Staff profile

Background

I completed my MA (undergraduate) Psychology at the University of Glasgow in 2019. Following this I completed my MA Research Methods (Developmental Psychology) in 2020 at Durham University. My MA dissertation explored adaptation effects of viewing high or low muscularity bodies in young men.

After this I worked as a Recruitment Office at the University of Strathclyde before starting my PhD in social and developmental psychology at Durham University.

Research Area

My PhD aims to investigate the development of risk factors for body image and disordered eating with a focus on children and adolescents. The research aims to explore the impact of sociocultural variables, age and puberty on functional body image, body dissatisfaction and positive body image.

The projected is funded by a Nine DTP studentship award. In my research I will be working closely with a GP surgery in the North East as they are a collaborative partner on my PhD.

• Children and adolescent mental health
• Positive body image
• Functional body image
• Methods in child and adolescent research
• Sociocultural Influences on body image and disordered eating

Journal Article

• Hanson, L. N., Gott, A., Tomsett, M., Useh, E., Yeadon-Caiger, E., Clay, R., Fan, J., Hui, K., Wang, H., Evans, E. H., Cowie, D., & Boothroyd, L. G. (2024). Examining body appreciation in six countries: The impact of age and sociocultural pressure. PLoS ONE, 19(7), Article e0306913. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0306913