RESEARCH STREAMS

The UCD Health Psychology and Psychosocial Epidemiology Lab researches how our biological health interacts and impacts on our psychological health. Our research often combines health psychology and epidemiology, with a particular focus on the comorbidity between mental and physical health conditions, the biopsychosocial mechanisms (mediators and moderators) of these associations, and more broadly, psychosocial determinants of physical and psychological health.

Network Psychometric Analysis

Network analysis is a recently developed statistical technique used to analyse and measure the relationships of specific symptoms of mental health conditions. 

By focusing on individual and interacting symptoms rather than on conditions, network analysis may allow for more tailored research, better clinical conceptualisations, and more nuanced treatment of mental health conditions. 

At the UCD Health Psychology and Psychosocial Epidemiology Lab, our research uses a network analysis approach to help better understand comorbid conditions such as diabetes and depression.

Click here to read more.

Digital Phenotyping

Digital phenotyping is the “moment-by-moment quantification of the individual-level human phenotype in situ using data from personal digital devices”.  Essentially, it is using technology such as a smartphone to collect active or passive data. Active data is data actively input by the user, for example (Ask Amy to add), whereas passive data is data that is collected in the background, such as a Step Counter.

Our research in this area aims to help us learn how we can use smartphones to better understand the well-being of people with and without type 2 diabetes.

To learn more about this area of research, click here.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) & Health

ACEs are potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood or adolescence such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. Given the developmentally sensitive period when ACEs occur, ACEs can become biologically embedded by altering metabolic and inflammatory cellular pathways, which can have long-lasting impacts on health (Miller et al., 2011, Psychological Bulletin). Our research in this area focuses on investigating the role ACEs may play in chronic health conditions. To read more, click here.

Metabolic & Cardiovascular Health

Our research into metabolic and cardiovascular health focuses on how your age, sex, genetic makeup, metabolism, diet, microbiome, exercise, stress, mental health, and sleep habits all impact your long-term health. To learn more about this area of research click here.