Overview
Background
I have worked in both the clinical and academic fields of clinical psychology, in Australia and the UK, before joining UQ in 2012. My research investigates the cognitive and social consequences of trauma and disease in neurological populations, and also on identity-cognition relationships in aging. In this work I have addressed questions about the integrity of cogntiive ability, notably memory, and its rehabilitation, but also the impact that impairment of these abilities have on personal andsocial identity.
Availability
- Professor Catherine Haslam is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, University of New South Wales
- Masters (Coursework) of Arts (Clinical Psychology), Macquarie University
- Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University
Research interests
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Social identity and the social determinants of health
There are several strands of this research. The first investigates the impact that identity processes have on cognitive integrity, mental health, and well-being following life change. A second strand investigates the impact of social group-based interventions, that build new social identities and provide people with the skills for effective use of these psychological resources to protect health and well-being. This has informed development of a new social intervention — Groups 4 Health — that aims to give people the knowledge and skills they need to independently manage their social group memberships, and the social identities that underpin them, effectively. This work has been conducted with a range of clinical and non-clinical populations — including older adults in the community and residential care, neurological populations (acquired brain injury, dementia), people with addictions, and mental health populations (notably, depression) — using cross-sectional, longitudinal and experimental methodologies.
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Neuro-rehabilitation
This research addresses the treatment of neurological disorders in people with stable and progressive conditions across the lifespan. My particular focus is on memory rehabilitation and involves exploration of theory relevant to memory enhancement and its intervention through use of learning principles and instructive techniques (errorless learning, spaced retrieval, and vanishing cues).
Works
Search Professor Catherine Haslam’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Journal Article
Rethinking the nature of the person at the heart of the biopsychosocial model: exploring social changeways not just personal pathways
Haslam, S. Alexander, Haslam, Catherine, Jetten, Jolanda, Cruwys, Tegan and Bentley, Sarah V. (2020). Rethinking the nature of the person at the heart of the biopsychosocial model: exploring social changeways not just personal pathways. Social Science and Medicine, 272 113566, 1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113566
2019
Journal Article
Friendships that money can buy: financial security protects health in retirement by enabling social connectedness
Cruwys, Tegan, Haslam, Catherine, Steffens, Niklas K., Haslam, S Alexander, Fong, Polly and Lam, Ben C. P. (2019). Friendships that money can buy: financial security protects health in retirement by enabling social connectedness. BMC Geriatrics, 19 (1) 319, 319. doi: 10.1186/s12877-019-1281-1
2019
Journal Article
Social identity mapping in addiction recovery (SIM-AR): extension and application of a visual method
Beckwith, Melinda, Best, David, Savic, Michael, Haslam, Catherine, Bathish, Ramez, Dingle, Genevieve, Mackenzie, Jock, Staiger, Petra K. and Lubman, Dan I. (2019). Social identity mapping in addiction recovery (SIM-AR): extension and application of a visual method. Addiction Research and Theory, 27 (6), 462-471. doi: 10.1080/16066359.2018.1544623
2019
Journal Article
Longitudinal evidence for the effects of social group engagement on the cognitive and mental health of Chinese retirees
Lam, Ben C P, Haslam, Catherine, Steffens, Niklas K, Yang, Jie, Haslam, S. Alexander, Cruwys, Tegan and Pachana, Nancy A (2019). Longitudinal evidence for the effects of social group engagement on the cognitive and mental health of Chinese retirees. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 75 (10), 2142-2151. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbz134
2019
Journal Article
Social identification-building interventions to improve health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Steffens, Niklas K., La Rue, Crystal J., Haslam, Catherine, Walter, Zoe C., Cruwys, Tegan, Munt, Katie A., Alexander Haslam, S., Jetten, Jolanda and Tarrant, Mark (2019). Social identification-building interventions to improve health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review, 15 (1), 1-28. doi: 10.1080/17437199.2019.1669481
2019
Journal Article
Social group membership before treatment for substance dependence predicts early identification and engagement with treatment communities
Haslam, Catherine, Best, David, Dingle, Genevieve A., Staiger, Petra K., Savic, Michael, Bathish, Ramez, Mackenzie, Jock, Beckwith, Melinda, Kelly, Ashleigh J. and Lubman, Dan I. (2019). Social group membership before treatment for substance dependence predicts early identification and engagement with treatment communities. Addiction Research and Theory, 27 (5), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/16066359.2018.1537393
2019
Journal Article
GROUPS 4 HEALTH reduces loneliness and social anxiety in adults with psychological distress: findings from a randomized controlled trial
Haslam, Catherine, Cruwys, Tegan, Chang, Melissa X. -L., Bentley, Sarah V., Haslam, S. Alexander, Dingle, Genevieve A. and Jetten, Jolanda (2019). GROUPS 4 HEALTH reduces loneliness and social anxiety in adults with psychological distress: findings from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87 (9), 787-801. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000427
2019
Journal Article
Social identity differentiation predicts commitment to sobriety and wellbeing in residents of therapeutic communities
Dingle, Genevieve A., Haslam, Catherine, Best, David, Chan, Gary, Staiger, Petra K., Savic, Michael, Beckwith, Melinda, Mackenzie, Jock, Bathish, Ramez and Lubman, Dan I. (2019). Social identity differentiation predicts commitment to sobriety and wellbeing in residents of therapeutic communities. Social Science & Medicine, 237 112459, 112459. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112459
2019
Journal Article
Group life shapes the psychology and biology of health: the case for a sociopsychobio model
Haslam, S. Alexander, Haslam, Catherine, Jetten, Jolanda, Cruwys, Tegan and Bentley, Sarah (2019). Group life shapes the psychology and biology of health: the case for a sociopsychobio model. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 13 (8) e12490. doi: 10.1111/spc3.12490
2019
Journal Article
The connecting adolescents to reduce relapse (CARR) trial: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of Groups 4 Health and cognitive behaviour therapy in young people
Cruwys, Tegan, Haslam, Catherine, Walter, Zoe C., Rathbone, Joanne and Williams, Elyse (2019). The connecting adolescents to reduce relapse (CARR) trial: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of Groups 4 Health and cognitive behaviour therapy in young people. BMC Public Health, 19 (1) 788, 788. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-7011-y
2019
Book
Social scaffolding: applying the lessons of contemporary social science to health and healthcare
Richard Williams, Verity Kemp, S. Alexander Haslam, Catherine Haslam, Kamaldeep S. Bhui, Susan Bailey and Daniel Maughan eds. (2019). Social scaffolding: applying the lessons of contemporary social science to health and healthcare. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781911623069
2019
Journal Article
Neighbourhood identification buffers the effects of (de-)gentrification and personal socioeconomic position on mental health
Fong, Polly, Cruwys, Tegan, Haslam, Catherine and Haslam, S. Alexander (2019). Neighbourhood identification buffers the effects of (de-)gentrification and personal socioeconomic position on mental health. Health and Place, 57, 247-256. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.05.013
2019
Journal Article
Predictors of social identification in group therapy
Cruwys, Tegan, Steffens, Niklas K., Haslam, S. Alexander, Haslam, Catherine, Hornsey, Matthew J., McGarty, Craig and Skorich, Daniel P. (2019). Predictors of social identification in group therapy. Psychotherapy Research, 30 (3), 1-14. doi: 10.1080/10503307.2019.1587193
2019
Journal Article
The importance of social groups for retirement adjustment: evidence, application, and policy implications of the social identity model of identity change
Haslam, Catherine, Steffens, Niklas K., Branscombe, Nyla R., Haslam, S. Alexander, Cruwys, Tegan, Lam, Ben C. P., Pachana, Nancy A. and Yang, Jie (2019). The importance of social groups for retirement adjustment: evidence, application, and policy implications of the social identity model of identity change. Social Issues and Policy Review, 13 (1), 93-124. doi: 10.1111/sipr.12049
2019
Book Chapter
Social Sciences and Health: A Framework for Building and Strengthening Social Connectedness
Haslam, Catherine and Haslam, S. Alexander (2019). Social Sciences and Health: A Framework for Building and Strengthening Social Connectedness. Social Scaffolding. (pp. 23-30) Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781911623069.003
2019
Journal Article
Neighbourhood identification and mental health: how social identification moderates the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and health
Fong, Polly, Cruwys, Tegan, Haslam, Catherine and Haslam, S. Alexander (2019). Neighbourhood identification and mental health: how social identification moderates the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and health. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 61, 101-114. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2018.12.006
2019
Journal Article
The social psychology of responses to trauma: social identity pathways associated with divergent traumatic responses
Muldoon, Orla T., Haslam, S. Alexander, Haslam, Catherine, Cruwys, Tegan, Kearns, Michelle and Jetten, Jolanda (2019). The social psychology of responses to trauma: social identity pathways associated with divergent traumatic responses. European Review of Social Psychology, 30 (1), 311-348. doi: 10.1080/10463283.2020.1711628
2019
Book Chapter
Social scaffolding: supporting the development of positive social identities and agency in communities
Haslam, Catherine, Haslam, S. Alexander and Cruwys, Tegan (2019). Social scaffolding: supporting the development of positive social identities and agency in communities. Social scaffolding: applying the lessons of contemporary social science to health and healthcare. (pp. 244-256) edited by Richard Williams, Verity Kemp, S. Alexander Haslam, Catherine Haslam, Kamaldeep S. Bhui and Susan Bailey. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781911623069.025
2019
Conference Publication
Examining outcomes of individuals entering residential treatment for methamphetamine problems versus other drug and alcohol problems
Bathish, Ramez, Savic, Michael, Best, David, Haslam, Catherine, Dingle, Genevieve A., Staiger, Petra and Lubman, Dan I. (2019). Examining outcomes of individuals entering residential treatment for methamphetamine problems versus other drug and alcohol problems. APSAD, Hobart, TAS, Australia, 10-13 November 2019. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2019
Book Chapter
The social identity approach to health
Haslam, S. Alexander, Jetten, Jolanda and Haslam, Catherine (2019). The social identity approach to health. Social scaffolding: applying the lessons of contemporary social science to health and healthcare. (pp. 31-39) edited by Richard Williams, Verity Kemp, S. Alexander Haslam, Catherine Haslam, Kamaldeep S. Bhui and Susan Bailey. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781911623069.004
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Catherine Haslam is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Adjustment to retirement as a process of social identity change
Retirement is an inevitable part of aging for most people, but successful adjustment is far from straightforward. About 30 percent of people find the transition highly stressful and experience a marked reduction in well-being and this is despite engaging in financial planning. As these data, suggest successful transition into retirement is about much more than having enough money. Recent research has begun to focus on the role of social factors given the upheaval that this significant life change imposes on our social networks. Supporting this development are emerging data showing that people who maintain and extend their social ties, especially those with social groups (e.g., work/ professional, friendship, community groups), live longer and have a better quality of life after retirement. So what is it about these social group networks that promotes health and well-being in the retirement transition? This is the key question that this project will address.
This project will draw on recent data from UK, US and Australian populations to examine the extent to which changes in our social group relationships as we retire affects adjustment. It aims to improve understanding of the nature and size of that influence to more effectively manage that social change with a view to optimising adjustment, health, and well-being as we age into retirement. The Social Identity Model of Identity Change (SIMIC) provides a framework to investigate these issues as it specifies mechanisms that can buffer the effects of social group change in life transitions. It has yet to be fully interrogated in the retirement context and this will provide the theoretical focus for the project.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Harnessing the potential of community groups to prevent loneliness in older people
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Psychological adjustment after acquired brain injury: The role of social identity in psychosocial recovery.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zoe Walter, Dr Tegan Cruwys
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Doctor Philosophy
From PTSD to PTG: The role of social identity in resilience and recovery from trauma.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tegan Cruwys, Professor Jolanda Jetten
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Doctor Philosophy
Stereotype Threat and Workplace Disengagement: Social Identity as a Buffer Among Older Employees
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jolanda Jetten
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Doctor Philosophy
The Impact of Self and Reward on Cognitive Processes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Ada Kritikos
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Doctor Philosophy
Stereotype Threat and Workplace Disengagement: Social Identity as a Buffer Among Older Employees
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jolanda Jetten
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Doctor Philosophy
Detection of negative emotions using wearable sensors
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Chelsea Dobbins
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Doctor Philosophy
Stereotype Threat and Workplace Disengagement: Social Identity as a Buffer Among Older Employees
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jolanda Jetten
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Doctor Philosophy
From PTSD to PTG: The role of social identity in resilience and recovery from trauma.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tegan Cruwys, Professor Jolanda Jetten
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Doctor Philosophy
Stereotype Threat and Workplace Disengagement: Social Identity as a Buffer Among Older Employees
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jolanda Jetten
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Doctor Philosophy
Detection of negative emotions using wearable sensors
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Chelsea Dobbins
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Doctor Philosophy
Social identity processes affecting retirement from sport
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Nik Steffens, Professor Alex Haslam
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Doctor Philosophy
From trauma to growth: The role of social identity in resilience and recovery from trauma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tegan Cruwys, Professor Jolanda Jetten
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Doctor Philosophy
Memory Symptoms in People with Epilepsy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Alan Pegna
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Group Processes to Maximise the Potential of Group Interventions
Principal Advisor
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Social Connectedness and Retirement Adjustment: The Contribution of Social Participation and Social Group Memberships
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Nik Steffens
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
A Social Identity Approach to Neighbourhood Health and Wellbeing
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alex Haslam, Dr Tegan Cruwys
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
The Impact of Self and Reward on Cognitive Processes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Ada Kritikos
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The role of social identities in the mental health, well-being and academic performance of international students: An application of the Social Identity Model of Identity Change
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tegan Cruwys, Professor Alex Haslam
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Depression across Cultures: A Social Identity Perspective
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tegan Cruwys, Professor Jolanda Jetten
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Catherine Haslam directly for media enquiries about:
- social dimensions of health
- social intervention
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