Dr Lee Usher

Senior Lecturer in Psychology

School of Human and Social Sciences

lee.usher@uwl.ac.uk

My PhD research focused on the psychological components of a particular Disorder of Gut-Brain interaction (DGBI). Specifically, I examined the role of illness and treatment representations in individuals affected by irritable bowel syndrome and how such representations influence coping procedures (such as the use of complementary treatments) and health-related quality of life.

I have also previously worked in research teams assessing the influence of mental toughness and affect in higher education in addition to examining the role of social media in binge drinking. My ongoing research interest is in the Psychology of Humour and how this relates to elements of wellbeing.

My main teaching activities cover both undergraduate and postgraduate Research Methods in Psychology and the year 3 Health Psychology option module. I am currently the course leader for the MSc Health Psychology course.

Qualifications
- BA Social Studies (University of Warwick)
- PgDip Psychology (University of Westminster)
- MSc Health Psychology (London Metropolitan University)
- PhD Psychology (University of West London)
Memberships

Member and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
Member of the BPS Division of Health Psychology
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Teaching

I am a Senior Lecturer in Psychology with research interests in health and areas of social psychology. I am a Member (Chartered Psychologist) and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS), the BPS Division of Health Psychology (‘in training’ member), and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Research

See Dr Lee Usher's publications list in the UWL Repository.

Research and publications

Journal articles
Lafarge, C., Usher, L., Mitchell, K. & Fox, P. (2019) The role of rumination in adjusting to termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality: Rumination as a predictor and mediator of posttraumatic growth. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy. doi: 10.1037/tra0000440
Hunt, F.J., Usher, L., Pollak, L.F., Stock, R., Lynam, S. & Cachia, M. (2016). Mental toughness: Is it the key to academic success? UWL New Vistas, 2(1), 10-15.
Usher, L., Fox, P., Lafarge, C., & Mitchell, K. (2013). Factors Associated With Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Literature Review. Psychology, Community & Health 2(3): 346–361. DOI:10.5964/pch.v2i3.65
Forward, C., Khan, H. T., Fox, P., & Usher, L. (2021). The health and wellbeing of older women living alone in the UK: is living alone a risk factor for poorer health?. Ageing International, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-021-09426-w
Conferences

Conference presentations and/or papers
Stock, R., Hunt, F., Cachia, M., Lynam, S., Usher, L., & Fern Pollak, L. (2017). Mental toughness and moods as predictors of academic success. In: Higher Education Academy STEM Conference 2017, 1 - 2 Feb 2017, Manchester Conference Centre.
Cachia, M., Lynam, S., Stock, R., Pollak, L., Usher, L., & Hunt, F. (2017). What do university students understand by academic success? What factors contribute to its attainment? In: Higher Education Academy STEM Conference 2017, 1-2 Feb 2017, Manchester Conference Centre.
Adamu, J. & Usher, L. (2016). Oral presentation: A Thematic Analysis of Challenges Individuals Encounter When Recovering from Eating Disorders. UWL Psychology conference.
Cachia, Moira, Lynam, Siobhan, Stock, Rosemary, Fern Pollak, Liory, Usher, Lee and Hunt, Frances (2016) Factors facilitating academic success: a student perspective. In: Teaching and Learning Conference 2016, 28th June 2016, University of West London.
Dempsert-Ellis, J. & Usher, L. (2016). Oral Presentation: Caffeine and Gender on Memory: false and true recall using the DRM paradigm. UWL Psychology conference.
Usher, L., Fox, P. & Mitchell, K. (2015) Poster presentation: Explaining use of complementary and alternative medicine in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a common-sense model approach. BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, London. Poster presented at conference citation session for 20 highest rated poster submission.
Hunt, F.J., Pollak, L.F., Stock, R., Usher, L., Lynam, S. & Cachia, M. (2015) Oral presentation: Gender differences in predictors of academic success: Mental toughness and affect. University of West London Teaching and Learning conference.
Usher, L., Fox, P. & Mitchell, K. (2015) Poster presentation: Illness perceptions in irritable bowel syndrome: Change over time and relationship with self-reported quality of life. UWL Psychology conference.
Leung, R. & Usher, L. (2015). Poster presentations: To investigate if self-esteem and happiness can predict materialistic attitudes in university students. UWL Psychology conference.
Usher, L., Fox, P. & Mitchell, K. (2014) Poster presentation: Illness perceptions in irritable bowel syndrome: Change over time and relationship with self-reported quality of life. BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, York.
Hunt, F.J., Pollak, L.F., Stock, R., Usher, L., Lynam, S. & Cachia, M. (2014) Poster presentation: The role of Mental Toughness and Affect in academic success within a higher education setting. University of West London Teaching and Learning conference.
Balsereit, B. & Usher, L. (2014) Poster presentation: Factors predicting Life Balance among psychology students. University of West London Teaching and Learning conference.
Usher, L., Fox, P. & Mitchell, K. (2012) Applying the common-sense model to Irritable Bowel Syndrome: the role of illness and treatment representations, European Health Psychology Society Conference, Prague.
Usher, L. (2009) Do IBS patients' illness perceptions and treatment beliefs predict the use of complementary and alternative medicine? University of West London PhD/MPhil Conference, London, UK.
Usher, L. (2008) Poster presentation: Considering the advantages and disadvantages of using the internet for health based research. University of West London PhD/MPhil Conference, London, UK.
Usher, L. (2007) Poster presentation: The role of progressive muscle relaxation training and guided imagery in alleviating distressing symptoms in chemotherapy patients: a systematic review, BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, University of Nottingham.
Research degree supervision

Second Supervisor
The development and validation of the Body Positivity In Pregnancy & Postpartum Scale (BPIPPS) (Hannah Griffin)
Understanding the health and well-being of older women living alone in the UK (Catherine Forward) – completed.