Staff profile

Dr Sophie Williams


she/her

Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology Programme Director BSc (Hons) Psychology

Dr Sophie Williams outside

Subject

Psychology

College

College of Health, Psychology and Social Care

Department

University of Derby Online Learning

ORCiD ID

0000-0002-2198-7938

Email

s.williams3@derby.ac.uk

Teaching responsibilities

I am the programme director for the BSc (Hons) Psychology and the University Certificate in Psychology online programmes. However, my teaching is focused predominantly on the MSc Health Psychology programmes. My area of expertise, and teaching, focuses on women's health (including maternal health), long-term conditions and qualitative methods. I also supervise undergraduate and postgraduate research projects in these areas.

I have been part of supervision teams for successful PhD candidates, including:

We are currently advertising for a self-funded PhD exploring 'Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicide ideation and emotion regulation in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)'. Please contact me directly on s.williams3@derby.ac.uk for more information.

Professional interests

I'm also a member of the BPS Undergraduate Education Committee and also an associate editor for the BPS Qualitative Methods in Psychology Section Bulletin.

Research interests

My research centres around two key areas; Women's Health (including maternal health) and Long-term Conditions.

I have a particular research focus on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) which crosses the two areas. This includes research focused on the experience of the condition, its impact on quality of life, and also its association with psychological distress. My current research projects in this area explore the prevalence of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in women with PCOS.

Membership of professional bodies

I am a chartered member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) since 2017. I hold the current memberships:

Qualifications

Recent conferences

Presenter is underlined

Fido, D., Williams, S., & Sheffield, D. (2019). Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Non-Suicidal Self Injury. Presentation accepted at the European Health Psychology Conference. Dubrovnik

Williams, S. & Kamal, A. (2018). The experience of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in women of South Asian Origin. Oral presentation at the Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. Newcastle, UK

Williams, S. & Kamal, A. (2018). The experience of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in women of South Asian Origin. Poster presentation accepted at the European Health Psychology Conference. Galway, Ireland

Mulqueen, M. & Williams, S. (2018). A qualitative survey exploring the relationship between companion pets and their owner’s health. Poster presentation at the European Health Psychology Conference. Galway, Ireland

Mulqueen, M. & Williams, A. (2018). A qualitative survey exploring the relationship between companion pets and their owner’s health. Oral presentation at the European Health Psychology Conference. Galway, Ireland

In the media

16 January 2020, BBC Derby - Sally Pepper - using performance psychology to return to work following maternity leave

Recent publications

Robinson, S., Williams, S., Hallam, J. (Advanced Preparation). Exploring the lived experiences of mothers of extremely preterm infants within the UK: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. The Journal of Health Visiting

Williams, S., Fido, D., & Sheffield, D. (2022). Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Non-Suicidal Self Injury: A community-based study. Healthcare, 10(6), 118. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10061118

Fido, D., & Williams, S. (2022). A comparison of the manifestation of psychopathic traits between women with and without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A brief report.  The Journal of concurrent disorders. https://doi.org/10.54127/UQLZ5455

Khan, S., Holland, F., Williams, S., & Montague, J. (2019). Dispositive Analysis: Overview and proposed approach. Qualitative Methods in Psychology Bulletin, (28).

Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (2018). The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Quality of Life (PCOSQOL) Scale: development and preliminary validation. Health Psychology Open, 5(2). doi: 10.1177/2055102918788195

Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (2018). Analyzing the Impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome on Quality of Life using Photovoice methods. SAGE Research Methods Cases, Part 2. Doi: 10.4135/9781526439352

Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (2015). ‘Everything’s from the inside out with PCOS’: Exploring women’s experiences of living with polycystic ovary syndrome and co-morbidities through Skype interviews. Health Psychology Open, 1-10. doi: 10.1177/2055102915603051

Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (2014). A snapshot of the lives of women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A photovoice investigation. Journal of Health Psychology. doi: 10.1177/1359105314547941

Courses

A person holding their hands out together in a thoughtful way
Polycystic ovary syndrome and suicide: the need for more support and guidance

Dr Sophie Williams, Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology, discusses her research into polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its cost on the mental health of women and girls. Please note, this blog discusses suicide, self-harm and child bereavement. Please consider carefully the impact it may have on you before reading.

Posted: 15 May 2023
By: Dr Sophie Williams
Protecting or harming? The exclusion of pregnant women from the Covid-19 vaccine trials

Dr Sophie Williams, Academic Lead in Psychology at the University of Derby, looks at the reason why pregnant women have been excluded from clinical trials for the Covid-19 vaccine and the history behind the decision. 

Posted: 31 March 2021
By: Dr Sophie Williams
Woman typing on a laptop
Returning to work after maternity leave: how can performance psychology help?

Dr Sophie Williams from the University of Derby, discuss how strategies from performance psychology can help when returning to work after maternity leave.

Posted: 14 January 2020
By: Dr Sophie Williams
Person with brown hair looking to the left
Why more awareness is needed for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Dr Sophie Williams, academic lead in Psychology at University of Derby talks about why we need to raise awareness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

Posted: 1 September 2017
By: Dr Sophie Williams

Recent publications

  • Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (In press). Analysing the impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) on quality of life using photovoice methods. SAGE Research Methods Cases – Psychology
  • Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R.C. (2015). 'Everything's from the inside out with PCOS': Exploring women's experiences of living with polycystic ovary syndrome and co-morbdities through Skype interviews. Health Psychology Open, 2(2). doi: 10.1177/2055102915603051
  • Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (2014). A snapshot of the lives of women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A photovoice investigation. Journal of Health Psychology. doi: 10.1177 / 1359105314547941
  • Williams, S. (2014). Online research methods: An interview with Dr Neil Coulson. Health Psychology Update, 23(2), 60-63.
  • Lilley, F., & Williams, S. (2016). Long-term support for young adults diagnosed with cancer: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Oral presentation at The Applied Qualitative Research Conference. University of Derby, UK.
  • Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (2015). Development and validation of the PCOS-QoL: A quality of life measure for women with PCOS. Oral presentation abstract accepted at the Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference 2015. London, UK.
  • Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (2015). Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), depression and anxiety: A prevalence study. Oral presentation at the 12th Annual Psychology, Health and Medicine conference. Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
  • Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (2015). Using Skype interviews to explore the impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) on quality of life: A thematic analysis. Oral presentation at the 12th Annual Psychology, Health and Medicine conference. Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. 
  • Williams, S. (2015, February 11). Exploring the impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome on quality of life. Institute of Health and Well Being, University of Northampton, UK.
  • Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (2014). The impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome on quality of life: A photovoice study. Oral presentation at the MHPN Annual Conference. Northampton, UK. 
  • Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (2013). The impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome on quality of life: A photovoice study. Poster presented at the Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. Brighton, UK. 
  • Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (2013). The impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome on quality of life: A thematic analysis of online Skype interviews. Poster presented at the Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. Brighton, UK.
  • Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (2013). The impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) on quality of life: A photovoice study. Poster presented at The New Horizons Conference, Derby, UK. 
  • Williams, S., Sheffield, D., & Knibb, R. (2012). The impact of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) on quality of life: A photovoice study. Work in Progress poster presented at the Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, Liverpool, UK.