Nicola Madge

Academic qualifications

BA (Hons) Developmental Psychology (University of Sussex)

MSc (Distinction) Child Development (University of London Institute of Education)

PhD Psychology (University of London Institute of Education)

Profile

Nicola Madge is Professor of Child Psychology within the Centre for Child and Youth Research.

‘Children are at the core of all my research, most of which has pursued two main themes. One is asking young people themselves what they think about the issues that affect them, and the second is addressing social concerns that may be compromising their health and welfare. My latest research project, which started in October 2009 and is funded by a large grant from AHRC/ESRC, is examining the meaning of religion in young people’s lives and encompasses both these themes. Another recent research project, carried out with Professor Judith Harwin, was funded by the EU to look at children affected by parents with alcohol problems.

I enjoy doing research not only because it is interesting to learn about how society works but also because it can really make a difference. Another benefit is that it enlivens teaching and is a fantastic tool for student learning. At Brunel I teach about child psychology and theories of development, but in addition play a considerable role in supervising students developing research proposals and carrying out their own projects. This is particularly rewarding when students become aware of the power of research and the ways in which they can use its tools in more informal ways in everyday life. I welcome expression of interest from any potential doctoral students wishing to pursue a PhD in my area of expertise.

Apart from carrying out research and teaching, I am also currently an Associate Director of the Medicines for Children Research Network (MCRN), a national initiative to ascertain the safety and effectiveness of medicines for children. Representing the National Children’s Bureau, my role is to ensure that children, young people and parents/carers are as involved as much as possible in the research carried out. I am also on the Editorial Board for the journal Children & Society.’

Teaching responsibilities

Module leader SW1053 Human Development: BA Social Work students, level 1

Module leader SW5534 Life-span Development: MA Social Work students, Year 1

Research interests

Religion and diversity

Young people and self-harm

Health and disability

Children's development and experiences

Children's participation 

Research centres

• Centre for Child and Youth Research (CCYR)

Research projects and grants

Current (2009-2012) grant: AHRC/ESRC Religion & Society large grant (£490K) for project on 'Negotiating Identity: young people's perspectives on faith values, community norms and social cohesion' (Youth On Religion project)

Membership and affiliation

• Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society
• Graduate member of the Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Publications

Journal Papers

(2011) Madge, N., Hawton, K., McMahon, EM., Corcoran, P., De Leo, D., de Wilde, EJ., Fekete, S., van Heeringen, K., Ystgaard, M. and Arensman, E., Psychological characteristics, stressful life events and deliberate self-harm: findings from the Child & Adolescent Self-harm in Europe (CASE) Study., Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 20 (10) : 499- 508

(2011) Madge, N., Hemming, PJ., Goodman, A., Goodman, S., Kingston, S., Stenson, K. and Webster, C., Conducting Large-Scale Surveys in Secondary Schools: The Case of the Youth On Religion (YOR) Project, Children & Society

(2011) Hemming, PJ. and Madge, N., Researching Children, Youth and Religion: Identity, Complexity and Agency, Childhood

(2011) Christie, D., Romano, G., Barnes, J. and Madge, N., Exploring views on satisfaction in life in young children with chronic illness: An innovative approach to the collection of self-report data from children under 11, Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry

(2010) Harwin, J. and Madge, N., The concept of significant harm in law and practice, Journal of Children's Services 5 (2) : 73- 83

(2009) Ystgaard, M., Arensman, E., Hawton, K., Madge, N., van Heeringen, K., Hewitt, A., de Wilde, EJ., De Leo, D. and Fekete, S., Deliberate self-harm in adolescents: comparison between those who receive help following self-harm and those who do not, Journal of Adolescence 32 (4) : 875- 891

(2009) Scoliers, G., Portzky, G., Madge, N., Hewitt, A., Hawton, K., de Wilde, EJ., Ystgaard, M., Arensman, E., De Leo, D., Fekete, S. and van Heeringen, K., Reasons for adolescent deliberate self-harm: a cry of pain and/or a cry for help? Findings from the child and adolescent self-harm in Europe (CASE) study, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 44 (8) : 601- 607

(2009) Madge, N., The Actuarial Assessment and Experiential Reality of Risk in Childhood, Sociology Compass 2 (6) : 1- 12

(2008) Madge, N., Foreman, D. and Baksh, F., Starving in the midst of plenty? A study of training needs for child and adolescent mental health service delivery in primary care, Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 13 (3) : 463- 478

(2008) Madge, N., Hewitt, A., Hawton, K., de Wilde, EJ., Corcoran, P., Fekete, S., van Heeringen, K., De Leo, D. and Ystgaard, M., Deliberate self-harm within an international community sample of young people: Comparative findings from the child & adolescent self-harm in Europe (CASE) study, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 49 (6) : 667- 677

(2007) Rossow, I., Ystgaard, M., Hawton, K., Madge, N., van Heeringen, K., de Wilde, EJ., DeLeo, D., Fekete, S. and Morey, C., Cross-national comparisons of the association between alcohol consumption and deliberate self-harm in adolescents, Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior 37 (6) : 605- 615

(1999) Madge, N., Youth suicide in an international context, European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 8 (4) : 283- 291

(1999) Madge, N. and Harvey, JG., Suicide among the young - the size of the problem, JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENCE 22 (1) : 145- 155

(1993) Madge, N., Diamond, J., Miller, D., Ross, E., McManus, C., Wadsworth, J., Yule, W. and Frost, B., The national childhood encephalopathy study: A 10-year follow-up. A report on the medical, social, behavioural and educational outcomes after serious, acute, neurological illness in early childhood, Developmental medicine and child neurology. Supplement 68 1- 118

(1993) Miller, D., Madge, N., Diamond, J., Wadsworth, J. and Ross, E., Pertussis immunization and serious acute neurological illnesses in children, Brit Med J 307 (6913) : 1171- 1176

(1987) Madge, N. and Marmot, M., Psychosocial factors and health, Q J Soc Aff 3 (2) : 81- 134

(1983) Madge, N., Unemployment and its effects on children, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 24 (2) : 311- 319

Conference Papers

(1996) Madge, N., Nakou, S. and Pantelakis, S., Current child protection issues in Europe, European Conference on the Child in the World of Tomorrow - The Next Generation, CHILD IN THE WORLD OF TOMORROW: THE NEXT GENERATION 413- 423

Books

(2007) Madge, N. and Barker, J., Risk and Childhood. RSA

(2006) Madge, N., Children these days. Bristol: Policy Press

(2006) Madge, N., Datta, J. and Ryder, N., Meeting medical needs in mainstream education. London: National Children's Bureau

(2003) Madge, N. and Franklin, A., Change, challenge and school nursing. London: National Children's Bureau

(2001) Madge, N., Understanding difference: the meaning of ethnicity for young lives. London: National Children's Bureau

(1982) Brown, M. and Madge, N., Despite the Welfare State. Heinemann

(1976) Rutter, M. and Madge, N., Cycles of Disadvantage. Heinemann