Mrs Katie Jones

Professional biography

My research explores the emotional wellbeing of families, focusing on the social and cognitive mechanisms underlying anxiety, depression, and subclinical psychological distress. It aims to identify opportunities to support families through experiences known to increase the risk of mental health difficulties (e.g., pregnancy, postpartum, oncology care), and in addition to investigating risk factors, I am currently working on several projects considering the utility of eHealth tools to support these populations. I thrive on collaboration, whether that is with other researchers, community stakeholders, or experts by experience, and aim to coproduce accessible research with members of the population in focus.

My doctoral research includes a cross-sectional online survey, systematic review, and longitudinal mixed-methods online survey which should produce a comprehensive picture of postpartum anxiety risk factors and triggers, with particular emphasis on modifiable social and cognitive factors. The project is guided by input from NHS and third-sector stakeholders and people with lived experience of postpartum anxiety. These stakeholders contribute to the research design, recruitment, analysis, and dissemination to ensure outputs are applicable in a real-world context. It aims to inform preventative and supportive interventions to reduce the prevalence, severity, and long-term implications of postnatal anxiety.

Beyond my doctoral research, I have co-authored quantitative and qualitative research investigating the wellbeing of perinatal families and onco-driven lung cancer patients. I am currently working on two projects that build on this research.

I have led patient and public involvement (PPI) on several grant applications and am committed to working collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure research is applicable and accessible to the UK context. I sit on multiple NHS co-production and steering groups to champion perinatal mental health service improvements and encourage the expert-by-experience-led coproduction of evidence-based resources, disseminating research findings as they arise to increase awareness of opportunities to support families. 

I am working with a range of stakeholders from across Cheshire and Merseyside including NHS, Public Health, and third sector organisations to trial an intervention for postpartum emotional wellbeing, whilst work to explore the use of e-health tools for families living with lung cancer is being conducted in partnership with three national charities. External collaborations have led to several collaborative grant applications.

I am a core member of the Society of Reproductive and Infant Psychology (SRIP) Early Career Researcher (ECR) subgroup, facilitating their monthly virtual social/peer-support meetings attended by ECRs from across Europe and Australia. I also assist with the delivery of their quarterly ECR workshops and have utilised connections with the SRIP ECR group to expand my systematic review to include co-researchers from Australia, Switzerland, and the UK.

Beyond this, I have worked with an Australian-based research team on a published review of the association between repetitive negative thinking and anxiety and depression during the perinatal period.