Dr Ruth Spence
| Name | Dr Ruth Spence |
|---|---|
| Job title | Senior Research Fellow Psychology |
| Research institute | |
| Primary appointment | Psychology |
| Email address | r.spence@mdx.ac.uk |
| ORCID | https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6197-9975 |
| Contact category | Academic staff |
Biography
Biography Dr Ruth Spence is a senior research fellow at the
Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies at Middlesex University. She works across
various projects that focus on trauma experiences and their psychological
sequela, and collaborates across disciplines to develop online assessment and
intervention approaches. Ruth has worked in partnership with charities,
industry and third sector organisations, including working on Operation Soteria
Bluestone. Recently, she led on a project developing the RUDI framework which practical guidance to support forces considering the use of
complex machine learning algorithms and co-founded herEthical.AI a business
that uses AI solutions to reduce gender-based violence.
Teaching She currently supervises Zoe Davenport: A comparison of factors affecting
psychological health in higher-risk policing roles.
Employment
Senior Researcher
Middlesex University
01 Sept 2022
Education and qualifications
Grants
Projects
- High Harm Perpetrator Project (Domestic Abuse) Research Developing an algorithm to identify high risk/high harm perpetrators of domestic abuse
- Pathfinder to develop better understanding and new opportunities to improve policing response to rape
- Operation Soteria Bluestone Transforming the Police Response to Rape and Serious Sexual Offences
- Young Fathers Service Evaluation
- Invisible risks: Combating secondary trauma to safeguard children
- The prioritisation of potentially harmful subjects and the estimation of future risk
Prizes and Awards
Research outputs
Content moderator coping strategies: associations with psychological distress, secondary trauma and wellbeing
Spence, R., Martellozzo, E. and DeMarco, J. 2024. Content moderator coping strategies: associations with psychological distress, secondary trauma and wellbeing. Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications. https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105/a000454Supporting digital key workers: Addressing the challenges faced by content moderators during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Martellozzo, E., Bleakley, P., Bradbury, P., Spence, R. and DeMarco, J. 2024. Supporting digital key workers: Addressing the challenges faced by content moderators during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management. 24 (2), pp. 212-228. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTPM.2024.137818Content moderator mental health, secondary trauma, and well-being: a cross-sectional study
Spence, R., Bifulco, A., Bradbury, P., Martellozzo, E. and DeMarco, J. 2024. Content moderator mental health, secondary trauma, and well-being: a cross-sectional study. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. 27 (2), pp. 149-155. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2023.0298The psychological impacts of content moderation on content moderators: a qualitative study
Spence, R., Bifulco, A., Bradbury, P., Martellozzo, E. and DeMarco, J. 2023. The psychological impacts of content moderation on content moderators: a qualitative study. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace. 17 (4). https://doi.org/10.5817/cp2023-4-8Moderating online child sexual abuse material (CSAM): Does self-regulation work, or is greater state regulation needed?
Bleakley, P., Martellozzo, E., Spence, R. and DeMarco, J. 2023. Moderating online child sexual abuse material (CSAM): Does self-regulation work, or is greater state regulation needed? European Journal of Criminology. 21 (2), pp. 231-250. https://doi.org/10.1177/14773708231181361Content moderators’ strategies for coping with the stress of moderating content online
Spence, R., Harrison, A., Bradbury, P., Bleakley, P., Martellozzo, E. and DeMarco, J. 2023. Content moderators’ strategies for coping with the stress of moderating content online. Journal of Online Trust and Safety. 1 (5), pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.54501/jots.v1i5.91Criminal court sentencing: the case for specialist ‘young adult’ courts
Ward, J. and Spence, R. 2022. Criminal court sentencing: the case for specialist ‘young adult’ courts. The British Journal of Criminology: An International Review of Crime and Society. 63 (4), pp. 1041-1057. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azac076Understanding sexual violence and factors related to police outcomes
Davies, K., Spence, R., Cummings, E., Cross, M. and Horvath, M. 2022. Understanding sexual violence and factors related to police outcomes. Frontiers in Psychology. 13, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.977318The moderation effect of secure attachment on the relationship between positive events and wellbeing
Spence, R., Kagan, L., Nunn, S., Bailey-Rodriguez, D., Fisher, H., Hosang, G. and Bifulco, A. 2022. The moderation effect of secure attachment on the relationship between positive events and wellbeing. PsyCh Journal. 11 (4), pp. 541-549. https://doi.org/10.1002/pchj.546Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on reporting of rape, serious sexual offences, and domestic abuse in one English police force
Spence, R., Horvath, M., Dalton, C. and Davies, K. 2022. Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on reporting of rape, serious sexual offences, and domestic abuse in one English police force. Journal of Gender-Based Violence. 6 (2), pp. 242-260. https://doi.org/10.1332/239868021X16425806897258The child attachment style interview (Child-ASI) and depression: preliminary findings
Bifulco, A., Jacobs, C., Oskis, A., Bunn, A. and Spence, R. 2021. The child attachment style interview (Child-ASI) and depression: preliminary findings. Educational and Child Psychology. 38 (1), pp. 62-74.Understanding trauma in children and young people in the school setting
Spence, R., Kagan, L., Kljakovic, M. and Bifulco, A. 2021. Understanding trauma in children and young people in the school setting. Educational and Child Psychology. 38 (1), pp. 87-98.Life events and emotional disorder revisited: research and clinical applications
Bifulco, A., Spence, R. and Kagan, L. 2020. Life events and emotional disorder revisited: research and clinical applications. London, UK Routledge.Life events, depression and supportive relationships affect academic achievement in university students
Spence, R., Kagan, L., Nunn, S., Bailey-Rodriguez, D., Fisher, H., Hosang, G. and Bifulco, A. 2022. Life events, depression and supportive relationships affect academic achievement in university students. Journal of American College Health. 70 (7), pp. 1931-1935. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1841776Lifetime trauma, adversity and emotional disorder in older age women
Bifulco, A., Jacobs, C., Oskis, A., Cavana, F. and Spence, R. 2019. Lifetime trauma, adversity and emotional disorder in older age women. Maltrattamento E Abuso All’infanzia: Rivista Interdisciplinare. 21 (2), pp. 29-43. https://doi.org/10.3280/mal2019-002003Partner violence in women - associations with childhood maltreatment, attachment style and major depression
Bifulco, A., Damiani, R., Jacobs, C., Bunn, A. and Spence, R. 2019. Partner violence in women - associations with childhood maltreatment, attachment style and major depression. Maltrattamento E Abuso All’infanzia: Rivista Interdisciplinare. 21 (2), pp. 13-28. https://doi.org/10.3280/MAL2019-002002A contextual approach to trauma experience: lessons from life events research
Spence, R., Kagan, L. and Bifulco, A. 2019. A contextual approach to trauma experience: lessons from life events research. Psychological Medicine. 49 (9), pp. 1409-1413. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291719000850Characteristics of severe life events, attachment style, and depression – Using a new online approach
Bifulco, A., Kagan, L., Spence, R., Nunn, S., Bailey-Rodriguez, D., Hosang, G., Taylor, M. and Fisher, H. 2019. Characteristics of severe life events, attachment style, and depression – Using a new online approach. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. 58 (4), pp. 427-439. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12221The long-term effects of childhood financial hardship mediated by physical abuse, shame, and stigma on depression in women
Spence, R., Nunn, S. and Bifulco, A. 2019. The long-term effects of childhood financial hardship mediated by physical abuse, shame, and stigma on depression in women. Maltrattamento E Abuso All’infanzia: Rivista Interdisciplinare. 21 (1), pp. 55-72. https://doi.org/10.3280/MAL2019-001005Web-based measure of life events using Computerized Life Events and Assessment Record (CLEAR): preliminary cross-sectional study of reliability, validity, and association with depression
Bifulco, A., Spence, R., Nunn, S., Kagan, L., Bailey-Rodriguez, D., Hosang, G., Taylor, M. and Fisher, H. 2019. Web-based measure of life events using Computerized Life Events and Assessment Record (CLEAR): preliminary cross-sectional study of reliability, validity, and association with depression. JMIR Mental Health. 6 (1). https://doi.org/10.2196/10675Attachment style, loneliness and depression in older age women
Spence, R., Jacobs, C. and Bifulco, A. 2020. Attachment style, loneliness and depression in older age women. Aging and Mental Health. 24 (5), pp. 837-839. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2018.1553141Adolescent attachment style in residential care: the attachment style interview and vulnerable attachment style questionnaire
Bifulco, A., Jacobs, C., Ilan-Clarke, Y., Spence, R. and Oskis, A. 2017. Adolescent attachment style in residential care: the attachment style interview and vulnerable attachment style questionnaire. The British Journal of Social Work. 47 (7), pp. 1870-1883. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcw117Help-seeking in emerging adults with and without a history of mental health referral: a qualitative study
Spence, R., Owens-Solari, M. and Goodyer, I. 2016. Help-seeking in emerging adults with and without a history of mental health referral: a qualitative study. BMC Research Notes. 9 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-016-2227-8Factors associated with variation in hospital use at the end of life in England
Bardsley, M., Georghiou, T., Spence, R. and Billings, J. 2019. Factors associated with variation in hospital use at the end of life in England. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. 9 (2), pp. 167-174. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2015-000936Measuring life events and their association with clinical disorder: a protocol for development of an online approach
Spence, R., Bunn, A., Nunn, S., Hosang, G., Kagan, L., Fisher, H., Taylor, M. and Bifulco, A. 2015. Measuring life events and their association with clinical disorder: a protocol for development of an online approach. JMIR Research Protocols. 4 (3), p. e83. https://doi.org/10.2196/resprot.4085Focus on: antidepressant prescribing trends in the prescribing of antidepressants in primary care
Spence, R., Roberts, A., Ariti, C. and Bardsley, M. 2014. Focus on: antidepressant prescribing trends in the prescribing of antidepressants in primary care. Nuffield Trust.The longitudinal psychometric properties of the EAS temperament survey in adolescence
Spence, R., Owens, M. and Goodyer, I. 2013. The longitudinal psychometric properties of the EAS temperament survey in adolescence. Journal of Personality Assessment. 95 (6), pp. 633-639. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2013.819513Item response theory and validity of the NEO-FFI in adolescents
Spence, R., Owens, M. and Goodyer, I. 2012. Item response theory and validity of the NEO-FFI in adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences. 53 (6), pp. 801-807. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2012.06.002Clinical and economic outcomes from the UK pilot psychiatric services for personality-disordered offenders
Fortune, Z., Barrett, B., Armstrong, D., Coid, J., Crawford, M., Mudd, D., Rose, D., Slade, M., Spence, R., Tyrer, P. and Moran, P. 2011. Clinical and economic outcomes from the UK pilot psychiatric services for personality-disordered offenders. International Review of Psychiatry. 23 (1), pp. 61-69. https://doi.org/10.3109/09540261.2010.545989An evaluation of new services for personality-disordered offenders: staff and service user perspectives
Fortune, Z., Rose, D., Crawford, M., Slade, M., Spence, R., Mudd, D., Barrett, B., Coid, J., Tyrer, P. and Moran, P. 2010. An evaluation of new services for personality-disordered offenders: staff and service user perspectives. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. 56 (2), pp. 186-195. https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640091052816289
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