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 Rebecca Anthony

Rebecca Anthony

Post-Doctoral Research Associate, DECIPHer

Email
anthonyre@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 29208 79876
Campuses
sbarc|spark, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ

Overview

My current role within DECIPHer (Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement) at Cardiff University involves conducting public health improvement research within the fields of child and adolescent development, mental health, social care and education. I support the development of peer-reviewed publications and government reports using data generated by the School Health Research Network (SHRN). My research interests are in the area of improving outcomes for children and young people, with a focus on those who have experienced care. 

Biography

2014 - 2018      PhD titled ‘Parent-child relationship and mental wellbeing among adoptive families’ - Cardiff University,      School of Psychology

2013 - 2014      MSc Social Sciences Research Methods (Distinction) – Cardiff University, School of Social Sciences

2009 - 2012      PgDip Therapeutic Counselling – University of South Wales, Newport.

2002 - 2005      BSc Psychology hons (2.1) – University of Plymouth

Honours and awards

2022        Winner of the Incubator for Mental Health Research Award for research in underserved areas

2019        Haydn Ellis Prize for best PhD, Cardiff University

2018        ‘Best presentation’ Cardiff University Speaking of Science

2017        ‘Best poster’ Cardiff University, School of Psychology Postgraduate Conference

2015        ‘Best Student Project’ National Social Services Conference

Academic positions

2008 – 2013          Research Officer/Trial Manager – Swansea University, School of Medicine

RCT evaluation of the Family Links Nurturing Programme (FLNP) across four South Wales sites.

2008 - 2008       Research Associate, University of East Anglia,

Extensive qualitative evaluation of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) in Wales.

2006 – 2007         Communities Research Support Officer – Caerphilly County Borough Council

Research with deprived communities, including survey design, collation of statistics and focus group methods.

2005 – 2006          Research Assistant, Dartington Social Research Unit

Experience on a wide range of quantitative research projects aimed at improving outcomes for children.

Speaking engagements

KEY ORAL PRESENTATIONS

2021       Triumph Network Early Career Research forum - Patterns of adversity and post-traumatic stress among children adopted from care

2021       EUSARF, Virtual - Patterns of adversity and post-traumatic stress among children adopted from care

2018       EUSARF, Porto - ACEs in a sample of UK children adopted from care: the moderating role of adoptive parental warmth

2018 ISPCAN, Prague - The prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in a sample of children adopted from care

2017       Speaking of Science, Cardiff – The mental wellbeing of adoptive parents

2016       Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, London - Indicators of adversity and child mental health in an adopted sample

Committees and reviewing

Journal reviewer, Child Abuse & Neglect

Journal reviewer, British Journal of Social Work

Advisory group, Adoption UK

Publications

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2013

2012

2011

2010

I am particularly interested in the relationship between aspects of family functioning and children’s psychological well-being. My PhD utilized data from the Wales Adoption Cohort Study, focusing on the experiences and of families following an adoptive placement.

Supervision

Adoption

Care-experienced children and young people