Dr Tracy Stewart

Lecturer in Developmental Psychology

Biography

Background

Dr Tracy Stewart is a Lecturer in Developmental Psychology in Moray House School of Education and Sport. 

Tracy is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a member of the Cognitive, Clinical  and Developmental Sections. Tracy is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Tracy joined the Universtiy of Edinburgh in 2017. 

Qualifications

  • BA (Hons) Psychology
  • PhD, Psychology
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Undergraduate teaching

MA Primary and MA Education: 

  • Educational Studies 2A (course organiser)
  • Cognitive and Social Child Development in Education (course organiser)

Postgraduate teaching

MSc Education:

  • Psychology of Learning and Teaching 

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Research summary

Tracy's research interests encompass the areas of clinical, cognitive and developmental psychology.

Tracy is interested in the typical and atypical development of cognitive and emotional factors that give rise to pre-clinical symptoms and clinical disorders, particularly depression across adolescence.

Tracy’s research has explored the longitudinal relationships between emotional factors such as rumination and executive functions including higher order cognitive control processes and autobiographical memory in childhood and adolescence. Furthermore, Tracy has investigated the role of childhood trauma on the development of autobiographical memory.

Tracy’s also works in a research capacity with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to profile learning and cognition in children on the waiting list for an ADHD diagnosis. This involves working with children, parents/carers, clinicians, schools and teachers and has a school-based learning intervention arm.  

Tracy is also interested in the links across these research areas, such as the mental wellbeing of children and adolescents with developmental disorders, links between mental health, learning and school exclusion.

Understanding suicide and self-harm is also of key interest to Tracy and she has investigated lay perceptions of self-harm and suicide.

Project activity

In addition to current grants, I am working on a number of ongoing projects: 

2020-2021: In isolation, instead of school (INISS): vulnerable children’s experiences of Covid 19 and effects on mental health and education. Collaborators: Dr Gillean McCluskey (PI: Prof in Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh), Prof Lesley McAra, Director of Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh, Dr Debi Fry, End Violence Lab, University of Edinburgh, Albert King, Deputy Chief Data Officer, Scottish Government, Dr Sarah Hamilton, Research, Evaluation and Participation Manager for UNICEF UK. 

2018-2020: A Systematic Review of the Rates of Depression in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dr Sinead Rhodes, (Senior Research Fellow, CCBS, University of Edinburgh), and Katie Martin (Medical student, University of Edinburgh). 

2017-2021: Project Manager for a large scale Learning and Cognition in ADHD profiling project. Collaborators: Dr Josie Booth (Lecturer, Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh) and Dr Sinead Rhodes, PI (Senior Research Fellow, CCBS, University of Edinburgh), Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) NHS Lothian. 

2017-2020:  Cognitive associations of adolescent depression stigma. Collaborators: Dr Duncan Carmichael (Lecturer, Edinburgh Napier University).

Ongoing areas of interest: 

Cognitive emotional profile of adolescent depression and anxiety.

Mental health in developmental disorders.

School exclusion and mental health.

Current project grants

2020-2021: In isolation, instead of school (INISS): vulnerable children’s experiences of Covid 19 and effects on mental health and education, £25,000 (Co-I). Collaborators: Dr Gillean McCluskey (PI: Prof in Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh), Prof Lesley McAra, Director of Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh, Dr Debi Fry, End Violence Lab, University of Edinburgh, Albert King, Deputy Chief Data Officer, Scottish Government, Dr Sarah Hamilton, Research, Evaluation and Participation Manager for UNICEF UK.

2019-2021: Development of a clinical screening instrument for depression symptoms in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre Advisory Centre, £66,323.33 (Co-I). Collaborators: Dr Rachael Wood (Salvesen Mindoom Clinical Research Fellow and Public Health Consultant, University of Edinburgh, NHS Scotland), Dr Stella Chan (Reader in Clinical Psychology, University of Edinburgh), Dr Andrew McKechanie (Clinical Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh), Dr Ereni Skouta, (NHS Lothian Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry), Dr Jacqui Rodgers (Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of Newcastle), Dr Leila Mackie (Speech and Language Therapist NHS Lothian, NRS Clinical Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh), Professor Anne O’Hare (Paediatrician, NHS Lothian and Professor in Child, Life and Health, University of Edinburgh) and Dr Sinead Rhodes, PI (Senior Research Fellow, CCBS, University of Edinburgh).

2019-2021: Development and feasibility of a learning intervention in children with ADHD. Shortened Title: Learning Intervention in ADHD. Waterloo Foundation, £57,238.00 (Co-I). Collaborators: Dr Josie Booth (Lecturer, Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh) and Dr Sinead Rhodes, PI (Senior Research Fellow, CCBS, University of Edinburgh).

2019-2020: Development of an interactive mobile app to support parents and carers of children going through the autism diagnosis pathway (2019). Healthier Lives Data Fund, Scottish Government Grant, £30,000 (Co-I). Collaborators: Dr Sue Fletcher-Watson (Director of Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre, University of Edinburgh), Professor Anne O’Hare, (Paediatrician, NHS Lothian and Professor in Child, Life and Health, University of Edinburgh), Dr Sinead Rhodes, (Senior Research Fellow, CCBS, University of Edinburgh), Marion Rutherford (Speech and Language Therapist, National Autism Improvement Team Lead, Scottish Government/ Senior Research Fellow, Queen Margaret University), Dr Rachael Wood (Salvesen Mindoom Clinical Research Fellow and Public Health Consultant, University of Edinburgh, NHS Scotland) and Dr Louise Marryat PI (Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh).

2019: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) for student teachers. IAD Action Fund Grant, £450 (PI). Collaborators: Dr Katie Cebula (Senior Lecturer, Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh), Frances Griffin (Place2Be), Elizabeth Hay (MSc student, University of Edinburgh), Katherine Brack (MSc student, University of Edinburgh) and Emma Wood (MSc student, University of Edinburgh).

2019: Supporting Pupils, Sustaining Practice: Strategies to Nurture Mental Health (2018). Student Experience Grant, £2,154 (Co-I). Collaborators: Dr Katie Cebula (Senior Lecturer, Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh), Frances Griffin (Place2Be), Elizabeth Hay (MSc student, University of Edinburgh), Katherine Brack (MSc student, University of Edinburgh) and Emma Wood, PI (MSc student, University of Edinburgh).

Past project grants

University of Strathclyde PhD Funding award (2012): Studentship – investigating cognitive and emotional factors which contribute to the development and maintenance of depression, £45K, PI. Collaborators: Dr Sinead Rhodes (Senior Research Fellow, CCBS, University of Edinburgh) and Dr Simon Hunter (Senior Lecturer, University of Strathclyde).

Internship Grant for Research (2011): Examining perceptions of suicide, £2.5K, PI. Collaborators: Dr Susan Rasmussen (Senior Lecturer, University of Strathclyde).

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