Overview
I am a developmental behavioural psychologist with a strong applied focus and an international outlook.
I have earned my Psychology BSc in London and PhD in Bangor. My teaching is grounded in research. My interests include child development; health and wellbeing; development of evidence-based early interventions; and eating behaviour.
I am presently a Disability, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Tutor for the School.
Additional Contact Information
Brigantia 317, Penrallt Rd
Office ext 3107
Mob +44 (0)7984 090803
Teaching and Supervision
I am the module organiser and lecturer on
PPP-4014 Topics in Child Health and Wellbeing postgraduate Masters module
PPP-3015 Psychophysiology of Eating undergraduate Year 3 module
PPP-2012 Developmental Psychology undergraduate Year 2 module
I supervise PhD, Masters, and Undergraduate research projects in several areas of developmental, behavioural, and applied psychology research.
I welcome PhD applications from international students.
Research Interests
My research interests are varied. These are some of the ongoing research projects in my lab.
Poor social support and lifestyle are linked to poor mental health in pregnancy, but these factors have seldom been explored in a culturally sensitive manner. We are presently investigating the experiences of women in Kuwait using qualitative and mixed research methodology. This project is supported by PhD funding provided by Kuwait Ministry of Education to Mona Almutawtah. Collaborators include Dr Hans-Peter Kubis (Bangor) and Emma Campbell (NHS).
In the past five years, we have been exploring determinants of health and wellbeing in 8-11 year old children with Type 1 diabetes and their healthy counterparts in Kuwait. Children with Type 1 diabetes and their families often struggle and can experience poor mental health and lifestyle changes in response to their illness. This was exacerbated under the hardship of the pandemic. This project was supported by PhD funding provided by Kuwait Ministry of Health to Afrah Alazmi. Collaboratior: Dr Simon Viktor (Bangor).
In collaboration with Coed Lleol, we have been investigating whether wodland environment activities could support families with pre-school children to make better nutritional choices. This project was supported by KESS II funding for Masters by Research. The research team includes Ramiga Kirupaikkumaran (KESS scholar), Dr Natasha Simons (Coed Lleol), and Dr Simon Viktor (Bangor).
My other projects include
Supporting early detection and intervention for children with developmental delays and disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in colleaboration with EDUS (NGO), UNICEF, Dr Nirvana Pistoljevic (Columbia University), and Mr Eldin Dzanko (Technical University of Munich).
In collaboration with Conwy Council school caterers, we have been conducting a series of studies to implement positive changes in dining rooms of local primary schools. This type of intervention may be a cheap alternative to complex interventions and an effective healthy eating maintenance measure that schools can implement themselves. Collaborators on this project include Dr Ellie Marcano-Olivier (Birmingham City University) and Dr Simon Viktor (Bangor).
Teaching children to enjoy eating their fruit and vegetables (Food Dudes) and engaging in physical activity (Dynamic Dudes): I have been especially interested in application of the healtyhy eating interventions in special schools and with children diagnosed with autism. Collaborators include Prof Pauline Horne (Bangor), Dr Simon Viktor (Bangor) and Dr Catherine Sharp (Bristol).
Postgraduate Project Opportunities
Publications
2024
- PublishedPsychological variables and lifestyle in children with type1 diabetes and their parents: A systematic review
Alazmi, A., Boi Bashiru, M., Viktor, S. & Erjavec, M., Jul 2024, In: Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 29, 3, p. 1174–1194 21 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
2023
- PublishedWomen’s experiences of social support during pregnancy: a qualitative systematic review
Almutawtah, M. E. A. A. H., Campbell, E., Kubis, H.-P. & Erjavec, M., 10 Nov 2023, In: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 23, 1, 19 p., 782.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2022
- PublishedExploring the determinants of mental health, wellbeing, and lifestyle in 8–11 year old children with type 1 diabetes and their healthy counterparts in Kuwait
Alazmi, A., Viktor, S. & Erjavec, M., 12 Dec 2022, In: PLoS ONE. 17, 12, 19 p., 0272948.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2021
- PublishedChanges in the nutritional content of children's lunches after the Food Dudes healthy eating programme
Marcano Olivier, E., Sallaway-Costello, J., McWilliams, L., Horne, P., Viktor, S. & Erjavec, M., 10 Aug 2021, In: Journal of Nutritional Science. 10, 10 p., e40.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedNudge with caution: targeting fruit and vegetable consumption in primary schools
Erjavec, M., Williams, S., Viktor, S. & Marcano Olivier, E., Apr 2021, In: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 75, 4, p. 724-727
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2020
- PublishedUsing Nudges to Promote Healthy Food Choices in the School Dining Room: A Systematic Review of Previous Investigations
Marcano-Olivier, M., Viktor, S., Horne, P. & Erjavec, M., Feb 2020, In: Journal of School Health. 90, 2, p. 143-157 15 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
2019
- PublishedA low-cost Behavioural Nudge and choice architecture intervention targeting school lunches increases children’s consumption of fruit: a cluster randomised trial
Marcano-Olivier, M., Pearson, R., Ruparell, A., Horne, P., Viktor, S. & Erjavec, M., Dec 2019, In: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 16, 1, 9 p., 20.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedMeasuring Lunchtime Consumption in School Cafeterias Using Digital Images: A Validation Study
Marcano-Olivier, M., Erjavec, M., Horne, P. J., Viktor, S. & Pearson, R., Jul 2019, In: Public Health Nutrition. 22, 10, p. 1745-1754
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2017
- PublishedEvaluation of the Super Dynamic Food Dudes Intervention for 3 – 4 year old Children at School.
Sharp, C., Horne, P., Lowe, C. & Erjavec, M., Apr 2017.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper - PublishedEvaluation of the Super Dynamic Food Dudes Intervention for 3–4 year old Children at School.
Sharp, C., Horne, P., Lowe, C., Erjavec, M. & Mackintosh, K., 16 Nov 2017.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper - PublishedSuper Dynamic Food Dudes: Increasing pre-school children's consumption of fruit and vegetables and their levels of physical activity
Sharp, C., Horne, P., Lowe, C., Erjavec, M. & Mackintosh, K., 26 Oct 2017.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster - PublishedValidation of the Fitbit Zip® as a Measure of Pre-school Children’s Step Count: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Sharp, C., Mackintosh, K., Erjavec, M., Pascoe, D. & Horne, P., 11 Oct 2017, In: BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine. 2017, 3, e000272.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedValidity and reliability of the Fitbit Zip as a measure of pre-school children’s step count
Sharp, C., Mackintosh, K., Erjavec, M., Pascoe, D. & Horne, P., 16 Nov 2017.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
2016
- PublishedOutcomes of a Comparison Study into a Group-Based Infant Parenting Programme
Jones, C., Erjavec, M., Viktor, S. & Hutchings, J., 2016, In: Journal of Child and Family Studies. p. 1-13
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2015
- PublishedIn memoriam: C. Fergus Lowe 1946–2014
Erjavec, M., Horne, P., Hughes, C. & Sharp, C., 17 Sept 2015, In: Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior. 104, 2, p. 93-95
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2014
- PublishedThe Parent Infant Play Observation code (PIPOc): development and testing of a new positive parenting measure
Hutchings, J. M., Jones, C. H., Hutchings, J., Erjavec, M. & Viktor, S., 10 Nov 2014, In: Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 32
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2012
- PublishedImplementing a healthy eating programme: changing children's eating habits for life
Erjavec, M., Viktor, S., Horne, P. & Lowe, F., 1 Apr 2012, In: Community Practitioner. 85, 4, p. 39-40
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedParent and group leader refelctions on a group-based programme for parents and babies
Jones, C., Hutchings, J., Erjavec, M. & Hughes, J., Nov 2012, In: Community Practitioner. 85, 11, p. 26-29
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedValidation of food diaries as measures of dietary behaviour change
Pears, S. L., Jackson, M. C., Bertenshaw, E. J., Horne, P. J., Lowe, C. F. & Erjavec, M., 1 Jun 2012, In: Appetite. 58, 3, p. 1164-1168
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2011
- PublishedComprehension and production of body part labels in 2 to 3-year-old children.
Camoes-Costa, V., Erjavec, M. & Horne, P. J., 1 Sept 2011, In: British Journal of Development Psychology. 29, 3, p. 552-571
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedIncreasing pre-school children's consumption of fruit and vegetables. A modelling and rewards intervention.
Horne, P., Greenhalgh, J., Erjavec, M., Lowe, F., Viktor, S. & Whitaker, C. J., 1 Apr 2011, In: Appetite. 56, 2, p. 375-385
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedRapid word learning in 13- and 17-month olds in a naturalistic two-word procedure: looking versus reaching measures.
Gurteen, P. M., Horne, P. J. & Erjavec, M., 1 Jun 2011, In: Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. 109, 2, p. 201-217
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedThe impact of body-part naming training on the accuracy of imitative performances in 2- to 3-year old children.
Camoes-Costa, V., Erjavec, M. & Horne, P. J., 1 Nov 2011, In: Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. 96, 3, p. 291-315
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2009
- PublishedDo infants show generalized imitation of gestures? II: The effects of skills training and multiple exemplar matching training
Erjavec, M., Lovett, V. E. & Horne, P. J., 1 May 2009, In: Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. 91, 3, p. 355-376
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - PublishedThe effects of modelling, local stimulus enhancement, and affordance demonstration on the production of object-directed actions in 6-month-old infants
Horne, P. J., Erjavec, M. & Lovett, V., 1 Jun 2009, In: British Journal of Development Psychology. 27, 2, p. 269-281
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2008
- PublishedDeterminants of imitation of hand-to-body gestures in 2-and 3-year-old children
Erjavec, M. & Horne, P. J., 1 Mar 2008, In: Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. 89, 2, p. 183-207
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2007
- PublishedDo infants show generalized imitation of gestures?
Horne, P. J. & Erjavec, M., 1 Jan 2007, In: Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. 87, 1, p. 63-87
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Projects
-
KESS II MRes with Coed Lleol BUK2215
01/09/2020 – 31/03/2024 (Finished)
-
KESS II PhD upgrade Project with TBA
01/10/2015 – 01/08/2022 (Finished)
Links: