Key Responsibilities at NCI
- Module Coordinator and Assistant Professor on Psychology programme (full-time and part-time):
- Educational Psychology
- Workplace Psychology
- Psychology Research and Study Skills seminar series
- Dissertation Supervisor for Final Year students
Education
- Ph.D. Health and Social Psychology, Dublin City University
- M.Sc. in Psychology Conversion, Dublin City University
- Master in Arts (M.A. Dubl), Trinity College Dublin
- B.A. (Hons) in Sociology and German, Trinity College Dublin
Academic Experience
- Assistant Professor, National College of Ireland
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dublin City University
- Postdoctoral Researcher, Dublin City University
- Psychology Tutor and Demonstrator, Dublin City University
- Psychology Final Year Research Dissertation Supervisor, Dublin Business School
Research Interests
My research focuses on health and social psychology, with particular attention to the psychosocial and spiritual experiences of people living with terminal cancer. I am also interested in social cognitive processes, positive psychology and wellbeing, and the use of qualitative methods to explore lived experience in real-world contexts. Current projects examine patient needs from caregivers’ and healthcare professionals’ perspectives, with the goal of improving understanding of how care and support can be better delivered within healthcare settings.
Academic Awards and Funding
- Recipient of Research Ireland Enterprise Partnership Scheme Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award in partnership with Breakthrough Cancer Research.
- Recipient of Irish Research Council Enterprise Partnership Scheme Postgraduate Scholarship Award in partnership with Breakthrough Cancer Research.
- Recipient of ‘Research Excellence in Psychology’ Award by DCU School of Psychology for academic excellence in MSc Psychology course.
Professional Membership
- Chartered Psychologist (C.Psychol.,Ps.S.I) Psychological Society of Ireland.
- Member of the Irish Association for Cancer Research (IACR).
- Member of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR).
- Member of the Irish Psycho-Social Oncology Network (IPSON).
Research Publications
- Byrne, E., Gaffey, J., Hayden, L., Daly, A., Gallagher, P., & Dunne, S. (2023). Body image and cancer-related lymphoedema: A systematic review. Psycho-Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.6215
- Hayden, L., Byrne, E., Deegan, A., Dunne, S., & Gallagher, P. (2022). A qualitative meta-synthesis examining spirituality as experienced by individuals living with terminal cancer. Health Psychology Open, 9(2), 20551029221121526. https://doi.org/10.1177/20551029221121526
- Hayden, L., & Dunne, S. (2022). “Dying With Dignity”: A Qualitative Study with Caregivers on the Care of Individuals with Terminal Cancer. OMEGA-Journal of Death and Dying, 84(4), 1122-1145. https://doi.org/10.1177/0030222820930135
Conference Presentations and Posters
- Hayden, L., Patkovic, N., Gallagher, P., & Dunne, S. (March 2026). A Window into the End-of-Life: Caregivers’ Accounts of Patients’ Experiences of Terminal Cancer.’ Presented at: Irish Psychosocial Oncology Network [IPSON] Conference 2026. (National College of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland).
- Hayden, L. & Hayden-Smyth, S. (February 2025). The Experience of Job Loss Post-Cancer: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Meta-synthesis. Presented at: Irish Association for Cancer Research [IACR] Conference 2026. Galway, Ireland).
- Hayden, L., Dunne, S., & Gallagher, P. (March 2025). “I’m definitely living on borrowed time now”: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Role of Time in the Lives of Individuals Living with Terminal Cancer. Presented at: Irish Psychosocial Oncology Network [IPSON] Conference 2025. (National College of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland).
- Hayden, L., Dunne, S., & Gallagher, P. (March 2025). “Life is all about hope”: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Role of Hope in the Lives of Individuals Living with Terminal Cancer. Presented at: Irish Association for Cancer Research [IACR] Conference 2025. (Belfast, Co Antrim, Ireland).
- Clarke, N., Hayden, L., et al.. (March 2025). A Qualitative Exploration of the Decision Not to Participate in Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Women from Lower Socio-economic Areas. Presented at: Irish Association for Cancer Research [IACR] Conference 2025. (Belfast, Co Antrim, Ireland).
- Hayden, L., Dunne, S., & Gallagher, P. (March 2024). “Life is all about hope”: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Role of Hope in the Lives of Individuals Living with Terminal Cancer. Presented at: Inaugural Irish Psychosocial Oncology Network [IPSON] Conference. (Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James’ Hospital, Dublin, Ireland).
- Hayden, L., Dunne, S., & Gallagher, P. (July 2023). “If you don’t have hope, where is your future”: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Experience of Living with Terminal Cancer. Presented at: 3rd International Conference of Possibility Studies (DCU All Hallows Campus, Dublin, Ireland).
- Hayden, L., Byrne, E., Dunne, S., & Gallagher, P. (August 2021). A qualitative meta-synthesis examining spirituality as experienced by individuals living with terminal cancer. Presented at: 35th Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society (online due to COVID-19).
- Byrne E., Hayden, L., Gallagher, P., & Dunne, S. (February 2020). After cancer treatment: a systematic review of cancer-related lymphoedema and body image. Presented at 56th Irish Association for Cancer Research Conference (Galway, Ireland).
- Hayden, L. & Dunne, S. (February 2020). “Dying with dignity”: A qualitative study with caregivers on the care of individuals with terminal cancer. Presented at: 56th Irish Association for Cancer Research Conference (Galway, Ireland).
- Hayden, L. & Dunne, S. (September 2019). The Choice of Care in Event of a Terminal Illness. Presented at: Wellbeing: A Social Networks Approach (DCU All Hallows Campus, Dublin, Ireland).