Maeve joined the ESRI in 2006 as a Research Fellow on the Study Team. She has a background in psychology, attaining her BSc and PhD in Psychology from the University of Ulster (UU). 

Before joining the ESRI she spent five years working as a researcher on various health and education related projects at both UU and Queen's University Belfast (QUB).  At QUB she worked as a Research Fellow on the Youth Development Study - a longitudinal study of the risk and protective factors associated with adolescent drug use, and Focus on Families - The Belfast Youth Development Study Family Survey.  The latter was an extension of the original study, exploring the relationships with and between parents and siblings of the original cohort. This research was carried out at The Institute of Child Care Reseach at QUB, and whilst there Maeve also taught on the psychology module of the MEd at Queen's and co-supervised a PhD student.

While her research interests are varied, her main area of interest lies in exploring outcomes for the child, especially with regard to familial issues such as family structure and composition, intrafamilial processes, as well as the socio-cultural context in which they operate.

Phone: 01 863 2025 / Email: maeve.thornton@esri.ie

Publications

• Percy, A., Thornton, M. & McCrystal, P. (2008). The extent and nature of family alcohol and drug use; Findings from the Belfast Youth Development Study. Child Abuse Review, 17, 6, 371-386.
• McCrystal, P., Higgins, K., Percy, A., & Thornton, M. (2005). Adolescent substance abuse among young people excluded from school in Belfast. Drugs: Education Policy and Prevention, 12, 101-113.
• McCrystal, P., Higgins, K., Percy, A., & Thornton, M. (2005). Substance abuse among 12 and 13-year old young people in Belfast at a high risk of developing drug use, Child Care in Practice, 11, 3, 313-322.
• Percy, A., McAlister, S., Higgins, K., McCrystal, P. and Thornton, M. (2005). Response consistency in adolescent drug use self-reports, Addiction, 100, 189-196.
• McCrystal, P., Higgins, K., Percy, A., and Thornton, M. (2002). Emerging patterns in adolescent drug use in Northern Ireland: The Belfast Youth Development Study 2002. Child Care in Practice, 9, 1, 73-83.

Published Research Reports
McCrystal, P. & Thornton, M. (2004). Drug and Alcohol Knowledge and Use Amongst Primary School Children: Empirical Evidence and Methodological Issues in the Development of Instruments for Measuring Use of and Attitudes to Drugs and Alcohol in Primary School Children. Belfast: Drug and Alcohol Information and Research Unit, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.