Dr Katarzyna Kostyrka-Allchorne

Lecturer In Psychology
School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Digital parenting interventions, Adolescent mental health, Digital activity, Child development
Interests
Katarzyna is a developmental psychologist researching risks and opportunities of growing up in a digital world. Her current research cuts across the disciplines of child and adolescent development, mental health, clinical interventions, and human-computer interactions and has two main strands.First, she examines whether digital interventions can provide a solution to the growing problem of the lack of psychological support for parents, who may have a difficult time bringing up their children. Within this strand, she works with parents, clinicians, app developers and other researchers on developing and testing digital applications supporting parents both in the community as well as in the clinical services.
Second, her research investigates whether, why and for whom digital engagement is a risk or protective factor for mental health. This strand of research aims to provide a comprehensive characterisation of the associations between adolescent digital activity and mental health and identify some of their underpinning mechanisms.
Publications
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Brain and Behaviour2026
Assessing key mental health-related lifestyle behaviours and experiences in a single scale: a validation of the Personal Experiences in Everyday Life (PEEL) questionnaireTang P Kostyrka-Allchorne K Murray A Stoilova M Azeri E Livingstone S Sonuga-Barke E
Bmc Pediatrics, Springer Nature
30-03-2026
‘Digital Insight and Agency Scale’ (DIAS): A Novel Tool to Illuminate Young People's Agency in Mitigating the Negative Impact of Digital Activities on Their Mental HealthTang P Kostyrka‐Allchorne K Bourgaize J Murray A Stoilova M Etherson ME Azeri E Abbas I et al.
International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, Wiley vol. 35 (1)
09-02-2026
‘Until You Get the Diagnosis You're Forever in Limbo’—Parents' Experiences of Waiting for an Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Assessment With Child and Adolescent Mental Health ServicesHedstrom E Kostyrka‐Allchorne K Ballard C James N Wright H Daley D Glazebrook C Kreppner J et al.
Health Expectations, Wiley vol. 29 (1)
28-01-2026
2025
The effects of tv/video viewing hours on later ADHD symptoms: a counterfactual analysis in longitudinal population-representative dataMurray A Casey H Wright H Zhu X Yang Y Li X Xiao Z King J et al.
Bmc Pediatrics, Springer Nature vol. 25 (1)
01-09-2025
Understanding Youth Online Experiences and Mental Health: Development and Validation of the Digital Activity and Feelings Inventory (DAFI)Katarzyna K Jake B Aja M Mariya S Iqra A Amy B Eliz A Chris H et al.
International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, Wiley vol. 34 (2)
01-06-2025
2024
Moderators of the Effects of a Digital Parenting Intervention on Child Conduct and Emotional Problems Implemented During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a Secondary Analysis of Data From the Supporting Parents and Kids Through Lockdown Experiences (SPARKLE) Randomized Controlled TrialPokorna N Palmer M Pearson O Beckley-Hoelscher N Shearer J Kostyrka-Allchorne K Robertson O Koch M et al.
JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, JMIR Publications vol. 7
08-10-2024
Dynamic Interplay of Online Risk and Resilience in Adolescence (DIORA): a protocol for a 12-month prospective observational study testing the associations among digital activity, affective and cognitive reactions and depression symptoms in a community sample of UK adolescentsKostyrka-Allchorne K Stoilova M Bourgaize J Murray A Azeri E Townsend E Sonuga-Barke E
Bmj Open, Bmj vol. 14 (9)
01-09-2024
Pathways between digital activity and depressed mood in adolescence: outlining a developmental model integrating risk, reactivity, resilience and reciprocitySonuga-Barke EJS Stoilova M Kostyrka-Allchorne K Bourgaize J Murray A Tan MPJ Hollis C
Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Elsevier vol. 58, 101411-101411.
01-08-2024
Reciprocal developmental pathways between future-related thinking and symptoms of adolescent depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.Tang P Kostyrka-Allchorne K Butura A-M Phillips-Owen J
Clinical Psychology Review, Elsevier vol. 112
08-07-2024
Process evaluation of a Structured E-parenting Support (STEPS) in the OPTIMA randomised controlled trial: a protocolHedstrom E Kostyrka-Allchorne K French B Glazebrook C Hall CL Lean N
Bmj Open, Bmj vol. 14 (5)
01-05-2024
2023
Links between mental health problems and future thinking from the perspective of adolescents with experience of depression and anxiety: a qualitative studyTang P Kostyrka-Allchorne K Phillips-Owen J Sonuga-Barke E
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, Springer Nature vol. 17 (1)
21-12-2023
Young people's future thinking and mental health: The development and validation of the Adolescent Future Thinking Rating ScaleTang P Sonuga‐Barke E
International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, Wiley vol. 33 (1), e1994-e1994.
03-10-2023
Remote Recruitment Strategy and Structured E-Parenting Support (STEPS) App: Feasibility and Usability StudyKostyrka-Allchorne K Chu P Ballard C Lean N French B Hedstrom E Byford S Cortese S et al.
JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, JMIR Publications vol. 6, e47035-e47035.
11-09-2023
The Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of a Universal Digital Parenting Intervention Designed and Implemented During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From a Rapid-Implementation Randomized Controlled Trial Within a CohortPalmer M Beckley-Hoelscher N Shearer J Kostyrka-Allchorne K Robertson O Koch M Pearson O Slovak P et al.
Journal of Medical Internet Research, JMIR Publications vol. 25
27-07-2023
2022
Online Parent Training for The Initial Management of ADHD referrals (OPTIMA): the protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a digital parenting intervention implemented to support parents and children on a treatment waitlistKostyrka-Allchorne K Ballard C Byford S Cortese S Daley D Downs J French B Glazebrook C et al.
Trials, Springer Nature vol. 23 (1)
12-12-2022
Review: Digital experiences and their impact on the lives of adolescents with pre‐existing anxiety, depression, eating and nonsuicidal self‐injury conditions – a systematic reviewKostyrka‐Allchorne K Stoilova M Bourgaize J Rahali M Livingstone S Sonuga‐Barke E
Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Wiley vol. 28 (1), 22-32.
07-12-2022
Editorial Perspective: Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder viewed as neuro‐divergence in the digital worldSonuga‐Barke E Kostyrka‐Allchorne K
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Wiley vol. 64 (6), 972-974.
20-09-2022
Inhibitory deficits and symptoms of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder: How are they related to effortful control?Kostyrka‐Allchorne K Wass SV Yusuf H Rao V Bertini C Sonuga‐Barke EJS
British Journal of Developmental Psychology, Wiley vol. 41 (1), 50-65.
20-09-2022
The feasibility of a strategy for the remote recruitment, consenting and assessment of recent referrals: a protocol for phase 1 of the On-Line Parent Training for the Initial Management of ADHD referrals (OPTIMA)Kostyrka-Allchorne K Ballard C Byford S Cortese S Daley D Downs J French B Glazebrook C et al.
Pilot and Feasibility Studies, Springer Nature vol. 8 (1)
03-01-2022
2021
Supporting Parents & Kids Through Lockdown Experiences (SPARKLE): A digital parenting support app implemented in an ongoing general population cohort study during the COVID-19 pandemic: A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trialKostyrka-Allchorne K Creswell C Byford S Day C Goldsmith K Koch M Gutierrez WM Palmer M et al.
Trials, Springer Nature vol. 22 (1)
10-04-2021
2020
Future preferences and prospection of future of outcomes: Independent yet specific associations with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderKostyrka-Allchorne K Cooper NR Wass SV Fenner B Gooding P Hussain S Rao V Sonuga-Barke EJS
Journal of Adolescence, Wiley vol. 83 (1), 31-41.
18-07-2020
Children’s mental health and recreation: Limited evidence for associations with screen useKostyrka‐Allchorne K Cooper NR Simpson A Sonuga‐Barke EJS
Acta Paediatrica, Wiley vol. 109 (12), 2648-2655.
08-05-2020
2019
Research Review: Do parent ratings of infant negative emotionality and self‐regulation predict psychopathology in childhood and adolescence? A systematic review and meta‐analysis of prospective longitudinal studiesKostyrka‐Allchorne K Wass SV Sonuga‐Barke EJS
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Wiley vol. 61 (4), 401-416.
06-11-2019
What helps children learn difficult tasks: A teacher's presence may be worth more than a screenKostyrka-Allchorne K Holland A Cooper NR Ahamed W Marrow RK Simpson A
Trends in Neuroscience and Education, Elsevier vol. 17
06-07-2019
The Short-Term Effect of Video Editing Pace on Children’s Inhibition and N2 and P3 ERP Components during Visual Go/No-Go TaskKostyrka-Allchorne K Cooper NR Kennett S Nestler S Simpson A
Developmental Neuropsychology, Taylor & Francis vol. 44 (4), 385-396.
19-05-2019
Disentangling the effects of video pace and story realism on children’s attention and response inhibitionKostyrka-Allchorne K Cooper NR Simpson A
Cognitive Development, Elsevier vol. 49, 94-104.
01-01-2019
2018
Is a lack of sleep harming adolescents’ academic prospects in the digital age?Kostyrka-Allchorne K
Jornal De Pediatria, Elsevier vol. 95 (4), 379-381.
07-08-2018
2017
The relationship between television exposure and children’s cognition and behaviour: A systematic reviewKostyrka-Allchorne K Cooper NR Simpson A
Developmental Review, Elsevier vol. 44, 19-58.
01-06-2017
Differential effects of film on preschool children's behaviour dependent on editing paceKostyrka‐Allchorne K Cooper NR Gossmann AM Barber KJ Simpson A
Acta Paediatrica, Wiley vol. 106 (5), 831-836.
26-02-2017
Touchscreen generation: children's current media use, parental supervision methods and attitudes towards contemporary mediaKostyrka‐Allchorne K Cooper NR Simpson A
Acta Paediatrica, Wiley vol. 106 (4), 654-662.
20-01-2017
Consensus Statement on Digital Health and ADHD by The European Network for ADHD (EUNETHYDIS): a modified Delphi study (Preprint)Price A Furukawa E Bellato A Aggensteiner P-M Bellringer M Cattel C Cortese S Daley D et al.
In JMIR Preprints
Everyday Multitasking Scale (EMS): Exploring the Cognitive and Temperament Correlates of Multitasking in Young PeopleFang Z Kostyrka-Allchorne K Coll-Martín T Lean N Sonuga-Barke EJS
In Research Square
Online Parent Training for The Initial Management of ADHD referrals (OPTIMA): The protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a digital parenting intervention implemented to support parents and children on a treatment waitlist.Kostyrka-Allchorne K Ballard C Byford S Cortese S Daley D Downs J French B Glazebrook C et al.
In Research Square
The Feasibility of a Strategy for the Remote Recruitment, Consenting and Assessment of Recent Referrals: A Protocol for Phase 1 of the on-line Parent Training for the Initial Management of ADHD Referrals (OPTIMA).Kostyrka-Allchorne K Ballard C Byford S Cortese S Daley D Downs J French B Glazebrook C et al.
In Research Square
Moderators of the effects of a digital parenting intervention on child conduct and emotional problems implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a secondary analysis of data from the SPARKLE randomized controlled trialPokorna N Palmer M Pearson O Beckley-Hoelscher N Shearer J Kostyrka-Allchorne K Robertson O Koch M et al.
JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, JMIR Publications
Grants
Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for Brain and Behaviour
Online risks and resilience in children’s daily lives (ORChiD)Katarzyna Kostyrka-Allchorne and Yun Fai Lau
£496,634 The Huo Family Foundation
01-01-2026 - 31-12-2028
Online Parent Training for the Initial Management of ADHD ReferralsKatarzyna Kostyrka-Allchorne
£24,750 National Institute for Health Research
01-08-2025 - 31-07-2026
Impact of digital activity on the mental health of neurodivergent adolescentsKatarzyna Kostyrka-Allchorne
£24,921 The Huo Family Foundation
01-02-2025 - 31-12-2025
Adolescent Mental Health and Development in the Digital WorldKatarzyna Kostyrka-Allchorne
£38,880 Medical Research Council
18-09-2023 - 31-03-2026
Research Group
PhD Students
- Muskaan Admani
Digital Risk and Resilience in Young Women With ADHD: a Mixed-Methods Investigation of Online Experiences and Mental Health. - Zinnatun Nahar
Exploring Impact of Digital Technology on Families of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Towards Developing An Intervention For Safe Use.
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