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Evaluating the effectiveness of universal positive psychology interventions on well-being in school-aged populations
No full textPreventative well-being programmes are at the forefront of policy and practice internationally and have been deemed a priority in supporting children and adolescents. Schools are important environments to provide young people with evidence-based information and compassionate support in relation to managing their mental health and well-being. The research presented in this thesis explored the impact of universal positive psychology interventions (PPIs) on well-being in school-aged children. Firstly, the aim of this thesis was to synthesise the evidence base in relation to the impact of PPIs on increasing well-being and strengths and decreasing negative outcomes such as depression, anxiety and stress. A systematic review and meta-analysis of twenty-three studies revealed that PPIs have a small to moderate effect on well-being and strengths at post-intervention and follow-up. No statistically significant effects were reported in terms of negative outcomes at post intervention and follow-up. A second aim of the thesis was to examine the effectiveness of a universal intervention, the A Lust for Life (ALFL) Schools Programme, on levels of state well-being in Irish primary school children (aged 8-11 years). Three hundred and twenty-five children participated in the research at baseline and post intervention. Findings from the empirical research indicated small statistically significant increases in levels of state well-being in children who participated in the ALFL intervention. The overall findings from this research suggest that universal PPIs produce small positive effects in increasing well-being in school-aged children. Collectively, these studies contribute to the evidence base for PPIs and offer key considerations in methodological advancements in the future evaluations of universal school-based programmes
Is it Possible to Fight Corruption in a Post-Communist Captured State? The Case of Bulgaria
No full textBulgaria offers a unique opportunity for a case study on the challenges of tackling corruption in a post-communist captured state. It is one of only two countries, which joined the European Union (EU) without fulfilling the accession criteria on the rule of law. The EU Commission put it under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) to help it catch up with other EU members. Today, Bulgaria boasts a plethora of seemingly well-armed bodies dedicated to anti-corruption efforts. Nevertheless, its fight against corruption seems doomed. This chapter evaluates Bulgaria’s institutional anti-corruption framework to shed light on why the country has not seen tangible results in the fight against corruption, and to propose reforms. It argues the country developed its anti-corruption bodies in bad faith. Bulgaria created the false impression it had the political will to fight corruption, which was important vis-à-vis the CVM. However, not only did it dilute responsibility and make sure these bodes are susceptible to political influences, but also it diverted attention from one of its longstanding rule of law challenges – the over-powerful Prosecutor’s Office, which is seen by experts as a major source of corruption and blackmail because it shields those in power from criminal liability and attacks their opponents.18 month embargo once published - RORCheck publication date and embargo during checkdate report - RO
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Military Contexts
No full textBackground: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition often characterised by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. While extensively studied in civilian populations, its presence and impact within military settings remain underexplored, despite evidence suggesting a higher prevalence among military personnel. The structured, high-pressure nature of military life presents unique challenges and opportunities for individuals with ADHD. Aim: This thesis addresses a critical gap in understanding ADHD within military contexts by mapping existing research and exploring the lived experiences of military personnel with ADHD. It integrates findings from a scoping review and a qualitative study to inform evidence-based clinical practice, policy development, and future research. Study 1: A scoping review and narrative synthesis examined the impact of ADHD on psychosocial and occupational outcomes among military personnel. From 1,956 studies, 51 met the inclusion criteria. Findings highlighted significant comorbidity with PTSD, depression, and substance use, alongside mixed occupational impacts. Some individuals experienced challenges in training and retention, while others reported adaptability and strength when adequately supported. The existing literature largely adopts a deficit-based perspective, underscoring the need for more holistic, neuroaffirmative approaches. Study 2: A qualitative study explored the lived experiences of eight male members of the Irish Defence Forces, all diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. Employing a critical realist framework and thematic analysis, seven themes emerged: (1) complex diagnostic journeys involving late recognition and emotional impact, (2) occupational functioning shaped by both rigidity and routine, (3) the emotional toll of masking ADHD traits, (4) stigma and inconsistent institutional support, (5) psychological strain including anxiety and burnout, (6) mixed social experiences of camaraderie and isolation, and (7) recognition of ADHD-related strengths such as problem-solving, hyperfocus, and adaptability. Participants advocated for greater awareness, more inclusive practices, and a shift from diagnosis-driven fitness assessments to those based on functional ability. Conclusion: ADHD presents both challenges and strengths within military environments. This thesis calls for systemic change through increased awareness, leadership training, inclusive policy development, and tailored support strategies, such as cognitive-behavioural interventions and task management tools. Future research should prioritise longitudinal, cross-cultural, and interdisciplinary studies to enhance understanding and improve support for neurodivergent personnel
Process-structure-property analysis of Ti-6Al-4V alloy printed using electron and laser beam additive manufacturing
No full textAdditive Manufacturing is increasingly being used for the fabrication of customised, geometrically complex metallic parts, particularly for use in the biomedical device and aerospace industries. This thesis focuses on Ti-6Al-4V alloy, which accounts for more than half of the total titanium production, due to its superior combination of unique properties such as excellent high strength-to-density ratio, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. The objective of this PhD project is to gain a fundamental understanding on the process-structure-properties relationship of Ti-6Al-4V alloy printed using the electron beam (EB) and laser beam (LB), additive manufacturing (AM) processes. The AM processing factors investigated were divided into two conditions: process design factors and process parameters, in order to enhance the Ti-6Al-4V alloy properties. The process design factors were evaluated based on the impact of build height, build plate type, and build position. It was demonstrated that a microstructural gradient with part height (up to 170 mm) was obtained, for samples printed with the EB system. A significant factor influencing this change in microstructure with height, was found to be the heat sink properties of the stainless-steel build plate. An investigation of the effect of sample positioning on the LB build plate, demonstrated a small increase (0.01% to 0.09%) in printed part porosity, obtained on the side of the print bed, away from the argon gas inlet. However, no significant microstructural differences were observed indicating that the mechanical properties of the alloy were homogenous across the build area. For parts printed under the process design factors, these were also subjected for post-processing treatment, particularly using hot isostatic pressing (HIP), to examine the effect on part microstructure and mechanical performance. The influence of HIP treatment demonstrated coarsening of microstructure and pore closure, improving the ductility of the printed parts. The effect of process parameters were investigated based on systematically changing electron beam current, laser beam power and scan speed, while maintaining a constant input energy density. It was found that despite what appeared to be identical levels of EB energy input (1.967 J/mm2), obtained by systematically altering both the beam current (28 to 20 mA) and scan speed (4270 to 2440 mm/s), the resulting printed alloys exhibiting variations in both microstructures and porosity. This indicated that there were differences in how the alloy material absorbs the energy, as these two process parameters were varied relative to each other to maintain a constant input energy. An investigation into the impact of individual parameters revealed that the changes in the microstructural properties were particularly influenced by the beam current, while the scan speed had a greater impact on porosity generation. A further study examined the effects of process parameters with melt pool changes based on print line scans on the LB system. In this study, both numerical modelling and in-situ optical emission monitoring were carried out, to facilitate a greater understanding of the melt pool characteristics. It was demonstrated based that there was a direct correlation between the melt pool emission intensity obtained using the in-situ monitoring system and the temperature-time profile obtained from numerical modelling. The modelling output also provides an indication of the melt pool temperatures, as well as that of the dwell time of the melt pool at higher temperatures, both of which help explain changes in alloy phase composition. Overall, the findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the AM process-structure-properties relationship, allowing for a more accurate parameters selection and further improving the properties of printed Ti-6Al-4V alloy
The Cathartic Voyage: Transforming Pain into Knowledge in the Image and Text of Leonora Carrington
No full textWhile the theme of pain in the works of twentieth century visionary artist and writer Leonora Carrington is most frequently related to her harrowing account Down Below, in which she chronicles the trials she encountered through a four-month internment period in a psychiatric facility in Santander in 1940, the roots of this theme in Carrington’s work can be traced back to her early creative output prior to this event; the impact of which can in turn be found in the works she produced after 1940. It is in light of the connections between the works Carrington produced prior to, during and following her internment period that this thesis will investigate depictions of pain in Carrington’s work through an analysis of three of her literary works that align with these periods, namely, The Oval Lady, Down Below and The Stone Door, which will be analysed in tandem with a selection of Carrington’s visual works of the period. Specifically, through an in-depth critical analysis of the links between Carrington’s image and text, as well as the interplay between the biographical and figurative layers of her works, this thesis will investigate Carrington’s articulations of pain experiences in her works, as well as her ability to transform these experiences into symbolic sources of knowledge. By turning to the interplay between image and text; the biographical and the figurative, this thesis in turn aims to shed light on the extent to which combined visual and textual modes of representation function as fluid, malleable modes of representation that provide Carrington with the tools to both articulate pain experiences and transform them into illuminative sources of knowledge that have the capacity to transfigure reality. By integrating key biographical details into an analysis of Carrington’s image and text, this thesis aims to investigate the extent to which pain experiences in Carrington’s life found its way into her creative output, serving as catalysing forces that radically transformed her understanding of reality and perception that would ultimately shape her creative trajectory
Who Stands on Land? Transnational sources of apartheid and community (dis)placement in southern African land claims
No full textFollowing advances in indigenous peoples’ jurisprudence, human rights, environmental and cultural heritage law, international law increasingly recognises that land-dependent groups have substantive and procedural rights over their collective land even in the absence of formal title. While some have argued that this represents the decolonisation of international law (for instance, going beyond Western frameworks of property prioritising land’s economic function), to avail of these rights, it is necessary that groups be legally legible as a community. However, the meaning of ‘community’ has largely evaded international legal scrutiny (in contrast to other terms denoting collective subjecthood, for instance ‘peoples’ and/or ‘minorities’). Moreover, international frameworks asserting collective rights in land often discursively blur ‘indigenous peoples’ and ‘local communities’, despite only the former having clearly defined rights to self-determination and self-identification. This is particularly visible in southern Africa, where significant tracts of (rural) land are communal, governed according to African Customary Laws; and where the application of international indigenous peoples’ rights is often contested by post-colonial governments. Drawing on interdisciplinary approaches, including comparative law, critical legal geography, ethnography and archival research, this dissertation argues that Eurocentric ontologies of collective personhood, including those transnationally connected to the ideology and legal technologies of apartheid, persist in international law. Moreover, in the absence of an international legal definition of community, this dissertation illustrates how states are afforded epistemic authority over demarcating collective personhood. In contrast to other Anglophone
settler-colonies regions, the majority of the population in southern Africa was legally configured through the cultural and racial category of the "native", and forced into tribalised identities associated with customary systems of land tenure. While the recognition by post-colonial southern African states of customary tenure systems alongside Western property represents, in theory, a mechanism by which communities can safeguard their collective rights in land, in practice, the top-down definition of ‘communities’ (connected to prescribed meanings of land) denies communities access to international legal mechanisms designed to empower them, and often involves the reinscription of colonial and Eurocentric ontologies of African personhood. Following Mamdani, who argued that the system of apartheid reflects a culmination of colonial engagement on the African continent, this dissertation uses Namibian and South African case studies to illustrate the spatial and epistemic injustice enabled by the lack of (international) normative frameworks allowing communities to define themselves, for instance according to (place-based) interrelations of custom/law, culture and the environment. These case studies involve claimants who relied on international laws to assert their place-based rights in land against the state, developers, or corporations, but whose locus standi was dismissed by courts, drawing on apartheid classificatory schema and ontologies of distinctiveness. These case studies illustrate the normative impact of international law in co-producing the colonial logics that continue to structure how communities are (mis)represented in post-apartheid courts. Moreover, the case studies illustrate how the ‘placelessness’ of the (international) legal meaning of community reinscribes western notions of property, while enabling states, developers and corporations to engage in the optics of affirming international best practices for community inclusion. In grounding my research in place-based methodologies, I argue for a place-based ontology of ‘community’ drawing on the notion of the substantive landscape
EU Merger Control and the Development of an Alternative to the Consumer Welfare Standard: Incorporating the Union’s Social Values
No full textThe modernisation of EU competition law was brought about over twenty years ago by the adoption of the consumer welfare standard. This standard requires an almost unitary focus on the price effects of mergers, to the exclusion of any social or non-economic factors of relevance. However, the law’s refusal to consider equality or sustainability, for example, is incongruous with the broader aims of the EU. Underlying it is a neoliberal ideology based on a reluctance to intervene on markets, and the flawed assumption of market self-correction. The objective of the thesis is to propose EU competition law’s ‘second modernisation’, whereby the Commission would revitalise the law by shifting from the consumer welfare standard and reorient it towards the social values underpinning the Union. The thesis argues that the continued application of the consumer welfare standard, a cornerstone of EU competition law, should be reconsidered as it fails to align with the EU’s constitutional framework and the broader interests of European citizens, which extend beyond cheap consumption at the expense of all else. In order to establish this, the thesis seeks to demonstrate the flaws of the consumer welfare standard, while also indicating how it fails to conform with citizens’ interests. It highlights how the more economic approach is no longer consonant with the EU Treaties due to its singular prioritisation of economic interests and refusal to integrate social considerations. Most significantly, the thesis advances a novel test to replace the consumer welfare standard (the ‘socially conscious consumer standard’) which may be regarded as attempt to find a better balance between economic and non-economic considerations in competition law
Psychosocial Outcomes and Experiences of those at Risk of Minoritisation in the Irish Adult Cancer Population
No full textAs cancer incidence rises globally, more people are living with and beyond a diagnosis. However, cancer often has a significant psychosocial impact. Individuals at risk of minoritisation are more likely to experience adverse psychosocial outcomes and challenges throughout the cancer journey. Clinical psychologists working in psycho-oncology play a vital role in supporting patients through such adversity. Yet, those at risk of minoritisation are also more likely to be underserved in healthcare, facing barriers to access, recognition, and appropriate care. In Ireland, there has been limited research into the psychosocial needs, outcomes, and experiences of people at risk of minoritisation in cancer care. This thesis aimed to address this gap in order to inform clinical psychology practice in Irish oncology services. Much existing research conceptualises minoritisation as static, linked to binary social identities. This approach has failed to explain why disparities in cancer care persist. In contrast, intersectionality theory views minoritisation as a dynamic, relational, and context-specific process shaped by overlapping structures of power and inequality. Guided by this framework, the thesis investigated the psychosocial experiences of groups at risk of being underserved in the Irish adult cancer population through two studies. Study I was a rapid review of 105 papers drawn from a larger dataset. It explored how existing literature addresses the psychosocial impact of cancer on underserved groups. Study II was a secondary analysis of qualitative interview data (18 participants), including people with lived experience of cancer, community workers, and oncology clinicians. It examined first-hand perspectives on psychosocial care and minoritisation in the Irish context. Findings from both studies were synthesised and considered in relation to existing research, policy, and clinical practice. Results showed that many individuals at risk of minoritisation face poorer psychosocial outcomes and experiences across the cancer continuum. However, the research also found that not all individuals within identified groups experience minoritisation in the same way. Conversely, some people outside traditionally defined groups may also be underserved. This underscores the importance of recognising minoritisation as a process rather than a fixed status. The thesis identified cross-cutting factors contributing to being underserved in healthcare, regardless of group identity. These include low health literacy, limited self-efficacy, social isolation, and language barriers. A recurring theme across both studies was the critical role of the patient-practitioner relationship in shaping psychosocial outcomes. Systemic issues can restrict relational care and limit the capacity to respond to complexity. Importantly, the study contributes novel insights into the psychosocial experiences of specific groups underrepresented in prior research, particularly Irish Travellers. This makes it one of the few academic works to explore psychosocial cancer care experiences among minoritised populations in Ireland. Clinical implications include the need for culturally informed care without assumptions, standard psychosocial screening that considers minoritisation-related risk factors, and systemic support for staff wellbeing. This thesis offers evidence to guide more equitable, context-sensitive psychological support in Irish oncology.2025-10-29 JG: Author's signature removed from PD
Eighteenth-Century Women at Work: Writing her Space/ Femmes au travail du XVIIIe siècle: Écrire son espace
No full textWomen work, but they have always done so. For decades now, the work of eighteenth-century Francophone women has been the focus of renewed academic interest. This thesis proposes to consider the question of women’s work through the angle of a literature in which writers construct their self-narrative as “women at work”. The corpus, which includes texts written between 1734 and the 1830s, explores the writings of six women writers who equally pursued professional careers. It comprises the correspondence of the scientist Émilie Du Châtelet (1706- 1749) and Princess Isabelle de Bourbon-Parme (1741-1763); the memoirs of the renowned actress Mademoiselle Clairon (1723-1803) and of Lucy de la Tour du Pin (1770-1853), who juggled a number of different careers simultaneously (educator, farmer, seamstress and more); and the “Souvenirs” of portrait painter Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842) and of the entrepreneur Marie-Victoire Monnard (1777-1869). In adopting a multidisciplinary approach which combines literature, art, art history, history, sociology, philosophy and science, among others, this study provides an original perspective on, and helps to broaden and redefine, women’s work. These professional women juggled multiple professions, both as women and women of letters, but also by working in professional fields that were predominantly monopolised by men at this time. Drawing on major figures in literary analysis such as Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault, the thesis aims to define and analyse the narrative of the space(s) – whether private or public – to which these professional women could gain access in order to establish their profession. Despite a rhetoric of domination, these women eschew the domestic space, emphasising that marriage and motherhood are by no means the sum total of careers for women. Clearly, the worldly sphere is equally unattractive to professional women, who have to learn to mingle in polite society from an early age. While their writings suggest resistance to such spaces, the fact remains that these women challenge the traditional motifs of marriage, motherhood and sociability in order to emphasise their desire to appropriate the professional public space. In disregarding the proprieties cherished by homemakers who thrive in the domestic and social spheres, and by men who try to limit women’s access to the professional sphere, professional women are engaged in a war to conquer the professional space. Despite a certain degree of resistance from professional institutions and from society, which forces them to juggle careers as wives and mothers with their professions, these professional women nonetheless manage to leave professional legacies. If their traces appear ephemeral within contemporary society, because they do not manage to dominate the professional arena, this is not the case within their writings, in which they largely dominate all domains, whether marital, maternal or professional, and where their thirst for recognition is so prominent
Adults’ Qualitative Experiences of Attending Transdiagnostic Group-Based Psychological Interventions
No full textBackground: Common mental health difficulties, including anxiety and depression, are increasingly prevalent and frequently addressed within primary care, typically through general practitioners or first-line psychological services. Transdiagnostic group interventions have emerged as scalable, low-intensity approaches that address shared psychological mechanisms across diagnoses. While quantitative studies support their effectiveness, qualitative insights into client experiences remain limited. Aim: This thesis aimed to explore adults’ qualitative experiences of attending transdiagnostic, group-based psychological interventions and to identify the therapeutic factors that may underpin engagement and psychological change within these groups. Method: Two studies were conducted. Study 1 was a qualitative systematic review of 11 peer-reviewed studies synthesised using narrative synthesis and mapped onto Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors of Group Psychotherapy. Study 2 explored participant experiences of Empower Yourself, a novel six-week transdiagnostic psychoeducational group integrating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Positive Psychology. Participants (N=33) completed 123 Helpful Aspects of Therapy (HAT) forms and 15 semi-structured post-intervention interviews. Data were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Results: Study 1 identified eight overarching themes, with all of Yalom’s therapeutic factors present across the dataset. Study 2 found that participants gained cognitive and behavioural insight, self-compassion, and connection through shared experience. Barriers to engagement in the group included content overload and limited opportunity for peer interaction. Positive psychology strategies were valued but referenced less frequently than CBT and self-compassion components. Conclusions: Brief, transdiagnostic group interventions can facilitate meaningful therapeutic experiences. Findings support their integration into low-intensity services and offer practical recommendations to improve delivery, enhance engagement, and inform future training and research.2025-10-29 JG: Author's signature removed from PD