Bec Sampson

PhD Candidate

Bec Sampson

PhD Candidate

BSc, BPsych (Hons)

bec.sampson@thekids.org.au

Bec is a PhD student under the supervision of Dr Amy Finlay-Jones in the Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health team, Professor Peter McEvoy and Dr Vincent Mancini at Curtin University and Dr Pandora Patterson and Dr Fiona McDonald at Canteen Australia. The focus of her PhD project is on understanding the role of friends in supporting young people with cancer. The aim is to give friends the resources and skills to be able to effectively support their friend through the challenges young people with cancer face.

Her research interests are centred around the mental health of young people with chronic health conditions. She is particularly focused on promoting wellbeing, from a strengths-based approach, and minimising distress in young people with cancer. Bec is passionate about consumer engagement, with a goal to have end-users involved at every stage of the research.

Bec completed her Bachelor of Psychology with Honours in 2020 and holds a Bachelor of Science (Psychology and Human Resource Management), both from Curtin university. She is currently completing her Doctor of Philosophy.

Projects

Priority-setting in youth with chronic conditions

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January 2021

Published research

The Role of Friends in Supporting Young People With Cancer: A Scoping Review

Peers play a crucial role in supporting wellbeing and psychosocial development for young people aged 12-25. However, a cancer experience often leads to challenges maintaining friendships. There have been no prior attempts to map or synthesise available research or resources on support specifically from friends for young people with cancer, limiting the capacity to draw conclusions or determine next steps for how to best support young people with cancer. This review aims to address this gap by mapping and synthesising the available literature and resources.

Children's Cancers Published research Human Development and Community Wellbeing Youth Health Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health Youth mental health

February 2025

Priority setting for children and young people with chronic conditions and disabilities

The aim of this project was to identify the top 10 priorities for childhood chronic conditions and disability (CCD) research from the perspectives of children and young people with lived experience, their parents and caregivers and the professionals who work with them.

Published research Diabetes and Obesity Youth Mental Health Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health Child disability

May 2023

Education and Qualifications

Bachelor of Science (Psychology and Human Resource Management) – Curtin University
Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) – Curtin University

Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health team

The Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health team is focused on preventing childhood mental illness and optimising children’s development and wellbeing in the first years of their life. We are interested in understanding and identifying the factors that contribute to difficulties in mental health and development, as well as developing cost-effective prevention and early intervention approaches for addressing developmental needs and promoting resilience.

The remainder of our 600+ staff are listed on their respective Research Team page.