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Abigail Millings

Professor Abigail Millings BSc. PhD. C.Psychol FHEA

Professor of Applied Social Psychology


Summary

I use attachment theory and behavioural science to understand how to help people to have more positive relationships with others. I also examine how digital technologies can be used to support well-being.

About

I completed my PhD on family attachment relationships at the University of East Anglia in 2008, under the supervision of Dr Judi Walsh. I was then awarded an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, to work at the University of Bristol under the mentorship of Prof Angela Rowe. During this time I co-founded the UK Attachment Network . I spent a year as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bath (2009-10), working on a Randomised Controlled Trial of group-based CBT to prevent adolescent depression. I then worked for an online CBT company (2010-2012), designing and evaluating digital mental health and well-being programs, and exploring the interface between relationships science and psychological therapies. I joined the University of Sheffield as a Lecturer in Psychology (2013-2020), where I continued to research close relationships, mental health, and technologies for well-being, and supervise PhD students. I joined 香蕉视频 as a Senior 香蕉视频 Fellow in the Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology in 2020, became Associate Professor in 2022, and then became Professor of Applied Social Psychology in 2023. I continue to research behavioural and relationship science and supervise PhD students in these areas.

 

Teaching

Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences

College of Social Sciences and Arts

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Current research projects:

Applying behavioural science to the uptake of family hubs services, Round 1 (PI, £130k) and Round 2 (Co-PI, £150k), funded by the Department for Education. These projects involve working with local authorities to develop and evaluate behavioural science informed interventions to promote the uptake of parenting  support services by underserved populations. Round 1 has concluded and findings are reported here:

Evaluating Tavistock Relationships' Mentalising-Based Therapy for Parents under Pressure (MBT-PP) (PI, £450k), funded by the Youth Endowment Fund. This project is a randomised controlled trial with internal pilot study and qualitative implementation and process evaluation. The aim is to determined whether provision of MBT-PP to families with high inter-parental conflict can improve outcomes for children and young people, via reducing inter-parental conflict. Further info, including the research protocol, can be found here:

Digital Good Network (Co-I, £4m) funded by the Economic and Social 香蕉视频 Council. This Network+ is a strategic investment in social science by ESRC to determine how we can define and work towards the good in a digital society. The network offers multiple research funding rounds and other opportunities. Please see for further info. 

Publications

Journal articles

Cadena, S.B.R., Iyer, A., Webb, T.L., & Millings, A. (2024). . Journal of Applied Social Psychology.

Wigglesworth, H., Huddy, V., Knowles, R., & Millings, A. (2023). . PLOS ONE, 18 (11).

Carnelley, K.B., Vowels, L.M., Stanton, S.C.E., Millings, A., & Hart, C.M. (2023). . Computers in Human Behavior, 147.

Vowels, L.M., Vowels, M.J., Carnelley, K.B., Millings, A., & Gibson鈥怣iller, J. (2023). . British Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Stevenson, J.C., Emerson, L.M., McKinnon, K., & Millings, A. (2022). . Psychological Reports.

Broglia, E., Millings, A., & Barkham, M. (2021). . Counselling and Psychotherapy 香蕉视频, 21 (4), 816-826.

Millings, A., Abu-Akel, A., Mattar, T., & Rowe, A. (2021). . European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12.

Stevenson, J., Millings, A., Emerson, L.M., Sirois, F., & Rowe, A. (2021). . Journal of 香蕉视频 in Personality.

Easton, K., Kellett, S., Cooper, M., Millings, A., Varela, J., & Parry, G. (2021). . JMIR Mental Health, 8 (2), e20213.

Kellett, S., Easton, K., Cooper, M., Millings, A., Simmonds-Buckley, M., & Parry, G. (2021). Correction: Evaluation of a Mobile App to Enhance Relational Awareness and Change During Cognitive Analytic Therapy: Mixed Methods Case Series. JMIR mental health, 8 (1), e27159.

Kellett, S., Easton, K., Cooper, M., Millings, A., Simmonds-Buckley, M., & Parry, G. (2020). . JMIR Mental Health, 7 (12).

Kellett, S., Easton, K., Cooper, M., Millings, A., Simmonds-Buckley, M., & Parry, G. (2020). Evaluation of a Mobile App to Enhance Relational Awareness and Change During Cognitive Analytic Therapy: Mixed Methods Case Series. JMIR mental health, 7 (12), e19888.

Simmonds-Buckley, M., Bennion, M.R., Kellett, S., Millings, A., Hardy, G.E., & Moore, R.K. (2020). . Journal of medical internet research, 22 (10), e17049.

Millings, A., Hirst, S.L., Sirois, F., & Houlston, C. (2020). . PLOS ONE, 15 (10), e0239712.

Bennion, M.R., Hardy, G.E., Moore, R.K., Kellett, S., & Millings, A. (2020). . J Med Internet Res, 22 (5), e16794.

Kellett, S., Simmonds-Buckley, M., Limon, E., Hague, J., Hughes, L., Stride, C., & Millings, A. (2020). . Behavior Therapy.

Easton, K., Kellett, S., Cooper, M., Millings, A., Varela, J., & Parry, G. (2020). Blending Cognitive Analytic Therapy With a Digital Support Tool: Mixed Methods Study Involving a User-Centered Design of a Prototype App (Preprint). .

Wilkinson, L.L., Rowe, A.C., & Millings, A. (2020). . International Journal of Obesity, 44 (2), 438-446.

Broglia, E., Millings, A., & Barkham, M. (2019). . JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 7 (8), e14318.

Houlston, C., Millings, A., Mansfield, P., & Hirst, S.L. (2019). . Family Court Review, 57 (3), 332-341.

Norman, P., Webb, T.L., Millings, A., & Pechey, L. (2019). . Translational Behavioral Medicine, 9 (6), 1122-1130.

Bennion, M.R., Hardy, G.E., Moore, R.K., Kellett, S., & Millings, A. (2019). . BMJ Health and Care Informatics, 26 (1).

Millings, A., Carnelley, K.B., Cavanagh, K., Wilderspin, A., Wiseman, H., & Rowe, A.C. (2019). Priming attachment security improves attitudes towards a range of therapies. British journal of psychology (London, England : 1953), 110 (1), 15-39.

Stevenson, J.C., Millings, A., & Emerson, L.-.M. (2019). Psychological Well-being and Coping: the Predictive Value of Adult Attachment, Dispositional Mindfulness, and Emotion Regulation. Mindfulness, 10 (2), 256-271.

Norman, P., Webb, T.L., & Millings, A. (2019). . Psychology and Health, 34 (4), 478-496.

Shearman, N., Millings, A., Carroll, D., & Rowe, A. (2019). . Schizophrenia 香蕉视频, 208, 493-495.

Cameron, D., Millings, A., Fernando, S., Collins, E.C., Moore, R., Sharkey, A., ... Prescott, T. (2018). The effects of robot facial emotional expressions and gender on child鈥搑obot interaction in a field study. Connection Science, 30 (4), 343-361.

Broglia, E., Millings, A., & Barkham, M. (2018). Challenges to addressing student mental health in embedded counselling services: a survey of UK higher and further education institutions. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 46 (4), 441-455.

Krasuska, M., Lavda, A.C., Thompson, A.R., & Millings, A. (2018). The role of adult attachment orientation and coping in psychological adjustment to living with skin conditions. The British journal of dermatology, 178 (6), 1396-1403.

Krasuska, M., Millings, A., Lavda, A.C., & Thompson, A.R. (2018). Compassion-focused self-help for skin conditions in individuals with insecure attachment: a pilot evaluation of acceptability and potential effectiveness. The British journal of dermatology, 178 (2), e122-e123.

Johnston, S.A., Krasuska, M., Millings, A., Lavda, A.C., & Thompson, A.R. (2018). Experiences of rosacea and its treatment: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. The British journal of dermatology, 178 (1), 154-160.

Stevenson, J.C., Emerson, L.-.M., & Millings, A. (2017). The Relationship Between Adult Attachment Orientation and Mindfulness: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Mindfulness, 8 (6), 1438-1455.

Broglia, E., Millings, A., & Barkham, M. (2017). Comparing counselling alone versus counselling supplemented with guided use of a well-being app for university students experiencing anxiety or depression (CASELOAD): protocol for a feasibility trial. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 3 (1).

Norman, P., Cameron, D., Epton, T., Webb, T.L., Harris, P.R., Millings, A., & Sheeran, P. (2017). . British Journal of Health Psychology, 23 (1), 108-127.

Broglia, E., Millings, A., & Barkham, M. (2017). The Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms (CCAPS-62): Acceptance, feasibility, and initial psychometric properties in a UK student population. Clinical psychology & psychotherapy, 24 (5), 1178-1188.

Bennion, M.R., Hardy, G., Moore, R.K., & Millings, A. (2017). . BMJ Open, 7 (1).

Krasuska, M., Millings, A., Lavda, A., & Thompson, A. (2016). Psychological needs and availability of psychological support for people with rosacea and psoriasis: findings from a brief survey of GPs. Dermatological Nursing.

Sirois, F.M., Millings, A., & Hirsch, J.K. (2016). Insecure attachment orientation and well-being in emerging adults: The roles of perceived social support and fatigue. Personality and Individual Differences, 101, 318-321.

Morris, J., Firkins, A., Millings, A., Mohr, C., Redford, P., & Rowe, A. (2016). Internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety and insomnia in a higher education context. Anxiety, stress, and coping, 29 (4), 415-431.

Rowe, A.C., Shepstone, L., Carnelley, K.B., Cavanagh, K., & Millings, A. (2016). Attachment Security and Self-compassion Priming Increase the Likelihood that First-time Engagers in Mindfulness Meditation Will Continue with Mindfulness Training. Mindfulness, 7 (3), 642-650.

Krasuska, M., Millings, A., Lavda, A., & Thompson, A. (2016). Dermatology patients need better access to psychological therapies - but GPs can help. Pulse 鈥 GPs magazine.

Millings, A., & Carnelley, K.B. (2015). . Journal of Affective Disorders, 186, 275-283.

Millings, A., Morris, J., Rowe, A., Easton, S., Martin, J.K., Majoe, D., & Mohr, C. (2015). Can the effectiveness of an online stress management program be augmented by wearable sensor technology? Internet Interventions, 2 (3), 330-339.

Anderson, R., Ukoumunne, O.C., Sayal, K., Phillips, R., Taylor, J.A., Spears, M., ... Stallard, P. (2014). Cost-effectiveness of classroom-based cognitive behaviour therapy in reducing symptoms of depression in adolescents: a trial-based analysis. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 55 (12), 1390-1397.

Cavanagh, K., & Millings, A. (2013). (Inter)personal Computing: The Role of the Therapeutic Relationship in E-mental Health. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 43 (4), 197-206.

Stallard, P., Phillips, R., Montgomery, A.A., Spears, M., Anderson, R., Taylor, J., ... Sayal, K. (2013). A cluster randomised controlled trial to determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of classroom-based cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in reducing symptoms of depression in high-risk adolescents. Health technology assessment (Winchester, England), 17 (47), vii-109.

Phillips, R., Spears, M.R., Montgomery, A.A., Millings, A., Sayal, K., & Stallard, P. (2013). Could a brief assessment of negative emotions and self-esteem identify adolescents at current and future risk of self-harm in the community? A prospective cohort analysis. BMC public health, 13, 604.

Millings, A., Walsh, J., Hepper, E., & O'Brien, M. (2013). Good partner, good parent: responsiveness mediates the link between romantic attachment and parenting style. Personality & social psychology bulletin, 39 (2), 170-180.

Lockwood, P., Millings, A., Hepper, E., & Rowe, A.C. (2013). If I Cry, Do You Care? Journal of Individual Differences, 34 (1), 41-47.

Hall, N.R., Millings, A., & Bou莽as, S.B. (2012). Adult Attachment Orientation and Implicit Behavioral Mimicry. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 36 (4), 235-247.

Stallard, P., Sayal, K., Phillips, R., Taylor, J.A., Spears, M., Anderson, R., ... Montgomery, A.A. (2012). Classroom based cognitive behavioural therapy in reducing symptoms of depression in high risk adolescents: pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 345, e6058.

Rosenthal, H.E.S., Walsh, J., Crisp, R.J., Farrow, C.V., Waugh, M.J., Blissett, J., & Millings, A. (2012). Attachment anxiety and friendship group identification under attachment threat: The moderating role of priming support network expectations. Personality and Individual Differences, 53 (5), 562-567.

Millings, A., Buck, R., Montgomery, A., Spears, M., & Stallard, P. (2012). School connectedness, peer attachment, and self-esteem as predictors of adolescent depression. Journal of adolescence, 35 (4), 1061-1067.

Notley, C., Scaife, V., O'brien, M., Mceune, R., Biggart, L., & Millings, A. (2012). Vulnerable young people and substance-use information-seeking: perceived credibility of different information sources and implications for services. Journal of Substance Use, 17 (2), 163-175.

Stallard, P., Montgomery, A.A., Araya, R., Anderson, R., Lewis, G., Sayal, K., ... Taylor, J.A. (2010). Protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a school based cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) intervention to prevent depression in high risk adolescents (PROMISE). Trials, 11, 114.

MILLINGS, A., & WALSH, J. (2009). A dyadic exploration of attachment and caregiving in long鈥恡erm couples. Personal Relationships, 16 (3), 437-453.

Scaife, V., O'Brien, M., McEune, R., Notley, C., Millings, A., & Biggart, L. (2009). Vulnerable young people and substance misuse: expanding on the risk and protection鈥恌ocused approach using social psychology. Child Abuse Review, 18 (4), 224-239.

Cavanagh, K., & Millings, A. (n.d.). Increasing engagement with computerised cognitive behavioural therapies. ICST Transactions on Ambient Systems, 13 (2), e3.

Millings, A., Hepper, E.G., Hart, C.M., Swift, L., & Rowe, A.C. (n.d.). Holding Back the Tears: Individual Differences in Adult Crying Proneness Reflect Attachment Orientation and Attitudes to Crying. Frontiers in Psychology, 7.

Conference papers

(2018). Abstract 2018. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 25 (S1), 1-219.

Cameron, D., Fernando, S., Collins, E.C., Millings, A., Szollosy, M., Moore, R., ... Prescott, T. (2017). You Made Him Be Alive: Children鈥檚 Perceptions of Animacy in a Humanoid Robot. In Lecture Notes in Computer Science, (pp. 73-85). Springer International Publishing:

Cameron, D., Fernando, S., Cowles-Naja, E., Perkins, A., Collins, E., Millings, A., ... Prescott, T. (2017). Children鈥檚 Age Influences Their Use of Biological and Mechanical Questions Towards a Humanoid. In Lecture Notes in Computer Science, (pp. 290-299). Springer International Publishing:

Cameron, D., Fernando, S., Millings, A., Szollosy, M., Collins, E., Moore, R., ... Prescott, T. (2016). Congratulations, It鈥檚 a Boy! Bench-Marking Children鈥檚 Perceptions of the Robokind Zeno-R25. In Lecture Notes in Computer Science, (pp. 33-39). Springer International Publishing:

Cameron, D., Fernando, S., Millings, A., Szollosy, M., Collins, E., Moore, R., ... Prescott, T. (2016). Designing Robot Personalities for Human-Robot Symbiotic Interaction in an Educational Context. In Lecture Notes in Computer Science, (pp. 413-417). Springer International Publishing:

Thompson, A., Krasuska, M., Millings, A., & Lavda, A. (2016). The effects of attachment style on coping with visible skin conditions and responsiveness to a compassion based self-help intervention. In British Association of Dermatologists.

Cameron, D., Fernando, S., Collins, E., Millings, A., Moore, R., Sharkey, A., & Prescott, T. (2016). Impact of robot responsiveness and adult involvement on children's social behaviours in human-robot interaction. AISB Annual Convention 2016, AISB 2016.

Cameron, D., Fernando, S., Millings, A., Moore, R., Sharkey, A., & Prescott, T. (2015). Children鈥檚 Age Influences Their Perceptions of a Humanoid Robot as Being Like a Person or Machine. In Lecture Notes in Computer Science, (pp. 348-353). Springer International Publishing:

(2015). Psychodermatology U.K. British Journal of Dermatology, 173, 200-208.

Cameron, D., Fernando, S., Collins, E., Millings, A., Moore, R., Sharkey, A., ... Prescott, T. (2015). Presence of life-like robot expressions influences children's enjoyment of human-robot interactions in the field. AISB Convention 2015.

Wood, N., Sharkey, A., Mountain, G., & Millings, A. (2015). The paro robot seal as a social mediator for healthy users. AISB Convention 2015.

Easton, S., Mohr, C., Millings, A., Morris, J., & Rowe, A.C. (2014). Relationships between dispositional attachment orientation and trait schizotypy remain stable over a 4-week period of stress, with or without stress management intervention. Personality and Individual Differences, 60, S68.

Collins Emily C., , Millings Abigail, , & Prescott Tony J., (2013). Attachment to Assistive Technology: A New Conceptualisation. In Assistive Technology 香蕉视频 Series. IOS Press:

Book chapters

Millings, A., & Collins, E.C. (2018). Human relationships with living machines. Oxford University Press:

Collins, E.C., & Prescott, T.J. (2014). Individual Differences and Biohybrid Societies. In Lecture Notes in Computer Science. (pp. 374-376). Springer International Publishing:

Reports

Arden, M., Humphreys, H., Wilcockson, H., Paddock, D., Thorneloe, R., Rutkauskas, L., & Millings, A. (2024). . UK Government Social 香蕉视频.

Millings, A., Wilcockson, H., Clarke, E., Lamb, M., Humphreys, H., Paddock, D., ... Coldwell, M. (2022). Applying behavioural science to promoting uptake of family hubs services 香蕉视频 report. (1284). Department for Education.

Millings, A., Wilcockson, H., Clarke, E., Lamb, M., Humphreys, H., Paddock, D., ... Coldwell, M. (2022). Applying behavioural science to promoting uptake of family hubs services 香蕉视频 report summary. Department for Education.

Millings, A., Wilcockson, H., Harris-Evans, J., Thorneloe, R., Arden, M., & Coldwell, M. (2021). A Behavioural Insights Project: testing what works to increase the reach and take-up of family hub services by disadvantaged and vulnerable families - Logic Models and Linked 香蕉视频 Protocols.

Millings, A., Wilcockson, H., Harris-Evans, J., Thorneloe, R., Arden, M., & Coldwell, M. (2021). A Behavioural Insights Project: testing what works to increase the reach and take-up of family hub services by disadvantaged and vulnerable families - Recommendations Report.

Jordan, C., Millings, A., & Arden, M. (2021). Examining Barriers and Facilitators to Electric Car Purchase and Confidence in Charging Capabilities in Sheffield and Rotherham. 香蕉视频, Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology.

Millings, A., Clarke, E., Thorneloe, R., & Arden, M. (2021). Be Well DoncasterReport on final co-design workshop with community members.

Millings, A., Thorneloe, R., & Arden, M. (2021). Evaluation of Be Well Service for Doncaster CouncilProject Protocol.

Millings, A., Thorneloe, R., Brown, C., Lamb, M., Macaskill, A., & Arden, M. (2020). Be Well DoncasterInterim Report on co-design with stakeholders and community members.

Internet Publications

Millings, A., Walsh, J., & Rowe, A. (2016). Do mothers really have stronger bonds with their children than fathers do?

Presentations

Millings, A. (2022). Online interventions for improving student mental health. Presented at: Applying Relationships Science to Contemporary Interventions Seminar Series, Norwich

Millings, A., Hirst, S., Sirois, F., & Houlston, C. (2021). Moving on to work together: measuring and supporting separating parents鈥 Emotional Adaptation to Relationship Dissolution. Presented at: Swansea University Department of Psychology Seminar Series

Millings, A., Hirst, S., Sirois, F., & Houlston, C. (2020). Emotional Adaptation to Relationship Dissolution: A new conceptual model and measure. Presented at: SHU PSP 香蕉视频 Conference

Millings, A. (2019). Behavioural outcomes of Emotional Readiness and future research agenda. Presented at: International Association for Relationships 香蕉视频, Brighton

Millings, A., Wigglesworth, H., & Knowles, R. (2019). Carrying and maternal well-being. Presented at: UK Attachment Network, Bristol

Millings, A., Stevenson, J., & Emerson, L. (2016). Attachment and mindfulness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Presented at: Applying Relationships Science to Contemporary Interventions Seminar Series, Bristol

Stevenson, J., Millings, A., & Emerson, L. (2016). The relationship between attachment security and mindfulness: a systematic review. Presented at: International Conference on Mindfulness, Rome

Millings, A. (2014). Will this Therapy Help Me or Harm Me? Attachment Orientation and Attitudes towards Different Kinds of Therapies. Presented at: Clinical Psychology Seminar Series, University of Sheffield, Sheffield

Millings, A. (2009). An Introduction to dyadic analysis: The APIM applied to family relationships. Presented at: ESRC-funded seminar: Contemporary Developments in Qualitative and Quantitative Social Work 香蕉视频 Methods, Birmingham

Millings, A. (2008). Does being a better partner mean being a better parent? Messages from across-sectional study of 125 families. Presented at: Seminar funded by the Department of Children, Schools and Families, London

Millings, A. (2008). Does being a better partner mean being a better parent? Messages from across-sectional study of 125 families.

Millings, A. (2007). The influence of the couple relationship on parenting: An adult attachment perspective. Presented at: NCH Regional Conference, Norwich

Datasets

Wilkinson, L.L., Rowe, A.C., & Millings, A. (2019). Disorganized attachment predicts body mass index via uncontrolled eating..

Postgraduate supervision

Current PhD students: 

Laurynas Rutkauskas: Attachment, emotion regulation, and help-seeking
Sebastian O’dell: Attachment, social comparison, and jealousy 
Dominika Tkacova: Attachment, mindfulness, and coping

Completed PhD students:

2022: Belle Rosales Cadena: Understanding the relationship between self-compassion and body dissatisfaction
2019: Jodie Stevenson: The relationship between adult attachment orientation and mindfulness and their role in student psychological well-being.  
2018: Matthew Bennion: Technology for healthy aging and wellbeing.  
2018: Aini Azeqa B Ma'rof: Intergroup contact and empathy.
2018: Emma Broglia: A feasibility trial of the effectiveness and impact of counselling in universities and/or colleges of further education.  
2017: Sally Easton: Building psychological resilience through bio-feedback psychoeducation and coping skill training. 
2016: Christian Beyle: Learning with computers: key cognitive aspects to improve its effectiveness.
2016: Emily Collins: Towards robot-assisted therapy: identifying mechanisms of effect in human-biomimetic robot interaction.
 
Completed Doctorate in Clinical Psychology trainees:

2021 Charlotte Heathcote: Exploring the effects of attachment security priming on factors relevant to mental health and wellbeing.
2020 Helen Wigglesworth: Mother-infant close body contact and maternal wellbeing: Exploring current literature and the feasibility of a sling study.
2017: Nathan Shearman: Attachment, executive function, and schizotypy. 
2017 Rebecca Barnes: Mindfulness in clinical psychology trainees.
2015: Leanne Woodward: The relationship between adult attachment and psychological distress: An investigation into the role of attention to threat.

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