donovan, C., Schafenacker, N., Kearns, R., Neuwelt, P., Squier, S. M., McGeachan, C., Parr, H., Frank, A. W., Coyle, L.-A., Atkinson, S., El-Hadi, N., Shklanka, K., Shooner, C., Beljaars, D., & Anderson, J. (2018). Geographies of Medical and Health Humanities: A Cross-Disciplinary Conversation. Geohumanities, 4(2), 285-334. https://doi.org/10.1080/2373566x.2018.1518081
• Stickley, T., Parr, H., Atkinson, S., Daykin, N., Clift, S., de Nora, T., Hacking, S., Camic, P., Joss, T., White, M., & Hogan, S. (2017). Arts, health & wellbeing: reflections on a national seminar series and building a UK research network. Arts and Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice, 9(1), 14-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2016.1166142
• Schwanen, T., & Atkinson, S. (2015). Geographies of wellbeing: an introduction. The Geographical Journal, 181(2), Article 98-101. https://doi.org/10.1111/geoj.12132
• Atkinson, S., Foley, R., & Parr, H. (2015). Introduction: Spatial Perspectives and Medical Humanities. Journal of Medical Humanities, 36(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-014-9319-z
• Atkinson, S., Evans, B., Woods, A., & Kearns, R. (2015). ‘The Medical’ and ‘health’ in a critical medical humanities. Journal of Medical Humanities, 36(1), 71-81. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-014-9314-4
• Atkinson, S., & Scott, K. (2015). Stable and destabilised states of subjective wellbeing: dance and movement as catalysts of transition. Social and Cultural Geography, 16(1), 75-94. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649365.2014.950689
• Medeiros, R., & Atkinson, S. (2013). Performance of the local health system and contingent influences in Northeast-Brazil: breaking vicious and virtuous circles. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 18(11), 3431-3442. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1413-81232013001100032
• Atkinson, S. (2013). Beyond components of wellbeing: the effects of relational and situated assemblage. Topoi, 32(2), 137-144. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11245-013-9164-0
• Atkinson, S., & White, M. (2013). Beyond the Local Agenda: International Perspectives in Community-based Arts and Health. Arts and Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice, 5(3), 175-176. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2013.841336
• Atkinson, S., & Rubidge, T. (2013). Managing the spatialities of arts-based practices with school children: an inter-disciplinary exploration of engagement, movement and well-being. Arts and Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice, 5(1), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2012.693938
• White, M., Atkinson, S., & Meagher, M. E. (2013). International perspectives on the development of research-guided practice in community-based arts in health. Special Issue of eleven papers and an overview
• Atkinson, S., & Rubinelli, S. (2012). Narrative in cancer research and policy: voice, knowledge and context. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 84(Supplement 2), S11-S16. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1040-8428%2813%2970004-0
• Atkinson, S., & Robson, M. (2012). Arts and health as a practice of liminality: managing the spaces of transformation for social and emotional wellbeing with primary school children. Health & Place, 18(6), 1348-1355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2012.06.017
• Swan, P., & Atkinson, S. (2012). Managing evaluation: a community arts organisation's perspective. Arts and Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice, 4(3), 217-229. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2012.665372
• Atkinson, S. (2011). Moves to measure wellbeing must support a social model of health. eBMJ (London), 343(7832), Article d7323. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d7323
• Atkinson, S. (2011). Scales of Care and Responsibility: debating the surgically globalised body. Social and Cultural Geography, 12(6), 623-637. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649365.2011.601263
• Atkinson, S., & Joyce, K. (2011). The place and practices of wellbeing in local governance. Environment and planning. C, Government and policy, 29(1), 133-148. https://doi.org/10.1068/c09200
• Atkinson, S., Lawson, V., & Wiles, J. (2011). Care of the body: spaces of practice. Social and Cultural Geography, 12(6), 563-572. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649365.2011.601238
• Atkinson, S., Macnaughton, J., Saunders, C., & Evans, M. (2010). Cool Intimacies of Care for Contemporary Clinical Practice. The Lancet, 376(9754), 1732-1733. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736%2810%2962123-x
• Atkinson, S., & Ayers, A. (2010). The Potential of the Internet for Alternative Caring Practices for Health. Anthropology and Medicine, 17(1), 75-86. https://doi.org/10.1080/13648470903572366
• Atkinson, S., & Medeiros, R. (2009). Explanatory models of influences on the construction and expression of user satisfaction. Social Science & Medicine, 68(11), 2089-2096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.03.042
• Medeiros, R., & Atkinson, S. (2009). Health reform in Ceará: the process of decentralization in the 1990s. [A Reforma de Saúde no Ceará: o processo de descentralização na década de 1990]. O Público e o Privado (Impresso), 13, 11-27
• Atkinson, S., Cohn, A., Ducci, M., Fernandes, L., & Smyth, F. (2008). Promotion and prevention within a decentralized framework: changing health care in Brazil and Chile. International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 23(2), 153-171. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpm.919
• Fleuret, S., & Atkinson, S. (2007). Wellbeing, health and geography: a critical review and research agenda. New Zealand Geographer, 63(2), 106-118. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-7939.2007.00093.x
• Milligan, C., Atkinson, S., Conradson, D., Skinner, M., & Wiles, J. (2007). Geographies of care - a commentary
• Atkinson, S. (2007). Telling talking: discourse and practice in context. Critical Policy Studies, 1(2), 184-199. https://doi.org/10.1080/19460171.2007.9518518
• Danichevski, K., Balabanova, D., McKee, D., & Atkinson, S. (2006). The fragmentary federation: experiences with the decentralised health system in Russia. Health Policy and Planning, 21(3), 183-194. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czl002
• Atkinson, S., Cohn, A., Ducci, M., & Gideon, J. (2005). Implementation of promotion and prevention activities in decentralized health systems: comparative case studies from Chile and Brazil. Health Promotion International, 20(2), 167-175. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/dah605
• Atkinson, S., Fernandes, L., Caprara, A., & Gideon, J. (2005). Prevention and promotion in decentralised rural health systems: a comparative study from Northeast Brazil. Health Policy and Planning, 20(2), 69-79. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czi009
• Atkinson, S., & Haran, D. (2005). Individual and district scale determinants of users' satisfaction with primary health care in developing countries. Social Science & Medicine, 60(3), 501-513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.05.019
• Atkinson, S., & Haran, D. (2004). Back to basics: does decentralization improve health system performance? Evidence from Ceará in north-east Brazil. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 81(11), 822-827
• Few, R., Harpham, T., & Atkinson, S. (2003). Urban primary health care in Africa: a comparative analysis of city-wide public sector projects in Lusaka and Dar es Salaam. Health & Place, 9(1), 45-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1353-8292%2802%2900029-1
• Atkinson, S. (2002). Political cultures, health systems and health policy. Social Science & Medicine, 55(1), 113-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0277-9536%2801%2900213-1
• Atkinson, S., Medeiros, R., Oliveira, P., & Almeida, R. (2000). Going down to the local: incorporating social organisation and political culture into assessments of decentralised health care. Social Science & Medicine, 51(4), 619-636. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0277-9536%2800%2900005-8

Report

• Atkinson, S., Bagnall, A., Corcoran, R., & South, J. (2017). What is Community Wellbeing? Conceptual Review. [No known commissioning body]