Biography

I completed my degree and doctorate in psychology at NUI Galway, supported by a college fellowship and IRCHSS. During my undergraduate studies I also completed a diploma in Gaeilge (Irish language). My research is broadly focused on health and well-being. My current research projects include a qualitative study of loneliness in young adulthood (funded by the Irish Research Council) and a school-based public engagement project (funded by Science Foundation Ireland).

I joined the Department of Psychology at the University of Limerick as a Lecturer in September 2013, following my training at NUI Galway, and a year applying my research skills to several policy-relevant projects at the Educational Research Centre in Drumcondra. At UL, I am a member of the Centre for Social Issues Research cluster, the Health Research Institute, and the SASHLab research group (sashlab.com), involved in several strands of research in social connectedness and health.

Research Interests

My research interests are in social connectedness and health. Current projects are focused on (1) the impact of loneliness for health in young adults (2) the role of social support in managing illness including T1 diabetes and (3) the impact of social support on physiological stress responses. I am also interested in replication and meta-research in this area.

Research Collaborators

  • Elizabeth Skowron - Joint Publication - University of Oregon -USA
  • Eric Loken - Joint Publication - Penn State University -USA
  • Jack James - Joint Publication - Reykjavik University -Iceland
  • Rachel Sumner - Joint Publication - University of Gloucestershire -England

Peer Reviewed Journals

2022

Anxiety following Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review of Psychological Interventions

Ryan, E.M.; Creaven, A-M.; Ní Néill, E.; O'Súilleabháin, P.S.; (2022) Anxiety following Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review of Psychological Interventions. Health Psychology

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2021

Gratitude, social support and cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress

Gallagher, S;Creaven, AM;Howard, S;Ginty, AT;Whittaker, AC (2021) Gratitude, social support and cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress. AMSTERDAM : ELSEVIER Biological psychology

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2021

Allostatic load and mental health during COVID-19: The moderating role of neuroticism

Gallagher, S.; Sumner, R.; Creaven, A-M.; O'Súilleabháin, P.S.; Howard, S. (2021) Allostatic load and mental health during COVID-19: The moderating role of neuroticism. Brain Behavior And Immunity

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2021

Parental incarceration affects children's emotional and behavioral outcomes: A longitudinal cohort study of children aged 9 to 13 years

Bradshaw, D;Creaven, AM;Muldoon, OT (2021) Parental incarceration affects children's emotional and behavioral outcomes: A longitudinal cohort study of children aged 9 to 13 years. LONDON : SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD International Journal Of Behavioral Development :310-316

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2021

Cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress: Attachment styles and invisible stranger support

McMahon, G;Creaven, AM;Gallagher, S (2021) Cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress: Attachment styles and invisible stranger support. AMSTERDAM : ELSEVIER International Journal Of Psychophysiology :121-129

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2021

Making the leap and finding your feet: A qualitative study of disclosure and social support in university students with type 1 diabetes

Habenicht, AE;Gallagher, S;O'Keeffe, MC;Creaven, AM (2021) Making the leap and finding your feet: A qualitative study of disclosure and social support in university students with type 1 diabetes. LONDON : SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD Journal of health psychology :260-269

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2021

Protocol for a Qualitative Study: Exploring Loneliness and Social Isolation in Emerging Adulthood (ELSIE)

Creaven, AM;Kirwan, E;Burns, A;O'Suilleabhain, PS (2021) Protocol for a Qualitative Study: Exploring Loneliness and Social Isolation in Emerging Adulthood (ELSIE). THOUSAND OAKS : SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC International Journal Of Qualitative Methods

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2020

Social support, social participation, and cardiovascular reactivity to stress in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study

Creaven A.M.;Higgins N.M.;Ginty A.T.;Gallagher S. (2020) Social support, social participation, and cardiovascular reactivity to stress in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Biological psychology

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2020

Personality, cardiovascular, and cortisol reactions to acute psychological stress in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study

Coyle D.;Howard S.;Bibbey A.;Gallagher S.;Whittaker A.;Creaven A. (2020) Personality, cardiovascular, and cortisol reactions to acute psychological stress in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. International Journal Of Psychophysiology :67-74

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2020

Stressful life events and adolescent well-being: The role of parent and peer relationships

McMahon G.;Creaven A.;Gallagher S. (2020) Stressful life events and adolescent well-being: The role of parent and peer relationships. Stress And Health

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2019

Perceived social support mediates the association between attachment and cardiovascular reactivity in young adults

McMahon G.;Creaven A.;Gallagher S. (2019) Perceived social support mediates the association between attachment and cardiovascular reactivity in young adults. Psychophysiology

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2019

Longitudinal associations between parental incarceration and children's emotional and behavioural development: Results from a population cohort study

Bradshaw D.;Hannigan A.;Creaven A.;Muldoon O. (2019) Longitudinal associations between parental incarceration and children's emotional and behavioural development: Results from a population cohort study. Child: Care Health And Development

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2019

Loneliness and cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress in younger adults

Brown, EG;Creaven, AM;Gallagher, S (2019) Loneliness and cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress in younger adults. AMSTERDAM : ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV International Journal Of Psychophysiology :121-125

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2019

Unemployment, employment precarity, and inflammation

Sumner R.;Bennett R.;Creaven A.;Gallagher S. (2019) Unemployment, employment precarity, and inflammation. Brain, behavior, and immunity

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2018

Social connectedness and depression: Is there added value in volunteering?

Creaven, AM;Healy, A;Howard, S (2018) Social connectedness and depression: Is there added value in volunteering?. LONDON : SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD Journal Of Social And Personal Relationships :1400-1417

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2018

Restricted reproductive rights and risky sexual behaviour: How political disenfranchisement relates to women's sense of control, well-being and sexual health

Msetfi, R,Jay, S,O'Donnell, AT,Kearns, M,Kinsella, EL,McMahon, J,Muldoon, OT,Naughton, C,Creaven, AM (2018) Restricted reproductive rights and risky sexual behaviour: How political disenfranchisement relates to women's sense of control, well-being and sexual health. Journal of health psychology :252-262

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2018

Evaluating personality as a moderator of the association between life events stress and cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress

Gallagher, S;O'Riordan, A;McMahon, G;Creaven, AM (2018) Evaluating personality as a moderator of the association between life events stress and cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress. AMSTERDAM : ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV International Journal Of Psychophysiology :52-59

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2018

An evaluative audit of the introduction of a new nursing document within a specialist palliative care inpatient unit in Ireland

Doody O. Bailey M.E. Moran S. Creaven AM. (2018) An evaluative audit of the introduction of a new nursing document within a specialist palliative care inpatient unit in Ireland . Nursing and Palliative Care :1-4

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2017

Restricted reproductive rights and risky sexual behaviour: How political disenfranchisement relates to women's sense of control, well-being and sexual health

Msetfi R, Jay S, O'Donnell AT, Kearns M, Kinsella EL, McMahon J, Muldoon OT, Naughton C, Creaven AM (2017) Restricted reproductive rights and risky sexual behaviour: How political disenfranchisement relates to women's sense of control, well-being and sexual health . Journal Of Health Psychology

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2017

Individual differences in positive and negative emotion regulation: Which strategies explain variability in loneliness?

Kearns, SM,Creaven, AM (2017) Individual differences in positive and negative emotion regulation: Which strategies explain variability in loneliness?. Personality And Mental Health :64-74

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2017

Perceived social support predicts lower cardiovascular reactivity to stress in older adults

Howard, S,Creaven, AM,Hughes, BM,O'Leary, ED,James, JE (2017) Perceived social support predicts lower cardiovascular reactivity to stress in older adults. Biological psychology :70-75

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2017

Individual differences in positive and negative emotion regulation: Which strategies explain variability in loneliness?

Kearns, S., & Creaven, A-M. (2017) Individual differences in positive and negative emotion regulation: Which strategies explain variability in loneliness?. Personality And Mental Health

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2017

Evaluating the Impact of a Brief Artistic Intervention on Cardiovascular Recovery From Acute Stress

Keogh, K,Creaven, AM (2017) Evaluating the Impact of a Brief Artistic Intervention on Cardiovascular Recovery From Acute Stress. Art Therapy :167-175

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2017

Performance feedback, self-esteem, and cardiovascular adaptation to recurring stressors

Brown, EG,Creaven, AM (2017) Performance feedback, self-esteem, and cardiovascular adaptation to recurring stressors. Anxiety Stress And Coping :290-303

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2016

Unemployment is associated with lower cortisol awakening and blunted dehydroepiandrosterone responses

Gallagher, S,Sumner, RC,Muldoon, OT,Creaven, AM,Hannigan, A (2016) Unemployment is associated with lower cortisol awakening and blunted dehydroepiandrosterone responses. Psychoneuroendocrinology :41-49

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2016

A Commentary on 'Positive Psychology Interventions for Patients With Heart Disease: A Preliminary Randomized Trial'

Creaven, A-M., O'Connell, B.H., & Gallagher, S. (2016) A Commentary on 'Positive Psychology Interventions for Patients With Heart Disease: A Preliminary Randomized Trial'. Psychosomatics

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2016

Living with invisible illness: social support experiences of individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus

Brennan, KAM,Creaven, AM (2016) Living with invisible illness: social support experiences of individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus. Quality Of Life Research :1227-1235

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2016

Performance feedback, self-esteem and cardiovascular adaption to recurring stressors.

Brown, E.G., & Creaven, A-M. (2016) Performance feedback, self-esteem and cardiovascular adaption to recurring stressors. . Anxiety Stress And Coping

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2014

Dyadic concordance in mother and preschooler resting cardiovascular function varies by risk status

Creaven A.;Skowron E.;Hughes B.;Howard S.;Loken E. (2014) Dyadic concordance in mother and preschooler resting cardiovascular function varies by risk status. Developmental Psychobiology :142-152

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2014

Dyadic concordance in mother and preschooler resting cardiovascular function varies by risk status

Creaven, AM,Skowron, EA,Hughes, BM,Howard, S,Loken, E (2014) Dyadic concordance in mother and preschooler resting cardiovascular function varies by risk status. Developmental Psychobiology :142-152

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2013

Social support and trait personality are independently associated with resting cardiovascular function in women

Creaven, AM,Howard, S,Hughes, BM (2013) Social support and trait personality are independently associated with resting cardiovascular function in women. British journal of health psychology :556-573

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2013

Social support and trait personality are independently associated with resting cardiovascular function in women

Creaven A.;Howard S.;Hughes B. (2013) Social support and trait personality are independently associated with resting cardiovascular function in women. British journal of health psychology :556-573

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2012

Cardiovascular responses to mental activation of social support schemas.

Creaven, A-M., & Hughes, B.M. (2012) Cardiovascular responses to mental activation of social support schemas. . International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology :113-119

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Books

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Book Chapters

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Edited Books

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Other Journals

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Conference Publications

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Conference Contributions

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Published Reports

2014

The 2013 ICT Census in Schools – Main Report.

Cosgrove, J., Butler, D., Leahy, M., Shiel, G., Kavanagh, L., & Creaven, A-M. (2014) The 2013 ICT Census in Schools – Main Report. . Dublin : Educational Research Centre

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2013

Understanding achievement in PIRLS and TIMSS 2011.

Cosgrove, J., & Creaven, A-M. (2013) Understanding achievement in PIRLS and TIMSS 2011. . Dublin : Educational Research Centre :201-227

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2013

Home-school communication.

Eivers, E., & Creaven, A-M. (2013) Home-school communication. . Dublin : Educational Research Centre :105-128

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2013

Pupil engagement.

Clerkin, A., & Creaven, A-M. (2013) Pupil engagement. . Dublin : Educational Research Centre :33-54

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Editorials

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Book Reviews

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Other Publications

2018

Making the leap and finding your feet: A qualitative study of disclosure and social support in university students with type 1 diabetes

Habenicht A.;Gallagher S.;O’Keeffe M.;Creaven A. (2018) Making the leap and finding your feet: A qualitative study of disclosure and social support in university students with type 1 diabetes. Journal of health psychology

Read more
2017

A Commentary on "Positive Psychology Interventions for Patients With Heart Disease: A Preliminary Randomized Trial"

Creaven, AM;O'Connell, BH;Gallagher, S (2017) A Commentary on "Positive Psychology Interventions for Patients With Heart Disease: A Preliminary Randomized Trial". NEW YORK : ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC Psychosomatics :329-330

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