Dr Gabriella Mutale

I am interested in applying evolutionary theory to understanding human behaviour. My PhD examined the perceptual and psychological factors involved in making judgments about bodies. This investigated how the environmental context can affect the perceived attractiveness and health of bodies using a priming paradigm to examine the effects of perceived environmental pathogen threat on body weight preferences.

I am currently a research assistant working on research in applied health settings. I have worked on several projects in the areas of young people’s mental health, mental health rehabilitation for those with enduring mental health and integrated care for adults with complex needs. I typically use mixed methodologies to gain a range of data to explore these areas. I am interested in conducting research with vulnerable populations and hard to reach groups and in using techniques to engage these populations in the research process.

A sample of my work can be found below:

Peer reviewed Publications:

2020

Mutale, G. J., De Motte, C., & Bailey, D. (2020). Using a mixed methods approach to examine the effectiveness of inpatient rehabilitation services following a programme of planned bed closures. Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health, 7, 55-65
Bailey, D., & Mutale, G. J. (2020). Can a case lead approach deliver the "craft and graft" of integration? Journal of Integrated Care. ISSN 1476-9018

2019

De Motte, C., & Mutale, G. (2019). How the construction of women in discourse explains society’s challenge in accepting females who commit sexual offences against children. Journal of Criminal Psychology. 9, 155-165
Bailey, D., Kemp, L., Wright, N., & Mutale, G. (2019). Talk About Self Harm (TASH): Participatory Action Research with young people, GPs and Practice Nurses to explore how the experiences of young people who self-harm could be improved in GP surgeries. Family Practice, 1-6 doi:10.1093/fampra/cmz006

2016

Mutale, G. J., Dunn, A. K., Stiller, J., & Larkin, R. (2016). Development and validation of a new body dissatisfaction assessment tool. New School Psychology Bulletin. 13(2), 47-57

Research reports:

2020

Bailey, D., De Motte, C., Nomikos, L., & Mutale, G. (2020). Evaluation of the You Know Your Mind Project. Research report for external body. Nottingham: Nottingham Trent University.

2018

Bailey, D., Mutale, G., & De Motte, C. (2018). Evaluation of Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation Services for Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Research report for external body. Nottingham: Nottingham Trent University.
Bailey, D., Ledgister, C., Mutale, G., & De Motte, C. (2018). Evaluation of Inclusive Services for Older Prisoners’ Project at HMP Whatton. Research report for external body. Nottingham: Nottingham Trent University.

2017

Bailey, D., Holland, D., & Mutale, G. (2017). Evaluation of the Social Care Role in Integrated Primary Care Teams for Older Adults who have Complex Needs in Nottinghamshire. Research report for external body. Nottingham: Nottingham Trent University.
Bailey, D., Mutale, G., Wilson, A., & de Coverly, E. (2017). New Cross and Broomhill Support Teams: Final Evaluation Report. Research report for external body. Nottingham: Nottingham Trent University.

Conference Presentations

2019

Bailey, D., & Mutale, G.J. (2019) Measuring the effectiveness of embedding social workers in integrated primary health care teams working with older adults with complex needs [Oral Presentation]. British Journal of General Practitioners Research Conference, 29th March 2019, Royal College of General Practitioners, London, UK

2015

Mutale, G. J., Dunn, A. K., & Stiller, J. (2015). Pathogen priming and body weight judgments [Poster Presentation]. 32nd BPS Cognitive Section Annual Conference, 1st – 3rd September 2015, University of Kent, Kent, UK

2014

Mutale, G. J., Dunn, A. K., Stiller, J., & Larkin, R. (2014). Pathogen priming affects preferences for female and male body weight [Oral Presentation]. 31st BPS Cognitive Section Annual Conference, 2nd - 5th September 2014, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

2013

Mutale, G. J., & Dunn, A. K. (2013). The presence of perceived environmental disease shifts preferences for female body weight. [Poster Presentation] BPS Cognitive and Developmental Section Annual Conference, 4th - 6th September 2013, University of Reading, Reading, UK

2012

Mutale, G. J., & Dunn, A. K. (2012). Dramatic shifts in perceived self body size of young girls following short exposure to Barbie dolls. [Poster Presentation] 29th BPS Cognitive Section Annual Conference, 29th - 31st August 2012, Glasgow, UK