Staff Profile

I am a Knowledge Exchange Broker in Public Health (previously Senior Research Methodologist) within the population Health Sciences Institute with expertise in Developmental Science. I work at the interface of research, policy and practice to increase the health of the public, decrease inequalities, and promote social justice.

My research focuses on infants, children, young people and families:

• understanding and explaining physical and mental health 
• developing and evaluating complex interventions 
• research methodology for studies with these populations

I lead a programme of research focusing on first 1001 days, parent-infant relationships, public involvement through creative methods, and knowledge mobilisation.

I am a member of the PHIRST Fusion team working with local government to evaluate their public health interventions. I also have experience working in policy and practice setting relating to Family Hubs Start for Life and domestic abuse. I have held a role as a Senior Research Methodologist within the NIHR Research Design Service North East North Cumbria, as a Fellow of the UK Society for Behavioural Medicine (UKSBM), and as an Associate Editor at BMJ Paediatrics Open journal.

 https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=0183_B4AAAAJ&hl=en 

Research interests:

Parent-infant relationships

Infants, children, young people and families

Stress, disadvantage and adversity

Mental health

Public health

Social care

Knowledge mobilisation

Social determinants of health

Intervention development, evaluation and implementation

Qualitative research

Public involvement and engagement

Evidence use in local government

2024 ARTS Say from the Start - Tilly Hale award (Principal Investigator)

2020 Commissioning Infant Mental Health Services - NIHR ARC NENC (Principal Investigator)

2020 Managing Unusual Sensory Experiences: Feasibility Trial - NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (Co-applicant, Qualitative lead)



2020 Biopsychosocial factors influencing child adaptation to natural stressors - Garside Bequest (Principal Investigator)

2020 Understanding early life determinants and pathways to lifecourse multimorbidity - MRC Consolidator Award (Co-applicant)

2020 Improving lifecourse health through transdiagnostic, cross sector child health routine outcomes - GNCH Foundation (Co-applicant)

2020 Evaluation of the Best Start in Life Alliance South Tyneside Public Health - NIHR Public Health Research PHPES (Co-applicant)

2019 Can embedding the MapMe intervention, a tool to improve parental acknowledgement and understanding of childhood overweight and obesity, in the National Child Measurement Programme lead to improved long term child weight outcomes? NIHR Public Health Research (Co-applicant, Public Involvement Lead)



I have successfully co-supervised 2 PhD students and 3 Doctorate in Cinical Psychology students to completion on topics across children and young people's health and wellbeing. I am happy to be contacted by prospective PhD students interested in developmental health psychology topics. 

I have previously successfully co-supervised 2 Psychology MSc students on topics in relation to early years development and 2 Public Health and Health Services Research MSc students. I have also supervised 2 NIHR PCAFs.

I also have experience in teaching at both undergraduate and post-graduate level. I have taught Health Psychology on the Masters of Public Health programme and Qualitative Research Methods on the Masters of Pharmacy programme.

• Articles

  • Dudley R, Dodgson G, Common S, Ogundimu E, Liley J, O'Grady L, Watson F, Gibbs C, Arnott B, Fernyhough C, Alderson-Day B, Aynsworth C. Effects of a novel, brief psychological therapy (Managing Unusual Sensory Experiences) for hallucinations in first episode psychosis (MUSE FEP): Findings from an exploratory randomised controlled trial. 2024.
  • Redgate S, Spencer L, Adams EA, Arnott B, Brown H, Christie A, Hardy C, Harrison H, Kaner E, Mawson C, McGovern W, Phillips P, Rankin J, McGovern R. A realist approach to understanding alliancing within Local Government public health and social care service provision. European Journal of Public Health 2023, 33(1), 49-55.
  • Jones AR, Mann KD, Cutler LR, Pearce MS, Tovée MJ, Ells LJ, Araujo-Soares V, Arnott B, Harris JM, Adamson AJ. A Randomised Control Trial Investigating the Efficacy of the MapMe Intervention on Parental Ability to Correctly Categorise Overweight in Their Child and the Impact on Child BMI Z-Score Change at 1 Year. Children 2023, 10, 1577.
  • Lee Raby K, Verhage ML, Pasco Fearon RM, Chris Fraley R, Roisman GI, van IJzendoorn MH, Schuengel C, Madigan S, Oosterman M, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, Bernier A, Ensink K, Hautamaki A, Mangelsdorf S, Priddis LE, Wong MS, Aviezer O, Behrens KY, Brisch K-H, Cassibba R, Cassidy J, Coppola G, Costantini A, Dozier M, Duschinsky R, Ierardi E, Finger B, de Millan SG, Harder S, Hazen NL, Jin MM, Myung S, Jongenelen I, Leerkes EM, Lionetti F, Lyons-Ruth K, McMahon C, Meins E, Pace CS, Pederson DR, Crugnola CR, Sagi-Schwartz A, Schoppe-Sullivan SJ, Speranza AM, Steele H, Tarabulsy GM, Vaever MS, Ward MJ, Arnott B, Bailey H, Behringer J, Brice PJ, Castoro G, Costantino E, Cyr C, George C, Gloger-Tippelt G, Howes C, Jacobsen H, Jacobvitz D, Juffer F, Kazui M, Koppe S, Millan S, Murray L, Simonelli A, Solomon J, Steele M, Teti DM, Monique van Londen-Barentsen W. The latent structure of the adult attachment interview: Large sample evidence from the collaboration on attachment transmission synthesis. Development and Psychopathology 2022, 34(1), 307 - 319.
  • Harbottle V, Arnott B, Gale C, Rowen E, Kolehmainen N. Identifying common health indicators from paediatric core outcome sets: a systematic review with narrative synthesis using the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Health and Disability. 2022.
  • Verhage ML, Schuengel C, Holopainen A, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, Bernier A, Brown GL, Madigan S, Roisman GI, Vaever MS, Wong MS, Barone L, Behrens KY, Behringer J, Bovenschen I, Cassibba R, Cassidy J, Coppola G, Costantini A, Dozier M, Ensink K, Fearon RMP, Finger B, Hautamaki A, Hazen NL, Ierardi E, Jongenelen I, Koppe S, Lionetti F, Mangelsdorf S, Oosterman M, Pace CS, Raby KL, Crugnola CR, Simonelli A, Spangler G, Tarabulsy GM, Vaever MS, Arnott B, Bailey H, Brice PJ, Brisch K-H, Castoro G, Costantino E, Cyr C, George C, Gloger-Tippelt G, Gojman S, Harder S, Howes C, Jacobsen H, Jacobvitz D, Jin MK, Juffer F, Kazui M, Leerkes EM, Lyons-Ruth K, McMahon C, Meins E, Millan S, Murray L, Nowacki K, Pederson DR, Priddis L, Sagi-Schwartz A, Schoppe-Sullivan SJ, Solomon J, Speranza AM, Steele M, Steele H, Teti DM, van IJzendoorn MH, van Londen-Barentsen WM, Ward MJ. Conceptual comparison of constructs as first step in data harmonization: Parental sensitivity, child temperament, and social support as illustrations. MethodsX 2022, 9, 101889.
  • McSweeney L, Arnott B, Jones A, Gain G, Jenkins J, Andras A, Adamson A. Challenges and opportunities of remote public involvement and community engagement during a pandemic: refining the MapMe childhood health weight intervention. Perspectives in Public Health 2022, 142(4), 224-230.
  • Ridley E, Arnott B, Riby DM, Burt MD, Hanley M, Leekam S. The Quality of Everyday Eye Contact in Williams Syndrome: Insights from Cross-syndrome Comparisons. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 2021, 127(4), 293-312.
  • Razvi S, Arnott B, Teare D, Hiu S, OBrien N, Pearce SH. Multinational Survey of Treatment Practices of Clinicians Managing Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Older People in 2019. European Thyroid Journal 2021, 10(4), 330-338.
  • Baker R, Evans E, Fielden A, Arnott B. Healthcare professionals’ perspectives on infant feeding support in paediatric inpatients: single-centre qualitative study. BMJ Paediatrics Open 2021, 5(1), e001247.
  • Ginja S, Arnott B, Araujo-Soares V, Namdeo A, McColl E. Process evaluation of a pilot study to test the feasibility of an incentive scheme to increase active travel to school. Journal of Transport and Health 2019, 15, 100663.
  • Ginja S, Arnott B, Namdeo A, McColl E. Understanding active school travel through the Behavioural Ecological Model. Health Psychology Review 2018, 12(1), 58-74.
  • Ahern SM, Arnott B, Chatterton T, de Nazelle A, Kellar I, McEachan RRC. Understanding parents' school travel choices: A qualitative study using the Theoretical Domains Framework. Journal of Transport & Health 2017, 4, 278-293.
  • Ginja S, Arnott B, Araujo-Soares V, Namdeo A, McColl E. Feasibility of an incentive scheme to promote active travel to school: a pilot cluster randomised trial. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 2017, 3, 57.
  • Rehackova L, Arnott B, Araujo-Soares V, Adamson AJ, Taylor R, Sniehotta FF. Efficacy and acceptability of very low energy diets in overweight and obese people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review with meta-analyses. Diabetic Medicine 2016, 33(5), 580-591.
  • Brown A, Arnott B. Breastfeeding Duration and Early Parenting Behaviour: The Importance of an Infant-Led, Responsive Style. PLoS One 2014, 9(2), e83893.
  • Meins E, Fernyhough C, Arnott B, Leekam SR, de Rosnay M. Mind-Mindedness and Theory of Mind: Mediating Roles of Language and Perspectival Symbolic Play. Child Development 2013, 84(5), 1777-1790.
  • Arnott B, Brown A. An Exploration of Parenting Behaviours and Attitudes During Early Infancy: Association with Maternal and Infant Characteristics. Infant and Child Development 2013, 22(4), 349-361.
  • Meins E, Fernyhough C, deRosnay M, Arnott B, Leekam S, Turner M. Mind-Mindedness as a Multidimensional Construct: Appropriate and Nonattuned Mind-Related Comments Independently Predict Infant–Mother Attachment in a Socially Diverse Sample. Infancy 2012, 17(4), 393-415.
  • Meins E, Fernyhough C, Arnott B, Turner M, Leekam S. Mother- Versus Infant-Centered Correlates of Maternal Mind-Mindedness in the First Year of Life. Infancy 2011, 16(2), 137-165.
  • Tiffin P, Arnott B, Moore H, Summerbell C. Modelling the relationship between obesity and mental health in children and adolescents: findings from the Health Survey for England 2007. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 2011, 5(1), 31.
  • Meins E, Fernyhough C, Arnott B, Vittorini L, Turner M, Leekam S, Parkinson K. Individual Differences in Infants’ Joint Attention Behaviors with Mother and a New Social Partner. Infancy 2011, 16(6), 587-610.
  • Arnott B, McConachie H, Meins E, Fernyhough C, LeCouteur A, Turner M, Parkinson K. The frequency of restricted and repetitive behaviours in a community sample of 15-month-old infants. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics 2010, 31(3), 223-229.
  • Corriveau HC, Harris PL, Meins E, Fernyhough C, Arnott B, Elliott L, Liddle B, Hearn A, Vittorini L, DeRosnay M. Young children’s trust in their mother’s claims: Longitudinal links with attachment security in infancy. Child Development 2009, 80(3), 750-761.
  • Arnott B, Meins E. Continuity in Parental Mind-Mindedness: From the Antenatal Period to One Year Postpartum. Infant Behaviour and Development 2008, 31(4), 647-654.
  • Leekam S, Tandos J, McConachie H, Meins E, Parkinson K, Wright C, Turner M, Arnott B, Vittorini L, Le Couteur AS. Repetitive behaviours in typically developing 2-year-olds. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines 2007, 48(11), 1131-1138.
  • Arnott B, Meins E. Links Among Antenatal Attachment Representations, Postnatal Mind-Mindedness, and Infant Attachment Security: A Preliminary Study of Mothers and Fathers. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic 2007, 71(2), 132-149.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Ginja S, Arnott B, Araujo-Soares V, Namdeo A, McColl E. The RIGHT TRACKS study – feasibility of a lottery-based incentive scheme to promote active travel to school. In: 11th UKSBM Annual Scientific Conference. 2015, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • Ginja S, Arnott B, Araujo-Soares V, Namdeo A, McColl E. Process evaluation of the RIGHT TRACKS study: a feasibility test of an incentive scheme to promote active travel to school. In: 11th UKSBM Annual Scientific Conference. 2015, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • Ginja S, Arnott B, Araujo-Soares V, Namdeo A, McColl E. Development of an intervention to promote active school travel. In: 11th UKSBM Annual Scientific Conference. 2015, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
  • Arnott B, Rehackova L, Errington L, Sniehotta F, Roberts J, Araujo-Soares V. Efficacy of Behavioural Interventions for Transport Behaviour Change: A Systematic Review with Narrative Moderator Analyses. In: “Well-being, Quality of Life and Caregiving” : 27th Conference of the European Health Psychology Society. 2013, Bordeaux, France: Routledge.
  • Rehackova L, Arnott B, Adamson A, Araujo-Soares V, Sniehotta FF. Acceptability of very low energy diets in type 2 diabetic individuals: A systematic review. In: “Well-being, Quality of Life and Caregiving” : 27th Conference of the European Health Psychology Society. 2013, Bordeaux, France: Taylor & Francis.

• Review

  • Arnott B, Rehackova L, Errington L, Sniehotta FF, Roberts J, Araujo-Soares V. Efficacy of behavioural interventions for transport behaviour change: systematic review, meta-analysis and intervention coding. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2014, 11, 133.