I am currently working at the University of Stirling as a lecturer in psychology, and I am part of the Health & Behaviour Change research group, as well as running my own research group. Before that, I was awarded the prestigious anniversary fellowship by the University of Stirling, which enabled me to start a career as an independent researcher. I received my PhD at the University of Zurich (Switzerland) and spent some time at the University of Aberdeen (UK) as a postdoctoral researcher.
I am a health and social psychologist researching the mechanisms of behaviour change and how digital technology can help us to fulfil our full health and well-being potential. I love working in multidisciplinary teams and with industry. My current research projects involve health behaviours such as exercising, self-management, and healthy eating. My research has been funded by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), European Health Psychology Society (EHPS) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
I am passionate about bridging the gap between research and practice because I know that when we work together to use our strengths and competencies, we can support people in their health and well-being endeavours so much better and so much more sustainable.
Developing an adapted parent-youth teamwork intervention to improve medication adherence among adolescents with asthma: a feasibility study
PI: Dr Pamela Rackow
Funded by: Medical Research Council
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Article
Optimizing adherence to medication to improve outcomes in asthma
Rackow P, Drennan A, Pinnock H & Dima AL (2025) Optimizing adherence to medication to improve outcomes in asthma. Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine, 31 (3), pp. 262-269. https://doi.org/10.1097/mcp.0000000000001166
Article
Reflections of an MSc health psychology mentoring pilot
Henton S, Campbell C, Wilson A, McMillan L, Maltinsky W & Rackow P (2023) Reflections of an MSc health psychology mentoring pilot. Health Psychology Update, 32 (1), pp. 54-58. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpshpu.2023.32.1.54
Article
Satisfying the Need for Relatedness Among Teachers: Benefits of Searching for Social Support
Maas J, Schoch S, Scholz U, Rackow P, Schüler J, Wegner M & Keller R (2022) Satisfying the Need for Relatedness Among Teachers: Benefits of Searching for Social Support. Frontiers in Education, 7, Art. No.: 851819. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.851819
Other
An Evaluation of an MSc Health Psychology Mentoring Pilot
Henton S, Maltinsky W, Rackow P, Wilson A, Campbell C & McMillan L (2022) An Evaluation of an MSc Health Psychology Mentoring Pilot. Division health Psychology Conference, Bristol, 28.06.2022-29.06.2022.
Article
Schoch S, Keller R, Buff A, Maas J, Rackow P, Scholz U, Schüler J & Wegner M (2021) Dual-Focused Transformational Leadership, Teachers’ Satisfaction of the Need for Relatedness, and the Mediating Role of Social Support. Frontiers in Education, 6, Art. No.: 643196. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2021.643196
Article
Nigg C, Amrein M, Rackow P, Scholz U & Inauen J (2021) Compensation and transfer effects of eating behavior change in daily life: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial. Appetite, 162, Art. No.: 105170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105170
Article
Maas J, Schoch S, Scholz U, Rackow P, Schüler J, Wegner M & Keller R (2021) Teachers' perceived time pressure, emotional exhaustion and the role of social support from the school principal. Social Psychology of Education, 24 (2), pp. 441-464. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-020-09605-8
Article
Pharmacist services for non-hospitalised patients
de Barra M, Scott C, Scott NW, Johnston M, de Bruin M, Nkansah N, Bond C, Matheson CI, Rackow P, Williams AJ & Watson MC (2018) Pharmacist services for non-hospitalised patients. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018 (9), Art. No.: CD013102. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013102
Article
Using Smartphone-Based Support Groups to Promote Healthy Eating in Daily Life: A Randomised Trial
Inauen J, Bolger N, Shrout PE, Stadler G, Amrein M, Rackow P & Scholz U (2017) Using Smartphone-Based Support Groups to Promote Healthy Eating in Daily Life: A Randomised Trial. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 9 (3), pp. 303-323. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12093
Article
Emotional or instrumental support? Distinct effects on vigorous exercise and affect
Rackow P, Berli C, Lüscher J, Luszczynska A & Scholz U (2017) Emotional or instrumental support? Distinct effects on vigorous exercise and affect. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 33, pp. 66-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2017.07.011
Article
The role of Compensatory Health Beliefs in eating behavior change: A mixed method study
Amrein MA, Rackow P, Inauen J, Radtke T & Scholz U (2017) The role of Compensatory Health Beliefs in eating behavior change: A mixed method study. Appetite, 116, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2017.04.016
Article
Examining the relationship between daily changes in support and smoking around a self-set quit date
Scholz U, Ochsner S, Rackow P, Hornung R, Stadler G & Knoll N (2016) Examining the relationship between daily changes in support and smoking around a self-set quit date. Health Psychology, 35 (5), pp. 514-517. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000286
Article
Lüscher J, Stadler G, Ochsner S, Rackow P, Knoll N, Hornung R & Scholz U (2015) Daily negative affect and smoking after a self-set quit attempt: The role of dyadic invisible social support in a daily diary study. British Journal of Health Psychology, 20 (4), pp. 708-723. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12135
Article
Received social support and exercising: An intervention study to test the enabling hypothesis
Rackow P, Scholz U & Hornung R (2015) Received social support and exercising: An intervention study to test the enabling hypothesis. British Journal of Health Psychology, 20 (4), pp. 763-776. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12139
Article
Rackow P, Scholz U & Hornung R (2014) Effects of a New Sports Companion on Received Social Support and Physical Exercise: An Intervention Study. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 6 (3), pp. 300-317. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12029
Article
Radtke T & Rackow P (2014) Autonomous motivation is not enough: The role of compensatory health beliefs for the readiness to change stair and elevator use. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11 (12), pp. 12412-12428. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph111212412
Article
Rackow P, Scholz U & Hornung R (2013) The German psychological need satisfaction in exercise scale: Validation of a measure of need satisfaction in exercise. Swiss Journal of Psychology, 72 (3), pp. 137-148. https://doi.org/10.1024/1421-0185/a000107