Cheryl Kennedy

The Development of Negative Symptoms and the Impact of Social Stress in Adolescents

Cheryl Kennedy profile-picture photograph

Cheryl Kennedy

PhD Student
School of Psychological Sciences

Profile

Cheryl is a PhD candidate in the School of Psychological Sciences and is currently deferred from the Clinical Psychology Programme to complete her doctoral research. She previously worked as a social worker in England before moving to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2017, where she worked primarily with children and young people. This work grew her interest in mental health, particularly in how difficulties emerge and how earlier support might improve outcomes.

Her doctoral research examines the development of negative symptoms in adolescence, focusing on how distinct symptom domains interact and evolve over time. She also investigates how contextual factors, including social stress, shape these trajectories. Through this work, Cheryl aims to advance understanding of early changes in adolescent mental health and contribute to more targeted and effective early intervention approaches.

Qualifications

BA Social Work (First Class Honours) - University of Sunderland, England

BSc Psychology (First Class Honours) - Te Herenga Waka, University of Wellington

Research Interests

Adolescent mental health, early intervention, mental health trajectories, clinical psychology

PhD Title

The Development of Negative Symptoms and the Impact of Social Stress in Adolescents

Supervisor/s

Dr Rebecca Grattan

Prof Paul Jose

Labs

Early Intervention in Mental Health Lab