Lydia Harkin

Lydia Harkin is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University (NTU). She specializes in Cyber Psychology and Health Psychology, focusing on technology's role in supporting individuals with chronic illnesses and older adults. Her research explores digital interventions for loneliness reduction in vulnerable populations and examines social media's impact on mental health and identity dynamics.

Dr. Harkin holds a PhD in Health Sciences from the University of Central Lancashire (2016). She leads NTU Psychology's student experience initiatives, emphasizing student voice and feedback mechanisms. Her teaching spans undergraduate Psychology courses and the MSc Cyberpsychology program, where she coordinates modules on health psychology and research methods.

Her research interests include:

• Digital health interventions for loneliness mitigation
• Social identity theory applications in healthcare
• Online support communities for chronic illness management
• Smartphone use and mental health implications

Notable collaborations include work with University of Exeter, Bournemouth University, and the University of Central Lancashire. Recent publications highlight interventions addressing social isolation during the pandemic and digital media's role in health communication.

Teaching responsibilities include:

• Health Psychology of Chronic Illnesses (Undergraduate)
• Research Methods in Cyberpsychology (MSc)

Her scholarship projects have focused on enhancing mature student communities and improving employability perceptions among Psychology students.