Lucy Keller
Thesis title: Protecting Adolescent Wellbeing Through Improving Experiences of Friendship: A Co-designed Intervention
My research aims to co-design an intervention with early adolescents to protect their wellbeing through improving their experiences of friendship. The onset of approximately 50% of all mental health disorders begin before the age of 14 years (Fusar-Poli et al., 2021), increasing to 75 % by age 24 (Taylor et al., 2022). Having quality social connections is associated with increased wellbeing (BodenStuart & Larkin, 2023; Ryan & Deci, 2000; van Harmelen et al., 2017; Waldrip et al., 2008; Wickramaratne et al., 2022). During adolescence, the social experience becomes more salient (Orben et al., 2020; Tomova et al., 2021) and peers become a crucial source of social connection as adolescents move towards independence (De Goede et al., 2009; Lariviere-Bastien et al., 2022; Mitic et al., 2021; Orben et al., 2020). Early adolescents are at risk for disruption to friendships due to the transition from primary to secondary schools. Subsequently, interventions that support adolescent friendships during this transition have been called for (Jindal Snape et al., 2020; Krammer et al., 2023; van Rens et al., 2017). In order to design interventions that are acceptable and appropriate for adolescents, it is important to find out what their support needs are. Adults tend to design interventions based on what may work for them, without an understanding of the experience of young people. This research will use qualitative methods to explore what friendship means to early adolescents and what might be supportive in improving their experiences of friendship during the transition to secondary school.
Biography
Lucy is a doctoral researcher based in the school of Psychology at Aston University and has a specific interest in how social and cultural factors interact with wellbeing. She became interested in social connectedness as a protective factor for mental health whilst completing her MSc in the Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health with Kings College London. Lucy is keen to explore inner worlds of social connectedness, what it means to different people and what the dynamic ingredients of social connectedness are. As a former teacher with 20 years experience both in the UK and overseas, she wants to continue to support young people through her research by giving voice to their experiences.
Public Engagement / Impact Events
Psychology in the Classroom: Navigating Friendships: The Hidden Struggles of School Transitions
Website / Spotify
Health and Wellbeing
Aston University
2024 Cohort +4
Supervisory Team
Dr. Gemma Heath
Prof. Michael Larkin