Centre/School Role/s

Part-time tutor

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Professional experience

Over the last five years Amy has worked in a variety of teaching and research positions at Swansea University and in other Further and Higher Educational establishments across Swansea and the surrounding areas. Both her teaching and research backgrounds have been multidisciplinary incorporating the fields of Early Childhood Studies, Psychology, Health and Counselling. Amy has also been involved in a variety of local practice initiatives working in counselling and peer support which have informed both her teaching and research.

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Research

Amy is currently in the process of writing up her PhD which broadly covers the area of the role of parents in the establishment of healthy eating patterns in young children. A main focus is the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding and how this can impact on later eating behaviour. Key strands within the thesis include the impact of socioeconomic status and poverty, peer support and knowledge upon breastfeeding continuation. A central overall theme is that of the impact of maternal control upon breastfeeding success and this forms the main focus of my current research publications and research progression.

Related interests stemming from her main research include the impact of maternal control upon children’s later eating styles and behaviour from the introduction of solids through to adult diet. Amy is also interested in the area of maternal well being and mental health during pregnancy and the postnatal period incorporating the previous themes of children’s diet and peer support.

Recent research experience/projects since 2001    

Currently writing up PhD evaluating the role of parents in the establishment of healthy eating patterns in young children

An evaluation of the effect of probiotic drinks upon mood and functioning (Swansea University, 2005)

The link between intensive learning and REM sleep (Swansea University, 2004)

A pilot evaluation of the Welsh Assembly Governments Extending Entitlement Policy (Swansea University, 2004)

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Publications (since 2001)

Brown A. E., Lee M.D. (2008) ‘Maternal control of feeding is established in early infancy: differences between breast-feeding and formula-feeding mothers’.  Appetite (in press).
Lee, M.D. & Brown, A.E. (2008) ‘Maternal control of feeding is established during the first 6 months of infancy: Differences between breast – feeding and formula feeding mothers’. Appetite 51 (2) pg 379.
Haines, K., Case, S., Isles, E., Rees, I. & Brown, A. (2004) ‘Extending entitlement: Making it real’. A publication for the Welsh Assembly Government.

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Conferences and Presentations

Brown, A. E. and Lee, M.D. (2008) ‘Maternal control of feeding is established in early infancy: differences between breast-feeding and formula-feeding mothers’. Paper presentation to the British Feeding and Drinking Group Conference, Liverpool: 26th – 27th March 2008
 
Lee, M.D. & Brown, A.E. (2008) ‘Maternal control of feeding is established during the first 6 months of infancy: Differences between breast – feeding and formula feeding mothers’. Poster presentation to the 16th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior Paris, France: July 15 – 19, 2008

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Partnership working and linkages to the field

Trained peer supporter with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers and currently training as an Approved Breastfeeding Counsellor.
Research Networker for the National Childbirth Trust.
Doctoral research is multidisciplinary and is spread over a number of areas within the School of Human Sciences including the Department of Psychology and the centre for Criminology.

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Research groupings

Amy is a member of the Children’s Rights and Welfare research group within the Centre for Child Research.