
Mark McDermott
Emeritus Professor
Health promotion and behaviour
Emeritus Staff , School of Childhood and Social Care
Experienced University of East London lecturer and researcher in psychology since 1989.
Areas Of Interest
- Individual differences in rebelliousness
- Radicalism - models & measurement
- Mortality awareness
- Public understanding of depression
- Interventions for reducing risky single occasion drinking
OVERVIEW
Mark McDermott studied undergraduate psychology between 1978 and 1981 at what was then University College Cardiff (UCC) (now University of Wales, Cardiff). Thereafter, he took a postgraduate certificate of education (PGCE) in primary school education at the School of Education, UCC. In 1982, he was awarded a University of Wales PhD scholarship and undertook work which later emerged in thesis form as "Rebelliousness in adolescence and young adulthood", as supervised by social psychologist Dr Terry Honess. During the course of this work, he visited the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA for two semesters (1984–85), where he learned about questionnaire development from cross-cultural psychologist Professor Harry Triandis. From 1987 to 1989 he completed an MSc as a trainee clinical psychologist at the University of Manchester. While there, he conducted research at the Wythenshawe Hospital Regional Cardiothoracic unit (supervised by cardiologist Colin Bray and clinical psychologist Professor Reg Beech), culminating in his MSc thesis "Forms of hostility as risk factors for coronary artery disease" and two peer-reviewed journal papers. Since taking up a lectureship in Health Psychology at UEL over thirty years ago in 1989, Mark has maintained his ongoing interest in the biopsychosocial modelling of health and illness. Latterly, he has extended his research activity to encompass psychometric work on topics in mental health, specifically: the public understanding of depression; mortality awareness; radicalism; and scientifically unsubstantiated beliefs.
Throughout his career he has also maintained research activity on individual differences in rebelliousness within the context of Reversal Theory, collaborating periodically with the theory's progenitor, Professor Michael Apter, and latterly in work ongoing as a predictor of resistance to health persuasion messages. An additional strand of his health psychology research has been the investigation of social cognition models as predictors of alcohol consumption, in particular risky, single-occasion drinking. This work was conducted in conjunction with postdoctoral researcher Dr Vered Murgraff and resulted in the publication of a randomised control trial as funded by the Alcohol Education and Research Council: a brief evidence-based intervention targeting motivational and volitional antecedents specified by the theory of planned behaviour and implementation intention theory.
From February 2003 to September 2011, Mark was the UEL School of Psychology Leader of Research (the second in the School's history), wherein he facilitated the research and scholarly activity of academic colleagues within the School and took overall responsibility for postgraduates by research. Mark was responsible for co-ordinating the School's submission of 23 academic staff to the 2008 National Research Assessment Exercise. This resulted in a quadrupling of school research income from this source (relative to the result of the 2001 Exercise). He was promoted to Professor in 2008. Thereafter, as a member of the School Research Management Team, he helped prepare the School to engage with its successor, the Research Excellence Framework (REF), chairing the School's REF Advisory Group. In 2014, Mark embarked on the role of PhD Programme Leader for the School through to 2018 and contributed as UEL Psychology lead to the successful bid to the ESRC for recurrent PhD studentships over six years from 2017 onwards - with Doctoral Training Partnership consortia colleagues at University College London and Birkbeck College. From 2015 to 2018 Mark was a UEL Staff Governor, contributing oversight and constructive scrutiny of decision making on the University's Board of Governors. He continues to lead well-received undergraduate modules on health psychology and the psychology of mental health, whilst also supervising PhD students.
RESEARCH
Contract research
- McDermott, M.R. & Meha, A. (2017). An evaluation of the efficacy of physical activity interventions in an east London and an Essex borough: Active Sport for Life, exercise & gym-swim.
- Watling, R., McDermott, M.R. & Arroll, M. (2012). An evaluation of the adiZone outdoor gym complex, Mayesbrook Park, Dagenham. Commissioned by the Community Sport & Physical Activity Team, London Borough of Barking & Dagenham.
- Harden, A., Lloyd, E., McDermott, M.R., Potter, S. & Sayeed, Z. (2009). A project to assist Family Action's Building Bridges practitioners with the use of the Index of Family Relations as an outcome measurement.
- McDermott, M.R., & Potton, A. (2008). Tackling teenage obesity: a systematic review and project proposal. Report commissioned by J. Boss, Adolescent Obesity Co-ordinator, Barking & Dagenham NHS Primary Care Trust.
Esteem Indicators
- Invitation to submit the Collymore & McDermott (2015) paper for a University of Florida, USA `FRANK' 2017 prize - for research that informs and drives better practice in the field of public interest communications: `We think your research on loss-framed messages, disgust and alcohol consumption is fascinating'.
- ESRC Peer Review College Member (March 2010 to date).
- Invited reviewer: ESRC Standard Grants Scheme, Open call (February 2010).
- Named contributor to the BPS Division of Health Psychology response to the House of Lords call for evidence on Behavioural Change (2010).
- Invited reviewer: MRC Population Health Scientist Fellowship (January 2009).
- External PhD Examiner: R. Davis (2009). An investigation of hospital patients' willingness and ability to participate in safety-related aspects of their healthcare management. Imperial College London.
- Invited reviewer: Wellcome Trust project grant (December 2008).
- Invited Reviewer: Health Services & Health of the Public Predoctoral Fellowship, on behalf of Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government (May 2008).
- External PhD Examiner: J.J. Wright (2008). A phenomenological exploration of the process of optimal experiences, University of Brighton.
Invited talks
- Stone, A. & McDermott, M.R. (2016). The development of the Multidimensional Questionnaire of Scientifically Unsubstantiated Beliefs. Students Union Psychology Society invited talk, Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London (29 Nov.).
- Stone, A & McDermott, M.R. (2016). How many kinds of paranormal beliefs are there? The development of the Multidimensional Questionnaire of Scientifically Unsubstantiated Beliefs. Invited talk, the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit, Goldsmiths College, University of London (8 Nov).
- McDermott, M.R. & Meha, A. (2016). `Psychological adjustment to UK life among Kosovan-Albanian refugees and emigres', National Association for Teaching English & Other Community Languages in Adults (NATECLA) launch event, `Towards an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) strategy for England', House of Commons & Lords, Palace of Westminster, London, (12 Oct.)
- McDermott, M.R. (2014). School-Home-Support, Cityside House, London, E1 1EE. Parenting styles, childhood adversity and disaffection in adolescence. (Nov.).
- McDermott, M.R. (2012). Centre for Better Health - Supporting Recovery from Mental Ill-Health, Hackney. Understanding the common cold of psychopathology: The Psychosocial antecedents of depression. World Mental Health Day (10 Oct.).
- McDermott, M.R. (2010). Clinical Psychology Department Ealing Staff Development Unit, West London Mental Health NHS Trust, Psychological aspects of physical health problems - coronary artery disease, (March).
FUNDING
External research income
£209,000 (submitted 1st round bid 2017; invited to 2nd round in 2018; unfunded). Alcohol use and mental health - evaluating online interventions for veterans.
UEL Psychology lead contributor to the successful bid for ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership recognition, for the joint University College London, Birkbeck and University of East London consortium, resulting in two 4-year PGR studentships for UEL in its first year (2017), with over 40 studentships accruing to the consortium each year for the next six years.
£71,000 (2013–16). Evaluation of the "Active Sport for Life" component of the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham/Sport England patient exercise referral scheme.
£10,000 (2011–12). An evaluation of the adiZone outdoor gym complex, Mayesbrook Park, Dagenham. Community Sport & Physical Activity Team, London Borough of Barking & Dagenham.
TEACHING
- Undergraduate final-year project supervision
- PhD supervision
MODULES
- PY5015: Psychology of Mental Health (module leader)
Student feedback on PY5015:
“This module was the most amazing one during my entire psychology course so far. It provided me with great insight into different mental health issues and equipped me with critical thinking skills. I really enjoyed each week; I'm happy I chose this module.” (2021-22)
“This is the most well-organised and most engaging module I have undertaken since starting the degree programme. Making a four-hour teaching session interesting enough to keep attention must be difficult, but this module’s lectures have all been fascinating and I find I’m fully engaged throughout.” (2021-22)
“The lecturers are outstanding on this module. They have given above and beyond what I expected and guided me towards concepts that will shift the way I experience and view my life and my place in it.”
“Teaching was fantastic — really enthusiastic. Topics were brilliant.”
- PY6009: Health Psychology (module leader)
Student feedback on PY6009:
"Teachers [are] passionate about their subject. Clear learning outcomes…accomplished at the end of the lecture."
"I am more aware of how to improve my health. The knowledge has been immensely helpful for me to advise others."
- PY6301: Undergraduate Final Year Project Supervision
In 2017 Mark won ' Best Dissertation or Project Supervisor' across the University at the 'Student Learning and Teaching Awards' and was a finalist (of four) again in 2021.
Also in 2017, Mark was among the many nominees for `Best Lecturer'.
Mark was also nominated for student-led awards in 2013 and 2014.
ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- School PhD Programme Leader 2014-18
- Member of the School Research Degrees Sub-Committee
- UEL Staff Governor 2015-18
Publications
Browse past publications by year.
Full publications list
Visit the research repository to view a full list of publications
- Predicting mental health from the Apter Motivational Style Profile during the COVID-19 pandemic – the importance of planfulness and goal orientation Journal of Motivation, Emotion, and Personality. 11, pp. 1-7. https://doi.org/10.12689/jmep.2022.1101
- Investigating the effect of inquiry-based stress reduction on mortality awareness and interpersonal problems among intensive care unit nurses BMC Psychiatry. 22 (Art. 106). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-03764-y
- Psychological Predictors of Mortality Awareness: Time Perspective, Contentment With Age and Paternal Antipathy and Neglect Omega: Journal of Death and Dying. 85 (1), pp. 225-245. https://doi.org/10.1177/0030222820944065
- A New Methodology for Developing A Self-Report Psychodiversity Questionnaire: Update and Future Directions For A Work in Progress Journal of Motivation, Emotion, and Personality. 10, pp. 13-18. https://doi.org/10.12689/jmep.2021.1002
- Evaluating the Criticisms of the Stanford Prison Experiment Psychology Review Magazine. 25 (2), pp. 18-20
- Being innovative and ethical about research Psychology Review Magazine. 24 (3), pp. 23-25