Dr Laura Coffey

Psychology, ALL Institute, Human Health Institute

Lecturer / Assistant Professor

John Hume Building
3rd
3.10
(01) 474 7625

Biography

Dr. Laura Coffey is a Lecturer/Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology. She is a graduate of University College Dublin (BA Psychology), the National University of Ireland, Galway (MPsychSc Health Psychology), and Dublin City University (PhD). Prior to taking up her current post in 2015, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher and co-investigator on various projects funded by the Irish Research Council, Irish Cancer Society and Health Research Board. With a background in health and rehabilitation psychology, her research focuses on people's experiences of illness, disability and difference, and finding ways to promote their autonomy, wellbeing and participation. She has particular research interests in amputation, cancer survivorship, neurodivergence, assistive technologies, self-management, supported decision-making, qualitative and mixed-methods approaches, and engaged research practices.

Research Interests

Exploring the views and experiences of those living with illness, disability and difference and finding ways to promote their autonomy, wellbeing and participation; amputation; cancer survivorship; self-management; assistive technology; supported decision-making; participatory autism research. Emphasis on qualitative and mixed methods approaches incorporating multiple stakeholders’ perspectives and engaged research practices.

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2019 Gallagher, P., Coffey, L., Desmond, D. M., Lombard-Vance, R., Jefferies, P., & Wegener, S. T. (2019) 'Limb loss' In: Handbook of Rehabilitation Psychology (3rd Ed.). Washington, DC : American Psychological Association. [Link]
2012 Desmond DM, Coffey L, Gallagher P, MacLachlan M, Wegener ST, O'Keeffe F (2012) 'Limb amputation' In: Oxford Handbook of Rehabilitation Psychology. : Oxford University Press. [Full-Text]

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2024 Casey, H., Desmond, D., & Coffey, L. (2024) 'Irish mothers' experiences of providing support in decision-making to adults with intellectual disabilities: A qualitative study'. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 52 :110-120. [Link] [DOI]
2023 Casey, H., Trayer, A. Desmond, D., & Coffey L. (2023) 'Experiences and Perceptions of Everyday Decision Making in the Lives of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities, their Care Partners and Direct Care Support Workers'. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, . [DOI] [Full-Text]
2023 Casey, H., Desmond, D., & Coffey, L. (2023) 'Professional and Family Carers’ Perspectives on the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Supported Decision-Making with Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: A Qualitative Online Survey'. Disabilities, 3 (2):206-216. [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2021 Beghean R.; Coffey L. (2021) '“You either sink or you swim, and you're better off swimming”: A qualitative study exploring the self-management experiences of soft tissue sarcoma survivors'. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 55 . [DOI] [Full-Text]
2021 Clarke, N; Dunne, S; Coffey, L; Sharp, L; Desmond, D; O'Conner, J; O'Sullivan, E; Timon, C; Cullen, C; Gallagher, P (2021) 'Health literacy impacts self-management, quality of life and fear of recurrence in head and neck cancer survivors'. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 15 :855-865. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2019 Coffey, L., Mahon, C., & Gallagher, P. (2019) 'Perceptions and experiences of diabetic foot ulceration and foot care in people with diabetes: A qualitative meta‐synthesis'. International Wound Journal, 16 (1):183-210. [Link] http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/iwj.13010 [Full-Text]
2019 Dunne S.; Coffey L.; Sharp L.; Desmond D.; Cullen C.; O'Connor J.; O'Sullivan E.; Timon C.; Gallagher P. (2019) 'Investigating the impact of self-management behaviours on quality of life and fear of recurrence in head and neck cancer survivors: A population-based survey'. Psycho-Oncology, 28 (4):742-749. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2019 Dunne, S., Coffey, L. Sharp, L., Desmond, D. Gooberman-Hill, R, O’Sullivan, E., Timmons, A, Keogh, I., Timon, C., Gallagher, P. (2019) 'Integrating self-management into daily life following primary treatment: head and neck cancer survivors' perspectives'. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 13 (1):43-55. [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2018 Dunne, S., Coffey, L., Sharpe, L., Desmond, D. Gooberman-Hill, R., Timons, A., O'Sullivan, E., Timon, C., Keogh, IJ., Gallagher, P. (2018) 'Barriers to active self-management following treatment for head and neck cancer: survivors’ perspectives'. Psycho-Oncology, 27 (10):2382-2388. [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2017 Dunne S; Mooney O; Coffey L; Sharp L; Timmons A; Desmond D; Gooberman-Hill R; O’Sullivan E; Keogh I; Timon C; Gallagher, P. (2017) 'Self-management strategies used by head and neck cancer survivors following completion of primary treatment: A directed content analysis'. Psycho-Oncology, 26 (12):2194-2200. [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2017 Dunne S, Mooney O, Coffey L, Sharp L, Desmond D, Timon C, O'Sullivan E, Gallagher P (2017) 'Psychological variables associated with quality of life following primary treatment for head and neck cancer: a systematic review of the literature from 2004 to 2015'. Psycho-Oncology, 26 (2):149-160. [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2016 Coffey L; Mooney O; Dunne S; Sharp L; Timmons A; Desmond D; O'Sullivan E; Timon C; Gooberman-Hill R; Gallagher P; (2016) 'Cancer survivors' perspectives on adjustment-focused self-management interventions: a qualitative meta-synthesis'. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 10 (6):1012-1034. [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2015 Dunne, S; Coffey, L; Gallagher, P; Desmond, D; Ryall, N (2015) 'BEYOND FUNCTION: USING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOLLOWING LOWER LIMB LOSS'. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 47 :561-568. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2015 Dunne S, Coffey L, Gallagher P, Desmond D (2015) 'If I can do it I will do it, if I can't, I can't?: a study of adaptive self-regulatory strategies following lower limb amputation'. Disability and Rehabilitation, 36 :1990-1997. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2014 Coffey, L; Gallagher, P; Desmond, D; Ryall, N (2014) 'Goal pursuit, goal adjustment, and affective well-being following lower limb amputation'. British Journal of Health Psychology, 19 :409-424. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2014 Coffey, L; Gallagher, P; Desmond, D (2014) 'A prospective study of the importance of life goal characteristics and goal adjustment capacities in longer term psychosocial adjustment to lower limb amputation'. Clinical Rehabilitation, 28 :196-205. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2014 Coffey, L; Gallagher, P; Desmond, D (2014) 'Goal Pursuit and Goal Adjustment as Predictors of Disability and Quality of Life Among Individuals With a Lower Limb Amputation: A Prospective Study'. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 95 :244-252. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2014 Coffey, L; Gallagher, P; Desmond, D; Ryall, N; Wegener, ST (2014) 'Goal Management Tendencies Predict Trajectories of Adjustment to Lower Limb Amputation Up to 15 Months Post Rehabilitation Discharge'. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 95 :1895-1902. [DOI]
2012 Coffey, L; O'Keeffe, F; Gallagher, P; Desmond, D; Lombard-Vance, R (2012) 'Cognitive functioning in persons with lower limb amputations: a review'. Disability and Rehabilitation, 34 :1950-1964. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2009 Coffey, L; Gallagher, P; Horgan, O; Desmond, D; MacLachlan, M (2009) 'Psychosocial adjustment to diabetes-related lower limb amputation'. Diabetic Medicine, 26 :1063-1067. [DOI] [Full-Text]

Other Journal

Year Publication
2012 Jefferies P, Coffey L, Gallagher P (2012) 'The efficacy of psychosocial factors in predicting pain and functional outcomes following knee replacement surgery' Evidence-Based Nursing, 15 :92-93. [DOI] [Full-Text]
2010 Coffey L, Gallagher P, Desmond D (2010) 'Post amputation depression' Diabetes Professional, 6 :22-23.

Conference Publication

Year Publication
2023 Casey, H., Desmond, D., & Coffey, L. (2023) Nordic Network on Disability Research 16th Research Conference The perceptions and experiences of adults with intellectual disability regarding supported decision-making: A qualitative study Reykjavik, Iceland, [Link]
2021 Casey, H., Desmond, D., & Coffey, L. (2021) 6th International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSIDD) Europe Congress Mothers' perspectives on providing supported decision making to adults with intellectual disability https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12917
2019 Maguire, R., Hanly, P., Coffey, L., Desmond, D. & Maguire, P. (2019) MS Frontiers The influence of expectations on quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis: a protocol for a systematic review Bath, UK,
2019 Clarke, N., Dunne, S., Coffey, L., Desmond, D., Sharp, L., O’Sullivan, E., Conrad, T., Cullen, C., & Gallagher, P. (2019) 21st World Congress of Psycho-Oncology Relationships between health literacy, self-management and quality of life in head and neck cancer survivors following primary treatment [Link]
2019 Clarke, N., Coffey, L., Desmond, D., Dunne, S., Timon, C., Sharp, L., & Gallagher, P. (2019) 21st World Congress of Psycho-Oncology The SEA-CHANGE study: Protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial of the SElf-management After Cancer of the Head And Neck Group intErvention [Link]
2018 Dunne, S., Coffey, L., Sharp, L., Desmond, D., Gooberman-Hill, R., O'Sullivan, E., Timmons, A., Keogh, I., Timon, C., Gallagher, P. (2018) 20th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology Making sense of existential concerns arising from head and neck cancer: A qualitative study https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4878
2017 Dunne, S., Coffey, L., Sharp, L., Timmons, A., Desmond, D., Gooberman-Hill, R., O’Sullivan, E., Keogh, I., Timon, C., & Gallagher, P. (2017) 14th Psychology, Health and Medicine Annual Conference Head and neck cancer survivors’ experiences of self-managing their condition following primary treatment
2016 Cullen, C., Coffey, L., Dunne, S., O’Connor, J., Desmond, D., Sharp, L., Timmons, A., O’Sullivan, E., Keogh, I., Sheahan, P., Timon, C., & Gallagher, P. (2016) 10th International Conference Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Relationships between self-management and quality of life (HRQL) in post-primary treatment head and neck cancer survivors
2016 Dunne, S., Coffey, L., Sharp, L., Timmons, A., Desmond, D., Gooberman-Hill, R., O’Sullivan, E., Keogh, I., Timon, C., & Gallagher, P. (2016) 10th International Conference Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Head and neck cancer survivors’ experiences of self-managing their condition following primary treatment
2016 Cullen, C., Coffey, L., Dunne, S., O'Connor, J., Desmond, D., Sharp, L., O'Sullivan, E., Keogh, I., Timon, C., & Gallagher, P. (2016) 2016 World Congress of Psycho-oncology Investigating the role of self-management strategies as predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4272
2015 Dunne, S., Coffey, L., Sharp, L., Timmons, A., Desmond, D., O’Sullivan, E., Keogh, I., Timon, C., & Gallagher, P. (2015) All-Ireland National Cancer Institute Cancer Consortium Conference Investigating the psychological factors that predict quality of life in head and neck cancer: A 10-year systematic review
2015 Gallagher, P., Coffey, L. , Dunne, S., Sharp, L., Timmons, A., Desmond, D., O'Sullivan, E., & Timon, C. (2015) 55th Annual Meeting of the Irish Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Society Self-management for head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors: living well with and beyond HNC https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-015-1258-9
2014 Dunne, S., Coffey, L., Gallagher, P., & Desmond, D. (2014) 11th Psychology, Health and Medicine Annual Conference Beyond function: Using assistive technologies following lower limb loss
2014 Dunne, S., Coffey, L., Sharp, L., Timmons, A., Desmond, D., O’Sullivan, E., Keogh, I., Timon, C., & Gallagher, P. (2014) 9th International Conference Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Psychological predictors of quality of life in head and neck cancer: A 10-year systematic review
2014 Dunne, S., Mooney, O., Coffey, L., Desmond, D., O’Sullivan, E., Sharp, L., Timmons, A., Timon, C., & Gallagher, P. (2014) Irish Cancer Society Survivorship Research Day Psychological predictors of quality of life in head and neck cancer: A 10-year systematic review
2014 Coffey, L., Dunne, S., Sharp, L., Timmons, A., Desmond, D., Timon, C., O’Sullivan, E., & Gallagher, P. (2014) 9th International Conference Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer A qualitative study of health professionals’ perspectives on supporting self-management in head and neck cancer survivors
2013 Gallagher, P., Coffey, L., Desmond, D., & Ryall, N. (2013) 14th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics Goal strategies and psychosocial outcomes in people with a lower limb amputation
2013 Coffey, L., Gallagher, P., & Desmond, D. (2013) 27th Conference of the European Health Psychology Society Examining psychosocial adjustment to lower limb amputation from a self-regulation perspective: A multilevel modelling approach https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2013.810851
2013 Coffey, L., Gallagher, P., Desmond, D., & Ryall, N. (2013) British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine Autumn Meeting The influence of goal management tendencies on trajectories of adjustment to lower limb amputation
2013 Coffey, L., Gallagher, P., & Desmond, D. (2013) 10th Psychology, Health and Medicine Annual Conference A prospective study of goal characteristics, goal adjustment capacities, and subjective well-being following lower limb amputation
2012 Coffey, L., Gallagher, P., & Desmond, D. (2012) 14th Annual Conference of the APA Division of Rehabilitation Psychology Psychosocial adjustment to lower limb amputation: The role of tenacious goal pursuit and flexible goal adjustment
2012 Coffey, L., Gallagher, P., & Desmond, D. (2012) 26th Conference of the European Health Psychology Society Goal disengagement predicts psychosocial outcomes following prosthetic rehabilitation https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2012.707817
2011 Coffey, L., Gallagher, P., Desmond, D., Ryall, N., Carton, S., Byrne, P., & Dolan, E. (2011) 8th Psychology, Health and Medicine Annual Conference Psychosocial adjustment to lower limb amputation: The role of self-regulatory processes
2011 Coffey, L., Gallagher, P, Desmond, D., Ryall, N., & Dolan, E. (2011) 25th Conference of the European Health Psychology Society Adaptive self-regulation and psychosocial adjustment to amputation https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2011.617182
2010 Gallagher, P., Desmond, D., Coffey, L., Horgan, O., & MacLachlan, M. (2010) 13th World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics Adjustment to amputation and body image
2006 Coffey, L., & Byrne, M. (2006) 37th Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland Promoting a low-fat diet in primary care: A randomised controlled trial of a theory-based intervention
2006 Coffey, L., & Byrne, M. (2006) 3rd Psychology, Health and Medicine Annual Conference The adoption of a low-fat diet in a primary care patient sample: A randomised control trial of a theory-based intervention

Published Report

Year Publication
2009 Casey L, Bruce BC, Martin A, Reynolds A, Sheil G, Coffey L, Brown C, Hallissy M (2009) Digital Literacy: New Approaches to Participation and Inquiry Learning to Foster Literacy Skills among Primary School Children. National College of Ireland, . [Link]
2024 Alaboson, J., Coffey, L., & Maguire, R. (2024) Experiences and Needs for Peer Support among People Affected by Multiple Sclerosis in Ireland: Survey summary. MS Ireland, . [Link]

Reviews

Year Publication
2021 Maguire R.; McKeague B.; Kóka N.; Coffey L.; Maguire P.; Desmond D. (2021) The role of expectations and future-oriented cognitions in quality of life of people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review. [Reviews] [DOI] [Full-Text]

Conference Contribution

Year Publication
2024 Casey, H., Desmond, D., & Coffey, L. (2024) International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Engaging stakeholders in the development of a guide to support decision-making among adults with intellectual disabilities: A World Café approach Chicago, IL, 05/08/2024-08/08/2024. [Link]
2024 Casey, H., Desmond, D., & Coffey, L. (2024) International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Decision-Making Within the Family Context: Perspectives of Family Carers on Supporting Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in Making Everyday Decisions Chicago, IL, 05/08/2024-08/08/2024. [Link]
2023 Casey, H., & Coffey, L. (2023) IASW Social Workers in Disability Conference Carers’ perspectives on supporting the decision-making of adults with intellectual disabilities in the current Irish context Portlaoise, Co. Laois, 11/10/2023-11/10/2023. [Link]
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Professional Associations

Description Function From / To
Dublin Psychoprothetics Group Associate -
Irish Psycho-Social Oncology Network Member -
Psychological Society of Ireland Graduate Member - 31/12/2022

Committees

Committee Function From / To
PSI Division of Health Psychology Committee Honorary Secretary 01/01/2012 - 31/12/2015
PSI Division of Health Psychology Committee Publicity Officer 01/06/2010 - 01/06/2011
16th Psychology, Health and Medicine Annual Conference Organising and Scientific Committees Chair 01/09/2018 - 22/03/2019
Maynooth University Age Friendly University Steering Committee Member 01/05/2022 -
Maynooth University Neurodiversity Forum Founding member 05/12/2022 -

Employment

Employer Position From / To
Dublin City University Postdoctoral Researcher 01/07/2012 - 01/10/2015
Educational Research Centre Research Assistant 01/04/2007 - 29/08/2008

Education

Start date Institution Qualification Subject
University College Dublin BA (Hons) Psychology
University of Galway MPsychSc Health Psychology
Dublin City University PhD Rehabilitation Psychology

Editorial / Academic Reviews

Amount Role From / To
Prosthetics and Orthotics International Associate Editor -

Current Students

Student Name Degree Supervision
HANNAH CASEY RESEARCH PH.D. (10)