Article
Callaghan J, Fellin L & Alexander J (2024) A qualitative study of boys’ experiences of their relationships with their domestically violent fathers. Violence Against Women.
Director Child Wellbeing & Protection
Social Work Colin Bell Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA
Professor Callaghan is the Director of the Centre for Child Wellbeing and Protection. She is a psychologist and interdisciplinary researcher, with an established record of research in areas related to childhood, violence, family life, relationships, discrimination and exclusion, and mental health and identity. Two clear strands are in evidence in her research – research focused on violence, health, children’s mental health, social vulnerability and family life, and a related strand focused on gender, professional identities, and ethnicity.
At the Centre for Child Wellbeing and Protection, she leads numerous projects, including the project Make A Change, evaluating the implementation of a programme to provide earlier intervention for people who use violence in their intimate relationships. She is also principal investigator on the NSPCC funded project " The experiences of victims in the criminal justice system: a qualitative research project", which explores the experiences of children giving evidence as victims in criminal justice proceedings. With Dr Louise McCabe, she is co-PI on the Life Changes Trust Evaluation, a five year project that uses creative and co-produced methods to explore the impact of the Life Changes Trust in providing services for children and young people who have experienced care, people with dementia, and people who care for those with dementia.
She has been principal investigator on the four nation European Commission funded project “Understanding Agency and Resistance Strategies – Children’s Experiences of Domestic Violence”, the largest qualitative study of children who live with domestic violence conducted to date. This project is currently extended through the Big Lottery Funded ‘She’ Programme, which provides whole system support for families seeking an end to domestic violence. Current and recent projects include supporting care leavers’ engagement with Higher Education, support needs for women and infants after domestic abuse, and programmes to reduce young children's risk in relation to abuse. In addition, she has completed projects focused on mental health services for looked after children and young offenders, the transformation of mental health services to increase young people’s participation in the interventions offered to them, creative interventions with young people excluded from education, and young care leavers’ engagement with higher education.She has published in a range of international journals, as well as numerous peer reviewed book chapters, and two books. She is editor of the Journal of Gender studies, and an editorial board member for the Journal of Family Violence.
Expert Advisor, Department of Work and Pensions
Department of Work and Pensions, UK
/…/UniversalCredit
Prof Callaghan was asked to provide expert advice to the DWP and Lord Freud on the needs of families who have experienced domestic abuse, and families who have experienced bereavement. In this role, she was able to secure six months unconditionality under universal credit for adult carers who had lost a spouse or partner, or who were fleeing domestic abuse.
Expert witness: Home Affairs Select Committee, session on the Domestic Abuse Bill (westminster)
Home Office
https://www.parliament.uk/…-evidence-17-19/
Professor Callaghan provided expert testimony on the experience of children to the Home Affairs Select Committee at Westminster, in 2019.
Expert witness: Scottish Government Evidence Session on the removal of the defence of reasonable chastisement
Scottish Government
https://www.scottishparliament.tv/…february-28-2019
Professor Callaghan gave expert testimony on the removal of the defense of reasonable chastisement that is currently enables parents to use physical punishment with their children. She argued that continuities between physical punishment and other forms of family violence were clearly evidenced, as were the negative outcomes of physical punishment regardless of the motivation of the parent / carer.
Early years consultant: Women's Aid Federation England
This project, commissioned by Women's Aid Federation England, focused on the development of a toolkit to enable domestic abuse support workers to provide sensitive support for women who are pregnant of have a child under 3. Domestic abuse has a significant impact on relationships between parents and babies, and this can have long term consequences for children's later development.
The project involves interviews with women affected by domestic abuse, who are either pregnant of have young children, and with domestic abuse specialist workers, to inform the development of an approach to supporting women and children that is both woman and infant centred.
The She Project
The SHE provides an integrated support programme for families affected by domestic violence. We have been commissioned to evaluate the intervention as a whole, and to deliver an intervention for children and young people affected by domestic violence and abuse, and for families where there is a baby under 3 years old. Prof Callaghan is Principal Investigator.
The project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
Jane is particularly interested in the experiences of children who are affected by domestic abuse and by other forms of family violence. She is also interested in mental health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on CAMH services, looked after children, and children and young people who are marginalised and othered in a range of ways. Her work uses creative methodologies, other qualitative approaches, and mixed methods, to explore the experiences of children who might be regarded as 'vulnerable'.
Permanently Progressing? Phase Two: Middle Childhood
PI: Dr Helen Whincup
Funded by: The Nuffield Foundation and Donors (UK)
–
Developing the evidence base for social care responses to children / families affected by domestic abuse
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council
–
Governing parental opioid use: a relational ethnography
PI: Professor Anne Whittaker
Funded by: Economic and Social Research Council
–
Evaluation of ‘Parents Involved in their Children’s Learning’ (PICL) project
PI: Dr Hannah Hale
Funded by: Midlothian Sure Start
–
Creating better lives? An Evaluation of the Life Changes Trust
PI: Professor Louise McCabe
Funded by: Life Changes Trust
–
Equalities, empowerment and the experience of care: An evaluation for the Life Changes Trust
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Life Changes Trust
–
Domestic Abuse Seminar Series
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Delegates - Conferences
–
Evaluation of Midlothian Sure Start and their Provision for Fathers
PI: Dr Hannah Hale
Funded by: Midlothian Sure Start
–
'Vulnerable' families in a time of pandemic
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
–
Make a Change
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Lincolnshire Police & Crime Commissioner
–
Peer mentoring for young people leaving care
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Falkirk Council
–
Befriending Services for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Scotland
PI: Dr Paul Rigby
Funded by: Scottish Government
–
Safe, Health and Empowered: a holistic programme of support for women and girls who are affected by domestic violence and abuse in Northamptonshire
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: University of Northampton
–
Open Kindergarten
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Scottish Government
–
The experiences of victims in the criminal justice system: a qualitative research project
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
–
Mentoring for Children and Young People: an Evaluation
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Renfrewshire Council
–
Services for Children Experiencing Domestic Abuse
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Action for Children
–
Centre for Child Wellbeing and Protection Conference
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Delegates - Conferences
–
IAPT project with Northampton
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: University of Northampton
–
Towards best practice in educating and supporting separated children in Scotland Research Tender Specification
PI: Dr Sian Lucas
Funded by: Scottish Refugee Council
–
Evaluation of the Safe Strong and Free Programme
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Safe Strong and Free
–
Scottish Government - Child Trafficking
PI: Dr Paul Rigby
Funded by: Scottish Government
–
Taking Action on Child Poverty
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Delegates - Conferences
–
HEFCE Safeguarding catalyst funding: Safe places project
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: University of Northampton
–
Early Years Resource Consultant
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Women’s Aid Federation of England
–
Nurturing Citizenship in the Early Years
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Glasgow Centre for Population Health
–
OK Open Kindergarten
PI: Professor Jane Callaghan
Funded by: Scottish Government
–
Article
Callaghan J, Fellin L & Alexander J (2024) A qualitative study of boys’ experiences of their relationships with their domestically violent fathers. Violence Against Women.
Article
Hale H, Bracewell K, Bellussi L, Jenkins R, Alexander J, Devaney J & Callaghan JEM (2024) The Child Protection Response to Domestic Violence and Abuse: a Scoping Review of Interagency Interventions, Models and Collaboration. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-024-00681-4
Article
Callaghan JEM, Fellin LC, Mavrou S, Alexander JH, Deligianni-Kouimtzi V, Papathanassiou M & Sixsmith J (2023) Part of the Family: Children’s Experiences with Their Companion Animals in the Context of Domestic Violence and Abuse. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00659-8
Conference Paper (unpublished)
Bellussi L (2023) “But one of the best things is, I don’t feel so bound”: how a specialised youth work model can support children affected by domestic abuse.. Alexander J (Research Group), Plumpton J (Research Group) & Callaghan J (Research Group) ECDV Reykjavik 2023; Edinburgh Community Psychology Festival 2023., 01.04.2023.
Article
Genograms in Research: Participants' Reflections of the Genogram Process
Alexander JH, Callaghan JEM & Fellin LC (2022) Genograms in Research: Participants' Reflections of the Genogram Process. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 19 (1), pp. 91-111. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2018.1545066
Exhibition
Public engagement event - Young people's participation project
Bellussi L, Alexander J & Callaghan J Public engagement event - Young people's participation project.
Research Report
An independent evaluation of the Life Changes Trust. Final Report
McCabe L, Ashworth R, Bellussi L, Blair N, Brown T, Callaghan J, Cheung M, Emond R, Gibson G, Goodwin K, Gray I, Hamilton T, Lamont M, Oliver H & Ormston R (2021) An independent evaluation of the Life Changes Trust. Final Report. Life Changes Trust. United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29438.56649
Research Report
Creating Better Lives? An Evaluation of the Life Changes Trust. Interim Report
McCabe L, Ashworth R, Bellussi L, Brown T, Callaghan J, Cheung M, Crisp S, Curreri A, Emond R, Gibson G, Hale H, Hamilton T, Kelly C, Lamont M & Oliver H (2021) Creating Better Lives? An Evaluation of the Life Changes Trust. Interim Report. The Life Changes Trust. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.16016.79367
Article
Smith L, Callaghan JEM & Fellin LC (2020) A qualitative study exploring the experience and motivations of UK Samaritan volunteers: "Why do we do it?". British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 48 (6), pp. 844-854. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2018.1546378
Research Report
Callaghan J, Bellussi L, Grant M, Gray C, Komvoki N, Warburton J & Wilson S (2020) Rapid Research in Covid-19 Programme. Report for the Chief Scientist Office. Scottish Government, 2020.. Chief Scientist Office. Edinburgh. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.26764.69763
Research Report
Rigby P, Malloch M, Beetham T & Callaghan J (2020) Child Trafficking in Scotland. Scottish Government. Social Research. Edinburgh. https://www.gov.scot/publications/child-trafficking-scotland-research/
Research Report
Callaghan J, Morran D, Alexander J, Bellussi L, Beetham T & Hooper J (2020) Make A Change: An evaluation of the implementation of an early response intervention for those who have used abusive behaviours in their intimate relationships.. Respect UK. Stirling. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.31398.09283
Research Report
Make a Change: A report on a consultation on adapting Make a Change for older adults.
Callaghan J, Bellussi L & Alexander J (2020) Make a Change: A report on a consultation on adapting Make a Change for older adults.. Respect UK. Stirling.
Research Report
Callaghan J & Bellussi L (2020) Make A Change: A report on a consultation with LGBTQ+ groups in Brighton and Hove on the development of an early response for LGBTQ+ people who behave abusively in intimate relationships.. Respect UK. Stirling.
Research Report
Open Kindergarten: Improving Family Support Provision in Scotland
Hale H, Callaghan J, Gada A & Bellussi L (2020) Open Kindergarten: Improving Family Support Provision in Scotland. Crisp S (Research Group) Children in Scotland. Stirling. https://childreninscotland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Open-Kindergarten-University-of-Stirling-Final-Report-June-2020.pdf; https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.28462.08006
Article
Manipulation and Domestic Abuse in Contested Contact - Threats to Children's Participation Rights
Morrison F, Tisdall EKM & Callaghan JEM (2020) Manipulation and Domestic Abuse in Contested Contact - Threats to Children's Participation Rights. Family Court Review, 58 (2), pp. 403-416. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12479
Research Report
Peer mentoring for the 'transition' from care
Beetham T, Callaghan J & Bellussi L (2020) Peer mentoring for the 'transition' from care. Falkirk Council.
Research Report
Tanya B, Bellussi L & Callaghan J (2020) Peer mentoring for the transition from care. An Evaluation of a Pilot produced for Falkirk Local Authority.. Falkirk Council. Stirling.
Keynote
Callaghan J & Morrison F (2020) Domestic Abuse, Pregnancy and Early-stage Parenting: Developing feminist-informed interventions to support mothers and babies. The 2020 Biennial Domestic Violence Conference, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland, 27.02.2020-27.02.2020.
Article
Masculinities and emotional expression in UK Servicemen: 'Big boys don't cry'?
McAllister L, Callaghan J & Fellin LC (2019) Masculinities and emotional expression in UK Servicemen: 'Big boys don't cry'?. Journal of Gender Studies, 28 (3), pp. 257-270. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2018.1429898
Article
Callaghan JEM, Fellin LC & Alexander JH (2019) Promoting resilience and agency in children and young people who have experienced domestic violence and abuse: The "MPOWER" intervention. Journal of Family Violence, 34 (6), p. 521–537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-018-0025-x
Project Report
Safe Strong and Free Programme evaluation
Beetham T & Callaghan J (2019) Safe Strong and Free Programme evaluation. Safe Strong and Free Highland. https://www.stir.ac.uk/media/stirling/services/faculties/social-sciences/research/documents/Report-SSF-2019-FINAL.pdf
Project Report
The "Reducing the Impact of Sexual Exploitation" (RISE) Project: An Implementation evaluation
Callaghan J, Rigby P & Beetham T (2019) The "Reducing the Impact of Sexual Exploitation" (RISE) Project: An Implementation evaluation. Barnardo's Scotland. Stirling: University of Stirling.
Article
Meaning-making in women's tattooed bodies
Dann C & Callaghan J (2019) Meaning-making in women's tattooed bodies. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2019, Art. No.: e12438. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12438
Article
Child's Play? Children and young people's resistances to domestic violence and abuse
Fellin LC, Callaghan JEM, Alexander JH, Mavrou S & Harrison-Breed C (2019) Child's Play? Children and young people's resistances to domestic violence and abuse. Children and Society, 33 (2), pp. 126-141. https://doi.org/10.1111/chso.12302
Article
Fellin LC, Callaghan JEM, Alexander JH, Harrison-Breed C, Mavrou S & Papathanassiou M (2019) Empowering young people who experienced domestic violence and abuse: the development of a group therapy intervention. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 24 (1), pp. 170-189. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104518794783
Project Report
New Spaces: Safeguarding Students From Violence and Hate
Crofts M, Hill K, Prokopiou E, Barrick R, Callaghan J & Armstrong-Hallam S (2018) New Spaces: Safeguarding Students From Violence and Hate. Higher Education Federation Council of England. Northampton.
Article
Beyond "Witnessing": Children’s Experiences of Coercive Control in Domestic Violence and Abuse
Callaghan J, Alexander J, Sixsmith J & Fellin LC (2018) Beyond "Witnessing": Children’s Experiences of Coercive Control in Domestic Violence and Abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33 (10), pp. 1551-1581. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515618946
Keynote
Callaghan J (2018) Trauma informed practice and ACES: Critical perspectives on children’s mental health and domestic abuse. Children’s wellbeing, safety and relationships: A one day conference, University of Stirling, Iris Murdoch Building, 24.05.2018-24.05.2018. https://stirling.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=f9ffe14c-2c38-40e0-9f02-ab510108535f
Keynote
Children's experiences of domestic abuse
Callaghan J (2018) Children's experiences of domestic abuse. Change for Children Conference, Women's Aid Northern Ireland, 07.02.2018-08.02.2018. https://www.womensaidni.org/see-hear-act-children-domestic-violence-conference-2018/
Article
Children's experiences of domestic violence and abuse: siblings' accounts of relational coping
Callaghan J, Alexander J, Sixsmith J & Fellin LC (2017) Children's experiences of domestic violence and abuse: siblings' accounts of relational coping. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 22 (4), pp. 649-668. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104515620250
Article
Callaghan JEM, Fellin LC, Mavrou S, Alexander J & Sixsmith J (2017) The Management of Disclosure in Children's Accounts of Domestic Violence: Practices of Telling and Not Telling. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26 (12), pp. 3370-3387. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0832-3
Book Chapter
Children’s experiences of domestic violence: A teaching and training challenge
Callaghan JE, Fellin LC & Alexander JH (2017) Children’s experiences of domestic violence: A teaching and training challenge. In: Newnes C & Golding L (eds.) Teaching Critical Psychology International Perspectives. London: Routledge, pp. 219-237. https://www.routledge.com/Teaching-Critical-Psychology-International-Perspectives/Newnes-Golding/p/book/9781138288348
Article
Children and domestic violence: Emotional competencies in embodied and relational contexts
Callaghan JEM, Fellin LC, Alexander JH, Mavrou S & Papathanassiou M (2017) Children and domestic violence: Emotional competencies in embodied and relational contexts. Psychology of Violence, 7 (3), pp. 333-342. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000108
Article
Embodiment and Excess: Constructions of tattooed mothers in the UK
Dann C & Callaghan JEM (2017) Embodiment and Excess: Constructions of tattooed mothers in the UK. Psychology of Women Section Review, 19 (1). https://shop.bps.org.uk/publications/publication-by-series/psychology-of-women-section-review/psychology-of-women-section-review-vol-19-1-spring-2017.html
Article
A critical analysis of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services policy in England
Callaghan J, Fellin LC & Warner-Gale F (2017) A critical analysis of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services policy in England. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 22 (1), pp. 109-127. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104516640318
Article
Callaghan J, Alexander J & Fellin LC (2016) Children's embodied experience of living with domestic violence: "I'd go into my panic, and shake, really bad". Subjectivity, 9 (4), pp. 399-419. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41286-016-0011-9
Book Chapter
Mental Health of Looked-After Children: Embodiment and Use of Space
Callaghan JEM, Fellin LC & Alexander JH (2016) Mental Health of Looked-After Children: Embodiment and Use of Space. In: Evans B, Horton J & Skelton T (eds.) Geographies of Children and Young People: Play, Recreation, Health and Well Being. Geographies of Children and Young People, 9. Singapore: Springer, pp. 561-580. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4585-51-4_22
Book Chapter
Children’s Corporeal Agency and Use of Space in Situations of Domestic Violence
Alexander JH, Callaghan JE, Sixsmith J & Fellin LC (2016) Children’s Corporeal Agency and Use of Space in Situations of Domestic Violence. In: Evans B, Horton J & Skelton T (eds.) Play and Recreation, Health and Wellbeing. Geographies of Children and Young People, 9. Singapore: Springer, pp. 523-543. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-981-4585-51-4_23#citeas; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4585-51-4_23
Article
Youell J, Callaghan J & Buchanan K (2016) 'I don't know if you want to know this': Carers' understandings of intimacy in long-term relationships when one partner has dementia. Ageing and Society, 36 (5), pp. 946-967. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X15000045
Project Report
Understanding Agency and Resistance Strategies (UNARS): Children's experiences of domestic violence
Callaghan JEM & Alexander JH (2015) Understanding Agency and Resistance Strategies (UNARS): Children's experiences of domestic violence. European Commission. Northampton. https://ec.europa.eu/justice/grants/results/daphne-toolkit/content/unars-understanding-agency-and-resistance-strategies-children-situations-domestic-abuse_en
Article
Hearing the Silences: Adult Nigerian Women's Accounts of 'Early Marriages'
Callaghan J, Gambo Y & Fellin LC (2015) Hearing the Silences: Adult Nigerian Women's Accounts of 'Early Marriages'. Feminism and Psychology, 25 (4), pp. 506-527. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959353515590691
Article
Deconstructing Developmental Psychology 20 years on: Reflections, implications and empirical work
Callaghan J, Andenaes A & Macleod C (2015) Deconstructing Developmental Psychology 20 years on: Reflections, implications and empirical work. Feminism and Psychology, 25 (3), pp. 255-265. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959353515583702
Article
Callaghan J & Lazard L (2012) Please don’t put the whole dang thing out there! A discursive analysis of internet discussions on breastfeeding. Psychology and Health, 27 (8), pp. 938-955. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2011.634294
Article
Behind Supervisory Doors: taught Master's dissertation students as qualitative apprentices
Maunder R, Gordon-Finlayson A, Callaghan J & Roberts A (2012) Behind Supervisory Doors: taught Master's dissertation students as qualitative apprentices. Psychology Learning and Teaching, 11 (1), pp. 30-38. https://doi.org/10.2304/plat.2012.11.1.30
Authored Book
Callaghan J & Lazard L (2011) Social Psychology. Critical Thinking in Psychology. London: SAGE Publications. https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/social-psychology/book238613
Article
Capdevila R & Callaghan J (2007) 'It's not racist. It's common sense'. A critical analysis of political discourse around asylum and immigration in the UK. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 18 (1), pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.904
Jane teaches qualitative research methods.
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy