I am a developmental behavioural psychologist with a strong applied focus and international outlook.

Brigantia 209, Penrallt Rd

Office ext 3107

Mob +44 (0)7984 090803

Presently I am the module organiser and lecturer on

PPP-4014 Topics in Child Health and Wellbeing postgraduate Masters module

PPP-3015 Psychophysiology of Eating undergraduate Year 3 module

PPP-2012 Developmental Psychology undergraduate Year 2 module

I am supervising PhD, Masters, and Undergraduate research projects in several areas of developmental, behavioural, and applied psychology research.

I welcome PhD applications from international students.

My research interests are varied. These are some of the ongoing research projects in my lab.

In collaboration with Conwy Council school caterers, we have been conducting a series of studies to implement positive changes in dining rooms of local primary schools. This type of intervention may be a cheap alternative to complex interventions in schools. It can also be an effective healthy eating maintenance measure that schools can implement themselves. Collaborators on this project include Dr Ellie Marcano-Olivier (Birmingham City University) and Dr Simon Viktor (Bangor).

In another project, we have been exploring determinants of health and wellbeing in 8-11 year old children with Type 1 diabetes and their healthy counterparts in Kuwait. Children with Type 1 diabetes and their families often struggle and can experience poor mental health and lifestyle changes in response to their illness. This is likely to be exacerbated under the hardship of the pandemic. This project is supported by PhD funding provided by Kuwait Ministry of Health to Afrah Alazmi. Collaboratior: Dr Simon Viktor (Bangor).

Poor social support and lifestyle are linked to poor mental health in pregnancy, but these factors have seldom been explored in a culturally sensitive manner. We are presently investigating the experiences of women in Kuwait, at the time of the global pandemic, using qualitative research methodology. This project is supported by PhD funding provided by Kuwait Ministry of Education to Mona Almutawtah. Collaborators include Dr Hans-Peter Kubis (Bangor) and Emma Campbell (Bangor).

In collaboration with Coed Lleol, we are investigating whether wodland environment activities could support families with pre-school children to make better nutritional choices. This project is supported by KESS II funding for Masters by Research. The research team includes Ramiga Kirupaikkumaran (KESS scholar), Dr Natasha Simons (Coed Lleol), and Dr Simon Viktor (Bangor).

My other project include

Supporting early detection and intervention for children with developmental delays and disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in colleaboration with EDUS (NGO), UNICEF, and Dr Nirvana Pistoljevic (Columbia University).

Teaching children to enjoy eating their fruit and vegetables (Food Dudes) and engaging in physical activity (Dynamic Dudes): I have been especially interested in application of the healtyhy eating interventions in special schools and with children diagnosed with autism. Collaborators include Prof Pauline Horne (Bangor), Dr Simon Viktor (Bangor) and Dr Catherine Sharp (Bristol).

2022

• PublishedExploring the determinants of mental health, wellbeing, and lifestyle in 8–11 year old children with type 1 diabetes and their healthy counterparts in Kuwait
  Alazmi, A., Viktor, S. & Erjavec, M., 12 Dec 2022, In: PLoS ONE. 17, 12, 19 p., 0272948.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2021

• PublishedChanges in the nutritional content of children's lunches after the Food Dudes healthy eating programme
  Marcano Olivier, E., Sallaway-Costello, J., McWilliams, L., Horne, P., Viktor, S. & Erjavec, M., 10 Aug 2021, In: Journal of Nutritional Science. 10, 10 p., e40.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedNudge with caution: targeting fruit and vegetable consumption in primary schools
  Erjavec, M., Williams, S., Viktor, S. & Marcano Olivier, E., Apr 2021, In: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 75, 4, p. 724-727
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2020

• PublishedUsing Nudges to Promote Healthy Food Choices in the School Dining Room: A Systematic Review of Previous Investigations
  Marcano-Olivier, M., Viktor, S., Horne, P. & Erjavec, M., Feb 2020, In: Journal of School Health. 90, 2, p. 143-157 15 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

2019

• PublishedA low-cost Behavioural Nudge and choice architecture intervention targeting school lunches increases children’s consumption of fruit: a cluster randomised trial
  Marcano-Olivier, M., Pearson, R., Ruparell, A., Horne, P., Viktor, S. & Erjavec, M., Dec 2019, In: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 16, 1, 9 p., 20.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedMeasuring Lunchtime Consumption in School Cafeterias Using Digital Images: A Validation Study
  Marcano-Olivier, M., Erjavec, M., Horne, P. J., Viktor, S. & Pearson, R., Jul 2019, In: Public Health Nutrition. 22, 10, p. 1745-1754
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2017

• PublishedEvaluation of the Super Dynamic Food Dudes Intervention for 3 – 4 year old Children at School.
  Sharp, C., Horne, P., Lowe, C. & Erjavec, M., Apr 2017.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• PublishedEvaluation of the Super Dynamic Food Dudes Intervention for 3–4 year old Children at School.
  Sharp, C., Horne, P., Lowe, C., Erjavec, M. & Mackintosh, K., 16 Nov 2017.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
• PublishedSuper Dynamic Food Dudes: Increasing pre-school children's consumption of fruit and vegetables and their levels of physical activity
  Sharp, C., Horne, P., Lowe, C., Erjavec, M. & Mackintosh, K., 26 Oct 2017.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
• PublishedValidation of the Fitbit Zip® as a Measure of Pre-school Children’s Step Count: A Cross-Sectional Study.
  Sharp, C., Mackintosh, K., Erjavec, M., Pascoe, D. & Horne, P., 11 Oct 2017, In: BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine. 2017, 3, e000272.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedValidity and reliability of the Fitbit Zip as a measure of pre-school children’s step count
  Sharp, C., Mackintosh, K., Erjavec, M., Pascoe, D. & Horne, P., 16 Nov 2017.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

2016

• PublishedOutcomes of a Comparison Study into a Group-Based Infant Parenting Programme
  Jones, C., Erjavec, M., Viktor, S. & Hutchings, J., 2016, In: Journal of Child and Family Studies. p. 1-13
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2015

• PublishedIn memoriam: C. Fergus Lowe 1946–2014
  Erjavec, M., Horne, P., Hughes, C. & Sharp, C., 17 Sep 2015, In: Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior. 104, 2, p. 93-95
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2014

• PublishedThe Parent Infant Play Observation code (PIPOc): development and testing of a new positive parenting measure
  Hutchings, J. M., Jones, C. H., Hutchings, J., Erjavec, M. & Viktor, S., 10 Nov 2014, In: Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 32
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2012

• PublishedImplementing a healthy eating programme: changing children's eating habits for life
  Erjavec, M., Viktor, S., Horne, P. & Lowe, F., 1 Apr 2012, In: Community Practitioner. 85, 4, p. 39-40
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedParent and group leader refelctions on a group-based programme for parents and babies
  Jones, C., Hutchings, J., Erjavec, M. & Hughes, J., Nov 2012, In: Community Practitioner. 85, 11, p. 26-29
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedValidation of food diaries as measures of dietary behaviour change
  Pears, S. L., Jackson, M. C., Bertenshaw, E. J., Horne, P. J., Lowe, C. F. & Erjavec, M., 1 Jun 2012, In: Appetite. 58, 3, p. 1164-1168
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2011

• PublishedComprehension and production of body part labels in 2 to 3-year-old children.
  Camoes-Costa, V., Erjavec, M. & Horne, P. J., 1 Sep 2011, In: British Journal of Development Psychology. 29, 3, p. 552-571
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedIncreasing pre-school children's consumption of fruit and vegetables. A modelling and rewards intervention.
  Horne, P., Greenhalgh, J., Erjavec, M., Lowe, F., Viktor, S. & Whitaker, C. J., 1 Apr 2011, In: Appetite. 56, 2, p. 375-385
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedRapid word learning in 13- and 17-month olds in a naturalistic two-word procedure: looking versus reaching measures.
  Gurteen, P. M., Horne, P. J. & Erjavec, M., 1 Jun 2011, In: Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. 109, 2, p. 201-217
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedThe impact of body-part naming training on the accuracy of imitative performances in 2- to 3-year old children.
  Camoes-Costa, V., Erjavec, M. & Horne, P. J., 1 Nov 2011, In: Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. 96, 3, p. 291-315
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2009

• PublishedDo infants show generalized imitation of gestures? II: The effects of skills training and multiple exemplar matching training
  Erjavec, M., Lovett, V. E. & Horne, P. J., 1 May 2009, In: Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. 91, 3, p. 355-376
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedThe effects of modelling, local stimulus enhancement, and affordance demonstration on the production of object-directed actions in 6-month-old infants
  Horne, P. J., Erjavec, M. & Lovett, V., 1 Jun 2009, In: British Journal of Development Psychology. 27, 2, p. 269-281
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2008

• PublishedDeterminants of imitation of hand-to-body gestures in 2-and 3-year-old children
  Erjavec, M. & Horne, P. J., 1 Mar 2008, In: Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. 89, 2, p. 183-207
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2007

• PublishedDo infants show generalized imitation of gestures?
  Horne, P. J. & Erjavec, M., 1 Jan 2007, In: Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. 87, 1, p. 63-87
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

• KESS II MRes with Coed Lleol BUK2215

  01/09/2020 – 14/09/2022 (Finished)

• KESS II PhD upgrade Project with TBA

  01/10/2015 – 28/02/2020 (Finished)

  Links:

  • http://caer.bangor.ac.uk/