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
2014
Journal Article
Impact of rehabilitation on self-concept following traumatic brain injury: an exploratory systematic review of intervention methodology and efficacy
Ownsworth, Tamara and Haslam, Catherine (2014). Impact of rehabilitation on self-concept following traumatic brain injury: an exploratory systematic review of intervention methodology and efficacy. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 26 (1), 1-35. doi: 10.1080/09602011.2014.977924
2014
Journal Article
“The we's have it”: Evidence for the distinctive benefits of group engagement in enhancing cognitive health in aging
Haslam, Catherine, Cruwys, Tegan and Haslam, S. Alexander (2014). “The we's have it”: Evidence for the distinctive benefits of group engagement in enhancing cognitive health in aging. Social Science and Medicine, 120, 57-66. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.08.037
2014
Journal Article
Social identification moderates cognitive health and well-being following story- and song-based reminiscence
Haslam, Catherine, Haslam, S. Alexander, Ysseldyk, Renate, McCloskey, Lauren-Grace, Pfisterer, Kaylen and Brown, Susan G. (2014). Social identification moderates cognitive health and well-being following story- and song-based reminiscence. Aging and Mental Health, 18 (4), 425-434. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2013.845871
Featured
2014
Journal Article
Depression and social identity: an integrative review
Cruwys, Tegan, Haslam, S. Alexander, Dingle, Genevieve A., Haslam, Catherine and Jetten, Jolanda (2014). Depression and social identity: an integrative review. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 18 (3), 1-24. doi: 10.1177/1088868314523839
2014
Journal Article
"We Get to Decide": the role of collective engagement in counteracting feelings of confinement and lack of autonomy in residential care
Gleibs, Ilka H., Sonnenberg, Stefanie J. and Haslam, Catherine (2014). "We Get to Decide": the role of collective engagement in counteracting feelings of confinement and lack of autonomy in residential care. Activities, Adaptation and Aging, 38 (4), 259-280. doi: 10.1080/01924788.2014.966542
2014
Journal Article
Social and transitional identity: exploring social networks and their significance in a therapeutic community setting
Best, David, Lubman, Dan I., Savic, Michael, Wilson, Ann, Dingle, Genevieve, Haslam, S. Alexander, Haslam, Catherine and Jetten, Jolanda (2014). Social and transitional identity: exploring social networks and their significance in a therapeutic community setting. Therapeutic Communities, 35 (1) 17108334, 10-20. doi: 10.1108/TC-04-2013-0007
2014
Journal Article
How groups affect our health and well-being: the path from theory to policy
Jetten, Jolanda, Haslam, Catherine, Haslam, S. Alexander, Dingle, Genevieve and Jones, Janelle M. (2014). How groups affect our health and well-being: the path from theory to policy. Social Issues and Policy Review, 8 (1), 103-130. doi: 10.1111/sipr.12003
2013
Journal Article
Social group memberships protect against future depression, alleviate depression symptoms and prevent depression relapse
Cruwys, Tegan, Dingle, Genevieve, A, Haslam, Catherine, Haslam, S. Alexander, Jetten, Jolanda and Morton, Thomas A. (2013). Social group memberships protect against future depression, alleviate depression symptoms and prevent depression relapse. Social Science and Medicine, 98, 179-186. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.09.013
2013
Journal Article
Abide with me: religious group identification among older adults promotes health and well-being by maintaining multiple group memberships
Ysseldyk, Renate, Haslam, S. Alexander and Haslam, Catherine (2013). Abide with me: religious group identification among older adults promotes health and well-being by maintaining multiple group memberships. Aging and Mental Health, 17 (7), 869-879. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2013.799120
2012
Journal Article
We can work it out: group decision-making builds social identity and enhances the cognitive performance of care residents
Haslam, Catherine, Haslam, S. Alexander, Knight, Craig, Gleibs, Ilka, Ysseldyk, Renate and McCloskey, Lauren-Grace (2012). We can work it out: group decision-making builds social identity and enhances the cognitive performance of care residents. British Journal of Psychology, 105 (1), 1-18. doi: 10.1111/bjop.12012
2012
Journal Article
“When the age is in, the wit is out”: age-related self-categorization and deficit expectations reduce performance on clinical tests used in dementia assessment
Haslam, Catherine, Morton, Thomas A., Haslam, S. Alexander, Varnes, Laura, Graham, Rosanna and Gamaz, Leila (2012). “When the age is in, the wit is out”: age-related self-categorization and deficit expectations reduce performance on clinical tests used in dementia assessment. Psychology and Aging, 27 (3), 778-784. doi: 10.1037/a0027754
2012
Journal Article
Errorless learning improves memory performance in children with acquired brain injury: a controlled comparison of standard and self-generation techniques
Haslam, Catherine, Bazen-Peters, Claire and Wright, Ingram (2012). Errorless learning improves memory performance in children with acquired brain injury: a controlled comparison of standard and self-generation techniques. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 22 (5), 697-715. doi: 10.1080/09602011.2012.686820
2012
Journal Article
Preservation of person-specific knowledge in semantic memory disorder: a longitudinal investigation in two cases of dementia
Haslam, Catherine and Sabah, Mazen (2012). Preservation of person-specific knowledge in semantic memory disorder: a longitudinal investigation in two cases of dementia. Journal of Neuropsychology, 7 (1), 132-138. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-6653.2012.02030.x
2012
Book
The social cure: Identity, health, and well-being
Jolanda Jetten, Catherine Haslam and S. Alexander Haslam eds. (2012). The social cure: Identity, health, and well-being. New York, United States: Psychology Press.
2012
Book Chapter
The case for a social identity analysis of health and well-being
Jetten, Jolanda, Alexander Haslam, S. and Haslam, Catherine (2012). The case for a social identity analysis of health and well-being. The social cure: identity, health and well-being. (pp. 3-20) edited by Jolanda Jetten, Catherine Haslam and S. Alexander Haslam. New York, NY, United States: Psychology Press. doi: 10.4324/9780203813195-7
2012
Book Chapter
The importance of remembering and deciding together: Enhancing the health and well-being of older adults in care
Haslam, Catherine, Jetten, Jolanda, Alexander Haslam, S. and Knight, Craig P. (2012). The importance of remembering and deciding together: Enhancing the health and well-being of older adults in care. The Social Cure: Identity, Health and Well-Being. (pp. 297-316) Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.4324/9780203813195
2012
Book Chapter
The importance of remembering and deciding together: Enhancing the health and well-being of older adults in care
Haslam, Catherine, Jetten, Jolanda, Haslam, S. Alexander and Knight, Craig P. (2012). The importance of remembering and deciding together: Enhancing the health and well-being of older adults in care. The social cure: Identity, health, and well-being. (pp. 297-315) edited by Jolanda Jetten, Catherine Haslam and S. Alexander Haslam. Hove, East Sussex, United Kingdom: Psychology Press.
2012
Book Chapter
The importance of remembering and deciding together: enhancing the health and well-being of older adults in care
Haslam, Catherine, Jetten, Jolanda, Alexander Haslam, S. and Knight, Craig P. (2012). The importance of remembering and deciding together: enhancing the health and well-being of older adults in care. The social cure: identity, health and well-being. (pp. 297-316) edited by Jolanda Jetten, Catherine Haslam and S. Alexander Haslam. London, United Kingdom: Psychology Press. doi: 10.4324/9780203813195-25
2012
Conference Publication
Errorless learning in children with acquired brain injury: A comparison of standard and self-generation techniques
Haslam, Catherine, Bazen-Peters, Claire and Wright, Ingram (2012). Errorless learning in children with acquired brain injury: A comparison of standard and self-generation techniques. Ninth World Congress on Brain Injury, Edinburgh, Scotland, March 21-25, 2012. Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.
2012
Book Chapter
The case for a social identity analysis of health and well-being
Jetten, Jolanda, Haslam, Catherine and Haslam, S. Alexander (2012). The case for a social identity analysis of health and well-being. The social cure: Identity, health, and well-being. (pp. 3-19) edited by Jolanda Jetten, Catherine Haslam and S. Alexander Haslam. Hove, East Sussex, United Kingdom: Psychology Press.
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
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
Harnessing the potential of community groups to prevent loneliness in older people
Principal Advisor
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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
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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
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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