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Heidi Williamson's Outputs (89)

Body image and appearance distress among military veterans and civilians with an injury-related visible difference: A comparison study (2024)
Journal Article

Injuries sustained during military conflict can significantly impact appearance. Yet, little is known about the psychosocial experiences of veterans with conflict-related appearance-altering injuries (AAI) and whether current civilian interventions a... Read More about Body image and appearance distress among military veterans and civilians with an injury-related visible difference: A comparison study.

‘Plan Z and then off the edge of a cliff’: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of mothers’ experience of living with a slow-to-heal Caesarean wound (2024)
Journal Article

Background: Studies indicate that complex postsurgical wound healing can significantly alter biopsychological markers responsible for recovery. Yet, there is a lack of research investigating women's experience of living with slow-to-heal Caesarean bi... Read More about ‘Plan Z and then off the edge of a cliff’: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of mothers’ experience of living with a slow-to-heal Caesarean wound.

Cross-condition risk and protective factors for psychosocial distress in parents and carers of children and young people with appearance-affecting conditions and injuries (2024)
Journal Article

Alongside typical parenting challenges, initial condition-specific research suggests that parents of children with different visible differences may experience similar psychosocial difficulties. Despite this, large-scale cross-condition research to i... Read More about Cross-condition risk and protective factors for psychosocial distress in parents and carers of children and young people with appearance-affecting conditions and injuries.

Adjusting to a partners’ changed appearance following military combat-related appearance-altering injuries: The challenges of looking ‘different’ and how life continues (2024)
Journal Article

Combat-related physical injuries not only affect the individual but also close family members. Emerging evidence indicates that injuries that change appearance, such as limb loss and physical scarring, may create additional psychosocial challenges fo... Read More about Adjusting to a partners’ changed appearance following military combat-related appearance-altering injuries: The challenges of looking ‘different’ and how life continues.

Mothers’ experiences of their sons’ appearance-altering combat injuries: Distressed and unsupported (2023)
Journal Article

Emerging evidence indicates that combat injuries that change appearance, such as limb loss and physical scarring, can impact psychosocial wellbeing of injured military veterans. Parents of young children with a visibly different appearance may experi... Read More about Mothers’ experiences of their sons’ appearance-altering combat injuries: Distressed and unsupported.

Congenital Melanocytic Naevus (CMN) through the lens: Using photo- elicitation interviews to explore adjustment in adolescents with a rare birthmark condition (2023)
Journal Article

Adolescents with the rare birthmarks congenital melanocytic naevi (CMN) experience physical and psychosocial challenges, many of which stem from looking different from the ‘norm’. However, some adjust and have positive experiences. Understanding the... Read More about Congenital Melanocytic Naevus (CMN) through the lens: Using photo- elicitation interviews to explore adjustment in adolescents with a rare birthmark condition.

Congenital melanocytic naevus (CMN) through the lens: Using photo-elicitation interviews to explore adjustment in adolescents with a rare birthmark condition (2023)
Journal Article

Adolescents with the rare birthmarks congenital melanocytic naevi (CMN) experience physical and psychosocial challenges, many of which stem from looking different from the ‘norm’. However, some adjust and have positive experiences. Understanding the... Read More about Congenital melanocytic naevus (CMN) through the lens: Using photo-elicitation interviews to explore adjustment in adolescents with a rare birthmark condition.

Health professionals’ experiences of supporting British Armed Forces veterans with conflict-related, appearance-altering injuries (2023)
Journal Article

Numerous British Armed Forces personnel have sustained conflict-related injuries that have altered their appearance. Previous evidence indicates this population may be at risk of appearance-related concerns and that civilian health professionals may... Read More about Health professionals’ experiences of supporting British Armed Forces veterans with conflict-related, appearance-altering injuries.

Training health professionals to support patients with appearance-affecting conditions: A pan-European evaluation of an acceptance and commitment therapy approach to patient communication (2023)
Journal Article

AbstractMultidisciplinary health professionals (HPs) are involved in supporting patients who have conditions that affect their appearance. With appearance-associated distress common in this group, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) an... Read More about Training health professionals to support patients with appearance-affecting conditions: A pan-European evaluation of an acceptance and commitment therapy approach to patient communication.

Evaluating the efficacy of a social media-based intervention (Warna-Warni Waktu) to improve body image among young Indonesian women: Parallel randomized controlled trial (2023)
Journal Article

BACKGROUND: Body dissatisfaction is a global issue, particularly among adolescent girls and young women. Effective body image interventions exist but face barriers to scaling up, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries, such as Indonesia,... Read More about Evaluating the efficacy of a social media-based intervention (Warna-Warni Waktu) to improve body image among young Indonesian women: Parallel randomized controlled trial.

Predictors of adolescents’ response to a web-based intervention to improve psychosocial adjustment to having an appearance-affecting condition (Young Person’s Face IT): Prospective study (2023)
Journal Article

Background: Adolescents with a condition affecting their appearance that results in a visible difference can be at risk of psychosocial distress and impaired adjustment. Evidence for the effectiveness of existing interventions in improving psychosoci... Read More about Predictors of adolescents’ response to a web-based intervention to improve psychosocial adjustment to having an appearance-affecting condition (Young Person’s Face IT): Prospective study.

Adolescents and parents’ perception of Young Person's Face IT: An online intervention for adolescents struggling with conditions affecting their appearance (2022)
Journal Article

Objective: A visible difference in appearance caused by a congenital or acquired condition can negatively affect adolescents’ psychosocial well-being. Young Person's Face IT (YPF) is an online intervention based on cognitive behavioural therapy and s... Read More about Adolescents and parents’ perception of Young Person's Face IT: An online intervention for adolescents struggling with conditions affecting their appearance.

Assessing the usability and acceptability of FaceIT@home: An online CBT intervention for people with visible differences (2022)
Journal Article

To increase access to support, an online psychosocial support tool for adults with visible differences was adapted for use without referral or supervision. This intervention combines a cognitive behavioural and social skills model of support. This st... Read More about Assessing the usability and acceptability of FaceIT@home: An online CBT intervention for people with visible differences.

Is it safe? Exploring positive and negative outcome changes following a web-based intervention for adolescents distressed by a visible difference (YP Face IT) (2022)
Journal Article

Despite the importance of making sure that psychological interventions are safe, research including both positive and negative effects of novel internet-delivered support is scarce. The aim of our study was to explore whether, and in what way, a new... Read More about Is it safe? Exploring positive and negative outcome changes following a web-based intervention for adolescents distressed by a visible difference (YP Face IT).

Exploring teachers’ perceptions of promoting acceptance of diverse appearances in primary school children (4-11 years) (2022)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Objectives and design: Research suggests children can begin judging others based on their appearance as early as 4 years old. Stigma towards children who have a diverse appearance (e.g., higher weight, visible difference) can have a negative impact o... Read More about Exploring teachers’ perceptions of promoting acceptance of diverse appearances in primary school children (4-11 years).

Body image and psychosocial well-being among UK military personnel and veterans who sustained appearance-altering conflict injuries (2022)
Journal Article

A modest but significant number of military personnel sustained injuries during deployments resulting in an altered-appearance (e.g., limb loss and/or scarring). Civilian research indicates that appearance-altering injuries can affect psychosocial we... Read More about Body image and psychosocial well-being among UK military personnel and veterans who sustained appearance-altering conflict injuries.