![Amy Paine FHEA BSc, PhD](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/4350?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Amy Paine
(she/her)
FHEA BSc, PhD
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Amy Paine
Senior Lecturer
Overview
Research summary
My core research area is social development, with a focus on protective factors in children's close relationships such as family members and friends. I lead The Play Research Centre where we investigate the important role of play in supporting children's development, wellbeing, and connection with others across different settings, from family life to educational and healthcare environments.
I am also interested in understanding the social, emotional, and cognitive mechanisms that underpin emotional and behavioural difficulties in childhood. I am the Co-Director of the Neurodevelopment Assessment Unit in the Cardiff University Centre for Human Developmental Science and I am co-leading projects aiming to develop understanding of the experiences and support needs of adoptive and special guardianship families.
Teaching summary
I contribute to teaching on the BSc in Psychology Developmental Psychology module in Year 2 and the Research Methods in Developmental Psychology module in Final Year.
At postgraduate level, I am the Placement Co-ordinator for the MSc in Psychology. I also contribute to teaching and supervise dissertation projects and personal tutees on the MSc in Children's Psychological Conditions.
Publication
2025
- Dorrans, E. M. et al. 2025. Associations between parental depression and anxiety and children’s internalizing and externalizing problems: Investigating expressed emotion as a transdiagnostic mechanism. Child Psychiatry and Human Development (10.1007/s10578-025-01916-1)
- Janes, E. et al. 2025. Adoptive parents' experiences of birth parent contact in the years after placement. Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science 74 (5), pp.2487-2506. (10.1111/fare.70032)
- Paine, A. L. 2025. Sibling interaction as a context for children's developing theory of mind. In: Handbook of the Psychology of Sibling Relationships. Springer Nature
- Paine, A. L. , Perra, O. and Shelton, K. H. 2025. Adopted children’s internalizing symptoms and externalizing problems 8 years post-placement: Developmental trajectories and transitions. Development and Psychopathology (10.1017/S0954579425100175)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2025. Humorous peer play and social understanding in childhood. Communications Psychology 3 76. (10.1038/s44271-025-00252-3)
- Tong, M. et al. 2025. The longitudinal impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children’s and parents’ mental health outcomes: a systematic review. European Journal of Developmental Psychology 22 (5), pp.693-728. (10.1080/17405629.2025.2533160)
2024
- Paine, A. and Maclean, F. 2024. “When you're hurt and you need serious help you call 999” Educating children about emergency services and appropriate use of 999: An evaluation study of the Blue Light Hub app. BMJ Open 14 (6) e079214. (10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079214)
2023
- Chawner, S. J. et al. 2023. Neurodevelopmental dimensional assessment of young children at high genomic risk of neuropsychiatric conditions. JCPP Advances 3 (2) e12162. (10.1002/jcv2.12162)
- Howe, N. et al., 2023. “The chug is coming through!” “There’s two chuggas!”: A longitudinal study of the social function of imitation in children’s play with siblings and friends. Social Development 32 (3), pp.1060-1074. (10.1111/sode.12664)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2023. Adoptive parents’ finances and employment status: a 5-year longitudinal study european child & adolescent psychiatry. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 32 , pp.1305-1316. (10.1007/s00787-022-01946-3)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2023. Facial emotion recognition in adopted children. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 32 , pp.87-99. (10.1007/s00787-021-01829-z)
- Petrican, R. et al. 2023. Overlapping brain correlates of superior cognition among children at genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease and/or major depressive disorder. Scientific Reports 13 (1), pp.984. (10.1038/s41598-023-28057-6)
2022
- Anthony, R. et al. 2022. Patterns of adversity and post-traumatic stress among children adopted from care. Child Abuse and Neglect 130 (P2) 104795. (10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104795)
- Hashmi, S. et al., 2022. Engaged in play: Seven-year-olds’ engagement with the play frame when playing with toy figures and their engagement with the fictional world of a video game. Cognitive Development 63 101230. (10.1016/j.cogdev.2022.101230)
- Hashmi, S. et al. 2022. Doll play prompts social thinking and social talking: representations of internal state language in the brain. Developmental Science 25 (2) e13163. (10.1111/desc.13163)
- Hay, D. F. , Paine, A. and Robinson, C. 2022. Young children's cooperation and conflict with other children. In: Lockman, J. ed. Advances in Child Development and Behavior. Vol. 63, Advances in Child Development and Behavior Elsevier. , pp.225-248. (10.1016/bs.acdb.2022.04.004)
- Howe, N. , Paine, A. L. and Leach, J. 2022. Communication and emotions in conversations within children’s close relationships. In: Altarriba, J. , Schiewer, G. and Chin, N. B. eds. Language and Emotion: An International Handbook Volume 2. Vol. 2, Handbooks of Linguistics and Communication Science (HSK) Vol. 46.2.De Gruyter Brill. , pp.979-989. (10.1515/9783110670851)
- Howe, N. et al., 2022. Sibling relations in early and middle childhood. In: Smith, P. K. and Hart, C. H. eds. The Handbook of Childhood Social Development, 3rd edition. Wiley-Blackwell. , pp.443-458. (10.1002/9781119679028.ch24)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2022. “A pirate goes nee-nor-nee-nor!” Humor with siblings in middle childhood: a window to social understanding?. Developmental Psychology 58 (10), pp.1986-1998. (10.1037/dev0001403)
- Waters, C. S. et al. 2022. The impact of a specialist home-visiting intervention on the language outcomes of young mothers and their children: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. BMC Psychology 10 224. (10.1186/s40359-022-00926-1)
2021
- Hashmi, S. , Paine, A. L. and Hay, D. F. 2021. Seven-year-olds’ references to internal states when playing with toy figures and a video game. Infant and Child Development 30 (3) e2223. (10.1002/icd.2223)
- Hay, D. F. et al. 2021. Prosocial and Aggressive Behavior: A Longitudinal Study. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development 86 (2), pp.7-103. (10.1111/mono.12427)
- Meakings, S. , Paine, A. L. and Shelton, K. H. 2021. Birth sibling relationships after adoption: the experience of contact with brothers and sisters living elsewhere. British Journal of Social Work 51 (7), pp.2478-2499. (10.1093/bjsw/bcaa053)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2021. The neurocognitive profiles of children adopted from care and their emotional and behavioral problems at home and school. Child Neuropsychology 27 (1), pp.17-36. (10.1080/09297049.2020.1776241)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2021. Early adversity predicts adoptees’ enduring emotional and behavioral problems in childhood. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 30 , pp.721-732. (10.1007/s00787-020-01553-0)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2021. “Goosebump man. That’s funny!” Humor with siblings and friends from early to middle childhood. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 77 101321. (10.1016/j.appdev.2021.101321)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2021. “Where’s your bum brain?” Humor, social understanding, and sibling relationship quality in early childhood. Social Development 30 (2), pp.592-611. (10.1111/sode.12488)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2021. Charting the trajectories of adopted children’s emotional and behavioral problems: The impact of early adversity and post-adoptive parental warmth. Development and Psychopathology 33 (3), pp.922-936. (10.1017/S0954579420000231)
- Perra, O. , Paine, A. L. and Hay, D. F. 2021. Continuity and change in anger and aggressiveness from infancy to childhood: The protective effects of positive parenting. Development and Psychopathology 33 (3), pp.937-956. (10.1017/S0954579420000243)
2020
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2020. Assessing the impact of a family nurse-led intervention on young mothers’ references to internal states. Infant Mental Health Journal 41 (4), pp.463-476. (10.1002/imhj.21849)
2019
- Anthony, R. E. , Paine, A. L. and Shelton, K. H. 2019. Adverse childhood experiences of children adopted from care: The importance of adoptive parental warmth for future child adjustment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16 (12) 2212. (10.3390/ijerph16122212)
- Anthony, R. E. , Paine, A. L. and Shelton, K. H. 2019. Depression and anxiety symptoms of british adoptive parents: a prospective four-wave longitudinal study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16 (24), pp.-. 5153. (10.3390/ijerph16245153)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2019. Concurrent associations between mothers' references to internal states and children's social understanding in middle childhood. Social Development 28 (3), pp.529-548. (10.1111/sode.12356)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2019. 'H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, PEE! Get it? Pee!': Siblings' shared humour in childhood. British Journal of Developmental Psychology 37 (3), pp.336-353. (10.1111/bjdp.12277)
2018
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2018. Late, but not early, arriving younger siblings foster firstborns' understanding of second-order false belief. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 166 , pp.251-265. (10.1016/j.jecp.2017.08.007)
2017
Articles
- Anthony, R. et al. 2022. Patterns of adversity and post-traumatic stress among children adopted from care. Child Abuse and Neglect 130 (P2) 104795. (10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104795)
- Anthony, R. E. , Paine, A. L. and Shelton, K. H. 2019. Adverse childhood experiences of children adopted from care: The importance of adoptive parental warmth for future child adjustment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16 (12) 2212. (10.3390/ijerph16122212)
- Anthony, R. E. , Paine, A. L. and Shelton, K. H. 2019. Depression and anxiety symptoms of british adoptive parents: a prospective four-wave longitudinal study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16 (24), pp.-. 5153. (10.3390/ijerph16245153)
- Chawner, S. J. et al. 2023. Neurodevelopmental dimensional assessment of young children at high genomic risk of neuropsychiatric conditions. JCPP Advances 3 (2) e12162. (10.1002/jcv2.12162)
- Dorrans, E. M. et al. 2025. Associations between parental depression and anxiety and children’s internalizing and externalizing problems: Investigating expressed emotion as a transdiagnostic mechanism. Child Psychiatry and Human Development (10.1007/s10578-025-01916-1)
- Hashmi, S. , Paine, A. L. and Hay, D. F. 2021. Seven-year-olds’ references to internal states when playing with toy figures and a video game. Infant and Child Development 30 (3) e2223. (10.1002/icd.2223)
- Hashmi, S. et al., 2022. Engaged in play: Seven-year-olds’ engagement with the play frame when playing with toy figures and their engagement with the fictional world of a video game. Cognitive Development 63 101230. (10.1016/j.cogdev.2022.101230)
- Hashmi, S. et al. 2022. Doll play prompts social thinking and social talking: representations of internal state language in the brain. Developmental Science 25 (2) e13163. (10.1111/desc.13163)
- Hay, D. F. et al. 2021. Prosocial and Aggressive Behavior: A Longitudinal Study. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development 86 (2), pp.7-103. (10.1111/mono.12427)
- Howe, N. et al., 2023. “The chug is coming through!” “There’s two chuggas!”: A longitudinal study of the social function of imitation in children’s play with siblings and friends. Social Development 32 (3), pp.1060-1074. (10.1111/sode.12664)
- Janes, E. et al. 2025. Adoptive parents' experiences of birth parent contact in the years after placement. Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science 74 (5), pp.2487-2506. (10.1111/fare.70032)
- Meakings, S. , Paine, A. L. and Shelton, K. H. 2021. Birth sibling relationships after adoption: the experience of contact with brothers and sisters living elsewhere. British Journal of Social Work 51 (7), pp.2478-2499. (10.1093/bjsw/bcaa053)
- Paine, A. and Maclean, F. 2024. “When you're hurt and you need serious help you call 999” Educating children about emergency services and appropriate use of 999: An evaluation study of the Blue Light Hub app. BMJ Open 14 (6) e079214. (10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079214)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2021. The neurocognitive profiles of children adopted from care and their emotional and behavioral problems at home and school. Child Neuropsychology 27 (1), pp.17-36. (10.1080/09297049.2020.1776241)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2020. Assessing the impact of a family nurse-led intervention on young mothers’ references to internal states. Infant Mental Health Journal 41 (4), pp.463-476. (10.1002/imhj.21849)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2021. Early adversity predicts adoptees’ enduring emotional and behavioral problems in childhood. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 30 , pp.721-732. (10.1007/s00787-020-01553-0)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2023. Adoptive parents’ finances and employment status: a 5-year longitudinal study european child & adolescent psychiatry. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 32 , pp.1305-1316. (10.1007/s00787-022-01946-3)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2022. “A pirate goes nee-nor-nee-nor!” Humor with siblings in middle childhood: a window to social understanding?. Developmental Psychology 58 (10), pp.1986-1998. (10.1037/dev0001403)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2019. Concurrent associations between mothers' references to internal states and children's social understanding in middle childhood. Social Development 28 (3), pp.529-548. (10.1111/sode.12356)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2021. “Goosebump man. That’s funny!” Humor with siblings and friends from early to middle childhood. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 77 101321. (10.1016/j.appdev.2021.101321)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2019. 'H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, PEE! Get it? Pee!': Siblings' shared humour in childhood. British Journal of Developmental Psychology 37 (3), pp.336-353. (10.1111/bjdp.12277)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2021. “Where’s your bum brain?” Humor, social understanding, and sibling relationship quality in early childhood. Social Development 30 (2), pp.592-611. (10.1111/sode.12488)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2018. Late, but not early, arriving younger siblings foster firstborns' understanding of second-order false belief. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 166 , pp.251-265. (10.1016/j.jecp.2017.08.007)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2021. Charting the trajectories of adopted children’s emotional and behavioral problems: The impact of early adversity and post-adoptive parental warmth. Development and Psychopathology 33 (3), pp.922-936. (10.1017/S0954579420000231)
- Paine, A. L. , Perra, O. and Shelton, K. H. 2025. Adopted children’s internalizing symptoms and externalizing problems 8 years post-placement: Developmental trajectories and transitions. Development and Psychopathology (10.1017/S0954579425100175)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2023. Facial emotion recognition in adopted children. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 32 , pp.87-99. (10.1007/s00787-021-01829-z)
- Paine, A. L. et al. 2025. Humorous peer play and social understanding in childhood. Communications Psychology 3 76. (10.1038/s44271-025-00252-3)
- Perra, O. , Paine, A. L. and Hay, D. F. 2021. Continuity and change in anger and aggressiveness from infancy to childhood: The protective effects of positive parenting. Development and Psychopathology 33 (3), pp.937-956. (10.1017/S0954579420000243)
- Petrican, R. et al. 2023. Overlapping brain correlates of superior cognition among children at genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease and/or major depressive disorder. Scientific Reports 13 (1), pp.984. (10.1038/s41598-023-28057-6)
- Tong, M. et al. 2025. The longitudinal impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children’s and parents’ mental health outcomes: a systematic review. European Journal of Developmental Psychology 22 (5), pp.693-728. (10.1080/17405629.2025.2533160)
- Waters, C. S. et al. 2022. The impact of a specialist home-visiting intervention on the language outcomes of young mothers and their children: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. BMC Psychology 10 224. (10.1186/s40359-022-00926-1)
Book sections
- Hay, D. F. , Paine, A. and Robinson, C. 2022. Young children's cooperation and conflict with other children. In: Lockman, J. ed. Advances in Child Development and Behavior. Vol. 63, Advances in Child Development and Behavior Elsevier. , pp.225-248. (10.1016/bs.acdb.2022.04.004)
- Howe, N. , Paine, A. L. and Leach, J. 2022. Communication and emotions in conversations within children’s close relationships. In: Altarriba, J. , Schiewer, G. and Chin, N. B. eds. Language and Emotion: An International Handbook Volume 2. Vol. 2, Handbooks of Linguistics and Communication Science (HSK) Vol. 46.2.De Gruyter Brill. , pp.979-989. (10.1515/9783110670851)
- Howe, N. et al., 2022. Sibling relations in early and middle childhood. In: Smith, P. K. and Hart, C. H. eds. The Handbook of Childhood Social Development, 3rd edition. Wiley-Blackwell. , pp.443-458. (10.1002/9781119679028.ch24)
- Paine, A. L. 2025. Sibling interaction as a context for children's developing theory of mind. In: Handbook of the Psychology of Sibling Relationships. Springer Nature
Thesis
Research
Research Summary
My core research area is social development, with a focus on protective factors in children's close relationships such as family members and friends. I lead The Play Research Centre where we investigate the important role of play in supporting children's development, wellbeing, and connection with others across different settings, from family life to educational and healthcare environments.
I am also interested in understanding the social, emotional, and cognitive mechanisms that underpin emotional and behavioural difficulties in childhood. I am the Co-Director of the Neurodevelopment Assessment Unit in the Cardiff University Centre for Human Developmental Science and I am co-leading projects aiming to develop understanding of the experiences and support needs of adoptive and special guardianship families.
Funding Awards
Della Porta, S., Hammond, S., & Paine, A. L. (2025-2027). The Ontogeny of Power: Young Children's Power Dynamics and Relations in the Home Setting. Government of Canada Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Development Grant.
Paine, A. L., Perra, O. & Shelton, K. H. (2025-2026). Developmental trajectories and transitions of adopted children in Wales 10-years post-placement. Welsh Government.
Marquès, T., Tomova, L., & Paine, A. L. (2024-2028). ESRC-MRC WGSSS Studentship.
Stabler, L., Paine, A. L., Shelton, K. H., & Warner, N. (2024-2026). Understanding the characteristics, pathways, and support needs of carers and children with Special Guardianship Orders. Nuffield Foundation.
Paine, A. L., Martin, F., Birdsey, N., & Thomas, K. (2023-2024). Supporting the Wellbeing of Children in Hospital with Humorous Play. UKRI Harmonised Impact Accelerator Award.
Paine, A. L., Howe, N., & Rothschild, N. (2023-2024). Harnessing the Power of Humour in Primary School Education. Welsh Government.
Shelton, K. H. & Paine, A. L. (2022-2023). Supporting the mental health of adopted children: The protective effects of warm parenting. Welsh Government.
Paine, A. L. (2022). A Very Funny Summer! Holiday Enrichment Programme, Food and Fun. Cardiff University Civic Mission.
Paine, A. L., van Goozen, S., & Shelton, K. (2022-2025). ESRC-DTP Collaborative Studentship.
Paine, A. L., Robinson, C., Thomas, K., & Smilie, I. (2021-2022). Laughing all the Way to Better Wellbeing in Childhood. Innovation for All Civic Mission Fund.
Gambi, C., Paine, A. L., Thomas, K., Hughes, A., Langley, K., Jones, C., Gerson, S., Shelton, K., & Smilie, I. (2021-2022). Co-producing developmental science: Working with educators and children to set priorities for research that matters. Innovation for All Public Engagement Fund.
Paine, A. L. (2021). UKRI COVID-19 Grant Allocation.
Shelton, K. H. & Paine, A.L. (2020-2021). The Wales Adoption Cohort Study. Welsh Government.
Paine, A. L., Mitchell, P., & Howe, N. (2020-2024). Humour in Childhood: Pathways to Better Wellbeing. Economic and Social Research Council New Investigator Award.
Paine, A. L. (2019). Humour in Children's Close Relationships. The Leverhulme Trust Study Abroad Studentship.
Paine, A. L. (2019). L'humour dans les relations proches des enfants. FRQNT Postdoctoral Quebec Merit Scholarship Programme for Foreign Nationals.
Mitchell, P., et al. (2019). Inferring others’ inner states: Different developmental trends across Britain and Japan? ESRC-AHRC UK-Japan SSH Connections Grant.
Paine, A. L. (2013-2017). School of Psychology, Cardiff University, 4 year funded PhD studentship.
Media
'Playful Learning - Giggle Games in a Wales-Quebec Partnership' Play for Wales Magazine (2024) https://play.wales/resources-library/magazines/play-for-wales-issue-63/
'Children's Play in Hospital - How Can we Improve Their Experiences?' Play for Wales Magazine (2024) https://play.wales/publications_category/play-for-wales-issue-62/
'Giggle Games.' Play for Wales Magazine (2023) https://www.playwales.org.uk/eng/news/1801-new-play-for-wales-
Play and Humour in Schools, Play Wales (2022) https://playwales.org.uk/eng/playandhumour
'Humour in Play.' Playful Childhoods, Play Wales (2022) https://www.playfulchildhoods.wales/blog/humour-in-play
‘The Wales Adoption Cohort Study: childhood risk and resilience.’ Research Outreach (2020) https://researchoutreach.org/articles/wales-adoption-cohort-study-childhood-risk-resilience/
‘Adopted children can experience lasting mental health problems.’ NIHR Alerts (2020) https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/adopted-children-can-experience-lasting-mental-health-problems/
‘Humour in lessons? You must be joking! (No really, you must).' Times Education Supplement (2019) https://www.tes.com/magazine/archived/humour-lessons-you-must-be-joking-no-really-you-must
‘New research examines the use of humour in middle childhood.’ Concordia University (2019) https://www.concordia.ca/news/stories/2019/03/12/new-research-examines-the-use-of-humour-in-middle-childhood.html
'How joking around with your brothers and sisters shapes your sense of humour.' The Conversation (2019) https://theconversation.com/how-joking-around-with-your-brothers-and-sisters-shapes-your-sense-of-humour-110591
Research Groups
Developmental & Health Psychology
Cardiff Child Development Study (CCDS)
Teaching
I contribute to teaching on the BSc in Psychology Developmental Psychology module in Year 2 and the Research Methods in Developmental Psychology module in Final Year.
At postgraduate level, I am the Placement Co-ordinator for the MSc in Psychology. I also contribute to teaching and supervise dissertation projects and personal tutees on the MSc in Children's Psychological Conditions.
Biography
Undergraduate education
2013: BSc Psychology with Professional Placement, Cardiff University
Postgraduate education
2017: PhD Developmental and Health Psychology, Cardiff University
Teaching
2020 - present: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
2016 - 2020: Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Employment
2024 - present: Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, Cardiff University
2019 - 2024: Lecturer, School of Psychology, Cardiff University
2019 - 2020: Research Associate, School of Psychology, Cardiff University
2018 - 2019: Research Fellow, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham
2017 - 2018: Research Associate, School of Psychology, Cardiff University
2016: Research Assistant, South East Wales Trials Unit, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
2011 - 2012: Research Assistant, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.
Honours and awards
2020: British Psychological Society Undergraduate Research Assistantship Scheme.
2019: British Psychological Society Undergraduate Research Assistantship Scheme.
2018: British Psychological Society Early Career Conference Bursary.
2017: British Psychological Society Postgraduate Study Visit Scheme.
2017: Cardiff University School of Psychology Hadyn Ellis Prize for Best Doctoral Dissertation.
Professional memberships
Member of the International Play Association (IPA) Cymru Wales
Member of British Psychological Society (BPS) Developmental Section
Supervisions
I am interested in supervising research projects in the area of developmental psychology with a particular focus on children's interactions with family members and friends in relation to their developing social and emotional understanding.
If you are interested in applying for a PhD, or would like further information regarding my postgraduate research, please contact me directly (contact details above).
Current supervision
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Child and adolescent development
- Family and household studies
- Developmental Psychopathology
- social care