Amanda Fitzgerald

Assistant Professor, University College Dublin School of Psychology

Contact

My research addresses critical research gaps in youth mental health, and my research goal is to improve prevention and early intervention strategies for youth. I lead a research stream on body image and appearance concerns in youth. I am co-lead investigator on a project, which aims to review existing measures of body image, conducted with members of the EU Cost Action Appearance Matters.

I recently secured a Paediatric Project Grant from the National Children’s Research Centre to conduct research on the impact that Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis can have on young people and their families. Gillian Motyer is the PhD student who is conducting this research. The current research will address gaps in the existing literature in order to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the impact that adolescent idiopathic scoliosis can have on young people so that they can be supported in the best way possible. I co-founded the UCD Youth Mental Health (YMH) Lab (Twitter: @YMHlabUCD) with two faculty and I am leading a team of 6 researchers in the lab. Importantly, our lab’s youth participation and outreach work is gaining international recognition in Europe, the USA and Australia.

Amanda Fitzgerald

Assistant Professor, University College Dublin School of Psychology

Contact

amanda.fitzgerald@ucd.ie

Twitter

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Gillian Motyer
Position: PhD Candidate
gillian.motyer@ucdconnect.ie

Role:
Gillian is conducting her PhD investigating the impact that Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis can have on young people and their families.Gillian is investigating the psychosocial aspects of living with scoliosis, exploring areas such as psychological and social functioning, emotional wellbeing, body image, self-esteem and support needs.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Exploring psychosocial adjustment to appearance change and investigating potential factors contributing to low weight.

This research plans to investigate the psychosocial aspects of living with scoliosis, exploring areas such as psychological and social functioning, emotional wellbeing, body image, self-esteem and support needs. Additionally, we will explore the experience of the parents of these young people with scoliosis, looking at their perspectives and the impact on their lives. This research will heighten awareness of the impact that adolescent idiopathic scoliosis can have on young people and their families. This knowledge is intended to inform the future care and support of this patient group by increasing the information available to those involved in these patients care. Findings may also highlight any need for improvement or development of appropriate supports and resources.

The list of publications below is automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed. As a result, there may be incorrect or missing publications.

Grogan K, MacGarry D, Bramham J, Scriven M, Maher C, Fitzgerald A, 2020, Family-related non-abuse adverse life experiences occurring for adults diagnosed with eating disorders: a systematic review. J Eat Disord, DOI: 10.1186/s40337-020-00311-6

Kenny R, Fitzgerald A, Segurado R, Dooley B, 2020 Sep, Is there an app for that? A cluster randomised controlled trial of a mobile app-based mental health intervention. Health Informatics J, DOI: 10.1177/1460458219884195

Kling J, Kwakkenbos L, Diedrichs PC, Rumsey N, Frisén A, Brandão MP, Silva AG, Dooley B, Rodgers RF, Fitzgerald A, 2019 Sep, Systematic review of body image measures. Body Image, DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.06.006

Cronly JA, Duff AJ, Riekert KA, Fitzgerald AP, Perry IJ, Lehane EA, Horgan A, Howe BA, Ni Chroinin M, Savage E, 2019 Apr, Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents and Adults With Cystic Fibrosis: Physical and Mental Health Predictors. Respir Care, DOI: 10.4187/respcare.06356

Fitzgerald A, Mac Giollabhui N, Dolphin L, Whelan R, Dooley B, 2018, Dissociable psychosocial profiles of adolescent substance users. PLoS One, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202498

Rawdon C, Murphy D, Motyer G, Munafò MR, Penton-Voak I, Fitzgerald A, 2018 May, An investigation of emotion recognition training to reduce symptoms of social anxiety in adolescence. Psychiatry Res, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.02.023

Donnelly A, Fitzgerald A, Shevlin M, Dooley B, 2019 Aug, Investigating the psychometric properties of the revised child anxiety and depression scale (RCADS) in a non-clinical sample of Irish adolescents. J Ment Health, DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2018.1437604

Cronly J, Duff AJ, Riekert KA, Perry IJ, Fitzgerald AP, Horgan A, Lehane E, Howe B, Ni Chroinin M, Savage E, 2018 Jan 21, Online versus paper-based screening for depression and anxiety in adults with cystic fibrosis in Ireland: a cross-sectional exploratory study. BMJ Open, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019305

Dolphin L, Fitzgerald A, Dooley B, 2018 Dec, Risky sex behaviours among college students: The psychosocial profile. Early Interv Psychiatry, DOI: 10.1111/eip.12526

Abend R, de Voogd L, Salemink E, Wiers RW, Pérez-Edgar K, Fitzgerald A, White LK, Salum GA, He J, Silverman WK, Pettit JW, Pine DS, Bar-Haim Y, 2018 Mar, Association between attention bias to threat and anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents. Depress Anxiety, DOI: 10.1002/da.22706

Hickey E, Fitzgerald A, Dooley B, 2017 May, The Relationship Between Perceived Family Support and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescence: What is the Moderating Role of Coping Strategies and Gender? Community Ment Health J, DOI: 10.1007/s10597-017-0087-x

Kenny R, Dooley B, Fitzgerald A, 2016 Nov 29, Ecological Momentary Assessment of Adolescent Problems, Coping Efficacy, and Mood States Using a Mobile Phone App: An Exploratory Study. JMIR Ment Health, DOI: 10.2196/mental.6361

Fitzgerald A, Maguire J, Dooley B, 2016 Nov 9, Substance Misuse and Behavioral Adjustment Problems in Irish Adolescents: Examining Contextual Risk and Social Proximal Factors. Subst Use Misuse, DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2016.1197938

McEnery F, Fitzgerald A, McNicholas F, Dooley B, 2016 Dec, Fit for Purpose, Psychometric Assessment of the Eating Attitudes Test-26 in an Irish Adolescent Sample. Eat Behav, DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2016.07.006

Fitzgerald A, Rawdon C, Dooley B, 2016 Sep, A randomized controlled trial of attention bias modification training for socially anxious adolescents. Behav Res Ther, DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2016.06.003

O'Connor KL, Dolphin L, Fitzgerald A, Dooley B, 2016 Jul, Modeling problem behaviors in a nationally representative sample of adolescents. J Adolesc, DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2016.03.010

Kelly Y, Fitzgerald A, Dooley B, 2017 Jun, Validation of the Resilience Scale for Adolescents (READ) in Ireland: a multi-group analysis. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res, DOI: 10.1002/mpr.1506

Kenny R, Dooley B, Fitzgerald A, 2015 Aug 10, Feasibility of "CopeSmart": A Telemental Health App for Adolescents. JMIR Ment Health, DOI: 10.2196/mental.4370

Fitzgerald AC, Peyton C, Dong J, Thomas P, 2015 Dec, Bisphenol A and Related Alkylphenols Exert Nongenomic Estrogenic Actions Through a G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor 1 (Gper)/Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (Egfr) Pathway to Inhibit Meiotic Maturation of Zebrafish Oocytes. Biol Reprod, DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.115.132316

Dolphin L, Dooley B, Fitzgerald A, 2015 Dec, Prevalence and correlates of psychotic like experiences in a nationally representative community sample of adolescents in Ireland. Schizophr Res, DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2015.09.005

Kelly C, Fitzgerald A, Sentenac M, Gakewski J, Molcho M, Gabhainn SN, 2016 Feb, Weight concerns among adolescent boys. Public Health Nutr, DOI: 10.1017/S1368980015001615

Dooley B, Fitzgerald A, Giollabhui NM, 2015 Mar, The risk and protective factors associated with depression and anxiety in a national sample of Irish adolescents. Ir J Psychol Med, DOI: 10.1017/ipm.2014.83

Kenny R, Dooley B, Fitzgerald A, 2016 Jun, Developing mental health mobile apps: Exploring adolescents' perspectives. Health Informatics J, DOI: 10.1177/1460458214555041

O'Connor M, Dooley B, Fitzgerald A, 2015, Constructing the Suicide Risk Index (SRI): does it work in predicting suicidal behavior in young adults mediated by proximal factors? Arch Suicide Res, DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2014.915775

Fitzgerald AC, Wright BT, Heldt SA, 2014 May, The behavioral pharmacology of zolpidem: evidence for the functional significance of α1-containing GABA(A) receptors. Psychopharmacology (Berl), DOI: 10.1007/s00213-014-3457-x

Fitzgerald A, Heary C, Roddy S, 2013, Causal information on children's attitudes and behavioural intentions toward a peer with obesity. Obes Facts, DOI: 10.1159/000351828

Kenny R, Dooley B, Fitzgerald A, 2013 Apr, Interpersonal relationships and emotional distress in adolescence. J Adolesc, DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2012.12.005

Fitzgerald A, Heary C, Kelly C, Nixon E, Shevlin M, 2013 Apr, Self-efficacy for healthy eating and peer support for unhealthy eating are associated with adolescents' food intake patterns. Appetite, DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2012.12.011

Dooley B, Fitzgerald A, 2013 Feb, Methodology on the My World Survey (MWS): a unique window into the world of adolescents in Ireland. Early Interv Psychiatry, DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-7893.2012.00386.x

Barnett C, Yazgan O, Kuo HC, Malakar S, Thomas T, Fitzgerald A, Harbour W, Henry JJ, Krebs JE, 2012 Sep-Dec, Williams Syndrome Transcription Factor is critical for neural crest cell function in Xenopus laevis. Mech Dev, DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2012.06.001

Shojaei F, Scott N, Kang X, Lappin PB, Fitzgerald AA, Karlicek S, Simmons BH, Wu A, Lee JH, Bergqvist S, Kraynov E, 2012 Mar 23, Osteopontin induces growth of metastatic tumors in a preclinical model of non-small lung cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res, DOI: 10.1186/1756-9966-31-26

Perry IJ, Corcoran P, Fitzgerald AP, Keeley HS, Reulbach U, Arensman E, 2012, The incidence and repetition of hospital-treated deliberate self harm: findings from the world's first national registry. PLoS One, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031663

Fitzgerald A, Fitzgerald N, Aherne C, 2012 Aug, Do peers matter? A review of peer and/or friends' influence on physical activity among American adolescents. J Adolesc, DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2012.01.002

Fitzgerald A, Heary C, Nixon E, Kelly C, 2010 Sep, Factors influencing the food choices of Irish children and adolescents: a qualitative investigation. Health Promot Int, DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daq021

Harrington J, Perry IJ, Lutomski J, Fitzgerald AP, Shiely F, McGee H, Barry MM, Van Lente E, Morgan K, Shelley E, 2010 Feb, Living longer and feeling better: healthy lifestyle, self-rated health, obesity and depression in Ireland. Eur J Public Health, DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckp102

Fitzgerald AL, Dewar RA, Veugelers PJ, 2002, Diet quality and cancer incidence in Nova Scotia, Canada. Nutr Cancer, DOI: 10.1207/S15327914NC432_2

Funding Agency:	Irish Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship
Project Title:	Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: An Investigation Of Psychosocial Adjustment To Appearance Change And Psychological Indicators Of Disordered Eating.
Start Date/End Date:	1st Oct 2017 – 31st July 2021
Total Awarded:	€69,169
Role:	PI

Name:	Prof. Barbara Dooley
Position:	Dean of Graduate Studies & Deputy Registrar
Institution:	University College Dublin
Country:	Ireland

Name:	Mr. Patrick Kiely
Position:	Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Department	Orthopaedics
Institution:	CHI at Crumlin (formally Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin)
Country:	Ireland

Name:	Prof. Nichola Rumsey
Department	Centre for Appearance Research
Institution:	University of the West of England, Bristol
Country:	UK

Name:	Dr. Vincent McDarby
Position:	Senior Clinical Psychologist
Institution:	CHI at Crumlin (formally Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin)
Country:	Ireland

Honours & Awards

Eadbhard O’ Callaghan Annual Youth Mental Health Prize at the International Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference (2012).
Royal Irish Academy Mobility Grants to visit Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health in Australia (2012).
Royal Irish Academy Mobility Grants to visit Stanford University School of Medicine (2013).

Professional Associations

Member of the International Association for Youth Mental Health.
Committee Member of the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Special Interest Group in Youth Mental Health.

Networks

Management Committee Member of EU Cost Action IS1210 ‘Appearance Matters: Tackling the physical and psychosocial consequences of dissatisfaction with appearance’ (2013-2016)