Staff Profile
Jessica Duffy
Postgraduate Researcher and Technical Demonstrator
My PhD research focuses on investigating self-related biases in anxiety, with the end goal of developing an intervention. Specifically, I am exploring two primary aspects:
- How anxiety impacts an individual’s self-concept.
- The effectiveness of self-related interventions in reducing anxiety disorder symptomology.
My supervisors are Dr Jennifer Shevchenko, Dr Scott Cole and Professor Divine Charura. I started my PhD in February 2022. Before this, I completed a Psychology MRes (2020) and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology (2018), both at York St John University.
In my role as a technical demonstrator, I provide training on the use of specialist Psychology equipment and software. I also contribute to teaching on statistics, research methods and cognitive psychology modules.
- School – School of Education, Language and Psychology
- Email – j.duffy@yorksj.ac.uk
Further information
Research
My research interests include, but are not limited to, the relationship between anxiety and the self, and investigating ways to reduce anxiety using mental imagery techniques.
Current Projects
- Reducing Anxiety Through Positive Imagery: Exploring the Benefits of Best-Self Interventions
- The Best Possible Self Intervention: Impact of Dosage Frequency on Anxiety Symptomology
Publications and conferences
Publications
Duffy, J., Cole, S. N., Charura, D., & Shevchenko, J. (2025). Efficacy of the Best Possible Self intervention for generalised anxiety: exploration of mediators and moderators. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2025.2487442
Duffy, J., Salt, G., Cole, S. N., Charura, D., & Shevchenko, J. (2025). Anxiety and Future-Self Clarity: Can Future Thinking Influence Self-Esteem? Psychological Reports, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941251315091
Duffy, J., Cole, S., Charura, D., & Shevchenko, J. (2024). Anxiety, Self-Satisfaction and Self-Defining Events: Exploring the Inter-Related Dimensions of the Self. Identity, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/15283488.2024.2390148
Duffy, J., Cole, S.N., Charura, D., & Shevchenko, J. (2024). Depression and looming cognitive style: Examining the mediating effect of perceived control. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports. 15, 2666-9153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100698.
Forshaw, N., Laver Fawcett, A., & Duffy, J. (2023). Dancing for Well-Being Evaluation Report. https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/9900
Duffy, J., & Cole, S. N. (2021). Functions of spontaneous and voluntary future thinking: evidence from subjective ratings. Psychological Research, 85(4), 1583-1601. doi.org/10.1007/s00426-020-01338-9.
Conferences
Duffy, J., Cole, S.N., Charura, D., Shevchenko, J. (2024). Anxiety, Self-Satisfaction and Self-Defining Events: Exploring the Inter-Related Dimensions of the Self. Presented at the Autobiographical Processing and Psychopathology Conference, Leuven, 27-28th May.
Duffy, J., Salt, G., Cole, S.N., Charura, D., Shevchenko, J. (2023). Anxiety and the Clarity of Future-Self Threats: Can the Future Influence Self-Esteem? Presented at the Special Interest Conference on Future Thinking: 20 Years On, York St John University, UK, 2nd November.
Duffy, J., Cole, S.N., Charura, D., Shevchenko, J. (2023). Anxiety and Feared Possible Selves: Exploring the Characteristics and Perceived Dynamism of Future Self-Thoughts. Presented at the Special Interest Conference on Narrative Identity, Lille, France, 29th – 30th June.
Duffy, J., Cole, S.N., Charura, D., Shevchenko, J. (2022). Anxiety and Prospection. Presented at Autobiographical Memory and Psychopathology Conference, 17th-18th November.
Duffy, J., Forshaw, N., Laver-Fawcett, A. (October 2022). Dancing for Well-being: Impact of Weekly Dance Classes on Well-being of Older People. Poster presented at Eat. Sleep. Research. Repeat. Conference, York, UK.
