About
Research
Email: 186103@live.stmarys.ac.uk
Biography
Cindy graduated from Westminster University with a BSc (Hons) degree in Biomedical Science. Following her undergraduate degree, Cindy cemented her interest in health, well-being, and the interplay between psychological states and physiology by gaining a dual MSc in Mental Health Nursing and Adult Nursing at City University of London. Her MSc project was a systematic literature exploration of physical activity as an intervention to promote well-being amongst those suffering from chronic illness.
Cindy commenced her PhD at St Mary’s University, alongside working in the health and research sector. She has been committed to bridging the health inequality gap for vulnerable individuals and bettering overall health outcomes for the public through impactful research.
Research
Research profile
PhD title: Enabling families to support children and young people with a limb difference/amputation to engage in physical activity
Cindy’s research is dedicated to understanding the lived experiences and influencing factors associated with limb differences and amputations (LDA) in children. Her doctoral work rigorously examines how the interplay of social, psychological, and physiological factors profoundly impacts and shapes the overall well-being of children with LDA and their families, and consequently, their participation in physical activity.
By employing narrative inquiry as her methodology, Cindy has anchored her data collection and analysis techniques to extract rich, in-depth insights. These insights have been used to develop creative non-fiction stories that capture the nuanced experiences of children with LDA and their families. These stories illuminate themes that emerged from the data, which will allow for the co-construction of an impactful tool that will support children with LDA and their families.
Her research interests include: mental health and well-being, health outcomes, limb difference, amputation, injury and rehabilitation, physical activity, and family involvement.
Supervisors
- Professor Ross Wadey
- Dr Melissa Day
- Dr Nikki Brown
Conference presentations
- Okonkwo, C. (2024, 7th June). Enabling Families to Support Children with a Limb Difference / Amputation (Oral presentation). St Mary’s Faculty of Sport, Technology and Health Sciences (FSTHS) Festival of Research.
- Okonkwo, C. (2019, 10th May). Enabling Families to Support Children with a Limb Difference / Amputation to Engage in Physical Activity (Oral presentation). St Mary’s Faculty of Sport, Health and Applied Sciences (SHAS) Research Day.