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Olivia Hughes   BA, MSc, GMBPsS

Olivia Hughes BA, MSc, GMBPsS

Research student

School of Psychology

Email
HughesOA@cardiff.ac.uk
Campuses
Tower Building, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT

Overview

My research focuses on investigating mindfulness-based online interventions to support families affected by skin conditions. For more information about my work, please see the 'Research' tab.

Undergraduate Education

2016 - 2019: Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Counselling Studies and Psychology - University of Wales Trinity Saint David (First Class Honours).

Postgraduate Education

2020 - Present: Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology), School of Psychology, Cardiff University.

2019 - 2020: Master of Science (MSc) Clinical Psychology and Mental Health - Swansea University (Distinction).

Awards

2019: British Psychological Society Best Undergraduate Dissertation.

2019: Swansea University Taught Masters Excellence Scholarship.

Membership

Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP) 'Teach Paws B' to 7-11 Year old Children: Qualified Teacher. 

Graduate Member of The British Psychological Society (GMBPsS).

Publication

2023

2022

Erthyglau

Research

My research interests include visible difference and the psychological impact of living with a skin condition (e.g. psoriasis, eczema, acne, vitiligo, ichthyosis, etc.). I am passionate about raising awareness of the need for psychological support in routine dermatological care across the UK, and my PhD research focuses on mindfulness-based support for families affected by skin conditions.

I am a Trustee to Skin Care Cymru, and featured in BBC article "Instagram: From boy bullied for acne to beauty guru." I was also part of the Welsh Senedd Cross Party Group on Skin, working with Skin Care Cymru and the Welsh government to address issues relating to skin conditions. I am a Patient Associate Editor for the British Journal of Dermatology and produce plain language summaries of research articles, as highlighted in our editorial: Patient Engagement with the BJD: Encouraging the patient voice and readership. Additionally, I am a Patient Representative for the British Association of Dermatologists Biologics Intervention Register (BADBIR). I have co-delivered a workshop on the 'Psychological and Psychosocial Impact of Living with Ichthyosis' for the Ichthyosis Support Group, and I worked as part of the report writing team for the Global Atlas for Atopic Dermatitis (GADA).

I have had several empirical studies published, including my undergraduate dissertation: stigma, social appearance anxiety and coping in men and women with skin conditions, and my masters dissertation: the experiences of anger in the onset and progression of psoriasis. I have also had some of my doctoral research published, investigating the parent and child experience of skin conditions: relevance for the provision of mindfulness-based interventions (author video here), and a systematic review of mindfulness-based interventions for children, adolescents, and their parents.

I previously worked as an Honorary Assistant Psychologist in the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea (February - December 2020), and co-authored a study investigating the use of inpatient goal planning in a regional burns centre: A thematic analysis of staff and patient experiences.

Thesis

Mindfulness Based Online Support for Children and Families Affected by Skin Conditions.

Supervisors

Katherine Shelton

Katherine Shelton

Head of School

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Skin Conditions
  • Visible Difference
  • Psychodermatology
  • Mindfulness