معرفی
Dr Amy Paine is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at Cardiff University, specializing in child development, adoption outcomes, and the role of humor in social relationships. She holds a BSc and PhD from Cardiff University, including a 2017 doctoral thesis on sibling influence on social understanding. Her research employs longitudinal methods to study protective factors in children’s relationships and the impact of adversity in adoptive families.
Education
- BSc Psychology with Professional Placement, Cardiff University (2013)
- PhD Developmental and Health Psychology, Cardiff University (2017)
Research Interests
Dr Paine focuses on social development through play, protective mechanisms in close relationships, and neurocognitive profiles of adopted children. Her work emphasizes humor as a tool for social understanding and has pioneered studies on adoption trajectories, familial communication, and intervention programs for vulnerable families.
Grants & Awards
- 2025-2026: Welsh Government grant for adoption trajectory studies
- 2022: Cardiff University Civic Mission grant for playful hospital programs
- Recipient of the 2017 Hadyn Ellis Prize for Best Doctoral Dissertation
Teaching & Supervision
Coordinates MSc Psychology placements and supervises dissertations on children’s psychological disorders. Current PhD students include Cass Sheehan and Thais Marques.
Labs & Initiatives
Co-Director of the Neurodevelopment Assessment Unit and leads the Wales Adoption Study, collaborating with institutions globally to advance child welfare research.
