Dr Allison (Mary Christina) Gillen

Jt Lecturer

Contact Details

Jt Lecturer
Address

E: Allison.Gillen@atu.ie
Psychology Director and Lecturer In Psychology
Social Sciences
C2002
Department of Social Sciences
Atlantic Technological University Sligo
Ash Lane, Ballytivnan
Sligo, F91 YW50, Ireland

E: allison.gillen@atu.ie
 
researcher

Biography

Career Overview 
Dr Allison M. C. Gillen (PhD, MSc, BSc, CPsychol, SFHEA, AFBPsS, M.Ps.S.I.) is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, is the Psychology Director for the BA (Hons) English and Psychology Programme (Note: the Psychology Strand is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland), and is a Lecturer in Psychology (2019), having joined the team at Atlantic Technological University Sligo in September 2018.

Allison was awarded Senior Fellowship status of the Higher Education Academy (2018) and was awarded the Level B (Personality Tests) Certificate of Competence in Occupational Testing from the Psychological Testing Centre (2018; British Psychological Society), and is on the Register of Qualifications in Test Use.  Allison is a reviewer on the journals Cogent Psychology, Child Care in Practice, Psychiatry Research, Journal of Affective Disorders and Clinical Psychology Review.

Prior to joining the team at the Atlantic Technological University Sligo, Allison was a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Suffolk (2015-2018; UK), was the Course Leader for the MSc Applications of Psychology and the PhD and Research Coordinator for Psychology.  Allison was the Module Leader and Creator of the Academic Development module, the Module Leader of: (1) Social and Developmental Psychology; (2) Questionnaire Design and Analysis and (3) Personality and Intelligence, while contributing and sharing responsibility for: (4) Social Science Research Skills and (5) Foundations of Social and Developmental Psychology.  Additionally, Allison supervised final year dissertation students, was a personal tutor for final year students and was a Mentor for a Research Assistant alongside being a contributing member on various University Committees. 

Allison had extensive experience of teaching a wide range of psychology modules while completing her PhD at Ulster University (2011-2015; Northern Ireland).  Furthermore, Allison delivered her course entitled: “Introduction to SPSS for Beginners” during the Statistics Summer School at Ulster University (2012-2014; Northern Ireland).   Allison was awarded a full Vice Chancellor’s Research Scholarship to conduct her PhD entitled: “The Prevalence and Mediating Intrinsic and Extrinsic Predictors of Deliberate Self-Harm in Northern Irish Adolescents” from Ulster University (2011-2015; Northern Ireland).  During this time, Allison was awarded Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (2013) and the Institute of Leadership and Management Level 5 Award in Leadership and Management (2016).   

Previous to beginning her PhD, Allison was awarded a First Class Distinction in the MSc in Applied Psychology: Mental Health from Ulster University (2010; Northern Ireland).  Simultaneously, Allison was awarded the Level A (Ability Tests) Certificate of Competence in Occupational Testing from the Psychological Testing Centre (2010; British Psychological Society) and is on the Register of Qualifications in Test Use, while also completing a Basic Therapeutic Counselling Skills Course.  Allison completed her BSc (Hons) in Psychology at the University of Stirling (2005-2009; Scotland).   

Professional Memberships 
Allison holds the following Professional Memberships: 
•  Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society. 

•  Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. 

•  Graduate member of the Psychological Society of Ireland. 

•  Member of the Northern Irish Branch and Developmental Section of the British Psychological Society. 

•  Member on the Psychological Testing Centres Register of Qualifications in Test Use (Level A [Ability Tests] and Level B [Personality Tests] Certificate of Competence in Occupational Testing), British Psychological Society. 

•  Member on the European Federation of Psychologists' Associations (EFPA).

Research Interests 
Allison's research interests focus mainly on the areas of child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing.  Allison is particularly interested in the areas of coping mechanisms, impulsivity, bullying and cyberbullying, personality, psychological vulnerability and resilience.  Allison conducts research both with community based populations and clinical populations.  Allison mainly focuses her research on the prevalence, predictors and mediating factors of self-harm with adolescents aged from 11 years to 18 years.  Allison has extensive skills both of a quantitative and qualitative nature, as her PhD adopted a mixed methods approach.  Allison has expertise in utilising data manipulation and analyses packages such as Mplus, SPSS and Nvivo.

Supervision of Research Students
•  Primary Supervisor of Chloe Cox, for Chloe's fully funded PhD under the HigherEd4All Project: "Provision of full-time online education to maximise access, participation, and success for students who cannot attend on campus" (Successfully defended thesis with no amendments 17/05/2024).

•  Primary Supervisor of Kelley Hester, for Kelley's fully funded PhD under the iNOTE Project: "An evaluation of the effectiveness of online support regarding students mental health and wellbeing from under-represented groups" (October 2020-present).

•  Primary Supervisor of Deborah Doherty, for Deborah's fully funded MRes under the N-TUTORR Project: "Flourishing at Atlantic Technological University: Promoting education for sustainability" (June 2023-present).

Research Interests

Allison's research interests focus on the areas of child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing.  Allison is particularly interested in the areas of coping mechanisms, impulsivity, bullying and cyberbullying, personality, psychological vulnerability and resilience.  Allison conducts research both with community based populations and clinical populations.  Allison mainly focuses her research on the prevalence, predictors and mediating factors of self-harm with adolescents aged from 11 years to 18 years.  Allison has extensive skills both of a quantitative and qualitative nature, as her PhD adopted a mixed methods approach.  Allison has expertise in utilising data manipulation and analyses packages such as Mplus, SPSS and Nvivo. 

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2018) 'Barriers and proposed solutions to implementing preventative mental health strategies into post-primary schools in Ireland: A qualitative inquiry'
Stenson, C., Kirby, K., McAteer, D. & Gillen, A. M. C. (2018) 'Barriers and proposed solutions to implementing preventative mental health strategies into post-primary schools in Ireland: A qualitative inquiry'. Irish Teachers' Journal, 6 (1):111-125 [Details]
(2017) 'Comparing self-harm (SH) thoughts and behaviours among a community sample of younger and older adolescents in Northern Ireland'
Gillen, A. M. C., Kirby, K., McBride, O., McGlinchey, E. & Rushe, T. (2017) 'Comparing self-harm (SH) thoughts and behaviours among a community sample of younger and older adolescents in Northern Ireland'. Child Care in Practice, [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'A closer look at Carver and White's BIS/BAS Scales: Factor analysis and age group differences'
Gray, J., Hanna, D., Gillen, A. M. C. & Rushe, T. (2016) 'A closer look at Carver and White's BIS/BAS Scales: Factor analysis and age group differences'. Personality And Individual Differences, 95 :20-24 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'A Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (Mimic) Model of Inattentive and Hyperactive Symptoms in a Representative Sample of British Children and Young People'
McKenna, A. E., Doyle, M. M. & Gillen, A. M. C. (2016) 'A Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (Mimic) Model of Inattentive and Hyperactive Symptoms in a Representative Sample of British Children and Young People'. Journal of Forensic Psychology, 1 (1):1-9 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Direct and indirect effects of maltreatment typologies on suicidality in a representative Northern Irish Sample: Psychopathology only partially mediates the relationship'
McKenna, A. E. & Gillen, A. M. C. (2016) 'Direct and indirect effects of maltreatment typologies on suicidality in a representative Northern Irish Sample: Psychopathology only partially mediates the relationship'. Journal of psychiatric research, 72 :82-90 [DOI] [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2022) The NEXT GEN PHE, EURASHE 31st Annual Conference, Brussels, Belgium
Warner-Cox, C. M., McCormack, J., O’Gorman, L., Kearins, L. & Gillen, A. M. C. (2022) Higher Education for All – Design and delivery of accessible, inclusive full-time online degree programmes for students from under-represented groups The NEXT GEN PHE, EURASHE 31st Annual Conference, Brussels, Belgium [Details]
(2022) UDL Conference, Atlantic Technological University, Sligo
Warner-Cox, C. M., McCormack, J., Gillen, A. M. C., O’Gorman, L. & Kearins, L. (2022) Higher Education for All: Maximising access, participation, and success for students who cannot attend on-campus UDL Conference, Atlantic Technological University, Sligo [Details]
(2022) In the Spotlight Series
Warner-Cox, C. M., McCormack, J., O’Gorman, L., Kearins, L. McCabe, E. & Gillen, A. M. C. (2022) Higher Education for All – An exploration of the perceived barriers and facilitators to accessing online higher education amongst prospective Irish students from under-represented groups In the Spotlight Series [Details]
(2021) Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA) EdTech Conference
Warner-Cox, C. M., McCormack, J., O’Gorman, L. & Gillen, A. M. C. (2021) Higher Education for All: An exploration of the perceived barriers and facilitators to accessing online higher education amongst prospective Irish students from under-represented groups Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA) EdTech Conference [Details]
(2021) Association for Learning Technology (ALT) Conference
McCormack, J., Warner-Cox, C., O’Gorman, L., Kearins, L., McCabe, E. & Gillen, A. M. C. (2021) The HigherEd4All Project – Design and delivery of accessible, inclusive full-time online degree programmes for students from under-represented groups Association for Learning Technology (ALT) Conference [Details]
(2021) Association for Learning Technology (ALT) Conference
Hester, K., Kearins, L., McCormack, J., O’Gorman, L., Gilligan, J. & Gillen, A. M. C. (2021) Online supports for flexible learners to support student mental health and wellbeing Association for Learning Technology (ALT) Conference [Details]
(2021) Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA) EdTech Conference
Hester, K., McCormack, J., O’Gorman, L., Gilligan, J. & Gillen, A. M. C. (2021) An evaluation of the effectiveness of online support for student mental health and wellbeing Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA) EdTech Conference [Details]
(2020) CUA Research Symposium 2020, Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo, Ireland
Cox, C. M., Gillen, A. M. C., McCormack, J., O’Gorman, L. (2020) HigherEd4All: Provision of full-time online education to maximise access, participation and success for students who cannot attend on campus courses CUA Research Symposium 2020, Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo, Ireland [Details]
(2020) AdvanceHE Online Curriculum Symposium 2020
Warner-Cox, C. M., Brady, S., McCormack, J. & Gillen, A. M. C. (2020) Higher Education for All: Provision of full-time online education to maximise access, participation and success for students who cannot attend on campus courses AdvanceHE Online Curriculum Symposium 2020 [Details]
(2019) HELLIN Conference, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
Cox, C. M., O’Gorman, L., McCormack, J. & Gillen, A. M. C. (2019) (2019) Higher education for all: Provision of full-time online education to maximise access, participation and success for students who cannot attend on campus courses HELLIN Conference, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland [Details]
(2017) Learning and Teaching Day Conference
Gillen, A. M. C. (2017) Academic skills development: A new initiative Learning and Teaching Day Conference [Details]
(2017) Northern Ireland Branch of the British Psychological Society Annual Confere
Gillen, A. M. C., Kirby, K., Tracey, A., McAteer, D. & Rushe, T. (2017) An exploration of the experiences, attitudes and precursors to the onset of self-harm (SH) behaviour amongst a clinical sample of adolescents Northern Ireland Branch of the British Psychological Society Annual Confere Dundalk, Ireland, [Details]
(2017) Hidden Harms Conference
Gillen, A. M. C., Kirby, K., Tracey, A., McAteer, D. & Rushe, T. (2017) Understanding self-harm: Young people's perspectives Hidden Harms Conference Ipswich, Suffolk, UK, [Details]
(2016) (DCOPNI Supported Symposium: Adolescent self-harm in Northern Ireland: Rates, predictors and preventative interventions) at the Northern Ireland Branch of the British Psychological Society 60th Anniversary Annual Conference
Gillen, A. M. C., Kirby, K., McBride, O., McGlinchy, E. & Rushe, T. (2016) The prevalence of psychosocial and personality factors as predictors of deliberate self-harm in an 11-18 year old Northern Irish adolescent sample (DCOPNI Supported Symposium: Adolescent self-harm in Northern Ireland: Rates, predictors and preventative interventions) at the Northern Ireland Branch of the British Psychological Society 60th Anniversary Annual Conference Dundalk, Ireland, [Details]
(2014) British Psychological Society Developmental Psychology Section Annual Conference
Gillen, A. M. C., Kirby, K., McAteer, D. & Rushe, T. (2014) Demographic, lifestyle, psychological and personality factors associated with deliberate self-harm in Northern Irish adolescents British Psychological Society Developmental Psychology Section Annual Conference Amsterdam, [Details]
(2014) The 15th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour
Gillen, A. M. C., Kirby, K., McAteer, D. & Rushe, T. (2014) Lifetime, psychological and personality factors associated with deliberate self-harm in Northern Irish adolescents The 15th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour Tallinn, Estonia, [Details]
(2014) British Psychological Society Developmental Psychology Section Annual Conference
Gillen, A. M. C., Kirby, K., McAteer, D. & Rushe, T. (2014) Poster Presentation: Demographic, lifestyle, psychological and personality factors associated with deliberate self-harm in Northern Irish adolescents British Psychological Society Developmental Psychology Section Annual Conference Amsterdam, [Details]
(2012) British Psychological Society: Northern Irish Branch, Annual Conference
Gillen, A. M. C., Mallett, J. & Lloyd, K. (2012) Ageing and mental health in the United Kingdom: The moderation effects of status strains, role strains and psychological resources British Psychological Society: Northern Irish Branch, Annual Conference Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, [Details]
(2012) The Psychology, Health and Medicine 9th Annual One Day Conference
Gillen, A. M. C., Mallett, J. & Lloyd, K. (2012) Ageing and mental health in the United Kingdom The Psychology, Health and Medicine 9th Annual One Day Conference Belfast, Northern Ireland, [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2013 Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy The Higher Education Academy
2022 Registered European Test User (Ability and Personality) European Federation of Psychologists' Association (EFPA)
2009 BSc (Hons) Psychology The University of Stirling
2010 Level A (Ability) Certificate in Occupational Testing The Psychological Testing Centre, British Psychological Society
2017 Fellow of the Higher Education Academy The Higher Education Academy
2018 Level B (Personality Certificate in Occupational Testing The Psychological Testing Centre, British Psychological Society
2018 Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy The Higher Education Academy
2010 MSc Applied Psychology: Mental Health (First Class Distinction) The University of Ulster
2016 Institute of Leadership and Management Level 5 Accreditation of Leadership and Management Institute of Leadership and Management
2015 PhD: The prevalence and mediating intrinsic and extrinsic predictors of deliberate self-harm in Northern Irish adolescents. Ulster University

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
British Psychological Society Chartered Psychologist 18-APR-16 /
Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) Graduate Member 06-SEP-22 /
European Federation of Psychologists' Associations (EFPA) Registered European Test User (Ability and Personality) 03-AUG-22 /
Plymouth Marjon University External Examiner 01-OCT-19 /
Higher Education Academy Associate Fellow 24-JUN-13 /
Higher Education Academy Senior Fellow 18-JUN-18 /
British Psychological Society Associate Fellow 21-AUG-17 /
Higher Education Academy Fellow 24-OCT-17 /
British Psychological Society Member 23-MAY-07 /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Academic Council Member 2019 /
Institute Health and Safety Committee Health and Safety Representative 2019 /
Institute Research Ethics Committee Ethics Committee Member 2018 /
Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee Chair 2018 /
Chevron Consultancy Limited Academic Committee Member 2018 /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2010 Ulster University MSc (With Distinction) Applied Psychology: Mental Health
2015 Ulster University PhD Psychology
2009 The University of Stirling BSc BSc (Hons) in Psychology

Other Activities

  Description

2017: Awarded Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS).

Awarded a Registered European Test User (Ability and Personality) on the European Federation of Psychologists' Associations (EFPA).

2019-2020: Selected to take part in the Aurora Programme.
https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/programmes-events/aurora

2013: Awarded Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

2014: Member of the British Psychological Society, Developmental Section.

2018: Awarded Senior Fellowship Status of the Higher Education Academy.

2007: Member of the British Psychological Society, Northern Ireland Branch

2010: Awarded Level A (Ability) Certificate of Competence in Occupational Testing, Psychological Testing Centre, The British Psychological Society. http://www.psychtesting.org.uk/theregisterrqtu/theregisterrqtu_home.cfm?q=166501&ret=g_

2016: Awarded Approved Chartered Psychologist Status (CPsychol), The British Psychological Society.

2018: Awarded Level B (Personality) Certificate of Competence in Occupational Testing, Psychological Testing Centre, The British Psychological Society. http://www.psychtesting.org.uk/theregisterrqtu/theregisterrqtu_home.cfm?q=166501&ret=g_

2016: Member of the Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology of the British Psychological Society.

2017: Awarded Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Recent Postgraduates

  Graduation Student Name University Degree Thesis
2024 Chloe Cox Institute of Technology, Sligo PhD Provision of full-time online education to maximise access, participation and success for students who cannot attend on campus. (Successfully defended with no amendments 17/04/2024)

Modules Taught

  Term (ID)) Title Link Subject
201924 Research Methods for Psychology PSYC08025BA (Hons) English and Psychology
201819 Intro to counselling theories 38602Certificate in Counselling
2019+ Psychology Research Project 37960Psychology Research Project
201819 Mental Health & Wellness 36985Certificate in Counselling
201922 Research Design & Development 43781MA Professional Leadership
2023+ Adult Developmental Psychology PSYC07027BA (Hons) English and Psychology
2018+ Social Psychology 40248BA (Hons) English and Psychology
2018+ Social Psychology 40245Social Psychology
2023+ Research Methods for Psychology II PSYC07028BA (Hons) English and Psychology
201823 Adult Developmental Psychology 37876BA (Hons) English and Psychology
2024+ Research Methods for Psychology III 43684BA (Hons) English and Psychology
201922 Research Design & Development 43780MA Professional Leadership
2018+ Social Psychology 40249BA (Hons) English and Psychology
2022+ Research Methods for Psychology I PSYC06031BA (Hons) English and Psychology
2022+ Research Ethics in Psychology PSYC06032BA (Hons) English and Psychology
201823 Adult Developmental Psychology PSYC07025BA (Hons) English and Psychology
2019+ Psychology Research Project RSCH08014BA (Hons) English and Psychology
201922 Research Design and Development RSCH09029MA in Professional Leadership
2018+ Social Psychology PSYC07024BA (Hons) English and Psychology

Internal Collaborators

  Name Institute Country
Dr Carina Ginty ATU IRELAND
Professor Jacqueline McCormack ATU Sligo IRELAND

External Collaborators

  Name Organisation / Institute Country
Dr Karen Kirby Ulster University NORTHERN IRELAND
Dr Orla McBride Ulster University NORTHERN IRELAND
Dr Teresa Rushe Queen's University Belfast NORTHERN IRELAND
Dr Donal McAteer Ulster University NORTHERN IRELAND
Dr John Mallett Ulster University NORTHERN IRELAND
Dr Anne Tracey Ulster University NORTHERN IRELAND