Personal information

Biography

Dr Margaret McLafferty is a Research Fellow in mental health in ATU Donegal. She is the principal investigator on the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing on the Island of Ireland project (known as U-WELL) funded by the SFI-IRC Pathway Programme.
Margaret’s PhD examined the impact of childhood adversities on future psychopathology and suicidal behaviour, focusing on factors which promote psychological wellbeing and the development of adaptive emotion regulation and coping strategies. She helped co-ordinate a large-scale longitudinal study to identify risk and protective factors for suicidal behaviour, mental health and wellbeing, among university students. The Student Psychological Intervention Trial (SPIT) was conducted as part of the World Mental Health International College Student Initiative. The study included a randomised control trial to test the effectiveness of an online CBT based guided intervention for students with mild to moderate levels of depression and/or anxiety. Margaret also worked on the Irish Student Wellbeing and ADHD Project (I-SWAP) funded by the HEA North South Research Programme.
Follow Margaret on Twitter @McLaffertyMT

Activities

Employment (1)

Atlantic Technological University: Letterkenny, Donegal, IE

2023-09-01 to present | Research Fellow (Nursing and Health Care)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Education and qualifications (3)

Ulster University: Magee Campus, Derry, GB

2014-09-22 to 2017-10-01 | PhD (Life and Health Sciences)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

University of Ulster - Magee Campus: Derry, Derry, GB

2012-09-20 to 2013-09-30 | Master of Research (Life and Health Sciences)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

University of Ulster - Magee Campus: Londonderry, Derry, GB

2009-09-15 to 2012-06-01 | BSc(Hons) Psychology, 1st class Hons (Life and Health Sciences)
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Works (24)

College Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Prior to and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Education Sciences
2023-11 | Journal article | Author
Contributors: Margaret McLafferty; Caoimhe Ward; Colum P. Walsh; Siobhan O’Neill; Anthony John; Rachel McHugh; Natasha Brown; Louise McBride; John Brady; Elaine Murray
Source: check_circle
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute

Familial and Bullying Victimisation: The Impact of Early Adversity Within the Home and Peer Settings on Late Adolescence and Adult Psychopathology

Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma
2023-03 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1936-1521
Part of ISSN: 1936-153X
Contributors: N.I. Bond; M. McLafferty; C. Lapsley; E. Ennis; E. Murray; D. Heenan; S.M. O’Neill
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Variations in psychological disorders, suicidality, and help-seeking behaviour among college students from different academic disciplines

PLOS ONE
2022-12-30 | Journal article | Author
Part of ISSN: 1932-6203
Contributors: Margaret McLafferty; Natasha Brown; John Brady; Jonathon McLaughlin; Rachel McHugh; Caoimhe Ward; Louise McBride; Anthony J. Bjourson; Siobhan O'Neill; Colum P. Walsh et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

The Mediating Roles of Mental Health and Substance Use on Suicidal Behavior Among Undergraduate Students With ADHD

Journal of Attention Disorders
2022-09 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1087-0547
Part of ISSN: 1557-1246
Contributors: Natasha Brown; Margaret McLafferty; Siobhan M. O’Neill; Rachel McHugh; Caoimhe Ward; Louise McBride; John Brady; Anthony J. Bjourson; Colum P. Walsh; Elaine Murray
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Adverse experiences and mental health problems in perpetrators of intimate partner violence in Northern Ireland: A latent class analysis

Child Abuse & Neglect
2022-03 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0145-2134
Contributors: Áine Travers; Tracey McDonagh; Margaret McLafferty; Cherie Armour; Twylla Cunningham; Maj Hansen
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Suicidal behaviours and mental health disorders among students commencing college

Psychiatry Research
2022-01 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0165-1781
Contributors: Caoimhe Ward; Margaret McLafferty; Jonathon McLaughlin; Rachel McHugh; Louise McBride; John Brady; Anthony J. Bjourson; Colum P. Walsh; Siobhan M. O'Neill; Elaine K. Murray
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Childhood adversities and mental disorders in first-year college students: results from the World Mental Health International College Student Initiative

Psychological Medicine
2022-01-11 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0033-2917
Part of ISSN: 1469-8978
Contributors: Mathilde Husky; Ekaterina Sadikova; Sue Lee; Jordi Alonso; Randy P. Auerbach; Jason Bantjes; Ronny Bruffaerts; Pim Cuijpers; David D. Ebert; Raùl Gutiérrez Garcia et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Depression, anxiety and suicidal behaviour among college students: Comparisons pre-COVID-19 and during the pandemic

Psychiatry Research Communications
2021-12 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 2772-5987
Contributors: Margaret McLafferty; Natasha Brown; Rachel Mc Hugh; Caoimhe Ward; Ailis Stevenson; Louise McBride; John Brady; Anthony John; Siobhan M. O'Neill; Colum P. Walsh et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Variations in the oral microbiome are associated with depression in young adults

Scientific Reports
2021-07-22 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 2045-2322
Contributors: Benjamin Wingfield; Coral Lapsley; Andrew McDowell; Georgios Miliotis; Margaret McLafferty; Siobhan M. O’Neill; Sonya Coleman; T. Martin McGinnity; Anthony J. Bjourson; Elaine K. Murray
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

The mediating role of resilience on psychopathology following childhood adversities among UK armed forces veterans residing in Northern Ireland

European Journal of Psychotraumatology
2021-01-01 | Journal article | Author
Part of ISSN: 2000-8066
Contributors: Margaret McLafferty; Emily McGlinchey; Aine Travers; Cherie Armour
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Methylome profiling of young adults with depression supports a link with immune response and psoriasis

Clinical Epigenetics
2020-12 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1868-7075
Part of ISSN: 1868-7083
Contributors: Coral R. Lapsley; Rachelle Irwin; Margaret McLafferty; Sara Jayne Thursby; Siobhan M. O’Neill; Anthony J. Bjourson; Colum P. Walsh; Elaine Murray
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

The mediating role of emotion regulation strategies on psychopathology and suicidal behaviour following negative childhood experiences

Children and Youth Services Review
2020-09 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0190-7409
Contributors: M. McLafferty; B.P. Bunting; C. Armour; C. Lapsley; E. Ennis; E. Murray; S.M. O'Neill
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Sources of Stress and Their Associations With Mental Disorders Among College Students: Results of the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys International College Student Initiative

Frontiers in Psychology
2020-07-30 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1664-1078
Contributors: Eirini Karyotaki; Pim Cuijpers; Yesica Albor; Jordi Alonso; Randy P. Auerbach; Jason Bantjes; Ronny Bruffaerts; David D. Ebert; Penelope Hasking; Glenn Kiekens et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Coping, stress, and negative childhood experiences: The link to psychopathology, self‐harm, and suicidal behavior

PsyCh Journal
2019-09 | Journal article | Author
Part of ISSN: 2046-0252
Part of ISSN: 2046-0260
Contributors: Margaret McLafferty; Cherie Armour; Brendan Bunting; Edel Ennis; Coral Lapsley; Elaine Murray; Siobhan O'Neill
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Childhood adversities and psychopathology among military veterans in the US: The mediating role of social networks

Journal of Anxiety Disorders
2019-06 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0887-6185
Contributors: M. McLafferty; Jana Ross; Bethany Waterhouse-Bradley; C. Armour
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Mental disorder comorbidity and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys International College Student initiative

International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research
2019-06 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 1049-8931
Part of ISSN: 1557-0657
Contributors: Randy Auerbach; Philippe Mortier; Ronny Bruffaerts; Alonso J; Corina Benjet; Pim Cuijpers; Koen Demyttenaere; David D. Ebert; Jennifer Green; Penelope Hasking et al.
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Readiness to change and barriers to treatment seeking in college students with a mental disorder

Journal of Affective Disorders
2019-06 | Journal article
Part of ISSN: 0165-0327
Contributors: Edel Ennis; Margaret McLafferty; Elaine Murray; Coral Lapsley; Tony Bjourson; Cherie Armour; Brendan Bunting; Sam Murphy; Siobhan O'Neill
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Population attributable fractions of psychopathology and suicidal behaviour associated with childhood adversities in Northern Ireland

Child Abuse and Neglect
2018 | Journal article
EID:

2-s2.0-85039783623

Contributors: McLafferty, M.; O'Neill, S.; Murphy, S.; Armour, C.; Bunting, B.
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty via Scopus - Elsevier

The moderating impact of childhood adversity profiles and conflict on psychological health and suicidal behaviour in the Northern Ireland population

Psychiatry Research
2018 | Journal article
EID:

2-s2.0-85042191275

Contributors: McLafferty, M.; O'Neill, S.; Murphy, S.; Armour, C.; Ferry, F.; Bunting, B.
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty via Scopus - Elsevier

The mediating role of various types of social networks on psychopathology following adverse childhood experiences

Journal of Affective Disorders
2018-10-01 | Journal article
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

The impact of childhood adversities on the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Northern Ireland population

European Journal of Trauma and Dissociation
2018-05-08 | Journal article
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty

Mental health, behavioural problems and treatment seeking among students commencing university in Northern Ireland

PLoS ONE
2017 | Journal article
EID:

2-s2.0-85038224097

Contributors: McLafferty, M.; Lapsley, C.R.; Ennis, E.; Armour, C.; Murphy, S.; Bunting, B.P.; Bjourson, A.J.; Murray, E.K.; O’Neill, S.M.
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty via Scopus - Elsevier

Suicidality and profiles of childhood adversities, conflict related trauma and psychopathology in the Northern Ireland population

Journal of Affective Disorders
2016 | Journal article
EID:

2-s2.0-84964465014

Contributors: McLafferty, M.; Armour, C.; O'Neill, S.; Murphy, S.; Ferry, F.; Bunting, B.
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty via Scopus - Elsevier

Childhood adversity profiles and adult psychopathology in a representative Northern Ireland study

Journal of Anxiety Disorders
2015 | Journal article
EID:

2-s2.0-84940936391

Contributors: McLafferty, M.; Armour, C.; McKenna, A.; O'Neill, S.; Murphy, S.; Bunting, B.
Source: Self-asserted source
Margaret McLafferty via Scopus - Elsevier

Peer review (6 reviews for 3 publications/grants)

Review activity for BMJ open. (1)
Review activity for Journal of affective disorders. (1)
Review activity for Journal of child & adolescent trauma. (4)