Biography
I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Southampton in 2010, before completing my PhD at Bournemouth University in 2014. I taught at Bournemouth University for several years during and after completing my PhD. Following this I took on the position of Lecturer in Applied Psychology at the university's partner institution, the AECC.
My area of speciality is Clinical Psychology and Health & Wellbeing. My PhD research examined the relationship between women's sleep during the perinatal period, and the development of postnatal depression. I used polysomnography to objectively measure sleep, and compared this with self-report measures.
I am a qualified Yoga and Mindfulness Therapist and have also trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. I regularly run sessions at the university to staff and students based upon these methods.
In 2016 I completed my Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education at Bournemouth University.
Conferences
- Kita, Mayers, A. and McDougall, S., 2014. Perinatal Sleep and Postpartum Depression. In: Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies 2 June 2014-5 June 2015 Minneapolis, USA. Sleep, 37.
- Kita, Mayers, A. and McDougall, S., 2013. Subjective and Objective Sleep in Late Pregnancy. In: Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies 1-5 June 2013 Baltimore, USA. SLEEP, 36.
- Kita, 2013. Sleep in the Perinatal Period: Risks and Opportunities. In: Perinatal Travelling Circus 4 March 2013 Bournemouth University.
- Kita, 2012. Poor sleep a a risk factor for postnatal depression. In: Kita, L.E., ed. Perinatal Mental Health Symposium 7 June 2012 Brown University, USA.
- Kita, L.E., Mayers, A. and McDougall, S., 2012. Poor sleep as a risk factor for postnatal depression. In: British Psychological Society Annual Conference 12 April-14 January 2015 London.
- Kita, 2011. Poor Sleep as a Risk Factor for Postnatal Depression. In: Oral presentation for Research Group 7 August 2011 St Ann's Hospital, Poole.
- Kita, L.E. and Mayers, A., 2011. Poor sleep as a risk factor for postnatal depression. In: Kita, ed. PsyPAG Annual Conference 11 July 2011-13 January 2015 Bangor, UK.
Theses
- Kita, 2013. Investigating the relationship between sleep and postpartum depression: a longitudinal study examining the relationships between subjective and objective sleep during the perinatal period and postpartum depression. PhD Thesis. Bournemouth University, School of Design, Engineering & Computing.
Profile of Teaching PG
- MSc Foundations of Clinical Psychology - Psychological Therapies (Mind-body)
Profile of Teaching UG
- Foundations in Clinical Psychology; Clinical and Developmental Psychology; Skills and Applications of Psychology, Experimental and Research Methods
- Experimental Methods and Statistical Analysis
- Skills and Applications of Psychology
Grants
- Perinatal Sleep and Postpartum Depression (Sleep Research Society, 01 Jun 2014). Awarded
- Poor Sleep and Postpartum Depression (Santander, 01 Jun 2012). Awarded
External Responsibilities
- British Psychological Society Standing Conference Committee, Postgraduate representative (2011-2013)
- British Psychological Society - Psychology of Women's Section, Postgraduate representative (2011-2013)
- BPS Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group (PsyPAG), Representative Committee Member (2011-2013)
Public Engagement & Outreach Activities
- Mind full or Mindful? Exploring the relationship between the Mind-Body Connection
- Exploring the Mind-Body Connection
- Mindfulness Taster Sessions
Conference Presentations
- SLEEP 2014, 02 Jun 2014, Minneapolis
Qualifications
- PhD in Psychology in Psychology (2014)
- BSc (Hons) in Psychology 1:1 (University of Southampton, 2010)
Honours
- Santander travel award to attend SLEEP 2011 conference in Boston (2011)
Memberships
- British Psychological Society, Member,
- European Sleep Research Society, Member,
- Sleep Research Society, Member,