About

I am a Chartered Psychologist and Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Derby. I completed my PhD at King's College London. My research examined the experiences of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undertaking procedural treatments, with a focus on understanding the predictors of quality of life, anxiety, and depression, in the context of the Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation. 

Prior to the University of Derby, I held a role as Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Suffolk (BSE campus), where I taught on-campus for eight years. During this time, I held the position of Interim Course Leader. I was Module Leader for BSc Psychology modules, including Cognitive and Biological Psychology, Psychology and Society, Health Psychology, and Introduction to Applied Psychology.

Teaching responsibilities

I teach across psychology programmes including:

• MSc Health Psychology
• MSc Psychology
• BSc Psychology

Professional interests

• Collaborative Research: Previous collaborations include the Atrial Fibrillation Association and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
• Research Examinations: Including chairing viva examinations within the University
• PhD Supervision:
  • Identifying the predictors of patient engagement and wellbeing in green social prescribing: A mixed methods study
  • The use of digital tools to improve delivery of healthcare services in rural communities in Oyo State, Nigeria: Accessibility and acceptability
  • The effects on health behaviours of listening to health-related podcasts
  • Klinefelter's syndrome and gender identity
• Peer Reviewer
• Editorial work: Current Guest Editor for Healthcare Special Issue Title: Mental Health Matters: From Cross-cultural Perspectives

Research interests

I have diverse research interests including:

• Experiences, predictors and outcomes (e.g. quality of life, anxiety, depression) in cardiovascular conditions and long-term conditions
• Adherence to medication
• The role of interventions (e.g. digital, positive psychology) in improving health-related and wellbeing outcomes
• Cross-cultural mental health and wellbeing

My background is in mixed-methods research. I am interested in using different research methods and analyses. Previously, this has included qualitative studies examining the experiences of cardiovascular patients (thematic analysis with elements of grounded theory), cross-sectional designs (modification and validation of questionnaires, using cluster analysis to group key characteristics in a sample) and longitudinal quantitative designs (predictions using multilevel modelling).

Membership of professional bodies

• Chartered Psychologist, British Psychological Society
• Full Divisional Membership, Division of Health Psychology
• British Academy Early Career Researcher Network
• European Health Psychology Society
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Qualifications

• BA (Hons) Psychology (major) and English Literature, University of Leicester
• MSc Psychological Studies, University of Glasgow
• PhD Psychology, King's College London

Recent conferences

• Heart Rhythm Update, Leicester, (2023), June
• Access to healthcare over the Covid-19 pandemic: Perspectives from patients with atrial fibrillation. Research Showcase, University of Derby (2021), November
• Predicting quality of life, anxiety and depression in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. European Health Psychology Society Conference (2019), Dubrovnik, Croatia, 2-7 September
• Adherence to antiarrhythmics and anticoagulants in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. European Health Psychology Society Conference (2018), Galway, Ireland, 25-29 August
• Research methods to modify the illness perception questionnaire (IPQ-R) for specific patient groups. European Health Psychology Society Conference (2016), Aberdeen, Scotland, 24-27 August
• Illness and treatment representations, coping and distress: Vicious cycles of everyday experiences in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (2016). Heart Rhythm Congress. Birmingham, UK, 1 October
• 'It's like a frog leaping about in your chest': Illness and treatment representations in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (2015). Division of Health Psychology Conference, London, UK, 16-20 September

Additional interests and activities

Currently I am a member of the following committees:

• Publication and Bibliometrics Working Group (PBWG)
• University Innovation and Research Council (UIRC)
• Health, Psychology and Social Care College Research Committee (CRC Part A)

Previously held roles:

• Deputy Chair of UDOL ethics committee REC (2020-2021)
• Programme Lead MSc Health Psychology online (Jan 2021- Jan 2022)

Recent publications

Journal articles

• Kotera, Y. and Taylor, E. C. (2023). Defining the diagnostic criteria of Taijin Kyofusho. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 81, 103383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103383

• Taylor, E. C., O’Neill, M., Hughes, L. D., and Moss-Morris, R. (2021). Atrial fibrillation, quality of life and distress: A cluster analysis of cognitive and behavioural responses. Quality of Life Research. doi: 10.1007/s11136-021-03006-w

• Kotera, Y., Taylor, E. Fido, D., Williams, D., and Tsuda-McCaie, F. (2021). The motivation of UK graduate students in education: Self-compassion moderates pathway from extrinsic motivation to intrinsic motivation. Current Psychology, 22, 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s12144-021-02301-6

• Taylor, E. C., O’Neill, M., Hughes, L., Bennett, P., and Moss-Morris, R. (2020). Adherence to antiarrhythmics and anticoagulants, treatment beliefs and depression in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 35(4), 337-346. doi: 10.1097/JCN.000000000000065

• Taylor, E. C., O’Neill, M., Hughes, L., and Moss-Morris, R. (2018). An illness-specific version of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire revised in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF-IPQ-R): Unpacking beliefs about treatment control and symptom triggers’. Psychology and Health, 33(4), 499-517, doi: 10.1080/08870446.2017.1373113

• Taylor, E. C., O’Neill, M., Hughes, L., Carroll, S., and Moss-Morris, R. (2017). “It’s like a frog leaping out of your chest”: Illness and treatment representations in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. British Journal of Health Psychology, 23(1), 3-21, doi: 10.1111/bjhp.1226

Blogs/articles

• Taylor, E. (2020) 5 realistic ways to improve your heart health. Derby University Blog
• Taylor, E. C. (2016). Contribution of health psychology to clinical health settings: An integrative approach to health care. Health Psychology Update, 21(2), 48-51

Courses

• Health Psychology MSc (online)
• Psychology BSc (Hons) (online)