Dr Lee Shepherd

Assistant Professor

School: Psychology

I completed my BSc in Applied Psychology and my MSc in Social Science Research methods at Cardiff University. In 2011, I completed an ESRC funded PhD at Cardiff University, assessing the role of (anticipated) emotions in promoting prosocial intergroup behaviour. I subsequently worked as a Research Fellow at the University of Stirling, before coming to Northumbria University.

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Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

My research focuses on the role of emotions on human behaviour. I have looked at the role of emotions on group-processes (e.g., discrimination and colleactive action) and health-related behaviours (e.g., organ donation, human milk donation, breastfeeding, sexual health screening, cervical screening). In addition, I look at people's emotional response to experiencing discrimination. I also undertake research looking at how emotions and group processes influence psychological well-being.

Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
It’s not Fine Online: Assessing the Emotional Consequences of Online Sexual Objectification and its Effect on Behaviour, Shepherd, L., Dewing, V. 1 Oct 2025, In: Sex Roles
The Fear Factor: Examining the Impact of Fear on Vaccine Hesitancy and Anti-Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs, Jolley, D., Shepherd, L., Maughan, A. 2 Dec 2025, In: Psychology & Health
The Role of Moral-Outrage, Shame-Based Emotions, Fear and Pride in Predicting Self-Objectification, Personal Safety Concerns, and Loneliness following Sexual Objectification, Shepherd, L., Coakley, M., Edge, C. 1 Jul 2025, In: Journal of Applied Social Psychology
Assessing the Influence of Affective Attitudes, Demography and Blood Donor Status on Organ Donor Registration Active Decisions in Opt-Out Systems, Shepherd, L., O'Carroll, R., Ferguson, E. 1 Jul 2024, In: Journal of Health Psychology
Consequences of arbitrary binning the midpoint category in survey data: an illustration with student satisfaction in the National Student Survey, Pollet, T., Bilalic, M., Shepherd, L. 1 Nov 2024, In: Studies in Higher Education
Determinants of Routine Cervical Screening Participation in Underserved Women: A Qualitative Systematic Review, Wearn, A., Shepherd, L. 1 Feb 2024, In: Psychology & Health
Assessing the Factors that Influence the Donation of a Deceased Family Member’s Organs in an Opt-Out System for Organ Donation, Shepherd, L., O’Carroll, R., Ferguson, E. 1 Jan 2023, In: Social Science & Medicine
Do I Say or Let it Go? Emotions Predict How People Respond to Receiving Sexual Objectification at Work, Shepherd, L., Mouter, O., Elsey, V., Lovell, B. 1 Apr 2023, In: Sex Roles: A Journal of Research
Assessing medical mistrust in organ donation across countries using item response theory, Ghoshal, A., O’Carroll, R., Ferguson, E., Shepherd, L., Doherty, S., Mathew, M., Morgan, K., Doyle, F. 1 Oct 2022, In: Journal of Health Psychology
Subscales in the National Student Survey (NSS): Some considerations on their structure, Pollet, T., Shepherd, L. 21 Oct 2022, In: Journal of Further and Higher Education

PGR Supervision

Kevin Stoodley An investigation into the impact of a UK school-based social norms intervention to address young peoples’ (aged 13-15 years) risk taking behaviours associated with alcohol and sexual activity. Start Date: 01/10/2013
Anna Maughan Emotion-based processes and medical conspiracy theories: Investigating the association between emotions, medical conspiracy beliefs and health-intentions. Start Date: 31/01/2022 End Date: 09/10/2025
Amy Sorrell Keen on Green: Working with residents to develop interventions for promoting biodiversity in urban green space Start Date: 01/10/2024