Simon Hunter

Professor Hunter's research takes place at the intersection between mental health and developmental psychology, and applies theoretical models of stress and coping within a social ecological framework to understand the psychological and social wellbeing of children and young people. At GCU, he leads the Child and Adolescent Heath research group, and he is an Associate Editor at both Stigma and Health and the International Journal of Bullying Prevention.

His work has included extensive empirical study of the experiences of peer-victimisation and violence reduction. He has collaborated with Scotland's anti-bullying service RespectMe and with Police Scotland's Violence Reduction Unit on this work. Professor Hunter's work has also focused on young people's electronic screen use, including a world-leading longitudinal cohort study of associations in the fields of psychological and social wellbeing conducted in collaboration with Professor Stephen Houghton at the University of Western Australia. Also with Professor Houghton, he is currently involved in three separate project relating to loneliness among children and young people, including the development of a gamified prevention programme and exploring the trajectories of loneliness among young people with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Working closely with the Mental Health Foundation, Prof Hunter is involved in issues surrounding children and young people's mental health, including mental health stigma experiences of adolescents, how these can be assessed, and how they relate to peer-victimisation. PhD students Rebecca Johnson and Rachel Taylor are undertaking PhDs on these topics part-funded by the MHF.

Across his research portfolio, Professor Hunter's work speaks to a number of WHO development goals including good health and wellbeing, gender equality, and peace, justice and strong institutions. He is committed to a research and teaching ethos which aligns with GCU's values and behaviours.