Somia Imran

Thesis title: Secondary Attachment and Mental Health in Pakistani and Scottish Adolescents

Biography

Background

I completed my PhD in Clinical Psychology (2015-2018) from the University of Edinburgh. My PhD research was focused on attachment relationships particularly secondary attachment, adolescents mental health/wellbeing across cultures, and scale development and validation. Further, during my clinical experience as an Assistant Psychologist (2017- August 2021), I have developed an interest in developing culturally informed psychological assessments and interventions. Previously, in my MSc in Applied Psychology (2012-2014), I examined the association of grandparent-grandchild relationship with empathy and depression in adolescent grandchildren in a mixed-methods study. Also, I have contributed (Research Assistant) to two exciting research projects: 1) Father Friendly Schools (2018; PI: Dr Gitit Kadar-Satat): A collaboration between the Fathers Network Scotland and the University of Edinburgh, and 2) Youth Art View (2017- 2019; PI: Dr Simona Di Folco): A qualitative exploration of youth perception of violence and terrorism through art. Recently (2020), I have contributed (project design, project administration and analysis plan) to an international research project "The Effect of Stress and Confinement on Immunity and Risk of Infection during the Covid-19 Pandemic".

Alongside my PhD, I have been involved in various teaching, mentoring, volunteering and leadership roles. As such, I am a multi-tasking person but also work with priorities, which enables me to perform various roles up to the mark. I am enthusiastic about establishing research collaboration locally, nationally and internationally, so get in touch if you are interested. In my free time, I do yoga, listen to music or spend time with my family.

Qualifications

Trainee Clinical Psychologist (2021-2024), Newcastle University, UK.

PhD in Clinical Psychology (2015-2018) supported by The College Research Awards, University of Edinburgh.

MSc in Applied Psychology (2012-2014) Fatima Jinnah Women University, Pakistan with the Gold Medal Award of Distinction.

Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC; 2019) of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA - 2019), University of Edinburgh.

Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA - 2018), University of Edinburgh.

 

 

Responsibilities & affiliations

 

Awards Nominations

1. Trainee of the year 2020, The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

2. Outstanding alumna 2020 Fatima Jinnah Women University Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

3. Best Student who Tutors EUSA Teaching award 2017-2018 & 2018-2019, University of Edinburgh.

4. Best Personal Tutor EUSA Teaching award 2018-2019, University of Edinburgh.

5. Best Teacher EUSA Teaching award 2019-2020, University of Edinburgh.

 

Postgraduate teaching

Course Tutor University of Edinburgh

  • School of Health in Social Science (October 2016 – September 2019) Teaching and/or Marking

Research Methods in Applied Psychology (MSc)

Conceptual and Theoretical Psychology (MSc)

Evidence based Psychological Interventions (MSc)

Clinical Psychological Problems in Context (undergraduate)

Mental Health and Wellbeing in Nursing Studies (undergraduate)

  • Moray House School of Education (September 2017- December 2017) 

Child and Adolescent Development in Education

Mentoring Fellows of  the Higher Education Academy, University of Edinburgh.

Past Mentees:

Chloë Williamson

 

 

Research summary

Publications

  • 2022   

- Imran, S. & Jackson, S. (2022). Attachment relationships and psychological distress in young adults: The mediating role of self-esteem. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266691532200021X?via%3Dihub

  • 2021

- Kyranides, M.N., Kokkinou, A., Imran, S. et al. (2021). Adult attachment and psychopathic traits: Investigating the role of gender, maternal and paternal factors. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01827-z

  • 2020

- Imran, S., MacBeth, A., Quayle, E., & Chan, S. (2020). Secondary attachment and mental health in Pakistani and Scottish adolescents: A moderated mediation model. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12280

- Imran, S., MacBeth, A., Quayle, E., & Chan, S. (2020). Adaptation of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (Short Form) for Pakistani Adolescents. J Psychol Psychother. 10: 375. doi: 10.35248/2161-0487.20.10.375 https://www.longdom.org/open-access-pdfs/adaptation-of-the-coping-inventory-for-stressful-situations-short-form-for-pakistani-adolescents.pdf

- Imran, S., MacBeth, A., Quayle, E., & Chan, S. (2020). Psychometric properties of the Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (short form) with Pakistani adolescents. J Psychol Psychother, 10: 379.  https://www.longdom.org/open-access-pdfs/psychometric-properties-of-the-experiences-in-close-relationship-scale-short-form-with-pakistani-adolescents.pdf

 

  • Under review

- Imran, S., Haqqani, S., & Qadir, F. (under review). Predictors of empathy and depressive symptoms in adolescent grandchildren.

- Di Folco, S., Imran, S., Cooper, K., & Hackett, C. (under review). “Let it art!” The use of an Art Workshop to explore young people’s understanding of Terrorism in the News and Social Media.

  • In Preparation

- Imran, S., MacBeth, A., Quayle, E., & Chan, S. Gender differences in attachment relationships and mental health in Pakistani and Scottish adolescents 

- Imran, S., MacBeth, A., Quayle, E., & Chan, S. Adaptation of autonomy, competence and relatedness dimensions of the Psychological Wellbeing Scale for Pakistani adolescents

 

PhD Thesis: Secondary attachment and mental health in Pakistani and Scottish adolescents - Three empirical studies were conducted. Study One translated and validated western scales with 400 Pakistani adolescents. For studies Two and Three, parallel school surveys were conducted with independent samples of 510 Pakistani and 610 Scottish adolescents. Data were analysed using t-test, ANCOVA, Correlation, Linear Regression, Confirmatory Factor analysis, Parallel Mediation and Moderated Mediation.

MSc Thesis: Association of grandparent-grandchild relationship with empathy and depression in adolescent grandchildren: A mixed-methods study - A survey was conducted with 317 school adolescents and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 grandparents. Quantitative data were analysed using t-test, ANOVA, Correlation and Logistic Regression. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.

PgDip Dissertation: Primary attachment, secondary attachment, self-esteem and psychological distress in young adults: A mediation model - An online survey with 452 UK young adults.

Current project grants

1. Co-investigator; Project No: 2020/1.15 - HK$ 194,200 by the Research and Development Fund of the President`s Advisory Committee on Research and Development (PACRD) - Title: Self Compassion in adolescents across cultures - Validation of Self-compassion scale and Self-compassion scale for youth in Hong Kong, China and UK adolescents. Duration: 18 months

Invited speaker

"De-colonising Psychology: Cross-cultural Research into Secondary Attachment" October 2021 - organised by Durham's People of Colour Society, Durham University

Organiser

Events Organised:

  • "The Nuts and Bolts of Teaching; Within the PhD and Beyond" July 2021, as a Scottish Developmental Psychology Network committee member.
  • "Virtual Social Event" February 2021, as a Scottish Developmental Psychology Network committee member.
  • "ScotDPN Virtual Launch January 2021", as a Scottish Developmental Psychology Network committee member.
  • "Condolence meeting", July 2019, supported by the School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh.
  • “Mindfulness sessions for Early Career Academics”, June 2019, funded by The IAD Action Fund, University of Edinburgh.
  • “Thinking Impact: Research Impact in Psychology and Beyond”, May 2019, funded by the Psychology Department, University of Dundee. 
  • “Early Career Academics Mental Health Awareness Day”, January 2019,  funded by The IAD Action Fund, University of Edinburgh.
  • "Let`s Talk about Viva Preparation", November 2018, funded by The InspirED Student Funding, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh.
  • "Postgraduate Research Conference", June 2018, supported by the School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh.
  • “Knowledge Exchange & Networking Event”, September 2017, funded by The Innovation Initiative Grant, University of Edinburgh.
  • “Knowledge Exchange & Networking Event for Postgraduates in the School of Health in Social Science”, June 2017, University of Edinburgh.

Participant

Institute of Mental Health International Conference, UCL 2020

Papers delivered

 

Conference Presentations

  • Imran, S., & Jackson, S. (2020). Attachment Relationships and Psychological Distress in Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Self-esteem. "Transforming Mental Health Science 2020" The 12th Annual Scientific Meeting of NHS Research Scotland Mental Health. 

  • Kyranides, M., Kokkinou, A., & Imran, S. (2020). Adult Attachment Styles and Callous-Unemotional Traits: Investigating the Effect of Gender, Maternal and Paternal Factors. "Transforming Mental Health Science 2020" The 12th Annual Scientific Meeting of NHS Research Scotland Mental Health. 

  • Imran, S., MacBeth, A., Quayle, E., & Chan, S. (2019). Poster presentation "Secondary Attachment and Mental Health in Pakistani and Scottish Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model" at the NRS Mental Health Network Annual Scientific Meeting "Lost in Translation? Bringing research evidence to practice and policy". https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342888118_Secondary_Attachment_and_Mental_Health_in_Pakistani_and_Scottish_Adolescents_A_Moderated_Mediation_Model
  • Imran, S., Quayle, E., & Chan, S. (2018). Poster presentation 'Validation Study with Pakistani Adolescents” at the School of Health in Social Science, PGR Conference 2018.
  • Imran, S., Quayle, E., & Chan, S. (2017). Oral presentation “A Cross-cultural Study: Secondary Attachment and Mental Health in Pakistani & Scottish Adolescents” at the 12th International Conference on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, Roehampton University, London.
  • Imran, S., Haqqani, S., & Qadir, F. (2017). Oral presentation “Understanding Inter-generational Symbiosis: The Role of Older Adults as Grandparents in Pakistan Social and Cultural Perspectives on Aging” at the Aging and Society: Seventh Interdisciplinary Conference and the Aging and Society Research Network, University of California Berkley USA.
  • Imran, S., Quayle, E., & Chan, S. (2017). Oral presentation 'Translation & Validation of ECR-12 to use with Pakistani Adolescents” at the School of Health in Social Science, PGR Conference 2017.
  • Imran, S., Quayle, E., & Chan, S. (2017). Poster presentation “Secondary Attachment & Mental Health” at the Neuroscience Day 2017. See the abstract on https://www.edinburghneuroscience.ed.ac.uk/node/2517
  • Imran, S., Quayle, E., & Chan, S. (2016). Poster presentation “Secondary Attachment and Mental health” at the Annual scientific meeting of the Scottish Mental Health Research Network: Mental Health Research in The Digital Age.
  • Imran, S., Quayle, E., & Chan, S. (2016). Oral presentation "Ph.D. study proposal presented at the School of Health in Social Science, PGR Conference 2016.
  • Imran, S., Haqqani, S., & Qadir, F. (2015). Oral presentation "Association of grandparent-grandchild relationship with empathy and depression in adolescent grandchildren" at the 2nd Empathy conference 2015, University of Oxford.

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