Victoria Scaife

Dr Victoria Scaife is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of East Anglia (UEA), where she also serves as Director of the BSc Psychology program and leads the Psychology of Substance Use research group. She is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, with active membership in divisions of Social Psychology, Health Psychology, and the Society for the Study of Addiction.

Her educational background includes a PhD from the University of Leeds, an MSc in Psychological Research Methods, and post-doctoral training in decision-making and risk perception. She is a member of the Social Cognition Research Group at UEA.

Dr Scaife’s research centers on the psychology of substance use, with key interests in: (1) parental substance use and its impact on children; (2) young people’s substance use, particularly among vulnerable populations such as those in care or involved in offending; (3) professional decision-making in social work contexts; and (4) theoretical applications of the Theory of Planned Behaviour and optimistic bias. Her work often employs social psychological models to understand behavior, risk perception, and intervention strategies.

Her recent publications show a consistent focus on youth, substance use, mental health, and the care system, with a strong emphasis on applied social psychology and policy-relevant research. Themes across her work include risk assessment, resilience, peer and family influences, and professional judgment in child protection.

• Chartered Psychologist (C.Psychol)
• Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS)

Dr Scaife supervises postgraduate students including Elisavet Patouris and Ellen Lynch, whose projects explore youth risk-taking and binge-drinking through the lens of social cognition. She has secured research funding from bodies including the Big Lottery Fund, UK Research & Innovation, and local councils. Her projects have assessed mental health needs in youth offending services, evaluated archival engagement for student wellbeing, and explored pathways from care to offending.

She is actively involved in interdisciplinary collaborations and her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health, wellbeing, and reduced inequalities. She works closely with teams across social work, psychology, and public services to translate research into practice.