Dr. Siobhan Howard
Biography
Siobhán Howard completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway), graduating with her PhD in 2008. Since then, Siobhán has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at NUI Galway in the Centre for Research on Occupational and Life Stress (CROLS) and the School of Psychology (2008-2011), lecturer in psychology at the Department of Psychology at Mary Immaculate College (2011-2017), and currently works at UL as Senior Lecturer in Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Limerick. She is the past holder of an Irish Research Council New Horizons Research Project Award, a Royal Irish Academy Charlemont Award, and in 2015 and was joint National Co-Ordinator of the European Social Survey in Ireland (with Dr Brendan O'Keeffe, Mary Immaculate College) from 2016-2018.Research Interests
My research interests rest in the overlap between behavioural medicine and individual differences. My primary conceptual contributions concern the isolation of key individual differences not just as representing patterns of etiological variation, but as comprising the biological bases for etiological risk. In other words, rather than mapping more correlational linkages between risk factors and outcomes, I have developed novel experimental paradigms with which to experimentally establish biologically plausible pathways linking personality to disease. In particular, my experimental work in testing the role of Type D personality in cardiovascular disease mechanisms has been highly significant in supplementing the otherwise statistically-focused datasets implicating this typology in health outcomes. Through a series of experimental studies, I have shown that healthy persons with Type D personality exhibit attenuated (i.e., maladaptive) cardiovascular stress responsivity in precisely the same way as shown by persons with severe depression or obesity.Professional Activities
Award
- 2018 - Early Career Award
Education
- 2011 National University of Ireland, Galway - Postgraduate Certificate
- 2009 National University of Ireland, Galway - PhD
- 2003 National University of Ireland, Galway - BA (hons) Psychology
Association
- Member, Psychological Society of Ireland
- Member, Stress and Anxiety Research Society
Peer Reviewed Journals
Motivational orientation mediates the association between depression and cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress
Keogh, T., Howard, S., O'Riordan, A., & Gallagher, S. (2021) Motivational orientation mediates the association between depression and cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress. Psychophysiology
Instructed reappraisal and cardiovascular habituation to recurrent stress
Griffn, S. M.; Howard, S. (2021) Instructed reappraisal and cardiovascular habituation to recurrent stress. Psychophysiology
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
The psychological impact of Stevens¿Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis on patients¿ lives: a Critically Appraised Topic
O'Reilly P.;Kennedy C.;Meskell P.;Coffey A.;Delaunois I.;Dore L.;Howard S.;Ramsay B.;Scanlon C.;Wilson D.;Whelan B.;Ryan S. (2020) The psychological impact of Stevens¿Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis on patients¿ lives: a Critically Appraised Topic. British Journal Of Dermatology
Type D personality and life event stress: the mediating effects of social support and negative social relationships
O’Riordan A.;Howard S.;Gallagher S. (2020) Type D personality and life event stress: the mediating effects of social support and negative social relationships. Anxiety Stress And Coping
Type D personality and cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress: The mediating effects of social support and negative social relationships
O’Riordan A.;Howard S.;Brown E.;Gallagher S. (2020) Type D personality and cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress: The mediating effects of social support and negative social relationships. Psychophysiology
Establishing the validity of a novel passive stress task
Griffin, S. M.; Howard, S. (2020) Establishing the validity of a novel passive stress task. USA Psychophysiology
Cardiovascular stress reactions in recent- and long-retired rugby players when watching a game
Howard S.;Fitzgerald G.;Gallagher S. (2020) Cardiovascular stress reactions in recent- and long-retired rugby players when watching a game. Physiology & behavior
Establishing the validity of a novel passive stress task
Griffin S.M.;Howard S. (2020) Establishing the validity of a novel passive stress task. Psychophysiology
Social Context and Sex Moderate the Association Between Type D Personality and Cardiovascular Reactivity
Riordan A.;Howard S.;Gallagher S. (2019) Social Context and Sex Moderate the Association Between Type D Personality and Cardiovascular Reactivity. Applied Psychophysiology And Biofeedback
Openness to experience and adapting to change: Cardiovascular stress habituation to change in acute stress exposure
O Suilleabhain, PS;Howard, S;Hughes, BM (2018) Openness to experience and adapting to change: Cardiovascular stress habituation to change in acute stress exposure. HOBOKEN : WILEY Psychophysiology
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
Sleep restriction undermines cardiovascular adaptation during stress, contingent on emotional stability
Lu, W,Hughes, BM,Howard, S,James, JE (2018) Sleep restriction undermines cardiovascular adaptation during stress, contingent on emotional stability. Biological psychology :125-132
Openness to experience and stress responsivity: An examination of cardiovascular and underlying hemodynamic trajectories within an acute stress exposure
O'Súilleabháin, P.S., Howard, S. & Hughes, B.M. (2018) Openness to experience and stress responsivity: An examination of cardiovascular and underlying hemodynamic trajectories within an acute stress exposure. Plos One :e0199221-
Openness to experience and stress responsivity: An examination of cardiovascular and underlying hemodynamic trajectories within an acute stress exposure
O'Suilleabhain, PS;Howard, S;Hughes, BM (2018) Openness to experience and stress responsivity: An examination of cardiovascular and underlying hemodynamic trajectories within an acute stress exposure. SAN FRANCISCO : PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE Plos One
Cognitive Bias of Interpretation in Type D Personality: Associations with Physiological Indices of Arousal
Howard, S;O'Riordan, A;Nolan, M (2018) Cognitive Bias of Interpretation in Type D Personality: Associations with Physiological Indices of Arousal. NEW YORK : SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS Applied Psychophysiology And Biofeedback :193-201
Cardiovascular stress-response adaptation: Conceptual basis, empirical findings, and implications for disease processes
Hughes, BM;Lu, W;Howard, S (2018) Cardiovascular stress-response adaptation: Conceptual basis, empirical findings, and implications for disease processes. AMSTERDAM International Journal Of Psychophysiology :4-12
Pre-service Teachers and Stress During Microteaching: An Experimental Investigation of the Effectiveness of Relaxation Training with Biofeedback on Psychological and Physiological Indices of Stress
Horgan, K;Howard, S;Gardiner-Hyland, F (2018) Pre-service Teachers and Stress During Microteaching: An Experimental Investigation of the Effectiveness of Relaxation Training with Biofeedback on Psychological and Physiological Indices of Stress. NEW YORK : SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS Applied Psychophysiology And Biofeedback :217-225
Openness to experience and adapting to change: Cardiovascular stress habituation to change in acute stress exposure
O'Súilleabháin, P. S, Howard, S., & Hughes, B. M. (2018) Openness to experience and adapting to change: Cardiovascular stress habituation to change in acute stress exposure. Psychophysiology :e13023-
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
Repressive coping and cardiovascular reactivity to novel and recurrent stress
Howard, S,Myers, LB,Hughes, BM (2017) Repressive coping and cardiovascular reactivity to novel and recurrent stress. Anxiety Stress And Coping :562-574
Restructuring the College Classroom: A Critical Reflection on the Use of Collaborative Strategies to Target Student Engagement in Higher Education
Griffin, CP,Howard, S (2017) Restructuring the College Classroom: A Critical Reflection on the Use of Collaborative Strategies to Target Student Engagement in Higher Education. Psychology Learning And Teaching-Plat :375-392
Conscientiousness and mindfulness in midlife coping: An assessment based on MIDUS II
Sesker, AA,Suilleabhain, PO,Howard, S,Hughes, BM (2016) Conscientiousness and mindfulness in midlife coping: An assessment based on MIDUS II. Personality And Mental Health :29-42
Salivary alpha-Amylase Reactivity to Laboratory Social Stress With and Without Acute Sleep Restriction
O'Leary, ED,Howard, S,Hughes, BM,James, JE (2015) Salivary alpha-Amylase Reactivity to Laboratory Social Stress With and Without Acute Sleep Restriction. Journal Of Psychophysiology :55-63
"Literacy Lift-Off": an experimental evaluation of a reading recovery programme on literacy skills and reading self-concept
Higgins, E,Fitzgerald, J,Howard, S (2015) "Literacy Lift-Off": an experimental evaluation of a reading recovery programme on literacy skills and reading self-concept. Educational Psychology In Practice :247-264
Differential hemodynamic effects during the provision of active and passive support in the laboratory
Gallagher, S,Howard, S,Heffernan, M (2015) Differential hemodynamic effects during the provision of active and passive support in the laboratory. Psychology & Health :1088-1102
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
Type D personality is associated with a sensitized cardiovascular response to recurrent stress in men
Howard S.;Hughes B. (2013) Type D personality is associated with a sensitized cardiovascular response to recurrent stress in men. Biological psychology :450-455
Matching intra-procedural information with coping style reduces psychophysiological arousal in women undergoing colposcopy
Kola S.;Walsh J.;Hughes B.;Howard S. (2013) Matching intra-procedural information with coping style reduces psychophysiological arousal in women undergoing colposcopy. Journal Of Behavioral Medicine :401-412
Matching intra-procedural information with coping style reduces psychophysiological arousal in women undergoing colposcopy
Kola, S,Walsh, JC,Hughes, BM,Howard, S (2013) Matching intra-procedural information with coping style reduces psychophysiological arousal in women undergoing colposcopy. Journal Of Behavioral Medicine :401-412
Type D personality is associated with a sensitized cardiovascular response to recurrent stress in men
Howard, S,Hughes, BM (2013) Type D personality is associated with a sensitized cardiovascular response to recurrent stress in men. Biological psychology :450-455
An experimental test of blunting using sleep-restriction as an acute stressor in Type D and non-Type D women
O'Leary E.;Howard S.;Hughes B.;James J. (2013) An experimental test of blunting using sleep-restriction as an acute stressor in Type D and non-Type D women. International Journal Of Psychophysiology :37-43
An experimental test of blunting using sleep-restriction as an acute stressor in Type D and non-Type D women
O'Leary, ED,Howard, S,Hughes, BM,James, JE (2013) An experimental test of blunting using sleep-restriction as an acute stressor in Type D and non-Type D women. International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology :37-43
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
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
Attention focus, trait anxiety, and pain perception in patients undergoing colposcopy
Kola, S., Walsh, J. C., Hughes, B. M., & Howard, S. (2012) Attention focus, trait anxiety, and pain perception in patients undergoing colposcopy. European Journal Of Pain :890-900
Books
Book Chapters
Effects of Trait Emotion Regulation on Stress Responsivity.
Griffin, S. M.; Howard, S. (2019) Effects of Trait Emotion Regulation on Stress Responsivity.. Berlin : Logos Verlag Stress and Anxiety
Sleep duration and health: Examining psychosomatic stress-related pathways
O'Leary, E. D., Howard, S., & James, J. E. (2012) Sleep duration and health: Examining psychosomatic stress-related pathways. Berlin : Logos Verlag Stress and anxiety: Application to economic hardship, occupational demands, and developmental challenges
Edited Books
Stress and Anxiety: Applications to schools, well-being, coping and internet use.
(2015) Stress and Anxiety: Applications to schools, well-being, coping and internet use.. Berlin : Logos Verlag
Stress and Anxiety: Application to occupations and education
(2014) Stress and Anxiety: Application to occupations and education. Berlin : Logos Verlag
Other Journals
Conference Publications
Conference Contributions
Published Reports
Editorials
Book Reviews
Other Publications
The psychological impact of Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) on an adult's well-being: protocol for an integrative literature review.
O'Reilly, P, Kennedy, C, Coffey, A, Delaunois, I, Dore, L, Howard, S, Meskell, P, Ramsay, B, Scanlon, C, Wilson, D.M, Ryan, S (2018) The psychological impact of Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) on an adult's well-being: protocol for an integrative literature review. . CRD42018111369 Available from: : PROSPERO
OPENNESS TO EXPERIENCE AND STRESS RESPONSIVITY: AN EXAMINATION OF CARDIOVASCULAR AND UNDERLYING HEMODYNAMIC TRAJECTORIES WITHIN AN ACUTE STRESS EXPOSURE
O'Silleabhain, PS,Howard, S,Hughes, BM (2017) OPENNESS TO EXPERIENCE AND STRESS RESPONSIVITY: AN EXAMINATION OF CARDIOVASCULAR AND UNDERLYING HEMODYNAMIC TRAJECTORIES WITHIN AN ACUTE STRESS EXPOSURE. Psychosomatic medicine :26-27
SLEEP RESTRICTION UNDERMINES CARDIOVASCULAR ADAPTION TO STRESS, CONTINGENT ON EMOTIONAL STABILITY
Lu, W,Hughes, BM,Howard, S,James, JE (2017) SLEEP RESTRICTION UNDERMINES CARDIOVASCULAR ADAPTION TO STRESS, CONTINGENT ON EMOTIONAL STABILITY. Psychosomatic medicine :83-84
HOSTILITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO ANGER-PROVOCATION WITH AND WITHOUT SLEEP-RESTRICTION
Hughes, BM,Lu, W,Howard, S,James, JE (2017) HOSTILITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO ANGER-PROVOCATION WITH AND WITHOUT SLEEP-RESTRICTION. Psychosomatic medicine :106-107
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN EMOTION REGULATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY TO STRESS
Griffin, SM;Howard, S (2017) INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN EMOTION REGULATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY TO STRESS. PHILADELPHIA : LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS Psychosomatic medicine :54-54
MID-RANGE TRAIT CONSCIENTIOUSNESS IS ASSOCIATED WITH OPTIMAL CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTIONING DURING ACUTE STRESS EXPOSURE
Sesker, AA;Howard, S;Hughes, BM (2017) MID-RANGE TRAIT CONSCIENTIOUSNESS IS ASSOCIATED WITH OPTIMAL CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTIONING DURING ACUTE STRESS EXPOSURE. PHILADELPHIA : LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS Psychosomatic medicine :40-41
NOCTURNAL BLOOD PRESSURE DIPPING AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO ACUTE STRESS IN YOUNG ADULTS: EVALUATING CONCORDANCE USING AMBULATORY AND LABORATORY-BASED METHODS
Creaven, AM,Howard, S,O'Leary, ED,Hughes, BM,James, JE (2017) NOCTURNAL BLOOD PRESSURE DIPPING AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO ACUTE STRESS IN YOUNG ADULTS: EVALUATING CONCORDANCE USING AMBULATORY AND LABORATORY-BASED METHODS. Psychosomatic medicine :11-11
TYPE D PERSONALITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY TO ACUTE STRESS: A META-ANALYTIC REVIEW OF STUDIES USING ACTIVE TASKS
Howard, S,Kupper, N,Denollet, J (2017) TYPE D PERSONALITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY TO ACUTE STRESS: A META-ANALYTIC REVIEW OF STUDIES USING ACTIVE TASKS. Psychosomatic medicine :57-57
Mental Health Issues among Undergraduate Students: Do Education Students Suffer More Than Medical Students?
Klaus, S;Stewart, B;Lydon, S;Howard, S;Byrne, D;Fitzgerald, J;Gardiner-Hyland, F;Ring, E;O Connor, P (2016) Mental Health Issues among Undergraduate Students: Do Education Students Suffer More Than Medical Students?. LONDON : SPRINGER LONDON LTD Irish journal of medical science :244-244
FATIGUE, CORTISOL AWAKENING AND SALIVARY ALPHA-AMYLASE RESPONSE IN HEALTHY YOUNG ADULTS: EVIDENCE FROM AN ACUTE SLEEP RESTRICTION MANIPULATION
O' Leary, _ED,Howard, S,James, JE (2014) FATIGUE, CORTISOL AWAKENING AND SALIVARY ALPHA-AMYLASE RESPONSE IN HEALTHY YOUNG ADULTS: EVIDENCE FROM AN ACUTE SLEEP RESTRICTION MANIPULATION. Psychosomatic medicine :67-68
BLUNTING AS A POSSIBLE TYPE D MECHANISM OF EFFECT?
Howard, S,Hughes, BM (2013) BLUNTING AS A POSSIBLE TYPE D MECHANISM OF EFFECT?. Psychosomatic medicine :91-91
IS 'BLUNTING' A SUPPRESSED RESPONSE OR A NON-RESPONSE? AN EXPERIMENTAL TEST USING SLEEP-RESTRICTION AS AN ACUTE STRESSOR
Hughes, BM,Howard, S,O'Leary, ED,James, JE (2013) IS 'BLUNTING' A SUPPRESSED RESPONSE OR A NON-RESPONSE? AN EXPERIMENTAL TEST USING SLEEP-RESTRICTION AS AN ACUTE STRESSOR. Psychosomatic medicine :7-7
Acute restriction of sleep duration and type D personality: haemodynamic and salivary alpha-amylase response to social stress in women
Leary, EO,Howard, S,James, J (2012) Acute restriction of sleep duration and type D personality: haemodynamic and salivary alpha-amylase response to social stress in women. Journal Of Sleep Research :208-208
ACUTE RESTRICTION OF SLEEP DURATION AND TYPE D PERSONALITY: FATIGUE, HEMODYNAMIC, AND SALIVARY ALPHA-AMYLASE RESPONSE TO SOCIAL STRESS IN WOMEN
O'Leary, ED,Howard, S,James, JE (2012) ACUTE RESTRICTION OF SLEEP DURATION AND TYPE D PERSONALITY: FATIGUE, HEMODYNAMIC, AND SALIVARY ALPHA-AMYLASE RESPONSE TO SOCIAL STRESS IN WOMEN. Psychophysiology :30-30