Ellen Henderson

Ellen Henderson is a Lecturer in Health Psychology at the Faculty of Life & Health Sciences, Ulster University. She joined the university in 2021, following postdoctoral work at the University of the West of England and a Senior Research Fellow role at the Louis Dundas Centre for Children’s Palliative Care (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health).

Education:

• PhD in Psychology of Child Pain, University of Bath (2013)

Her research focuses on self-management of chronic, acute, and end-of-life pain in children, the biopsychosocial impact of pain, and caregiver health. She uses mixed-methods approaches, including qualitative interviews, focus groups, and quantitative surveys, to bridge clinical practice and research in pediatric palliative care.

Recent publications explore pain perception in cerebral palsy, family-centred care frameworks, and psychosocial barriers to adolescent pain management. She leads grants from ESRC, British Academy, and Baily Thomas, addressing developmental trajectories of pain in neurodiverse populations and cognitive predictors of pain tolerance.

Scientific Awards:

• Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh (2021–present)

She teaches on the MSc Health Psychology program, co-ordinates the module 'Social, Cultural and Family Perspectives in Health Psychology,' and lectures in research methods for undergraduate psychology students.