Dr Caitlyn Donaldson

BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD

Publication

• Date
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Research

My current research is focused on using large school datasets to explore different aspects of children and young people’s school experiences and their impacts on mental health. This includes factors such as home and school language interactions, school and year group climate, changes in school connectedness trends over time and how peer networks might support or hinder development of school connectedness. Alongside this, I continue to work on school transition-related projects, collaborating with academics from other UK universities.

Biography

I am currently a research associate at Cardiff University, based across DECIPHer and the Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health. I completed my PhD at the end of 2022 looking at the transition from primary to secondary school and young people’s mental health. Since completing my PhD I have worked on a number of projects including the expansion of the School Health Research Network into primary schools and the evaluation of the Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Wellbeing. Prior to my PhD I worked in the third sector in academic publishing and public health research having completed my BSc(Hons) in Human Sciences from University College London in 2004, and my MSc in Social Research Methods from the Open University in 2014.

Professional memberships

I am a member of the Cardiff University EMPOWER gender equality network, the British Academy early career researcher network and the GW4 children and young people’s mental health network. I am also currently participating in the NIHR-funded mental health incubator peer coaching (PeCo) programme and have recently completed the Wellcome-funded Cardiff University Ignite research culture development programme.

Speaking engagements

·         21^st August 2025, International Conference on Educational and Life Transitions, Dundee University. Transition from primary to secondary school: Individual and school environment predictors of mental health and wellbeing.

·         30^th April 2025, School Health Research Network webinar to schools. The Role of School Environment in Learners' Mental Health During the Transition from Primary to Secondary School. Role of School Environment in Learners' Mental Health During Transition from Primary to Secondary - YouTube

·         3^rd December 2024, EMPOWER network conference, Cardiff. From third sector to academia. Poster presentation.

·         30^th October 2024, Cardiff University Doctoral Academy Forum, Panellist. Mind-Body Interactions: The Dynamic Relationship Between Physical Health and Mental Well-being

·         18^th September 2024, CLOSER ECR conference, London. Trajectories of mental health across the primary to secondary school transition.

·         11^th September 2024, British Educational Research Association (BERA) conference, Manchester University. Mental health, bullying and school connectedness: A comparative analysis of school transition from within the Welsh education system.

·         18^th June 2024, Flash talk presentation – Learned Society of Wales ECR conference, Bangor University. Creating a healthier Wales: Child mental health and the role of schools.

·         14^th May 2024, The OU Centre for Children’s Wellbeing. School transition interventions and young people’s mental health: A systematic review.

·         19^th March 2024, School Health Research Network webinar to schools. School transition, socioeconomic status and mental health. School Transition: Socioeconomic Status and Mental Health

·         6^th December 2023, Research Centre for Transformative Change: Educational & Life Transitions (TCELT), Dundee University. Conceptualising the Primary to Secondary School Transition within the Theoretical Framework of Ecosocial Theory.

·         14^th, 15^th, 23^rd November 2023, Schools in Vale of Glamorgan clusters. An introduction to the School Health Research Network

·         13^th September 2023, British Educational Research Association (BERA) conference, Aston University. School transition interventions and young people’s mental health: A systematic review.

·         6^th July 2023, Poster Presentation – Learned Society of Wales ECR conference, Swansea University. High jumping into secondary education: School transition and health inequalities. Awarded: 2^nd place

·         25^th May 2022, Breaking Boundaries, Doctoral Academy Cardiff University: Predictors of mental health across the transition to secondary school. Awarded: 1^st place

Committees and reviewing

I was on the organising committee for the 2025 Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health summer school: Summer School - Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health - Cardiff University

I was also on the organising committee for the Learned Society of Wales’ annual ECR colloquium in 2025: ECR Colloquium 2025 - The Learned Society of Wales and am a member of the Learned Society of Wales’ advisory group for researcher development: Advisory Group for Researcher Development - The Learned Society of Wales