Dr Line Caes

Associate Professor

Psychology University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Line Caes

Contact details

About me

I am passionate about furthering our understanding of the bidirectional influence between parents and children during painful experiences and how this influence changes throughout childhood. Following this passion, I joined the University of Stirling in July 2016, attracted by strong developmental focus in Stirling and the fascinating opportunity to continue expanding my interest in early childhood pain experiences through the Division of Psychology’s Kindergarten.

I obtained my Masters in Psychology with Magna cum Lauda at Ghent University (2008), where I also undertook my graduate training (2008-2012), funded by the Funds for Scientific Research in Flanders (FWO). Since my graduate training, my research has focused on understanding parent-child interactions in the context of child pain experiences.

After receiving my PhD I explored my horizons and started a post-doctoral fellowship at the Centre for Pediatric Pain Research (IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Canada), funded by the Louise and Alan Edwards Fellowship in Pediatric Pain Research (2012-14).

From 2014-2016 I was a Lecturer of Psychology in the School of Psychology at NUI, Galway, where I contributed to research and teaching of Health Psychology and continued my research on the bidirectional influences of paediatric pain between parents and children as part of the Centre for Pain Research.

As mentioned above, in July 2016, I joined the Division of Psychology at the Faculty of Natural Science at the University of Stirling. Besides developing my research profile, I currently also teach and supervise students within the MSc Health Psychology.  

My Key Papers:

  • Caes L, Dick B, Duncan C & Allan J (2020) The cyclical relation between chronic pain, executive functioning, emotional regulation, and self-management. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsaa114

  • Newell A, Keane J, McGuire B, Heary C, McDarby V, Dudley B, Moran J, Francis K & Caes L (2018) Interactive versus Passive Distraction and Parent Psychoeducation as pain management techniques during pediatric venepuncture: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Clinical Journal of Pain, 34 (11), pp. 1008-1016. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000628

  • Caes L, Boerner KE, Chambers CT, Campbell-Yeo M, Stinson J, Birnie KA, Parker JA, Huguet A, Jordan A, McLaren Chorney J, Schinkel M & Dol J (2016) A comprehensive categorical and bibliometric analysis of published research articles on pediatric pain from 1975 to 2010. Pain, 157 (2), pp. 302-313. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000403

  • Caes L, Goubert L, Devos P, Verlooy J, Benoit Y & Vervoort T (2014) The relationship between parental catastrophizing about child pain and distress in response to medical procedures in the context of childhood cancer treatment: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 39 (7), pp. 677-686. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsu034

  • Parental catastrophizing about child's pain and its relationship with activity restriction: The mediating role of parental distress Caes L, Vervoort T, Eccleston C, Vandenhende M & Goubert L (2011) Parental catastrophizing about child's pain and its relationship with activity restriction: The mediating role of parental distress. Pain, 152 (1), pp. 212-222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2010.10.037

My research interests concern the social context of acute and chronic paediatric pain experiences. In particular, I am keen on furthering our understanding of the bidirectional influence between parents and children during painful experiences and how this influence changes throughout childhood.

During my graduate training, I focused on the role of parental catastrophic thinking in explaining their responses when faced with their child in pain. During this training I gained an appreciation for exploring these patterns using a variety of research methods (experimental pain paradigms, observational designs, psychophysiological assessment, and longitudinal methodology) within different populations (healthy school children, children with leukaemia and children suffering from functional abdominal pain).

Through my postdoctoral research project, I aimed to extend this work, by focusing on the wider family and explore how family functioning within families of a child diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease influences parental responses and the child’s health-related quality of life.

These experiences all contributed to my curiosity for understanding how these parent-child interactions and family patterns evolve throughout the child’s development, with my research now focusing on pain-related family interactions at crucial times in a child’s development: pre-school period, adolescence and young adulthood. Additionally, I am passionate about ensuring that our knowledge on the role of social factors in explaining child pain experiences translates into better treatment opportunities for children with chronic pain. To this end, I am involved in collaborative research projects evaluating treatment for paediatric chronic pain which actively involve parents and peer support.

In sum, my main research themes include:

  • The role of family functioning and parental characteristics in explaining parental behaviour in response to their child in pain and the subsequent impact on their child’s level of pain

  • Quality of live and adjustment to a pediatric chronic illness (e.g., cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, ...) in both patient and their family (i.e., parents and siblings). 

  • Parent-child interactions throughout development.

  • Facilitators and barriers to adolescents taking responsibility for their pain management.

  • Online self-management interventions for adolescents with a chronic illness.

I am always interested to talk to prospective graduate students about these research areas and explore opportunities for supervision!

Award

Dr John T Goodman Award for Student Research in Pediatric Pain

Louise and Alan Edwards Fellowship in Pediatric Pain Research 2012
Louise and Alan Edwards Foundation

IASP Early Career Research Grant
International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)

http://www.iasp-pain.org/…?ItemNumber=4422

2022 Early Career Award in Pediatric Pain

Le Prix de Psychologie, these de psychologie scientifique, 17th periode treinnale, 2010-2012
Belgian Royal Academy

Patrick Wall International Meetings Bursary (British Pain Society)
Patrick Wall International Meetings Bursary (British Pain Society) to cover registra- tion of the International Symposium of Pediatric Pain (16-20 June 2019), 530GBP

University of Stirling Research Culture Award 2020 - best early career researcher
Highly Commended in the category "Best Early Career Researcher".

University of Stirling Research Culture Award 2021 - best research leader

Community Contribution

We shouldn’t worry so much about our kids? Anxiety - it’s a normal part of growing up
/…growing-up-67963
Caes, L. (2016). We shouldn’t worry so much about our kids? anx- iety - it’s a normal part of growing up. The Conversation, November 1, 2016: h

A global learning experience.
https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/…rning-experience
Caes, L., Smith, J. & McGregor, L. (2020). A global learning experience. The Psychologist.

Airing Pain 99 by Pain Concern - Transition Services
https://audioboom.com/posts/6651644-transition-services

Developmental Research Team at The University of Stirling (2017). Little scientists- big impact
https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/…tists-big-impact
Developmental Research Team at The University of Stirling (2017). Little scientists- big impact The Psychologist, 30, 30-33.

Learning new skills & collaborating in Canada
http://researchandinnovationblog.stir.ac.uk/…ting-in-canada/

Short report: What about the parents? The importance of the family context within paediatric psychology
Caes, L. (2016). Short report: What about the parents? The importance of the family context within paediatric psychology. The Irish Psychologist, 42(5), 140-142.

The Anthill podcast by The Conversation UK - Growing Up
https://theconversation.com/anthill-21-growing-up-90247

The pain of youth
https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/…-2017/pain-youth
Caes, L., & Jordan, A. (2017). The pain of youth The Psychologist, 30, 24-27.

Education

Lic./M. Sc. in Psychology
Universiteit Gent, Belgium

Continuing Education Course Psycho-Oncology
Universiteit Gent, Belgium

PhD Clinical Psychology
Universiteit Gent, Belgium

Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Other Project

Parent-child mutual interactions during preschoolers’ everyday pain experiences: a pilot study
International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)

IASP Early Career Research Grant; $20,000

Engaging young people in health research: Exploring innovative research designs to explore social challenges faced by young people with pain related health conditions
University of Bath

British Psychology Society - Research Seminar grant for the seminar series ’Engaging young people in health research: Exploring innovative research designs to explore social challenges faced by young people with pain related health conditions. (June 2016-2017); PI: Dr Abbie Jordan, co-PI: Dr Line Caes; amount: 3,000GBP

How do adolescents with chronic pain use YouTube to communicate about their challenges?

British Psychology Society - Undergraduate Research Assistantship PI: Dr Line Caes, RA: Emily Katherine McKenzie

Irish Cultural Adaptation and Usability Testing of the Teens Taking Charge: Managing Arthritis Online Program
The Wellcome Trust

Wellcome Trust - small project funding €5,000

Telling their story: Exploring future perceptions in young people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Bath Centre for Pain Services

Rare Disease Foundation and the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation (BCCHF) (reference number: 2285)

PI: Dr Abbie Jordan; Co-PI:Dr Line Caes

What makes a peer mentoring relationship powerful? A qualitative exploration of the iPeer2Peer Program for youth with chronic pain
Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)

Rare Disease Foundation and the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation (BCCHF) (ref erence number: 2285) for the amount of 5,000CAD to support the project entitled "What makes a peer mentoring relationship powerful? A qualitative exploration of the iPeer2Peer Program for youth with chronic pain" (September 2019-2020). PI: Dr Sara Ahola Kohut; Co-PI: Dr Line Caes

Keeping on track: Exploring Socio-developmental challenges faced by young people with ongoing pain and their families
Bath Centre for Pain Services

Pain Relief Foundation - Prize PhD studentship 

PI: Dr Abbie Jordan;Co-PI: Dr Line Caes, Prof Christopher Eccleston

Lending an ear: "iPeer2Peer" plus "Teens Taking Charge" Online Self- Management to empower children with Arthritis
University of Galway and Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)

Health Research Board - National Children’s Hospital Foundation 2017 (reference number: NCHF-2017-003)

 PI: Prof Brian McGuire; Co-PI:Dr Line Caes, Prof Jennifer Stinson, Dr Caroline Heary, Dr Siobhan O’Higgins, & Dr Sara Ahola Kohut

Exploring educational challenges in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
University of Bath

Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases (BIRD) for the amount of 25,597GBP to support the project entitled "Exploring educational challenges in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis." (August 2019-2020). PI: Dr Abbie Jordan Collaborators:Dr Line Caes & Dr Ceri Brown

An investigation into the experience of pain, associated disability, and mental health comorbidity in youth who experience chronic pain
University of Bath

Pain Relief Foundation - Prize PhD studentship (matched funding) The Sir Halley Stewart Trust - PhD studentship (matched funding) PI: Dr Abbie Jordan;Co-PI: Dr Line Caes, Prof Christopher Eccleston

Feasibility and preliminary efficacy study of an online pain management programme for children undergoing major or- thopaedic surgery: iCanCope Post-Op Surgery
University of Galway and Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)

Health Research Board - DIFA 2018 (reference number: 5373) for the amount of 310,740.59EUR to support the project entitled "Feasibility and preliminary efficacy study of an online pain management programme for children undergoing major orthopaedic surgery: iCanCope Post-Op Surgery" (April 2019-2021). PI: Prof Brian McGuire; Co-Applicants: Dr Caroline Heary, Dr Line Caes, Prof Jennifer Stinson, Dr Kevin McCarthy, & Dr Chitra Lalloo

Professional membership

co-chair European Paediatric Psychology Network

committee member Division of Health Psychology Scotland

Committee member of the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) Children Pain and Palliative Care Clinical Studies Group (CSG)

Council member of the IASP SIG Pain in Childhood
International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)

Faculty member of Pain in Child Health (PICH)

Member of Network of Psychologists Working in Chronic Pain in Scotland (NPCPS)

member of the British Psychological Society
British Psychological Society

The Scottish Pain Research Community (SPaRC)

Research programmes

Research centres/groups

Research themes