Katrina McLaughlin

Katrina McLaughlin is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at Queen's University Belfast, specializing in research on 'at-risk' populations and marginalized groups, particularly focusing on the impacts of domestic and sexual abuse on children and families. She is an expert in evaluating psychosocial interventions and has extensive experience in both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.

Research Interests:

• Childhood adversity and its intergenerational effects
• Domestic and sexual abuse prevention and intervention
• Parenting programs for incarcerated parents
• Technological impacts on early childhood development

Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to reducing inequalities and promoting health and well-being.

Recent Research Trends: McLaughlin's publications from 2021–2025 highlight interdisciplinary approaches to understanding domestic abuse dynamics, trauma-informed care, and the role of technology in early childhood. Key themes include qualitative analyses of survivor experiences and systemic biases in legal and healthcare settings.

Awards:

• 2023 Fellowship for 'Understanding and Experiences of Domestic Abuse'

Advising & Grants:

• Supervises PhD students in applied developmental psychology and clinical psychology
• Lead researcher on projects like 'ESRC IAA Domestic Abuse Training' and '0-3's, Tech and Talk' (UKRI-funded)

Labs & Teams: Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams on projects addressing child rights, post-separation family dynamics, and digital environment impacts.