Childhood Development and Wellbeing in Practice
Learn about how inequalities in childhood and experiences inform child development, and how policy and practice can promote change and wellbeing. Learn to analyse critical frameworks that inform our u…
Dr Elizabeth Braithwaite PhD Psychiatry, BSc Neuroscience with placement
Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Psychology Ethics Lead
My profile
Biography
Academic and professional qualifications
2015: Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil) in Psychiatry, University of Oxford
2011: BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science (Neuroscience) with Industrial Placement - 1st Class, Cardiff University
Other academic service (administration and management)
Department of Psychology Ethics Lead
Internal and External PhD examiner
Psychology ECR representative
Expert reviewer
Applied Psychology: Health and Wellbeing, New Ideas in Psychology, Translational Psychiatry, Psychoneuroendocrinology, Clinical Epigenetics, Epigenetics, Frontiers in Psychology
Editorial Board membership
January 2018 – current: Frontiers in Psychology, Section of Developmental Psychology; Psychreg Journal of Psychology (PJP)
Interests and expertise
I have two main areas of expertise, which dovetail under the common theme of stress and mental health.
1. Early life stress and developmental psychopathology
I am interested in how stress in early life (as early as in utero!) can increase risk for poor mental health in childhood and adolescence. My research concerns the biological and psychological mechanisms which underpin the intergenerational transmission of poor mental health. Much of my research has concerned the relationship between stress in pregnancy and child mental health, and I have published several papers highlighting that impacts of prenatal stress vary by child sex. I am also very interested in the link between maternal mental health and breastfeeding; particularly the idea that challenges with breastfeeding may cause the onset of new, or worsen existing, mental health difficulties in new mothers. I use a variety of methodologies, primarily quantitative, including large cohort data, longitudinal prospective studies of self-report psychological measures and stress biomarkers, and more recently, qualitative methods. I have received funding for this work from UKRI (MRC), The British Academy, The Leverhulme Trust, and The Norwegian Research Council.
2. Mental health and performance in highly demanding environments
Over the past 6 years I have collaborated with colleagues from MMU and elsewhere on a program of research focused on human performance in highly demanding environments. Such environments include, but are not limited to, UK Defense and Security, emergency medicine, search and rescue, elite sport and space travel. Our research focuses on understanding how best to maintain performance in these potentially volatile, uncertain, complex and adverse environments, and also on how to manage stress and maintain psychological well being over the long term following frequent exposure to these demanding environments. Our research uses a mixed-methods approach and takes a biopsychosocial perspective. We have received funding for this work from the Ministry of Defense.
Impact
Our research has the potential to impact many people, both locally and globally.
Research on early life stress and developmental psychology has relevance for families, healthcare professionals and policy makers.
Research on performance in demanding environments has potential implications for all of the people who work in these environments, as well as large organisations and policy makers. An example of impact in this area is that based on our research, we designed a training program for military personnel focused on enhancing resilient performance.
Projects
Early life stress and developmental psychopathology projects:
1. The mounting pressure of the ‘breast is best’ message: Impact of breastfeeding difficulties on maternal mental health
This is a two-year project funded by a BA/Leverhulme Small Grant, comprised of two studies: a large quantitative survey of 2000 new mothers, and qualitative interviews with mothers, their partners, midwives and health visitors. The aim of this project is to further our understanding of the link between breastfeeding challenges and maternal mental health, and to identify opportunities to support new mothers.
2. Re-thinking the programming hypothesis: Prenatal maternal anxiety/depression, DNA methylation and child psychopathology: A sibling design
I collaborate on this project with Professor Mona Bekkhus (University of Oslo), which is funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The project used existing data from the MoBa cohort to examine whether links between prenatal stress and child psychopathology are explained by changes in DNA methylation.
3. Health start Happy start: investigating DNA methylation mechanisms
I collaborate on this project with colleagues from the University of Cambridge (Professor Paul Ramchandani, Dr Christine O’Farrelly, Dr Beth Barker) and Professor Chris Murgatroyd (MMU), and it has been funded by MMU. Health Start Happy Start was a randomised controlled trial of a video-feedback intervention designed to improve responsive parenting and sensitive discipline in parents of young children with behavioural difficulties. This project examines whether changes in parenting are related to epigenetic changes in the child, which in turn are associated with child behaviour.
4. Sex differences in the effects of early life stress on child and adolescent mental health
I collaborate with colleagues from MMU (Dr Nicky Wright), Reading University (Professor Jonathan Hill), Kings College London (Professor Andrew Pickles) and University of Liverpool (Professor Helen Sharp). This project uses data from the Wirral Child Health and Development Study (WCHADS) to examine sex-specific effects of prenatal stress on child and adolescent mental health.
5. Maternal mental health and breastfeeding outcomes
I collaborate with colleagues from MMU (Professor Rebecca Pearson) and the University of Oslo (Professor Mona Bekkhus) to use data from two large birth cohorts (ALSPAC, based in the UK, and MoBa, based in Norway). We conduct analyses of these cohorts to examine relationships between maternal mental health, DNA methylation, personality traits and breastfeeding outcomes.
Teaching
Level 7 (MSc)
- I am the unit lead for Core Therapeutic Principles unit
- I teach on the Research Principles and Methods unit
- I am a research dissertation supervisor
Level 6
- I have a placement student from the Psychology in Practice unit working with me in Semester 1
Level 5
- I teach on the research methods unit
- I teach on the lifespan development unit
I am also the assessment lead for the new Sandwich year option.
Psychological Wellbeing in Clinical Practice
Develop your clinical skills (including assessment, formulation, intervention design and evaluation) and knowledge of theories related to promoting psychological wellbeing. Evaluate therapeutic method…
Psychology
How do we think and interact with the world? Why do we react in the ways we do? Explore the ways our minds work.
Our course covers all core elements of psychological study, from lifespan development,…
Supervision
I supervise MSc students for their research dissertation, and I currently supervise 2 PhD students.
Research outputs
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Journal articles
Davies, L., Turner, M., Hopley, R., Slater, M., Braithwaite, E. (2023) 'Psychological predictors of adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms across one season in grassroots netball.' Mental Health Science, 1(4) pp. 250-260.
Smith, N., Jones, M.V., Braithwaite, E., Walker, L.I., McCann, A., Turner, M., Burns, D., Emmerson, P., Webster, L.V., Jones, M.I. (2023) 'Defence and security perspectives on the operationalization, measurement, and training of resilient performance under stress.' Performance Enhancement and Health, 12(1)
Jones, M.V., Smith, N., Walker, L., Turner, M., McCann, A., Braithwaite, E., Burns, D., Emmerson, P., Webster, L., Jones, M. (2023) 'Development of the ARENA training programme for resilient performance in defense and security settings.' Military Psychology, pp. 1-13.
Davies, L., Brooks, M., Braithwaite, E. (2023) 'Compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and burnout and their associations with anxiety and depression in UK police officers: a mixed method analysis.' The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles,
Walker, L., Braithwaite, E.C., Jones, M.V., Suckling, S., Burns, D. (2023) '"Make it the done thing": an exploration of attitudes towards rest breaks, productivity and wellbeing while working from home.' International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health,
Braithwaite, E.C., Cooper, C., Jones, M.V. (2023) 'Home-working and e-communications with colleagues during COVID-19: impact on psychological health and productivity.' Minerva Psychiatry, 64(2) pp. 106-117.
Braithwaite, E., Cole, J., Murgatroyd, C., Wright, N., O'Farrelly, C., Barker, B., Ramchandani, P. (2023) 'Child DNA methylation in a randomized controlled trial of a video-feedback intervention to promote positive parenting and sensitive discipline (VIPP-SD).' Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2pp. 1175299-1175299.
Jones, M.V., Smith, N., Burns, D., Braithwaite, E., Turner, M., McCann, A., Walker, L., Emmerson, P., Webster, L., Jones, M. (2022) 'A systematic review of resilient performance in defence and security settings.' PLoS One, 17(10) pp. e0273015-e0273015.
Secker, R., Braithwaite, E. (2021) 'Social media-induced secondary traumatic stress: Can viewing news relating to knife crime via social media induce PTSD symptoms.' Psychreg Journal of Psychology, 5(2)
Fedorowicz, S., Phillips, E., Braithwaite, E. (2021) 'Social network use, social support and mental health in adolescence: A systematic review.' Psychreg Journal of Psychology, 5(2)
Braithwaite, E., Sharp, H., Pickles, A., Hill, J., Wright, N. (2021) 'Breast may not always be best: Moderation of effects of postnatal depression by breastfeeding and infant sex.' Biology of Sex Differences, 12
Oftedal, A., Bekkhus, M., Guttorm, H., Braithwaite, E., Bollerslev, J., Godang, K., Thorsby, P., Kaasen, A. (2021) 'Changes in maternal cortisol, cortisol binding globulin and cortisone levels following diagnosis of fetal anomaly.' Psychoneuroendocrinology, 135pp. 105574-105574.
Rajyaguru, P., Kwong, A., Braithwaite, E., Pearson, R. (2021) 'Maternal and Paternal Depression and Child Mental Health Trajectories: Evidence from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.' BJPsych Open, 7(5) pp. e166-e166.
Jones, M., Gidlow, C., Hurst, G., Materson, D., Smith, G., Ellis, N., Clark-Carter, D., Tarvainen, M., Braithwaite, E., Nieuwenhuijsen, M. (2021) 'Psycho-physiological responses of repeated exposure to natural and urban environments.' Landscape and Urban Planning, 209
Turner, M., Massie, R., Slater, M., Braithwaite, E. (2020) 'Do challenge and threat evaluations predict netball performance and selection at trials in youth netball players?.' Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 10(1) pp. 71-87.
Bekkhus, M., Braithwaite, E., Kassen, A., Haugen, G., Naes, T. (2020) 'Paternal psychological stress after detection of fetal anomaly during pregnancy. A prospective longitudinal observational study.' Frontiers in Psychology, 11
Braithwaite, E., Pickles, A., Wright, N., Sharp, H., Hill, J. (2020) 'Sex-differences in foetal origins of child emotional symptoms: a test of evolutionary hypotheses in a large, general population cohort.' Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(11) pp. 1194-1202.
Carenzo, L., Braithwaite, E., Carfagna, F., Franc, J., Ingrassia, P.L., Turner, M., Slater, M., Jones, M. (2020) 'Cognitive appraisals and team performance under stress: a simulation study.' Medical Education, 54(3) pp. 254-263.
Wright, N., Pickles, A., Braithwaite, E.C., Sharp, H., Hill, J. (2019) 'Sex-dependent associations between maternal prenatal cortisol and child callous-unemotional traits: Findings from the Wirral Child Health and Development Study.' Psychoneuroendocrinology, 109pp. 1004409-1004409.
Murphy, S.E., Braithwaite, E.C., Hubbard, I., Williams, K.V., Tindall, E., Holmes, E.A., Ramchandani, P.G. (2019) 'Correction to: Salivary cortisol response to infant distress in pregnant women with depressive symptoms (Archives of Women's Mental Health, (2015), 18, 2, (247-253), 10.1007/s00737-014-0473-0).' Archives of Women's Mental Health, 22(2)
Hill, J., Pickles, A., Wright, N., Braithwaite, E., Sharp, H. (2019) 'Predictions of children’s emotionality from evolutionary and epigenetic hypotheses.' Scientific Reports, 9
Braithwaite, E.C., Hill, J., Pickles, A., Glover, V., O’Donnell, K., Sharp, H. (2018) 'Associations between maternal prenatal cortisol and fetal growth are specific to infant sex: findings from the Wirral Child Health and Development Study.' Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 9(4) pp. 425-431.
Braithwaite, E.C., Murphy, S.E., Ramchandani, P.G., Hill, J. (2017) 'Associations between biological markers of prenatal stress and infant negative emotionality are specific to sex..' Psychoneuroendocrinology, 86
Braithwaite, E.C., O'Connor, R.M., Degli-Esposti, M., Luke, N., Bowes, L. (2017) 'Modifiable predictors of depression following childhood maltreatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis..' Translational Psychiatry, 7
Braithwaite, E.C., Pickles, A., Sharp, H., Glover, V., O'Donnell, K.J., Tibu, F., Hill, J. (2017) 'Maternal prenatal cortisol predicts infant negative emotionality in a sex-dependent manner..' Physiology and Behavior, 175pp. 31-36.
Janssen, A.B., Kertes, D.A., McNamara, G.I., Braithwaite, E.C., Creeth, H.D.J., Glover, V.I., John, R.M. (2016) 'A Role for the Placenta in Programming Maternal Mood and Childhood Behavioural Disorders.' Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 28(8)
Braithwaite, E.C., Murphy, S.E., Ramchandani, P.G. (2016) 'Effects of prenatal depressive symptoms on maternal and infant cortisol reactivity.' Archives of Women's Mental Health, 19(4) pp. 581-590.
Braithwaite, E.C., Ramchandani, P.G., Lane, T.A., Murphy, S.E. (2015) 'Symptoms of prenatal depression are associated with raised salivary alpha-amylase levels.' Psychoneuroendocrinology, 60pp. 163-172.
Murphy, S.E., Braithwaite, E.C., Hubbard, I., Williams, K.V., Tindall, E., Holmes, E.A., Ramchandani, P.G. (2015) 'Salivary cortisol response to infant distress in pregnant women with depressive symptoms.' Archives of Women's Mental Health, 18(2) pp. 247-253.
Braithwaite, E.C., Kundakovic, M., Ramchandani, P.G., Murphy, S.E., Champagne, F.A. (2015) 'Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms predict infant NR3C1 1F and BDNF IV DNA methylation.' Epigenetics, 10(5) pp. 408-417.
Braithwaite, E.C., Murphy, S.E., Ramchandani, P.G. (2014) 'Prenatal risk factors for depression: A critical review of the evidence and potential mechanisms.' Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 5(5) pp. 339-350.
Braithwaite, E.C., Ramchandani, P.G., O'Connor, T.G., Van Ijzendoorn, M.H., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M.J., Glover, V., Netsi, E., Evans, J., Meaney, M.J., Murphy, S.E. (2013) 'No moderating effect of 5-HTTLPR on associations between antenatal anxiety and infant behavior.' Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(5) pp. 519-526.