Aisling O'Donnell


Contact Details

Lecturer in Psychology
E1-035 (Main building)
E: aisling.odonnell@ul.ie
 
researcher

Biography

I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Liverpool in 2005. From there, I moved to the University of Exeter where I was awarded an MSc in Social and Organisational Psychology in 2007. My PhD was completed in October 2009, also at Exeter, and successfully defended in the December of that year. Immediately after completing my PhD I began a postdoctoral position at the University of Limerick, followed by another at the University of Liverpool, UK. My current position is with the University of Limerick as a Lecturer.

I typically lead undergraduate and masters level modules on social psychology. I have also taught and led undergraduate and Masters level modules on the social identity approach, political psychology, professional skills in psychology, and qualitative methods.

In the past I have served my Department as MA Psychology Course Director, EHS sPhD Course Board representative, Ethics Committee Representative and CoOp Officer. I also served on the university-level Marketing and External Relations Committee.

Research Interests

I am interested in social identity processes, including relationships within and between groups, how identity is constructed and understood, and how it relates to well-being. This broad focus on social identities and on how self-categorisation and social structure impact people’s lives is something that underpins all my past and present research. My PhD research focused upon how social identity relates to surveillance, leadership, power, and social influence. In my first postdoctoral position, I worked on an IRCHSS funded project investigating participation in crowd events in Ireland, and the consequences for Irish national identity. Next I took another postdoc funded by a European Commission grant, where I worked on projects examining the impact of power and status relations on inter- and intra-group relations. Currently, my research centres on social identity and well-being, with a particular focus on the effect of stigmatised identities on people’s social, psychological and physical well-being.

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
2023 'Affiliative identity, well-being and eating disorder symptoms during the transition to university'
Foran A.M.;O'Donnell A.T.;Muldoon O.T. (2023) 'Affiliative identity, well-being and eating disorder symptoms during the transition to university'. Journal Of Community &Amp; Applied Social Psychology, [DOI] [Details]
2022 'Health literacy among self-help leprosy group members reduces stereotype endorsement and stigma-related harm in rural Nepal'
Muldoon OT;Jay S;O'Donnell AT;Winterburn M;Moynihan AB;O'Connell BH;Choudhary R;Jha K;Sah AK; (2022) 'Health literacy among self-help leprosy group members reduces stereotype endorsement and stigma-related harm in rural Nepal'. Health & social care in the community, [DOI] [Details]
2021 'From social curse to social cure: A self-help group community intervention for people affected by leprosy in Nepal'
Jay S.;Winterburn M.;Choudhary R.;Jha K.;Sah A.K.;O'Connell B.H.;O'Donnell A.T.;Moynihan A.B.;Muldoon O.T. (2021) 'From social curse to social cure: A self-help group community intervention for people affected by leprosy in Nepal'. Journal Of Community &Amp; Applied Social Psychology, [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2020 'Stigma of eating disorders and recovery-related outcomes: A systematic review'
Foran A.M.;O'Donnell A.T.;Muldoon O.T. (2020) 'Stigma of eating disorders and recovery-related outcomes: A systematic review'. European Eating Disorders Review, [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2018 'Young people¿s Constructions of their Experiences of Parental Domestic Violence: A Discursive Analysis¿'
Naughton C.;O¿Donnell A.;Muldoon O. (2018) 'Young people¿s Constructions of their Experiences of Parental Domestic Violence: A Discursive Analysis¿'. Journal Of Family Violence, [DOI] [Details]
2017 'Exposure to Domestic Violence and Abuse: Evidence of Distinct Physical and Psychological Dimensions'
Naughton C.;O¿Donnell A.;Muldoon O. (2017) 'Exposure to Domestic Violence and Abuse: Evidence of Distinct Physical and Psychological Dimensions'. Journal Of Interpersonal Violence, [DOI] [Details]
2013 'A commentary on 'The effects of identification with a support group on the mental health of people with multiple sclerosis''
Gallagher, S,O'Donnell, AT,Minescu, A,Muldoon, OT (2013) 'A commentary on 'The effects of identification with a support group on the mental health of people with multiple sclerosis''. Journal Of Psychosomatic Research, :294-294 [DOI] [Details]
2019 'Working hard and playing hard: multiple group membership, exercise and cognitive performance in boys and girls'
Beadleston L.;O¿Donnell A.;McMahon J.;McMahon G.;Kinsella E.;Kearns M.;Jay S.;Muldoon O. (2019) 'Working hard and playing hard: multiple group membership, exercise and cognitive performance in boys and girls'. Social Psychology Of Education, [DOI] [Details]
2019 'When and How Video Games Can Be Good: A Review of the Positive Effects of Video Games on Well-Being'
Halbrook Y.;O¿Donnell A.;Msetfi R. (2019) 'When and How Video Games Can Be Good: A Review of the Positive Effects of Video Games on Well-Being'. Perspectives On Psychological Science, 14 (6):1096-1104 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
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, 23 :252-262 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2018 'Stigma predicts health-related quality of life impairment, psychological distress, and somatic symptoms in acne sufferers'
Davern, J;O'Donnell, AT (2018) 'Stigma predicts health-related quality of life impairment, psychological distress, and somatic symptoms in acne sufferers'. Plos One, 13 [DOI] [Details]
2018 'Internalized Stigma and Stigma-Related Isolation Predict Women's Psychological Distress and Physical Health Symptoms Post-Abortion'
O'Donnell, AT;O'Carroll, T;Toole, N (2018) 'Internalized Stigma and Stigma-Related Isolation Predict Women's Psychological Distress and Physical Health Symptoms Post-Abortion'. Psychology Of Women Quarterly, 42 :220-234 [DOI] [Details]
2017 'Parents' and children's understanding of their own and others' national identity: The importance of including the family in the national group'
Muldoon, OT,O'Donnell, AT,Minescu, A (2017) 'Parents' and children's understanding of their own and others' national identity: The importance of including the family in the national group'. Journal Of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 27 :347-357 [DOI] [Details]
2016 'Something That Unites Us All': Understandings of St. Patrick's Day Parades as Representing the Irish National Group'
O'Donnell, AT,Muldoon, OT,Blaylock, DL,Stevenson, C,Bryan, D,Reicher, SD,Pehrson, S (2016) 'Something That Unites Us All': Understandings of St. Patrick's Day Parades as Representing the Irish National Group'. Journal Of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 26 :61-74 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2015 'The impact of anticipated stigma on psychological and physical health problems in the unemployed group'
O'Donnell, AT,Corrigan, F,Gallagher, S (2015) 'The impact of anticipated stigma on psychological and physical health problems in the unemployed group'. Frontiers in psychology, 6 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2015 'Family identification: a beneficial process for young adults who grow up in homes affected by parental intimate partner violence'
Naughton, CM,O'Donnell, AT,Muldoon, OT (2015) 'Family identification: a beneficial process for young adults who grow up in homes affected by parental intimate partner violence'. Frontiers in psychology, 6 [DOI] [ULIR Link] [Details]
2015 ''Ordinary decent domestic violence': A discursive analysis of family law judges' interviews'
Naughton, CM,O'Donnell, AT,Greenwood, RM,Muldoon, OT (2015) ''Ordinary decent domestic violence': A discursive analysis of family law judges' interviews'. Discourse & Society, 26 :349-365 [DOI] [Details]
2012 ''Running' an introductory module'
Muldoon O.;O'Donnell A. (2012) ''Running' an introductory module'. Psychologist, 25 (11):828-829 [Details]
2013 'The hidden costs of surveillance for performance and helping behaviour'
O'Donnell, AT,Ryan, MK,Jetten, J (2013) 'The hidden costs of surveillance for performance and helping behaviour'. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 16 :246-256 [DOI] [Details]
2012 ''Running' an introductory module'
Muldoon O.T. & O'Donnell, A.T. (2012) ''Running' an introductory module'. Psychologist, [Details]
2010 'Watching over your own: How surveillance moderates the impact of shared identity on perceptions of leaders and follower behaviour'
O'Donnell, Aisling T., Jetten, Jolanda, Ryan, Michelle K. (2010) 'Watching over your own: How surveillance moderates the impact of shared identity on perceptions of leaders and follower behaviour'. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40 (6):1046-1061 [Details]
2010 'Who is watching over you? The role of shared identity in perceptions of surveillance'
O'Donnell, Aisling T., Jetten, Jolanda, Ryan, Michelle K. (2010) 'Who is watching over you? The role of shared identity in perceptions of surveillance'. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40 (1):135-147 [Details]
2008 'When is it ok to watch over your own? Power, surveillance and social identity'
O'Donnell, Aisling, Jetten, Jolanda, Ryan, Michelle (2008) 'When is it ok to watch over your own? Power, surveillance and social identity'. International Journal of Psychology, 43 (3-4):439-439 [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
2018 International Conference on Social Identity and Health,
O’Donnell, A. T., O’Carroll, T., & Toole, N. (2018) Abortion stigma, psychological distress and physical health symptoms. [Oral Presentation], International Conference on Social Identity and Health, Lausanne, Switzerland [Details]
2016 Biennial Conference of the International Society for Justice Research,
O’Donnell, A. T. (2016) Watching from below: Sousveillance, power and resistance. [Oral Presentation], Biennial Conference of the International Society for Justice Research, Canterbury, UK [Details]
2016 International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference,
Naughton, C., O’Donnell, A. T., & Muldoon, O. T. (2016) Evidence of distinct physical and psychological dimensions of child exposure to domestic violence in young adults. [Other], International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference, Portsmouth NH, USA [Details]
2016 British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Section Annual Conference,
O’Donnell, A. T., & Jay, S. (2016) Digital media as resistance within existing collective action movements. [Oral Presentation], British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Section Annual Conference, Cardiff, UK [Details]
2016 Final COST action IS1205 conference,
O’Donnell, A. T., Muldoon, O. T., & Minescu, A. (2016) “We have to pass that heritage on”: Understandings of commemoration, family, and national identity socialisation. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Final COST action IS1205 conference, Limerick [Details]
2016 Final COST action IS1205 conference,
Muldoon, O. T., O’Donnell, A. T., & Minescu, A. (2016) Parents, Family and Children’s understanding of National identity and Multiculturalism. [Oral Presentation], Final COST action IS1205 conference, Limerick [Details]
2015 1st European Conference on Domestic Violence (ECDV),
Naughton, C., O’Donnell, A., Muldoon, O. (2015) An application of a social psychological perspective to increase our understanding of domestic violence. [Oral Presentation], 1st European Conference on Domestic Violence (ECDV), Belfast [Details]
2013 15th Jena Workshop on 'The puzzle of me and I: Individual and Collective Perspectives on Self and Identity’,
Minescu, A., O’Donnell, A., & Muldoon, O. (2013) History in the Making: National Identity within and between National Groups. [Oral Presentation], 15th Jena Workshop on 'The puzzle of me and I: Individual and Collective Perspectives on Self and Identity’, Oppurg, Germany , 04-JUL-13 - 07-JUL-13 [Details]
2013 British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Section Annual Conference,
Muldoon, O. T., O’Donnell, A. T., & Minescu, A. (2013) National identity in Ireland: a study of parents and children. [Oral Presentation], British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Section Annual Conference, Exeter, UK , 28-AUG-13 - 30-AUG-13 [Details]
2013 British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Section Annual Conference,
Naughton, C., O’Donnell, A. T., & Muldoon, O. T. (2013) ‘Ordinary Decent Domestic Violence’: A Discursive Analysis of Family Law Judges. [Oral Presentation], British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Section Annual Conference, Exeter, UK , 28-AUG-13 - 30-AUG-13 [Details]
2013 Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law,
Naughton, C., O’Donnell, A. T., & Muldoon, O. T. (2013) The normalisation of domestic violence in the construction of the 'best interest of the child' by Irish district court judges. [Oral Presentation], Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law, Coventry, UK , 02-SEP-13 - 06-SEP-13 [Details]
2014 Knowledge Exchange Forum ‘Stigma and its impact on the design and delivery of services in relation to HIV/AIDS’,
O’Donnell, A. T., Muldoon, O. T., Quayle, M., & Nicholson, T. (2014) The psychology of stigma & HIV/AIDS. [Invited Oral Presentation], Knowledge Exchange Forum ‘Stigma and its impact on the design and delivery of services in relation to HIV/AIDS’, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania , 24-SEP-14 - 24-SEP-14 [Details]
2014 Domestic Abuse Service Providers in the Mid-West,
Naughton, C., O’Donnell, A., & Muldoon, O. (2014) The impact of family bonds on young adults who grow up with domestic violence. [Invited Oral Presentation], Domestic Abuse Service Providers in the Mid-West, Limerick, Ireland , 12-NOV-14 - 12-NOV-14 [Details]
2014 The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality,
Muldoon, O.T., Naughton, C. M., & O’Donnell, A. T. (2014) The prevention of domestic and sexual violence. [Invited Oral Presentation], The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, Leinster House, Dublin , 19-FEB-14 - 19-FEB-14 [Details]
2014 European Association of Social Psychology (EASP) 17th General Meeting,
O’Donnell, A. T. (2014) Surveillance and Sousveillance: Processes of power and resistance. [Oral Presentation], European Association of Social Psychology (EASP) 17th General Meeting, Amsterdam, the Netherlands , 09-JUL-14 - 12-JUL-14 [Details]
2014 2nd International Conference on Social Identity and Health,
Naughton, C., O’Donnell, A. T., & Muldoon, O. T. (2014) Social identity, risk or protective: The paradoxical consequences of various social identities in the context of intimate partner violence. [Oral Presentation], 2nd International Conference on Social Identity and Health, Ottawa, Canada , 02-JUN-14 - 04-JUN-14 [Details]
2014 11th Annual Health, Psychology and Medicine Conference,
Naughton, C., O’Donnell, A. T., & Muldoon, O. T. (2014) The mediating role of social identity in young people exposed to intimate partner violence in their family of origin. [Oral Presentation], 11th Annual Health, Psychology and Medicine Conference, Limerick, Ireland , 28-MAY-14 - 28-MAY-14 [Details]
2014 European Association of Social Psychology (EASP) 17th General Meeting,
Minescu, A., O’Donnell, A., & Muldoon, O. (2014) Who “makes” national identities? National identification and identity content for individuals and families in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], European Association of Social Psychology (EASP) 17th General Meeting, Amsterdam, the Netherlands , 09-JUL-14 - 12-JUL-14 [Details]
2015 British Psychological Society (BPS) Psychology of Women Section Annual Conference,
Naughton, C., O’Donnell, A. T., & Muldoon, O. T. (2015) Family Identification: A Protective Factor for Young Adults who Grew Up in Homes Affected by Domestic Violence. [Oral Presentation], British Psychological Society (BPS) Psychology of Women Section Annual Conference, Windsor, UK , 08-JUL-15 - 10-JUL-15 [Details]
2007 British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Psychology Section Annual Conference,
O'Donnell, A. T., Jetten, J., & Ryan, M. K. (2007) When is it OK to watch over your own? Power, surveillance and social identity. [Oral Presentation], British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Psychology Section Annual Conference, University of Kent, UK , 05-SEP-07 - 07-SEP-07 [Details]
2008 Society of Australasian Social Psychologists (SASP) Annual Conference,
O'Donnell, A. T., Jetten, J., & Ryan, M. K. (2008) When is it OK to watch over your own? Issues of surveillance, power and social identity. [Oral Presentation], Society of Australasian Social Psychologists (SASP) Annual Conference, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand , 27-MAR-08 - 30-MAR-08 [Details]
2008 School of Psychology Social Seminar Series,
O'Donnell, A. T., Jetten, J., & Ryan, M. K. (2008) Who is watching you, and why? Issues of surveillance, power and social identity. [Invited Lecture], School of Psychology Social Seminar Series, University of Queensland, Australia , 16-MAY-08 - 16-MAY-08 [Details]
2008 European Association of Experimental Social Psychology (EAESP) 15th General Meeting,
O'Donnell, A. T., Jetten, J., & Ryan, M. K. (2008) When is it OK to watch over your own? Power, surveillance and social identity. [Oral Presentation], European Association of Experimental Social Psychology (EAESP) 15th General Meeting, Opatija, Croatia , 10-JUN-08 - 14-JUN-08 [Details]
2008 Social Psychology Seminar Series,
O'Donnell, A. T., Jetten, J., & Ryan, M. K. (2008) When is it OK to watch over your own? Issues of surveillance, power and social identity. [Invited Lecture], Social Psychology Seminar Series, Cardiff University, UK , 12-NOV-08 - 12-NOV-08 [Details]
2009 Social, Economic and Organizational Research Group (SEORG) Seminar Series,
O'Donnell, A. T., Ryan, M. K., & Jetten, J. (2009) Smile, you're on CCTV! Contextual factors affecting perceptions of surveillance. [Invited Lecture], Social, Economic and Organizational Research Group (SEORG) Seminar Series, University of Exeter, UK , 05-FEB-09 - 05-FEB-09 [Details]
2009 International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP) 32nd Annual Scientific Meeting,
O'Donnell, A. T,. Ryan, M. K., & Jetten, J. (2009) Social identity, surveillance, and organizational citizenship behaviours. [Oral Presentation], International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP) 32nd Annual Scientific Meeting, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland , 14-JUL-09 - 17-JUL-09 [Details]
2010 Centre for Social Issues Research,
O'Donnell, A. T. (2010) Embodying the imagined community: Collective events in Ireland. [Invited Oral Presentation], Centre for Social Issues Research, University of Limerick, Ireland , 10-MAR-10 - 10-MAR-10 [Details]
2010 British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Psychology Section Annual Conference,
O’Donnell, A. T., Blaylock, D. L., Stevenson, C., Muldoon, O. T., Reicher, S. D., & Bryan, D. (2010) “Something to unite us all”: The role of social identity in non-conflictual collective events. [Oral Presentation], British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Psychology Section Annual Conference, University of Winchester, UK , 08-SEP-10 - 10-SEP-10 [Details]
2011 2nd Conference on Social Psychology in Ireland (C-SPI),
O’Donnell, A. T., Muldoon, O. T., Blaylock, D. L., Reicher, S. D., Stevenson, C., & Bryan, D. (2011) The implication of identity in national collective events: St Patrick’s Day as identity in action. [Oral Presentation], 2nd Conference on Social Psychology in Ireland (C-SPI), University of Limerick, Ireland , 28-APR-11 - 29-APR-11 [Details]
2011 European Association of Social Psychology (EASP) 16th General Meeting,
O’Donnell, A. T., Blaylock, D. L., Reicher, S. D., Muldoon, O. T., Stevenson, C., & Bryan, D. (2011) Identity enactment, collective self-objectification and wellbeing: A longitudinal survey of Irish parades. [Oral Presentation], European Association of Social Psychology (EASP) 16th General Meeting, Stockholm, Sweden , 12-JUL-11 - 16-JUL-11 [Details]
2011 British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Psychology Section Annual Conference,
O’Donnell, A. T., Stott, C., Ryan M. K., & Jetten, J. (2011) Being the target of surveillance: effects on trust, legitimacy and invasiveness of surveillance. [Oral Presentation], British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Psychology Section Annual Conference, University of Cambridge, UK , 06-SEP-11 - 08-SEP-11 [Details]
2012 'Security, ethics and justice: Towards a more inclusive security design’,
O'Donnell, A. T. (2012) Surveillance and social identity: Privacy perceptions and the potential for division. [Invited Oral Presentation], 'Security, ethics and justice: Towards a more inclusive security design’, International Centre for Ethics in the Sciences and Humanities (IZEW), Tübingen, Germany , 21-JUN-12 - 22-JUN-12 [Details]
2013 British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Psychology Section Annual Conference,
O'Donnell, A. T. (2013) Surveillance and Sousveillance: Processes of power and resistance. [Oral Presentation], British Psychological Society (BPS) Social Psychology Section Annual Conference, University of Exeter, UK , 28-AUG-13 - 30-AUG-13 [Details]

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
European Association of Social Psychology Full member /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
MA Psychology Course Board Board member 2012 /
BA Psychology & Sociology Course Board Board member 2012 /
Education and Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee (EHSREC) Psychology Department Representative 2013 / 2015
Applied Social Issues Internship Award Committee Chair 2010 / 2015

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
University of Limerick Lecturer in Psychology 02-JAN-12 /
University of Liverpool, UK Postdoctoral Research Associate 01-MAR-11 / 31-DEC-11
University of Limerick Postdoctoral Researcher 02-NOV-09 / 28-FEB-11

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2010 University of Exeter PhD Psychology
2007 University of Exeter MSc Social & Organisational Psychology
2005 University of Liverpool BSc (Hons) Psychology

Reviews

  Journal Role
European Journal Of Social Psychology Reviewer
Group Processes & Intergroup Relations Reviewer
Personality And Social Psychology Bulletin Reviewer
Journal Of Community & Applied Social Psychology Reviewer
Psychological Science Reviewer
Basic And Applied Social Psychology Reviewer
Social Development Reviewer
British Journal Of Social Psychology Reviewer
Journal Of Experimental Social Psychology Reviewer

Teaching Interests

I enjoy teaching students at a range of levels, and it is important to me to continue developing my teaching skills throughout my career, which is why I completed the Specialist Diploma in Teaching, Learning and Scholarship in 2015. I spend time planning how best to engage students in learning. My favourite topics to teach are anything social psychological, and I love bringing these topics to life for students.