Professor Dr. Roisin O Connor

Biography

Roisin M. O'Connor is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Concordia University, specializing in clinical psychology. She holds a Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and her research primarily focuses on the etiology of heavy problem alcohol use among young adults. Her work explores how both positive and negative reinforcement pathways can lead to problematic drinking, particularly during the transition from adolescence to early adulthood. Additionally, she investigates the role of personality traits, social anxiety, and cognitive processes in understanding the mechanisms of alcohol-related risks. Professor O'Connor collaborates with community partners and a cross-Canada team to assess the role of Indigenous culture in youth resilience against substance use. She actively supervises graduate students in the Psychology MA and PhD programs and has received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) among other organizations.

Research Interests