Overview
Background
Dr Laura Ferris is a Senior Lecturer in Management and Clinical Psychologist at the UQ Business School. Her research investigates pain, suffering and other intense human experiences, drawing on organisational, clinical, and social psychological approaches. Dr Ferris and her team use integrative mixed methods to examine group formation and cohesion, ostracism, conformity, risk-taking, intergroup threat perception, and broader social identity processes in organisational settings. Her interdisciplinary work is informed by a background in public service, law and justice policy, and multiagency crisis response. Dr Ferris also maintains a private practice in clinical psychology.
Availability
- Dr Laura Ferris is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Law, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Masters (Research), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Laura Ferris’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2026
Journal Article
Benign masochism in the wild: pleasure predicts social identification at aversive mass gatherings
Ferris, Laura J., Cruwys, Tegan, Young, Tarli, Bastian, Brock and Jetten, Jolanda (2026). Benign masochism in the wild: pleasure predicts social identification at aversive mass gatherings. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 21 (4), 709-719. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2025.2512810
2025
Journal Article
Vaccine uptake and adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions at a youth mass gathering event: a longitudinal field cohort study
Ferris, Laura J., Kang, Jemima, Rathbone, Joanne A., Cruwys, Tegan, Stevens, Mark, Donaldson, Jessica L., Ranse, Jamie and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2025). Vaccine uptake and adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions at a youth mass gathering event: a longitudinal field cohort study. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 65 102853, 102853. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2025.102853
Featured
2024
Journal Article
A 30-nation investigation of lay heritability beliefs
Ferris, Laura J., Hornsey, Matthew J., Morosoli, José J., Milfont, Taciano L. and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2024). A 30-nation investigation of lay heritability beliefs. Public Understanding of Science, 33 (8), 940-960. doi: 10.1177/09636625241245030
2022
Journal Article
Mental health and well‐being of anaesthetists during the COVID‐19 pandemic: a scoping review
Paterson, E., Paterson, N. A. B. and Ferris, L. J. (2022). Mental health and well‐being of anaesthetists during the COVID‐19 pandemic: a scoping review. Anaesthesia, 78 (2), 197-206. doi: 10.1111/anae.15879
Featured
2019
Journal Article
Feeling hurt: revisiting the relationship between social and physical pain
Ferris, Laura J., Jetten, Jolanda, Hornsey, Matthew J. and Bastian, Brock (2019). Feeling hurt: revisiting the relationship between social and physical pain. Review of General Psychology, 23 (3), 320-335. doi: 10.1177/1089268019857936
2026
Journal Article
Occupational stress in anaesthetists: a narrative review of psychosocial risk management using a human factors systems approach
Paterson, Estrella, Way, Kïrsten A., Paterson, Neil A.B. and Ferris, Laura J. (2026). Occupational stress in anaesthetists: a narrative review of psychosocial risk management using a human factors systems approach. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 137 (2), 579-590. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2026.04.037
2026
Journal Article
Beyond WEIRD societies: global social identifications across 45 countries and their socio-cultural and economic predictors
Hamer, Katarzyna, Penczek, Marta, Marcinkowska, Karolina, Nowak, Bartek, Branowska, Katarzyna, Sparkman, David, Loy, Laura S., Baran, Maria, Okvitawanli, Ayu, Gkinopoulos, Theofilos, Hackett, Justin D., Bertin, Paul, Carmona, Margarida, Guerra, Rita, Wlodarczyk, Anna, Akello, Grace, Albarello, Flavia, Ashraf, Mujeeba, Bednarowicz, Maja, Beixiang, Liang, Benningstad, Nora, Bierwiaczonek, Kinga, Bornman, Elirea, Bosak, Janine, Darkwah, Ernest, Delouvee, Sylvain, Eder, Stephanie J., Enea, Violeta, Espinosa, Augustin ... Yemelyanova, Yelena (2026). Beyond WEIRD societies: global social identifications across 45 countries and their socio-cultural and economic predictors. Political Psychology, 47 (3) e70134. doi: 10.1111/pops.70134
2026
Journal Article
Physical activity to reduce cardiometabolic risk in veterans and their families: protocol for an interdisciplinary investigation with toolkit co-design
Ferris, Laura J., Hawke, Philip, Knight, Emma, Burton, Nicola W. and Keating, Shelley E. (2026). Physical activity to reduce cardiometabolic risk in veterans and their families: protocol for an interdisciplinary investigation with toolkit co-design. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 7 1716823, 1-8. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1716823
2026
Book Chapter
Vaccine Demand: Theory and Evidence on Psychological and Social Drivers
Ferris, Laura and Hornsey, Matthew (2026). Vaccine Demand: Theory and Evidence on Psychological and Social Drivers. Socio-Technological Relationships in Vaccine Systems. (pp. 193-213) Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-95-8349-2_9
2025
Conference Publication
Co-designing M-OHAT: Modified Oral Health Assessment Tool for Age Care
Ludlow, Kristiana, Ferris, Laura, Walker, Nicole, See, Lydia, Zamora, Angelique, Pritchard, Lyndal, Silveira Schuch, Helena, Ha, Diep Hong, Stormon, Nicole, Walsh, Laurence J., Lopez Silva, Claudia, Sexton, Christopher, McNamara, Steven, Fung, Cheuk Kee C., Brodie, Alison, Henry, Julie, Nangle, Matthew, Georgiou, Andrew, Ivanovski, Saso, Tuffaha, Haitham, Ramsey, Sarah, Head, Tamatha and Do, Loc Giang (2025). Co-designing M-OHAT: Modified Oral Health Assessment Tool for Age Care. International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, Barcelona, Spain, 25-28 June 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Multi-disciplinary clinical collaboration in modifying the Oral Health Assessment Tool
See, Lydia, Ludlow, Kristiana, Ha, Diep, Fung, Cheuk-Kee, Walsh, Laurence J., Pritchard, Lyndal, Zamora, Angelique, McNamara, Steven, Silveira Schuch, Helena, Lopez Silva, Claudia, Stormon, Nicole, Ferris, Laura, Walker, Nicole, Sexton, Christopher, Henry, Julie, Georgiou, Andrew, Nangle, Matthew, Ivanovski, Saso, Tuffaha, Haitham, Ramsey, Sarah, Head, Tamatha and Do, Loc (2025). Multi-disciplinary clinical collaboration in modifying the Oral Health Assessment Tool. International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, Barcelona, Spain, 25-28 June 2025.
2025
Journal Article
Multiple group membership and trust protect against distress in the context of unwanted sexual experiences at a youth mass gathering
Foran, Aoife-Marie, Cruwys, Tegan, Rathbone, Joanne A., Ferris, Laura J., Jetten, Jolanda, McMahon, Grace, Manunta, Efisio, Whelan, Éadaoin and Muldoon, Orla T. (2025). Multiple group membership and trust protect against distress in the context of unwanted sexual experiences at a youth mass gathering. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 41 (5-6), 8862605251318278-1036. doi: 10.1177/08862605251318278
2025
Journal Article
The cosmic calendar: being reminded of the vastness of time can improve wellbeing
Hornsey, Matthew J., Tyson, Courtney, Ferris, Laura J., Crimston, Charlie R., Faulkner, Callum and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2025). The cosmic calendar: being reminded of the vastness of time can improve wellbeing. Journal of Positive Psychology, 21 (2), 1-12. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2025.2481039
2025
Other Outputs
Interdisciplinary Co-designed Modified Oral Health Assessment Tool (M-OHAT)
Do, Loc, Ludlow, Kristiana, Walker, Nicole, Ferris, Laura, Ha, Diep, Schuch, Helena Silveira, Lopez Silva, Claudia Patricia, Stormon, Nicole, Walsh, Laurence J, Fung, Cheuk Candy, Khan, Sadaf Aiman, Le, Thu, McNamara, Steven, Pritchard, Lyndal, See, Lydia, Zamora, Angelique, Georgiou, Andrew, Henry, Julie, Ivanovski, Saso, Nangle, Matthew, Christopher Sexton, Tuffaha, Haitham, Head, Tamantha, Ramsey, Sarah, Couper, Erin and Wood, Leanne (2025). Interdisciplinary Co-designed Modified Oral Health Assessment Tool (M-OHAT). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/64d7b35
2024
Conference Publication
Emotionally guided symbolic music generation using diffusion models: the AGE-DM approach
Zhang, Mingzhe, Ferris, Laura J., Yue, Lin and Xu, Miao (2024). Emotionally guided symbolic music generation using diffusion models: the AGE-DM approach. MMAsia '24, Auckland, New Zealand, 3 - 6 December 2024. New York, NY, United States: ACM. doi: 10.1145/3696409.3700289
2024
Journal Article
Scoping review of veterans’ disclosure of mental health concerns or medical conditions in the workplace and other settings: study protocol
Knight, Emma B., O’Quinn, Richard, Young, Tarli, Brienza, Justin P. and Ferris, Laura J. (2024). Scoping review of veterans’ disclosure of mental health concerns or medical conditions in the workplace and other settings: study protocol. BMJ Open, 14 (12) e083574, e083574. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083574
2024
Journal Article
Modified Oral Health Assessment Tool (M-OHAT) for residential aged care: A co-design protocol
Ferris, Laura J., Ludlow, Kristiana, Walker, Nicole, Georgiou, Andrew, Henry, Julie D., Lopez Silva, Claudia, Ha, Diep H., Stormon, Nicole, Walsh, Laurence J., Ivanovski, Saso, Sexton, Christopher, Silveira Schuch, Helena, Tuffaha, Haitham, Zamora, Angelique, Pritchard, Lyndal and Do, Loc G. (2024). Modified Oral Health Assessment Tool (M-OHAT) for residential aged care: A co-design protocol. Healthcare, 12 (19) 1953, 1-10. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12191953
2024
Newspaper Article
Military veterans with PTSD face an agonising choice: the stigma of declaring it to employers or being denied support
O'Quinn, Richard, Knight, Emma, Brienza, Justin P., Ferris, Laura and Young, Tarli (2024, 09 02). Military veterans with PTSD face an agonising choice: the stigma of declaring it to employers or being denied support The Conversation
2023
Journal Article
The reciprocal relationship between social identity and adherence to group norms
Rathbone, Joanne A., Cruwys, Tegan, Stevens, Mark, Ferris, Laura J. and Reynolds, Katherine J. (2023). The reciprocal relationship between social identity and adherence to group norms. British Journal of Social Psychology, 62 (3), 1346-1362. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12635
2023
Journal Article
Psychosocial interventions and strategies to support young people at mass gathering events: a scoping review
Beckwith, D., Ferris, L.J., Cruwys, T., Hutton, A., Hertelendy, A. and Ranse, J. (2023). Psychosocial interventions and strategies to support young people at mass gathering events: a scoping review. Public Health, 220, 187-195. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.05.006
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Laura Ferris is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Weakly Supervised Learning for Mental Health
Associate Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the Relationship between Destination Image and Young Tourists' Risk-taking: Considering Roles of Psycho-social Factors
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gabby Walters, Dr Jie Wang
Media
Enquiries
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