Professor Rebecca Pearson

Education

First Degree BSc, graduated 2004: Applied Psychology 1st Class, Cardiff University (Department of Psychology)

PhD, graduated 2011: Psychiatric Epidemiology, University of Bristol ( Bristol Medical School).

Research

I have developed an interdisciplinary program of research investigating the mechanisms underlying the intergenerational transmission of mental health disorders through relational processes. I combine Developmental Psychology and Epidemiology and have a particular focus on novel observational and computational methods to understand parenting relationships and apply this to real world interventions. I aim to work with data and experience to answer more meaningful questions.  I have previously worked in the University of Bristol and Oxford University,  as well as across the world. I work on multiple longitudinal cohorts globally and continue to build links and active grants utilising family mental health and psychological data. Most importantly I enjoy working in diverse teams with students and researchers with different skills and interests and at different stages of their journeys. I joined the Department of Psychology MMU in September 2021.

Interests and expertise

I lead a research area in psychological mechanisms underlying child and adolescent mental health and development. We focus on the challenge of rising mental health problems in young people and disparities in their access to support. We push the boundaries of traditional methodologies, through innovative methods in epidemiology, building evidence on the complex interplay between genetic mechanisms, parental mental health and relationships and cognitive and emotional development. We draw on multiple international longitudinal cohorts. We innovate in measurement, drawing on clinical insights and technology and industry partners to co-develop ecologically valid observational tools.