Alan Carr

McKenna, N., O’Dowd, A., Grennan, S., Nearchou, F., Connaughton, L., Murphy, E, & Carr, A. (2025).   Development and validation of the Feeling Better Scale (FBS). Journal of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing, 9(2), 43-59. (opens in a new window)https://journalppw.com/index.php/jppw/article/view/18984

O'Dwyer, C., Twomey, C., Davis, B., Sharry, J., Brosnan, E., & Carr, A. (2025), Parents Plus systemic, solution-focused parent training programs: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Family Process, 64: e70049. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.70049

Cullen, E., Carr, A., Dinca, M., Rogers, R., & Downes, M. (2025). Family communication and everyday executive function in preschool children. Early Child Development and Care, 1–16. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2025.2514557

Lucciarini, E., Carr, A.,  Bressoud, N., Boniwell, I., Audrin, C., Gay, P., & Burel, N.. (2025). Evermore wellbeing for teens: A scoping review of stand-alone and brief positive psychology interventions for potential use in educational settings. Educational Psychology Review, 37, 63. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-025-10033-3

Grennan, S., O’Dowd, A., McKenna, N., O’Connor, M., Nearchou, F., Connaughton, L., Murphy, E, & Carr, A.(2025). The impact of a school-based positive psychology programme on state wellbeing in Irish school children: A cluster randomized controlled trial. Journal of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing, 9(2), 1-25. (opens in a new window)https://journalppw.com/index.php/jppw/article/view/18976/11630

Cash, C.,  D'Amore, S.,  & Carr, A. (2025). How does minority stress affect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) couples and which available couple functioning instrument is most sensitive to it? Poster presented at 12th Conference of the European Family Therapy Association (EFTA) in collaboration with RELATES (Red Europea y Latinoamericana de Escuelas Sistémicas) Lyon, France, 27-30 August 2025. (opens in a new window)https://efta-relates2025.com/

Áine Ní Choisdealbha

Ní Choisdealbha, Á., & Meltzoff, A.N. (2025). Advances in understanding the perception-production link: Evidence from eye, brain, and motor behavior. Infant Behavior and Development, 80, 102100.

Ní Choisdealbha, Á., Westermann, G., & Reid, V. (2025). Neural representations of grasp congruence during the emergence of precision grasping. Infancy, 30(3), e70026. 

Recently-finished MSc student Florencia Sandoval presented her MSc project work at a conference in Dublin: Sandoval, F., Brady, N., & Ní Choisdealbha, Á. Effects of motor development on somatotopy during action processing (2025, Sept 8th). Fetal, Infant and Toddler Neuroimaging Conference, Dublin, Sep 7-8.

Louise McHugh

Stynes, G., Stapleton, A., Moore, B., Russell, T., O’Connor, M., Richardson, N. & McHugh, L. (2025). Effectiveness of a process-based approach to farmer wellbeing: A randomized multiple baseline single-case experimental design. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 100932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100932

O’Connor, S., O’Hagan, A. D., Casey, H., O’Connor, A., Creegan, M., Stapleton, A. & McHugh, L. (2025). Between the farm and family: A cross-sectional survey on work–family conflict in farmers in Ireland. Agriculture, 15(15), 1587. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15151587

Stapleton, A., McCloskey, C., & McHugh, L. (2025). Follow, flex, and flout: A relational frame theory account of flexibility in the context of rule-governed behavior. Behavioral Sciences, 15(6), 795. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15060795

Cox, G., Stapleton, A., Russell, T., McHugh, L., & Kavalidou, K. (2025). Probable suicide among men in farming and agricultural-related occupations in the Republic of Ireland: Exploring coronial data. Journal of Agromedicine, 1–11. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2025

Ciara Greene

New grants

The effect of fake news on behaviour. Funded by AXA Insurance grant to new post doc, Dr Aglaé Navarre

New publications

1. 1. Greene, C.M., Brassil, M., Bryan, E., Glass, S.B., O’Connor, R., O’Keeffe, V., Howarth, E., D’Silva, L.R., Tong, R.& Murphy, G. (2025). Minimal real-world effects of one-off fake news exposure. In press at Scientific Reports 
   2. Greene, C.M., Brassil, M. & Murphy, G. (2025). He Said, She Said: The “accused” and “complainant” in a sexual assault scenario are equally susceptible to misinformation. Scientific Reports, 15, 27693. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13587-y
   3. Greene, C.M. and Murphy, G. (2025). Drawing participants’ attention to their own biases reduces formation of false memories for fake news. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 39(3)e70079. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.70079
   4. Melios, S., Asimakopoulou, A.A., Crofton, E., Greene, C.M., Grasso, S. (2025). Food-related fake news, misleading information, established misconceptions, and food choice. Current Opinion in Food Science, 63: 101309. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2025.101309
   5. Murphy, G. & Greene, C.M. (2025). Who got lost in the mall? Challenges in counting and classifying false memories. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 39 (2):e70044. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.70044
   6. Greene, C.M. Defendants in sexual assault cases are just as likely to misremember the event as alleged victims – new study. The Conversation, (opens in a new window)https://theconversation.com/defendants-in-sexual-assault-cases-are-just-as-likely-to-misremember-the-event-as-alleged-victims-new-study-262841

Sarah Cooney

Breheny, E., O’Keeffe, F., & Cooney, S. (2025). Body image, sexual dysfunction and psychological distress in people with multiple sclerosis. Disability and Rehabilitation. (opens in a new window)https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/A2QTGQ6BZJUDQ84DXBT3/full?target=10.1080/09638288.2025.2527959

Naraindas A.M, & Cooney S.M. (2025). Disturbances in Body-Based Mental and Motor Imagery in Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa – A Systematic Review of Experimental Studies. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology. ;16(1). (opens in a new window)doi:10.1177/20438087251314088

Bek, J., O'Farrell, R., & Cooney, S. M. (2025). Experience in sports and music influences motor imagery: Insights from implicit and explicit measures. (opens in a new window)Acta Psychologica, 252, 104650.

Naraindas, A. M., McInerney, A., Deschênes, S., & Cooney, S. M. (2025). Differences in the relationships between interoceptive sensibility and self-objectification in women with high and low body dissatisfaction: A network analysis. PLOS ONE, 20(5), e0323524. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0323524

Cooney, S. M., Holmes, C. A., Cappagli, G., Cocchi, E., Gori, M., & Newell, F. N. (2025). Susceptibility to spatial illusions does not depend on visual experience: Evidence from sighted and blind children. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 17470218251336082.

Niki Nearchou

Flinn,C., Dechenes, S., Ungar, M., & Nearchou F. (2025). Resilience and trajectories of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in the context of exposure to acne: Findings from the Lifelines Cohort Study. Journal of Health Psychology (in press).

Bennet, M.,O’Dwyer, C., Eswara-Murthy, V., Dalgleish, T., & Nearchou, F. (2025). Early-stage profiles of adolescent mental health difficulties and wellbeing: A systematic review of cluster analyses in large school and community samples. Journal of Research on Adolescence (in press).

Nearchou, F., French. A., Koretsidou, C., O’ Gara, C., & Watchorn, A. (2025).  Stigma and Alcohol Use Disorder: Insights from a qualitative study with patients, family members and health care providers. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy (in press).

French, A., van der Velden, Peter G., & Nearchou, F. (2025). The role of sleep problems, loneliness, and inadequate physical activity in predicting the development or persistence of mental health difficulties in emerging adults (16–29). Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 196, 112236. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2025.112236

Eves, R., Nearchou, F., Wolke, D., Pluess, M., & Lemola, S. (2025). Interactions between infant characteristics and parenting factors rarely replicate across cohorts and developmental domains. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 66(8), 1234-1248. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.14149

Michelle Downes

O’Connell, A., Rogers, R., Healy, E.C., Shaikhyousef, M., Regan, C., Douglass, A., Doolan., A., Fitzpatrick, P., Cox, D. W., Downes., M. Vaping and smoking in pregnancy-A meta-analysis of neurobehavioural development in prenatally exposed offspring. Acta Paediatrica(opens in a new window) https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70285

Healy, E.F., O’Connell, A., Yousef, M.S….Cox, D., Downes, M., Regan, C. The impact of electronic cigarettes on pregnancy and childhood health outcomes: the ECHO study—a protocol for a multicentre, prospective, observational, cohort. Arch Gynecol Obstet 312, 927–935 (2025).(opens in a new window) https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-025-08066-8

Cullen, E., Carr, A., Dinca, M., Rogers, R., & Downes, M. (2025). Family communication and everyday executive function in preschool children. Early Child Development and Care, 1–16.(opens in a new window) https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2025.2514557

x

Alan Carr published Carr, A. (2025). (opens in a new window)Handbook of Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology: A Contextual Approach (4th ed.). Routledge.

Alan Carr published  O’Dwyer, C., Davis, B.Á., O’Connor, M., Keating, A., Sharry, J., Looney, K., McDarby, F., Doran, A., Murphy, E., & Carr, A.  (2025). A cluster randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of a Parents Plus group-based parenting program to promote healthy lifestyles among children and their families. Archives Public Health, 83, 111. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01555-x

Alan Carr published  Carr, A. (2025). Processi creativi associati a un modello integrativo di terapia sistemica. [Creative processes associated with an integrative model of systemic therapy.] In M. Mariotti, C. Loriedo, G. Saba, C. Sluzki, & P. Stratton (Eds.), La terapia sistemica che funziona: creatività e manualizzazione nella prevenzione, nella terapia e nell'insegnamento. [Systemic therapy that works: Creativity and manualization in prevention, therapy and teaching.] Franco Angeli.

Louise McHugh  published Cox, G., Stapleton, A., Russell, T., McHugh, L., & Kavalidou, K. (2025). Probable Suicide Among Men in Farming and Agricultural-Related Occupations in the Republic of Ireland: Exploring Coronial Data. Journal of Agromedicine, 1–11. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2025.2498339 

Louise McHugh  published  Lespine, L.-F., Rueda-Delgado, L. M., Vahey, N., Ruddy, K. L., Kiiski, H., Enz, N., Boyle, R., Rai, L., Pragulbickaite, G., Bricker, J. B., McHugh, L., & Whelan, R. (2025). Changes in inhibition-related brain function and psychological flexibility during smoking abstinence: A machine-learning prediction of time to relapse. European Addiction Research. Advance online publication. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1159/000546112

Glen Jankowski  published  Jankowski, G S. “Decolonizing Research: Recommendations from a Migrant Home Photovoice Study.” Qualitative Research in Psychology 0, no. 0 (n.d.): 1–23. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2025.2485941 
Kathy Looney  published  O’Dwyer, C., Davis, B.Á., O’Connor, M., Keating, A., Sharry, J., Looney, K., McDarby, F., Doran, A., Murphy, E., & Carr, A.  (2025). A cluster randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of a Parents Plus group-based parenting program to promote healthy lifestyles among children and their families. Archives Public Health, 83, 111. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-025-01555-x

Alan Carr published  Carr, A., Kieran, A., Sherbersky, H., Shepherd, M., Galbraith, M., Whittinger, N., Pomini, V., Kunsang Yang Yang Nearchou, N., & Stratton, P. (2025). Development and preliminary validation of the C-SCORE: A brief scale for use in systemic couple therapy. Journal of Family Therapy, 47, e12485. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12485

Alan Carr published  Carr, A., & Helps, A. (2025). Alan Carr Q&A about 2 review papers.  Context, 197, 53-54.

Méadhbh Brosnan & Jessica Bramham published Stein, C., O’Keefe, F., Brosnan, M., Flynn, C., McGuigan, C., Bramham, J. (2025). Cognitive reserve in multiple sclerosis: The role of depression and fatigue. (opens in a new window)https://doi:10.1177/13524585251338757

Méadhbh Brosnan published Pearce, D. J.*, Loughnane, G. M*., Chong, T. T.-J., Demeyere, N., Mattingley, J. B., Moore, M. J., New, P. W., O’Connell, R. G., O’Neill, M. H., Rangelov, D., Stolwyk, R. J., Webb, S. S., Zhou, S.-H. Brosnan, M. B†., Bellgrove, M. A†. (2025)Neurophysiological mechanisms underlying post-stroke deficits in contralesional perceptual processing. Journal of Neuroscience (in press) * joint first authorship; †joint senior authorship; click here for the preprint

Méadhbh Brosnan & Jessica Bramham  Research Grant: Ad Astra Lab-Based Research Funds €25,565

Christine Linehan was Appointed Associate Editor, Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 

Alan Carr published  Sheehan, D., Nelson, J., & Carr,  A. (2025). Investigation into the positive and negative outcomes for clinicians working with child survivors of sexual abuse. Child Abuse Review, 34(1), e70015. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1002/car.70015

Alan Carr published   Davis, B. Á., O’Dwyer, C., Keating, A., Sharry, J., Murphy, E., Doran, A., Nearchou, F., & Carr, A. (2025). The Healthy Habits Questionnaire (HHQ): Validation of a measure designed to assess problematic influential behaviours amongst families of children living with obesity or a risk of developing obesity. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 40(1),157-174. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045241286223

 
Louise McHugh published Cyniak-Cieciura, M., Popiel, A., Zawadzki, B., Cremeans-Smith, J. K., Alessandri, G., Bielak, P., McHugh, L.,… Topanova, G. T. (2025). Development of a Culture-Common Formal Characteristics of Behavior - Temperament Markers Inventory (FCB-TMI-CC). Journal of Personality Assessment, 107(1), 73–88. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2024.2363967

 
Jude Bek published  Bek, J., Jehu, D.A., Morris, M.E., Hackney, M.E. (2025). Digital dance programs for Parkinson's disease: Challenges and opportunities. Frontiers in Psychology. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1496146

Jude Bek published Jehu, D.A., Bek, J., Bennett, C., Hackney, M.E. (2025). Group and partnered dance for people living with dementia: An overview of intervention design and measurement considerations. Frontiers in Psychology. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1500688

 
Áine Ní Choisdealbha published  Attaheri, A., Ní Choisdealbha, Á., Rocha, S., Brusini, P., Di Liberto, G. M., Mead, N., ... & Goswami, U. (2024). Infant low-frequency EEG cortical power, cortical tracking and phase-amplitude coupling predicts language a year later. PloS one, 19(12), e0313274.
(opens in a new window)https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0313274

Alan Carr published Carr, A. (2025) Couple therapy and systemic interventions for adult-focused problems: The evidence base. Journal of Family Therapy, 47, e12481.
(opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12481

Alan Carr published Carr, A. (2025)  Family therapy and systemic interventions for child-focussed problems: The evidence base. Journal of Family Therapy,  47, e12476. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12476

Jude Bek published Bek, J., O’Farrell, R., Cooney, S.M. (2025). Experience in sports and music influences motor imagery: Insights from implicit and explicit measures. Acta Psychologica. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104650

Jude Bek published Bek, J., Jehu, D.A., Morris, M.E., Hackney, M.E. (in press). Digital dance programs for Parkinson's disease: Challenges and opportunities. Frontiers in Psychology.

Jude Bek published Jehu, D.A., Bek, J., Bennett, C., Hackney, M.E. (in press). Group and partnered dance for people living with dementia: An overview of intervention design and measurement considerations. Frontiers in Psychology.

 Sonya Deschenes awarded a new grant: From Research to Community: Developing Informative Tools for Diabetes

Sonya Deschenes published Depression Comorbidity. 17k EUR. HRB Knowledge Translation Award (2024-2025); Deschenes, Gottfried, & Gajewska.
 
Méadhbh Brosnan awarded a small grant from Enterprise Ireland for Proposal Support for Project RESILIENT CONNECTIVITY (15K EUR). 
 
Niki Nearchou published Flinn, C., & Nearchou, F. (2024). Experiences of transition from adolescence to young adulthood in the context of chronic skin conditions: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Psychology & health, 1–29. Advance online publication. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2024.2434483

Niki Nearchou published  Davis BÁ,...Nearchou, F. & Carr., A (2025). The healthy habits questionnaire (HHQ): Validation of a measure designed to assess problematic influential behaviours amongst families of children living with obesity or a risk of developing obesity. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 30(1):157-174. (opens in a new window)https://doi:10.1177/13591045241286223

Niki Nearchou awarded a new grant: Bitten by a Dog in the Republic of Ireland: A Human and Animal Problem,  Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (248,000). Locksley Messam (PI, UCD Veterinary Science), Niki Nearchou, Aine Caroll & McGrath Guy (co PIs).

 
Glen Jankowski published  Jankowski, G. S. (in press). Androgenetic Alopecia Care Requires Greater Evidence‐based Guidance, International Journal of Trichology. 

Glen Jankowski launched 8 videos to bust myths about men’s baldness: (opens in a new window)https://thebaldingbuddy.wordpress.com/videos/ (Designed with Dirk Kranz, Josip Razum & Sakshat Joshi). 
 
Alan Carr published Carr, A. (2024) Family therapy and systemic interventions for child-focused problems: The evidence base. Journal of Family Therapy, (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12476

Alan Carr published Carr, A., O’Dwyer, C., Davis, B., O’Connor, M., Twomey, C., Sharry, J., Keating, A,.  Looney, K., Brosnan, E., Doran, A., & Murphy, E. (2024). New Parents Plus evidence: 2024 meta-analysis and PP healthy families research. Keynote address to the Parents Plus Innovations in Practice Conference, online, 13 November 2024.  

Niki Nearchou published  Mckenna, S., Grennan, S., O’Dowd, A. Murphy, E., Nearchou, N., O’Connor, M., Connaughton, L., & Carr, A. (2024). Validating a new state wellbeing measure & evaluating the A Lust for Life Schools Programme. Presented at the Psychological Society of Ireland Annual Conference, Sheraton Athlone Hotel, Athlone, Co Westmeath, 13th-15th November 2024.  

Jessica Bramham obtained Post-doctoral funding for Christina Seery from HSE Women’s Health Fund
1. Managing menopause and ADHD: Exploring lived experience €37,213.13
2. How can we support women with ADHD in the postpartum period €35,963.13

 Louise McHugh published McHugh, L.,Farrell, L., & Moran, O. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Enhancement Fund 2024. ‘Talk EDI to Me: Promoting Engagement in Affirming Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion’ Conversations among Higher Education Staff. €71,662.00.

 
 Méadhbh Brosnan published Plini, E. R. G., Robertson, I. H., Brosnan, M. B., Dockree, P. M. (2024)  Locus Coeruleus is associated with higher openness to experience and IQ: implications for the noradrenergic system for novelty seeking in daily life,  Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 1-24
 
Monika Pilch awarded CO-DECIDE: Digital space for collaborative future care decision-making, Enterprise Ireland, Commercialisation Fund Feasibility Grant, €14,920

Monika Pilch awarded  Irish Hospice Foundation, Mapping the Landscape of Advance Care Planning in Ireland, €9000

Monika Pilch published Keesom, E., Lidström-Holmqvist, K., Ortiz-Catalan, M., Pilch, M., Lendaro, E., Hermansson, L., & Van Der Sluis, C. K. (2024). Reducing phantom limb pain using phantom motor execution enabled by augmented and virtual reality: participants’ perspectives on an innovative treatment. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-10.

Monika Pilch published Pilch, M., Hayes, C., Harney, O., Doyle, F., Thomas, S., Lunt, V., Hogan, M. Using Collective Intelligence to  Develop Design Requirements for a Complex Intervention for Advance Care Planning in the Community. (2024, in press) Journal of Clinical Nursing.

Glen Jankowski published Jankowski, G. S. (2024). Alopecia areata’s psychosocial challenges: Complex but not irreparable, Dermatological Nursing. 

Glen Jankowski published  Jankowski, G. S., Kranz, D., & Razum, J. (2024). Men’s baldness stigma: A mixed methods international survey. Journal of Health Psychology. 
 
Katie Gilligan-Lee Papers Accepted in Journal of Experimental Child Psychology “Exploring relative strengths in people with Down syndrome: Spatial thinking and its role in mathematics” and Early Years “ Dividing times: the views of early adopters of a new assessment framework on mathematics in England”. 
Exploring relative strengths in people with Down syndrome: Spatial thinking and its role in mathematics - ScienceDirec

Full article: Dividing times: the views of early adopters of a new assessment framework on mathematics in England (tandfonline.com)

Barbara Dooley with Prof Peter Jones (Cambridge University) Section 1 leads for the Lancet Psychiatry Commission on Youth Mental Health. Commissioning editor Prof Pat McGorry. This commission draws on the best evidence in youth mental health globally, with authors drawn from all over the world.
(opens in a new window)https://www.thelancet.com/commissions/youth-mental-health

Christine wwarded fellowship of IASSIDD International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at world congress in Chicago.  

Niki Nearchou  IRC Postgraduate Scholarship 2024-2027 PHD student Christina Koretsidou: “Gender-based violence and sexual harassment in Higher Education among high-risk groups and people who identify with multiple minority identities”

Niki Nearchou appointed on the Board of Trustees - Pieta

Congratulations to PhD Scholar Samantha Trevaskis (Supervisor: Deschenes) on the IRC Postgraduate Scholarship titled “Psychosocial and health predictors of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder symptom severity in Ireland”.