Staff within the Department of Psychology have a wide range of specialist expertise and knowledge. We work together in a number of research groups through which we support the work of both staff and students in the Department. In addition, we are able to offer a range of services on a consultancy basis. If you would like to discuss collaboration or consultancy with us, please do get in touch. Our research groups play an important role in the Department of Psychology. The groups meet regularly throughout the academic year and provide opportunities for members to discuss their current research, ideas for new research projects, or simply to discuss an interesting journal article or conference presentation they've seen. They also provide an important support structure for junior researchers, including MPhil and PhD students.

Recent Submissions

  • Ape recognition of familiar human faces changed by time and COVID-19 face masks

    Murray, Lindsay; University of Chester
    Reports of primates being able to recognise familiar humans are rare in the literature and tend to be regarded as anecdotal. The COVID-19 pandemic created two unique conditions facilitating the observation of spontaneous face recognition in zoo apes: i) lengthy gaps in contact with human visitors due to lockdowns and zoo closures, and ii) the wearing of face masks obscuring at least half the face of familiar individuals. Here, I report on the historical context of the familiarity between a primatologist and individual apes of two species, how those apes consistently showed recognition of this particular human over a time span of up to thirty years, how facial recognition was extended to family members, and how recognition persisted even when a significant portion of the face was obscured by a mask. This constitutes, to my knowledge, the first documented cases of recognition of familiar human faces changed by time and COVID-19 face masks in two great ape species. Although based on just two individuals, the documentation of this ability is important because it arose in a more naturalistic and spontaneous context compared to typical face processing research in which primates are tested with experimental stimuli in a laboratory setting. Implications for face processing theory and applications for the therapeutic utility of faces are discussed. These observations provide insight into the evolutionary origins of face recognition and, sitting at the interface of science and society, are of interest to a wide audience.
  • Young children’s conceptions of computing in an African setting

    Oyedoyin, Mayowa; Sanusi, Ismaila Temitayo; Ayanwale, Musa Adekunle; University of Chester; University of Eastern Finland; University of Johannesburg (Taylor & Francis, 2024-02-11)
  • Exploring Footedness, Throwing Arm, and Handedness as Predictors of Eyedness Using Cluster Analysis and Machine Learning: Implications for the Origins of Behavioural Asymmetries

    Rodway, Paul; Rodway, Curtis; Schepman, Astrid; University of Chester (MDPI, 2024-02-02)
    Behavioural asymmetries displayed by individuals, such as hand preference and foot preference, tend to be lateralized in the same direction (left or right). This may be because their co-ordination conveys functional benefits for a variety of motor behaviours. To explore the potential functional relationship between key motor asymmetries, we examined whether footedness, handedness, or throwing arm was the strongest predictor of eyedness. Behavioural asymmetries were measured by self-report in 578 left-handed and 612 right-handed individuals. Cluster analysis of the asymmetries revealed four handedness groups: consistent right-handers, left-eyed right-handers, consistent left-handers, and inconsistent left-handers (who were left-handed but right-lateralized for footedness, throwing and eyedness). Supervised machine learning models showed the importance of footedness, in addition to handedness, in determining eyedness. In right-handers, handedness was the best predictor of eyedness, followed closely by footedness, and for left-handers it was footedness. Overall, predictors were more informative in predicting eyedness for individuals with consistent lateral preferences. Implications of the findings in relation to the origins and genetics of handedness and sports training are discussed. Findings are related to fighting theories of handedness and to bipedalism, which evolved after manual dexterity, and which may have led to some humans being right-lateralized for ballistic movements and left-lateralized for hand dexterity.
  • Supporting people with social care needs on release from prison: A scoping review

    Tucker, Sue; Buck, Deborah; Roberts, Amy; Hargreaves, Claire; University of Manchester; University of Chester; Lancaster University (International Long Term Care Policy Network, 2024-02-13)
    Context: Social care need in prisons is increasing in many countries. However, the delivery of social care in prisons has been (at best) inconsistent and there has been no previous review to inform provision for people on release. Objective: To identify and synthesise what is known about the social care needs of people on release from prison and how best to meet these. Method: A scoping review encompassing systematic searches of 26 electronic databases (January 2010-July 2021) included a wide range of literature. No exclusions were made on the basis of study design, method or quality. Findings were organised according to their contribution to the research questions. Findings: Forty-six documents met the review criteria of which 27 were from the UK. Just two focused specifically on the topic of interest and most of the extracted material was descriptive in nature. Almost no information was found on the number of people released from prison in need of social care. However, the challenges of providing care for this group appeared well understood. Although there were many examples of good practice and widespread consensus about its enablers, outcome information was lacking. Limitations: In keeping with the nature of the review, the quality of the literature was not formally assessed. Implications: The review identified several promising initiatives ranging from prison buddy schemes to pre-release training in everyday living skills and personalised pathway documents. Conclusions: Policy makers and researchers must now shift their attention to the effectiveness of particular interventions in improving social care outcomes.
  • Breaking the Boundaries Collective – A Manifesto for Relationship-based Practice

    Darley, Danica; Blundell, Peter; Cherry, Lisa; Wong, Jock; Wilson, Ann-Marie; Vaughan, Sarah; Vandenberghe, K.; Taylor, Bethan; Scott, K.; Ridgeway, T.; et al. (Taylor & Francis, 2024-02-23)
    We are a group of service users, professionals and services who began a project called Breaking the Boundaries Collective. This project advocates and campaigns for relationship-based practice (RBP). We offer resources and guidance for ways to achieve it. We encourage and foster discussions and debates on aspects of RBP that challenge hegemonic notions of professional boundaries.
  • Gambling, cryptocurrency, and financial trading app marketing in English Premier League football: A frequency analysis of in-game logos

    Torrance, Jamie; Heath, Conor; Andrade, Maira; Newall, Philip; Swansea University; University of Chester; University of East London; University of Bristol; CQ University (Akadémiai Kiadó, 2023-11-27)
    The gamblification of UK football has resulted in a proliferation of in-game marketing associated with gambling and gambling-like products such as cryptocurrencies and financial trading apps. The English Premier League (EPL) has in response banned gambling logos on shirt-fronts from 2026 onward. This ban does not affect other types of marketing for gambling (e.g., sleeves and pitch-side hoardings), nor gambling-like products. This study therefore aimed to assess the ban's implied overall reduction of different types of marketing exposure. Methods: We performed a frequency analysis of logos associated with gambling, cryptocurrency, and financial trading across 10 broadcasts from the 2022/23 EPL season. For each relevant logo, we coded: the marketed product, associated brand, number of individual logos, logo location, logo duration, and whether harm-reduction content was present. Results: There were 20,941 relevant logos across the 10 broadcasts, of which 13,427 (64.1%) were for gambling only, 2,236 (10.7%) were for both gambling and cryptocurrency, 2,014 (9.6%) were for cryptocurrency only, 2,068 (9.9%) were for both cryptocurrency and financial trading, and 1,196 (5.7%) were for financial trading only. There were 1,075 shirt-front gambling-associated logos, representing 6.9% of all gambling-associated logos, and 5.1% of all logos combined. Pitch-side hoardings were the most frequent marketing location (52.3%), and 3.4% of logos contained harm-reduction content. Discussion & Conclusions: Brand logos associated with gambling, cryptocurrency, and financial trading are common within EPL broadcasts. Approximately 1 in 20 gambling and gambling-like logos are subject to the EPL's voluntary ban on shirt-front gambling sponsorship.
  • The role of prosocial behaviour, personality and general mental health in predicting emoji use and preference

    Carroll, Janine; University of Chester (SAGE Publications, 2023-12-07)
    Emojis are prevalent in text-based communication, but the factors that influence our use and preference emojis remains unclear. This study investigated how emoji use and preference could be explained by three factors; mental health, personality and prosocial behaviour. A questionnaire consisting of five measures was completed by 222 participants and both Pearson correlations and multiple regressions were conducted on the data. The results showed prosocial behaviour significantly related to frequency, attitudes and motivations towards emoji use as well as to positive emoji preference. Agreeableness related to the frequency of emoji use. Extraversion related to both positive and negative emoji preference while conscientiousness and emotional stability significantly related to negative emoji preference only. General mental health significantly related to negative emoji preference. The regressions found all of the factors identified in the correlations predicted emoji use and preference with the exception of extraversion. Further research is needed to explore how the impact of the emotions depicted by emojis on these factors and to investigate how emojis are used by people with specific mental health conditions
  • ‘Chances are you’re about to lose’: new independent Australian safer gambling messages tested in UK and USA bettor samples

    Newall, Philip; Torrance, Jamie; Russell, Alex M. T.; Rockloff, Matthew; Hing, Nerilee; Browne, Matthew; University of Bristol; Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, Sydney; University of Chester; Swansea University; CQUniversity (Taylor & Francis, 2023-11-21)
    Current industry-developed safer gambling messages such as ‘Take time to think’ and ‘Gamble responsibly’ have been criticized as ineffective slogans. As a result, Australia has recently introduced seven independently-developed safer gambling messages. The UK Government intends to introduce independently-developed messages from 2024 onwards, and this measure could be similarly appropriate for the US states where sports betting has been legalized and gambling advertising has become pervasive. Given this context, the current study recruited race and sports bettors from the UK and USA to elicit their perceptions of the seven Australian safer gambling messages. Participants (N = 1865) rated on a Likert-scale seven newly introduced messages and two existing ones (‘Take time to think’ and ‘Gamble responsibly’) using seven evaluative statements. Participants also reported their levels of problem gambling severity. For most statements in both jurisdictions, the new messages performed significantly better than the existing ones. Specifically, the new messages were deemed more attention grabbing, applicable on a personal level, helpful to gamblers, and more likely to encourage cutbacks in gambling. The message that included a specific call to action (‘What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit’) was one of the best performing messages. Interaction effects observed in relation to jurisdiction, age, gender, and problem gambling severity were generally small enough to counteract the argument that different populations might benefit from substantially different messages. These findings add to previous research on the independent design of effective safer gambling messages.
  • Resilience and mental toughness as predictors of anxiety, depression, and mental well-being

    Naden, Emma; Schepman, Astrid; Bilton, Gareth; Rodway, Paul; University of Chester (PAGEPress, 2023-10-09)
    To examine how strongly the attributes of resilience and mental toughness predicted levels of anxiety, depression, and mental well-being, a quantitative online survey of 281 adults was employed. The survey was conducted in the United Kingdom (April to June 2021) using opportunity sampling. Resilience, mental toughness, and mental well-being were measured by the 10-item Connor-Davidson resilience scale, the 10-item mental toughness questionnaire, and the 14-item Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale, respectively. In addition, the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) measured anxiety and depression, and the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to measure depression. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to analyze which attribute was the strongest predictor of mental health. Mental toughness was found to be a significantly stronger predictor of well-being (β=0.54) than resilience (β=0.21), of anxiety (β=-0.70 versus 0.02, respectively), of HADS depression (β=-0.52 versus -0.15), and of PHQ-9 depression (β=-0.62 versus -0.09). We propose that mental toughness may predict well-being more strongly than resilience because it is a broader construct, incorporating proactive traits that enhance well-being. The findings suggest that training and interventions that enhance mental toughness in non-clinical populations may be more effective at promoting mental well-being and reducing anxiety and depression than those that enhance resilience. Further research is required to test these practical implications and to clarify why mental toughness is a stronger predictor than resilience for positive mental health.
  • Responding well to Spiritual Abuse: practice implications for counselling and psychotherapy

    Oakley, Lisa; Kinmond, Kathryn; Blundell, Peter; University of Chester; Birmingham City University; Liverpool John Moores University (Taylor & Francis, 2024-02-22)
    This paper presents the findings of a survey exploring people’s understandings and experiences of Spiritual Abuse (SA) in a Christian faith context. The online survey was completed by 1591 individuals from the UK, 1002 of whom identified as having experienced SA. Inclusion criteria were: membership of the Christian faith, being or having been, a Church attender or member of a Christian organisation and to have heard of the term SA. Participants detailed the features of an effective response to disclosures of SA and many of these are directly relevant to counselling and psychotherapy practice. Additionally, the research findings echo repeated calls in previous research for the necessity to include discussions of religion and faith in initial training and continuing professional development for counsellors and psychotherapists. Finally, the paper suggests a next step would be the establishment of a network of counsellors with training and knowledge about SA.
  • Missing People and Fragmented Stories: Painting Holistic Pictures through Single Pen Portrait Analysis (SPPA)

    Blundell, Peter; Oakley, Lisa; Liverpool John Moores University; University of Chester (Taylor & Francis, 2023-11-18)
    A pen portrait is an analytical technique for analysing, condensing, and depicting qualitative data from participants that can also incorporate themes or patterns. Pen portraits are a useful qualitative analytical technique that has not been adequately explored. A review of the use of pen portraits indicates that researchers have employed them in different ways across a variety of disciplines. These studies do not provide sufficient detail to enable researchers to understand the analytical process or undertake pen portraits and therefore be able to apply this. This scarcity of detail makes it difficult to engage with pen portraits as a trustworthy form of qualitative analysis. This paper outlines the authors’ approach called Single Pen Portrait Analysis (SPPA). This qualitative analytical technique was used by both authors, to overcome the issue of fragmented people or experience during their initial analysis. This paper describes ways that researchers could identify SPPA as a useful approach for answering their research question, and then details a step-by-step guide for completing this type of analysis. This guide is offered alongside two worked examples from the authors’ doctoral research projects to help researchers apply this analytical technique in practice. A tentative critical analysis of SPPA is offered. Finally, there is an argument for qualitative researchers to access the untapped potential of pen portraits by creatively engaging with them.
  • Gambling, cryptocurrency, and financial trading sponsorship in high-level men's soccer leagues: An update for the 2023/2024 season

    Torrance, Jamie; HEATH, CONOR; Newall, Philip; University of Chester; Swansea University; Birmingham City University; University of Bristol (Mary Ann Liebert, 2023-11-02)
  • Measuring authentic living from internal and external perspectives: A novel measure of self-authenticity

    Cartwright, Tim; Hulbert-Williams, Lee; Evans, Gemma; Hulbert-Williams, Nick; University of Chester (Elsevier, 2023-10-10)
    Self-authenticity refers to knowing and being oneself despite societal expectations, a concept closely related to values-based therapeutic interventions. Authentic living is currently measured using three validated psycho- metric scales; however these have limitations including issues with length, theoretical instability, and lack of measurement invariance testing. The present study sought to develop a novel measure of self-authenticity to resolve these limitations, and to provide further empirical evidence as to the structure of self-authenticity. Using a large sample, split into two subsamples, the novel Self-Authenticity Measure (SAM) was developed and found to be reliable. We present evidence of convergent and concurrent validity, as well as a degree of incremental validity over one of the previously developed authenticity scales. Furthermore, construct validity and (config- ural) measurement invariance were demonstrated through confirmatory factor analysis. Thus, though the measure was initially developed for use with sexual-minority groups, it appears to function similarly in a het- erosexual sample. Self-authenticity correlated with constructs related to psychological flexibility, suggesting that therapeutic techniques based on valued living could increase self-authenticity in individuals. The SAM affords researchers the opportunity to measure self-authenticity from internal (knowing and being oneself) and external (being oneself around others) perspectives. Further testing of measurement invariance is recommended.
  • Predicting Adolescents’ Intentions to Support Victims of Bullying from Expected Reactions of Friends versus Peers

    Marx, Hedda; Boulton, Michael J.; Macaulay, Peter J. R.; University of Chester; University of Derby (IOS Press, 2023-10-24)
    Given the crucial role of bystanders in combating bullying in schools, there is a need to understand the reasons why children may or may not intervene on behalf of a victimised peer. The aim of the present study was to explore the association between children’s expectations of general peer reactions versus the reactions of their friends on three subtypes of victim support: consoling the victim, addressing the bully, and getting adult help. A sample of 630 students (297 girls; 333 boys, Mage = 12.5) from three public secondary schools in Germany completed a 30-item questionnaire measuring expected peer reactions, expected friend reactions, past victim support experiences, and intentions to support victims. Results revealed the more influential role of expected reactions of friends over general peers in predicting victim support with expected negative consequences from friends reducing children’s willingness to engage in victim helping, irrespective of the three sub-types of support studied. Expected negative outcomes from peers were also found to significantly affect students’ intentions to approach a teacher for help. Boys were found to be more concerned about their friends’ and peers’ reactions to victim support than girls. The findings are discussed in relation to bystanders’ willingness to offer victim support and associated practical implications for addressing the widespread problem of bullying in schools.
  • Having a Positive Attitude or Doing Good Deeds? An Experimental Investigation of Poker Players’ Responses to the Gambling Fallacies Measure

    Newall, Philip; Torrance, Jamie; University of Bristol; University of Chester; Swansea University (University of California Press, 2023-10-18)
    Gambling fallacies are irrational beliefs about how gambling works, which are common among disordered gamblers, and measured by questionnaires such as the Gambling Fallacies Measure (GFM). Less is known about the potentially rational cognitions of some skilled gamblers, such as professional poker players. The present research experimentally manipulated item 5 from the GFM, “A positive attitude or doing good deeds increases your likelihood of winning money when gambling”, by comparing two new versions focusing only on a “positive attitude” or “doing good deeds” to the original version (control). Item 5 is scored so that “disagree” is the non-fallacious correct answer, but it was hypothesized that the words “a positive attitude” might increase rates of poker players selecting “agree” in a non-fallacious manner. Online experiments were conducted on samples of professional poker players (N = 379), and a broad sample of poker players with no inclusion criteria (N = 1,510). Participants’ responses to item 5 were associated with the rest of their GFM scores (GFM-9). Participants in both samples were more likely to disagree with the good deeds version, and less likely to disagree with the positive attitude version, compared to control. In comparison to the other conditions, good deeds responses were most strongly associated with GFM-9 scores among professionals, while positive attitude responses were least strongly associated with GFM-9 scores among the broad sample. The good deeds version of item 5 has advantageous measurement properties among professional poker players. New approaches are needed to better understand the potentially rational cognitions of skilled gamblers.
  • Family carer experiences of hospice care at home: qualitative findings from a mixed methods realist evaluation

    Abrahamson, Vanessa; Wilson, Patricia; Barclay, Stephen; Brigden, Charlotte; Gage, Heather; Greene, Kay; Hashem, Ferhana; Mikelyte, Rasa; Rees-Roberts, Melanie; Silsbury, Graham; et al. (SAGE Publications, 2023-10-21)
    Background: Hospice-at-home aims to enable patients approaching end-of-life to die at home and support their carers. A wide range of different service models exists but synthesised evidence on how best to support family carers to provide sustainable end-of -life care at home is limited. Aim: To explore what works best to promote family carers’ experiences of hospice-at-home. Design: Realist evaluation with mixed methods. This paper focuses on qualitative interviews with carers (to gain their perspective and as proxy for patients) and service providers from twelve case study sites in England. Interviews were coded and programme theories were refined by the research team including two public members. Setting/participants: Interviews with carers (involved daily) of patients admitted to hospice-at-home services (n=58) and hospice-at-home staff (n=78). Results: Post bereavement, 76.4% of carers thought that they had received as much help and support as they needed and most carers (75.8%) rated the help and support as excellent or outstanding. Of six final programme theories capturing key factors relevant to providing optimum services, those directly relevant to carer experiences were: integration and co-ordination of services; knowledge, skills and ethos of hospice staff; volunteer roles; support directed at the patient–carer dyad. Conclusions: Carers in hospice-at-home services identified care to be of a higher quality than generic community services. Hospice staff were perceived as having ‘time to care’, communicated well and were comfortable with dying and death. Hands-on care was particularly valued in the period close to death.
  • Facial expression of TIPI personality and CHMP-Tri psychopathy traits in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): Evidence for honest signaling?

    Murray, Lindsay; Goddard, Jade; Gordon, David; University of Chester; Staffordshire University (Springer, 2023-11-07)
    Purpose: Honest signaling theory suggests that humans and chimpanzees can extract socially relevant information relating to personality from the face of their conspecifics. Humans are also able to extract information from chimpanzees’ faces. Here, we examine whether personality characteristics of chimpanzees, including measures of psychopathy, can be discerned based purely on facial morphology in photographs. Methods: Twenty-one chimpanzees were given naïve and expert personality ratings on the Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) and the Chimpanzee Triarchic Model of Psychopathy (CHMP-Tri) before and following behavioural observations. Results: Characteristics relating to openness, conscientiousness, extraversion and disinhibition could be distinguished from the faces of chimpanzees. Individuals higher on disinhibition have lower scores on conscientiousness and emotional stability and higher scores on extraversion; while those higher on meanness have lower conscientiousness and agreeableness. Facial expressions are linked to personality traits present in the TIPI and CHMP-Tri models: the Relaxed Face and the Grooming Face were displayed more by chimpanzees higher on agreeableness, while the Compressed Lips Face was observed more in those individuals higher on boldness, and the Full Open Grin was displayed more by chimpanzees higher on extraversion, but lower on emotional stability and conscientiousness. Facial expressions were also found to be associated with particular behavioural contexts, namely the Grooming Face in affiliative contexts and the Relaxed and Relaxed Open Mouth Faces in neutral contexts. Dominant chimpanzees display higher levels of boldness and more Compressed Lips Faces, Relaxed Open Mouth Faces and Grooming Faces than subordinate individuals. Conclusion: These findings support and extend evidence for a shared honest signalling system and a shared personality structure between humans and chimpanzees. Future research could further explore how personality is conveyed through the face, perhaps through more than just singular aspects of character, and maybe reflecting what chimpanzees themselves are able to do.
  • Client-Led Applied Sport Psychology Practitioners’ Narratives about Helping Athletes

    Tod, David; McEwan, Hayley; Cronin, Colum; Lafferty, Moira; Lancaster University; University of the West of Scotland; Liverpool John Moores University; University of Chester (Human Kinetics, 2023-10-06)
    The current study explored how applied sport psychology practitioners adopting client-led stances described two of their athlete interactions. Applied sport psychology practitioners (8 females and 12 males, mean age = 33.76 years, SD = 4.70) describing themselves as client-led practitioners discussed two athlete consultancies during open-ended interviews. Data analysis involved examining the narrative structure of practitioners’ stories and identifying the features of client-led service-delivery present in the accounts. The participants’ stories reflected a collaborative empiricism narrative in which they collaborated with athletes to resolve client issues. The stories contained features of client-led Person-Centred Therapy and the use of practitioner-led techniques and interventions. The results point to applied implications, such as providing accounts of service delivery on which practitioners can reflect as they consider the ways they wish to help clients. Keywords: Applied Sport Psychology, Person-Centred Therapy, Helping 13 Relationships, Practitioner Characteristics, Mental Skills Training, Client-Led
  • The structural characteristics of online sports betting: a scoping review of current product features and utility patents as indicators of potential future developments

    Torrance, Jamie; O'Hanrahan, Marie; Carroll, Janine; Newall, Philip; University of Chester; Cardiff University; University of Bristol; CQ University (Taylor & Francis, 2023-07-31)
    'Structural characteristics’ are gambling product design features which contribute to the amount of time or money that gamblers spend using them, such as the short pay-out intervals of electronic gaming machines (EGMs). However, it is important to also understand the structural characteristics of current online sports betting products, and how these products may continue to evolve via a forward-looking analysis of utility patents, given the increasing international popularity of this gambling mode. A scoping review of the emergent structural characteristics associated with online sports betting was conducted upon the literature (2015–2022), and of sports betting utility patents. A total of 26 literature records and 8 utility patents were included. Results indicated that online sports betting is instantly accessible, provides rapid and continuous betting opportunities, and offers user-interactivity via features such as ‘cash-out’ and the ability to instantly deposit funds. Additionally, the online sports betting market has expanded into adjacent industries such as esports. The included utility patents suggest that online sports betting may evolve by incorporating peer-to-peer competitive elements, augmented reality, and highly specific statistics/notifications. Overall, the online environment has transformed sports betting into a faster and more harmful gambling mode that provides a diverse range of features and betting opportunities. It is important that this area of research develops in order to encourage appropriate policy and the more ethical redesign of online sports betting products.
  • Exploring the similarities and differences amongst service users with and without learning disabilities attending Saint Marys Sexual Assault Referral Centre

    Majeed‐Ariss, Rabiya; Mattison, Michelle L. A.; Rodriguez, Pablo M.; White, Catherine; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; University of Chester; Institute for Addressing Strangulation Sexual Offences, Manchester (Wiley, 2023-07-28)
    Background: People with learning disabilities are over‐represented amongst Sexual Assault Referral Centre service users. This work aims to explore the similarities and differences between service users with and without learning disabilities. Method: Medical notes of 52 service users likely to have a learning disability were compared with 52 service users not likely to have a learning disability (according to the Learning Disability Screening Questionnaire); all of whom attended Saint Marys SARC for a forensic medical examination during a 12‐month period. Results: Significant associations were found between the likelihood of learning disability and relationship to perpetrator; location of assault; alcohol use; time taken to present to SARC; domestic violence; self‐harm; suicide attempts and mental health service involvement. Conclusions: People with learning disabilities in the sexually assaulted population are more likely to present with intersecting vulnerabilities emphasising the need for timely, accessible and appropriate patient‐centred care for this group.

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