Dr Kathryn McGuigan staff profile picture

Contact details +6492136115

Dr Kathryn McGuigan Mas, PhD

Senior Lecturer

Doctoral Supervisor
School of Psychology

I am a qualitative researcher and a co-founder of Diverseminds@Massey which is a group of neurodivergent staff and students and allies. I am inspired by lived experience led research and love methods that help disrupt the everday including arts based methods and leading from diverse perspectives. 

Kathryn is within the health psychology team and teaches Social and health psychology. Kathryn's main interests lie within the area of health psychology, gender and health, food and disordered eating and social aspects of health. I am particularly interested in neurodivergence, disability and rainbow research. 

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Professional

Qualifications

  • Masters of Science - Massey University (2013)
  • Doctor of Philosophy - Massey University (2019)

Certifications and Registrations

  • Licence, Supervisor, Massey University

Research Expertise

Research Interests

I am interesting in researching within the areas of health psychology, critical disability studies and gender and food. I am involved in research projects of chronic illness including endometriosis, disability, ASD, and eating disorders. I also have interests in the areas of medications, pharmacies and natural and complementary medicines and their role in health and illness. I am particularly interesting in exploring gender and its impact on health and illness. I also am interested in food as a social construct including disordered eating. I like using creative qualitative methods and my passion is for doing research that would have the potential to change health delivery, health outcomes and understandings of the interesections of health and society. 

Thematics

Health and Well-being

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Gender Psychology (170105): Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology (170106): Psychological Methodology, Design and Analysis (170110): Psychology (170100): Psychology And Cognitive Sciences (170000): Social and Community Psychology (170113)

Keywords

Health, creative qualitative research methods, gender, food, chronic illness, well-being. 

Research Outputs

Journal

Mappledoram, M., Blake, D., McGuigan, K., & Hodgetts, D. (2024). ‘It's a sanity restorer’: Narcotics anonymous (NA) as recovery capital during COVID-19 in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology. 34(2)
[Journal article]Authored by: Hodgetts, D., McGuigan, K.
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LaMarre, A., McGuigan, KA., & Lewthwaite, M. (2023). Listening, learning, caring: Exploring assemblages of, ethics of and pathways to care for avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Medical Humanities. 49(4), 631-640
[Journal article]Authored by: McGuigan, K.
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Blake, D., Thompson, J., Chamberlain, K., & McGuigan, K. (2022). Accessing primary healthcare during COVID-19: health messaging during lockdown. Kotuitui. 17(1), 101-115
[Journal article]Authored by: McGuigan, K.
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11
McGuigan, K. (2020). Home is where the hurt is: Media depictions of wives and mothers Sara Hosey. Feminism and Psychology. 31(2), 302-306Retreived from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0959353520958906
[Book Review]Authored by: McGuigan, K.
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Chamberlain, K., McGuigan, K., Anstiss, D., & Marshall, K. (2018). A change of view: arts-based research and psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 15(2-3), 131-139
[Journal article]Authored by: McGuigan, K.
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Teo, M., Guilfoyle, MR., Kirkpatrick, PJ., Turner, CL., Murray, GD., Hutchinson, PJ., . . . Lewis, S. (2017). What Factors Determine Treatment Outcome in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in the Modern Era? A Post Hoc STASH Analysis. World Neurosurgery. 105, 270-281
[Journal article]Authored by: McGuigan, K.
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McGuigan, KA., Legget, JA., & Horsburgh, M. (2015). Visiting the museum together: Evaluating a programme at Auckland Museum for people living with dementia and their carers. Arts and Health. 7(3), 261-270
[Journal article]Authored by: McGuigan, K.
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Book

Riley, S., McGuigan, K., Brittain, E., Terry, G., Kora, A., Healy-Cullen, S., . . . Baken, D. (Eds.) (2025). Critical Health Psychology: Foundations, Approaches and Applications. Palmerston North, New Zealand: Massey University
[Edited Book]Edited by: Baken, D., Brittain, E., McGuigan, K., Riley, S., Terry, G., Van Ommen, C.
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Chamberlain, K., & McGuigan, K. (2019). Timelining. In P. Atkinson, S. Delamont, A. Cernat, JW. Sakshaug, & RA. Williams (Eds.) SAGE Research Methods Foundations. Online: SAGE Publications Ltd
[Chapter]Authored by: McGuigan, K.Contributed to by: McGuigan, K.
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Thesis

McGuigan, KA. (2018). Producing community pharmacy: complex performances in a hybrid space: a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand. (Doctoral Thesis, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand) McGuigan, KA. (2018). Producing community pharmacy: complex performances in a hybrid space: a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand. (Doctoral Thesis)
[Doctoral Thesis]Authored by: McGuigan, K.
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McGuigan, K. (2012). The role of mothers in family health. (Master's Thesis)
[Masters Thesis]Authored by: McGuigan, K.

Conference

Taylor, J., Gordon, S., McGuigan, K., Cooper, G., Meek, R., Zimmerman, H., . . . Ryan, J. (2025, August). Lived/living experience of mental distress in clinical psychology research, teaching, and practice. Presented at New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists Conference 2025: Kia Piri, Kia Tata – Nekeneke Mai Draw Near, Come Close – Take Action!. University of Otago, Ōtepoti/Dunedin, New Zealand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: McGuigan, K., Taylor, J.Contributed to by: Taylor, J.
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Teaching and Supervision

Teaching Statement

My teaching style is inclusive, open and engaging. I am passionate about social, health and critical psychology. 

Contact Supervisor

Graduate Supervision Statement

I prefer a collaborative approach to supervision. I enjoy working with diverse styles of learning and I am an ally for neurodivergent learners. I am passionate about student well-being and am an active supervisor. 


Dr Kathryn McGuigan is available for Masters and Doctorial supervision.

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Main Supervisor 5 0
Co-supervisor 8 3

Current Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

  • Shanti Hamilton - Doctor of Philosophy
    Medically split, Humanly One: an IPA exploration into Women University students in the Humanities and Social sciences navigating ADHD and Immune-mediated illness
  • Alex Best - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
    Analysis of Connection and Joy in Conversations Between Women with ADHD
  • Anastasia Greenwood-Boot - Doctor of Philosophy
    Making sense of becoming an adult through the lens of a late autism diagnosis: what does this reveal about the misunderstood traits of autism for women. 
  • Yeseul Kim - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
    Understanding disability, housing accessibilities and mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Micah Rillstone - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
    How do tertiary students with ADHD experience engagement in their studies?

Co-supervisor of:

  • Dorian Katavich - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
    Fine-tuning Artificial Intelligence to support youth CBT therapy in Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Grey Woods - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
    Fostering caregiver acceptance to improve wellbeing for transgender youth in Aotearoa
  • Ruby Meek - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
    Involvement of individuals with lived experience of mental distress in the teaching of accredited psychology programs across Australia and New Zealand
  • Alannah Woolford - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
    Midlife Women’s Experience's with Eating Distress and their Help Seeking Journey.
  • Hester Roberts - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
    What Am I Worth? Lifespan Structures and Older Men’s Stories of Self-Worth in Depression
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  • Melinda Lewthwaite - Doctor of Philosophy
    Exploring Assemblages of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Dietary Practices and Disordered Eating / Eating Disorders.
  • Leigh Gorringe - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
    Experiencing psychological distress and barriers to help-seeking: Perspectives of former police officers
  • Hannah Zimmerman - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
    Exploring student perspectives of Expert by Experience involvement in Clinical Psychology Training using a story completion method

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Co-supervisor of:

  • 2025 - Jessie Dennis - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
    Bridging the gap between social justice theory and practice: Addressing sociopolitical context in trauma therapy with survivors.
  • 2025 - Matthew Peacock - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
    “Why Aren’t you Crying More?”: Young New Zealand Men Talk Mental Health in a Shifting Climate of Masculinities
  • 2023 - Olivia Jennison - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
    ‘A Permanent Scar’: Exploring the Long-Term Experiences of Parents/ Caregivers after their Child’s Cancer Treatment

Media and Links

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