Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Focus
The primary focus of my research programme is on MENTAL HEALTH in those who have experienced stress, adversity, and trauma. I focus on a range of psychological disorders including, but not limited to, PTSD, Depression, Anxiety and Dissociation. I am also focused on exploring the concept of post adversity psychological resilience. I work across child, adolescent, and adult populations and I focus on a range of trauma types including childhood maltreatment, interpersonal, sexual, and domestic violence, and occupational related traumas (experienced by healthcare workers, emergency services and armed forces). In addition, I look at the impact of secondary trauma in families.
I explore what biological, psychological, and social factors might differentiate between those who experience post-adversity psychological illness vs those who experience post-adversity psychological wellness. In particular, I am interested in social relationships and support, emotion regulation, maladaptive cognitive schema development, sleep and loneliness.
Particulars:
Cherie Armour is a Professor of Psychological Trauma and Mental Health in the School of Psychology at Queens University Belfast. Professor Armour is the Director of the Research Centre for Stress Trauma and Related Conditions (STARC). Cherie is a trauma psychologist who received her first degree from Ulster University achieving a first class honours in Psychology in 2007. Cherie transitioned straight into a D.Phil at Ulster University, completing her PhD in 2010. In 2010 Cherie commenced an MSc in Forensic Psychology at Coventry University on a part-time basis whilst also commencing a postdoctoral research position at the University of Southern Denmark. In 2012, Cherie commenced her first lectureship position at Ulster University. In 2015 Cherie was promoted to Reader in Psychology, and in 2016 Cherie was promoted to Chair. In 2016, Cherie commenced a new role as Associate Dean for Research & Impact and Director of the Institute of Mental Health Sciences in the Faculty of Life & Health Sciences. In 2019, Cherie moved to the role of Professor of Psychological Trauma and Mental Health at Queens University Belfast.
Research:
Cherie has published extensively (>150) in the field of Psychotraumatology and Mental Health. Cherie has a particular interest in occupational groups that are at increased risk of experiencing trauma and traumatic stress outcomes due to their occupational roles, for example, military, police, and emergency service workers, such as those in the fire and ambulance services. Cherie is also particularly interested in the psychological impact of experiencing childhood maltreatment. Cherie has also published on the nosology, comorbidity, and longitudinal course of disorders such as PTSD, dissociation, anxiety, and depression. Recently Professor Armour has focused on research that investigates the mechanisms that explain risk and resilience as it relates to a wide variety of mental health outcomes. A new and exciting line of research enquiry relates to the underpinning mechanisms explaining the relationship between sleep and mental health outcomes such as PTSD. Professor Armour also has a research interest in trauma and mental health in offender populations; previously supervising two PhD students working with the Probation Board Northern Ireland (PBNI). Cherie has also conducted a number of research papers and reports on domestic violence and child maltreatment. From a methodological perspective, Cherie has particular expertise in the application of advanced quantitative statistical modelling to population representative data and has completed several research projects utilising qualitative interviewing methodology in addition to conducting pilot and full RCTs.
Currently Cherie is leading 8 funded research projects including:
- A Medical Research Council project looking at longitudinal outcomes in children exposed to trauma in South Africa,
- An Economic and Social Research Council funded UK & ROI network project called Mood Movement focused on new and emerging technologies to support young peoples mental health,
- A project funded by the Royal British Legion focused on mental health help seeking in military veterans,
- A project focused on PTSD in Colombia funded by UKRI aiming to develop a biopsychosocial model of PTSD for those exposed to Armed conflict,
- A number of projects funded by Forces in Mind Trust including a NI Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing project,
- The UK Veteran Family Project,
- The Veterans Gambling Participation project,
- An RCT called the PTSD Experimental Treatment Trial Study.
Cherie is also the scientific lead for mental health on two prestigious UKRI funded research projects which focus on COVID19 recovery in the UK:
- The COVID19 Clinical Neuroscience project
- The PHOSP COVID19 Study
Further to this Cherie is the prinical investigator on the COVID19 Psychological Wellbeing Study which has been conducted with over 2000 residents of the UK during the first months of COVID19 lockdown in 2020. Several academic outputs have been published and many more are in preperation.
Research Awards:
Professor Armour is a past recipient for several research award including the Ulster University Distinguished Research Fellowship, The Youngs Minds in Psychotraumatology research excellence award for the European Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, and the Chaim Danieli Young Professional Award for excellence in research in traumatic stress studies, the Lord Ashcroft Research Award for innovation in the conduct of research and the potential for future impact.
Discipline and Research Leadership Positions:
Cherie holds several leadership positions in the field of traumatic stress studies. Cherie is the immediate past President of the UK Psychological Trauma Society and remains on the board as the Chair of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies conference. Cherie is also on the board of Directors of the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies. Cherie also holds a number of editorial positions on prestigious journals such as the Journal of Traumatic Stress Studies and Trauma, Research, Practice and Policy. Cherie is also a long-standing Associate Editor of the European Journal of Psychotraumatolgy.
Cherie is also a member of the NI Victims Comissioners Sexaul Abuse Advisory panel, The NI Royal British Legions Advisory Panel, The CONTACT research subgroup of COBSEO, and Forces in Mind Trust Mental Health Research prioritisation comittee.
Teaching:
Cherie is the module convenor of PSY7093 ‘Real World Applications of Psychology’ on the MSc in Applied Psychological Sciences (BPS Conversion Course) and on an extremely popular UG final year options module, PSY3131 ‘Forensic Psychology & Crime’. She also teaches a series of 8 lectures focused on Psychological Trauma and Forensic Psychology on PSY1010 ‘The Psychology of Everyday Life’.
Research Supervision:
Cherie also supervises MSc research dissertation students on the Applied Psychological Sciences (BPS Conversion) Course, Doctorial students on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Course and UG students on the BSC Psychology course.
Cherie has an extensive track record of sucessful supervisoon of PhD researcher and currently supervises the following students:
Current PHD students:
- Rian Delaney
- Micheala McIlvenna
- Katie McGaughey
- Megan Reynolds
- Rian Delaney
Recently graduated PHD students:
- Kenneth Ross
- Catherine Hitch
- Chandril Gosh
- Martin Robinson
- Susan Lagdon
- Shelly Fletcher
- Jana Ross
- Rhonda Burns
Administrative Roles:
Professor Armour hold a number of administraitve roles at QUB as follows;
- Director of Research - School of Psychology (Oct 2021- present)
- Psychology Research Excellence Framework Champion (2021-REF submission)
- Elected member of Academic Council (Oct 2021-Sept 2025)
- Director of the Research Centre for Stress Trauma and Related Conditions (STARC)
- Northern Ireland / QUB Lead for the NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC - (https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/support/mental-health-trc.htm)
Upcoming International Meeting:
Professor Armour will host the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies conference in Belfast in June 2023 which is a bi-annual, multi-disciplinary, internationally recognised, conference of around 850 delegates from across the globe. Delegates come together to speak about the most recent innovations in research and practice in the psychotraumatology field.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Network
-
R1499PSY: Development of a Biopsychosocial Translational Research Program in PTSD
Armour, C., Hanna, D. & Hardiman, G.
21/01/2021 → …
Project: Research
-
A qualitative systematic review of enablers and barriers to helpseeking for veterans that have completely left the military within the context of mental health and alcohol
Hitch, C. M., Toner, P. & Armour, C., 24 Jan 2023, In: Journal of Veterans Studies. 9, 1, p. 15–30Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
Childhood adversities and post-military-service incarceration in a male UK Armed Forces Veteran sample from Northern Ireland
McGlinchey, E. & Armour, C., 07 Jan 2023, (Early online date) In: Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Defining and measuring sexual consent within the context of university students’ unwanted and nonconsensual sexual experiences: a systematic literature review
Anyadike-Danes, N., Reynolds, M., Armour, C. & Lagdon, S., 14 Jan 2023, (Early online date) In: Trauma, Violence, and Abuse.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
EHealth for sexual assault: a systematic scoping review
Hardeberg Bach, M., Ahrens, C., Olff, M., Armour, C., Krogh, S. S. & Hansen, M., 11 Jan 2023, (Early online date) In: Trauma, Violence, and Abuse.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
-
Enablers and barriers to military veterans seeking help for mental health and alcohol difficulties: a systematic review of the quantitative evidence
Hitch, C., Toner, P. & Armour, C., 13 Jan 2023, (Early online date) In: Journal of Health Services Research & Policy. 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile25 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
-
Belfast Ambassador Award Winner
Armour, Cherie (Recipient), Nov 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Chaim Danieli Young Professional Award for Excellence in Research in Traumatic Stress
Armour, Cherie (Recipient), Nov 2015
Prize: National/international honour
-
Distinguished Research Fellowship Award
Armour, Cherie (Recipient), Dec 2015
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
-
Excellence in Research Supervision Award
Armour, Cherie (Recipient), 2015
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Impact Excellence Award
Armour, Cherie (Recipient), Waterhouse-Bradley, B. (Recipient), Walker, E. J. (Recipient), Ross, J. (Recipient), Hall, M. (Recipient) & Robinson, Martin (Recipient), 18 May 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
-
Moving Beyond the Trauma Trap: Exploring Resilience Following Traumatic Stress
Martin Robinson (Invited speaker), Emily McGlinchey (Invited speaker) & Cherie Armour (Invited speaker)
14 Jun 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public lecture/debate/seminar
-
Keynote: (British Psychological Society - North East and West Branch). NI Veterans Study, Trauma, PTSD & Suicidality
Cherie Armour (Keynote speaker)
04 Nov 2022Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
-
Commission for Victims and Survivors (External organisation)
Cherie Armour (Board Member)
30 Sep 2022 → …Activity: Membership types › Membership of board
-
Estudio de la Vida Bajo Estrés, Trastorno de Etrés PosTraumático (PTSD)
Martin Robinson (Advisor), Cherie Armour (Advisor) & Natasha Bloch (Contributor)
21 Sep 2022Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
-
Invited International Talk: Identifying Psychological Mechanisms which promote Post-Trauma Resilience
Cherie Armour (Invited speaker)
20 Sep 2022Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Press/Media
-
BBC Radio Ulster: Sunday Sequence. The Role of Science in Life
13/02/2022
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
-
BBC Radio Ulster: The Lynette Fay Show - Making Sense of Collective Fear
17/01/2022
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
-
BBC Radio Ulster 0 Evening Extra - Remembering 9/11 - is it re-traumatising?
10/09/2021
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
-
TEDx Talk: Queens University Belfast
25/06/2021
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
-
BBC Radio Ulster Interview: How are you feeling about coming out of lockdown, excited or anxious?
27/04/2021
2 Media contributions
Press/Media: Expert Comment