Dr Jennifer Ward is a lecturer in Carlow College, where she teaches on the BA Psychology programme. She completed her PhD in Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2022, examining the feasibility of positive psychology in community pharmacy settings. Her PhD was funded by the European Social Fund, Cardiff Metropolitan University and The Health Dispensary Pharmacy.
She graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a master’s in psychology, focused on Mental Health. Jennifer completed her thesis on ‘The presence of anxiety, depression and stress in women and their partners during pregnancies following perinatal loss: A meta-analysis’ which was part of a research project in collaboration with the National Health Services (NHS).
She has published articles and presented her research findings on an international stage at conferences in Iceland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Canada.
She has previously taught at Cardiff Metropolitan University across the BSc Psychology, MSc Health Psychology, BSc Sport and Exercise Science, and BA social care.
Outside of academia, Jennifer has successfully run her own wellbeing consultancy business which supported small to large organisations to foster growth, performance and mental health. Jennifer has returned from Australia where she spent over three years working with organisations to develop strategic initiatives to manage and support workplace wellbeing.
Jennifer’s main interests are in the areas of positive psychology, health psychology, organisational psychology, female health, and qualitive research methods.
Conference Presentations and Awards
10th European Conference on Positive Psychology, Reykjavik, Iceland (2022) — Community pharmacy-based positive psychology intervention: a feasibility study (Poster)
7th International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) World Congress – “Well-being for All”, Toronto, Canada (Virtual) (2021) — A community pharmacy-based positive psychology intervention (Podium Speaker)
Cardiff Metropolitan University Symposium (Virtual) (2021) — The Evaluation of “Prescribing Happiness” (10-min Oral, 1st Prize Winner)
2nd Positive Psychology in Practice Conference, Netherlands (2020) — Community-pharmacy based positive psychology intervention: a feasibility study (Oral)
Health Services Research and Pharmacy Practice Conference (Virtual) (2020) — Community-pharmacy based positive psychology intervention: a feasibility study (Oral)
Cardiff Metropolitan School of Sport and Health Sciences Postgraduate Research Conference, Cardiff, UK (2019) — Community-pharmacy based positive psychology intervention: a feasibility study (Oral)
Public Health Research and Development Wales Conference, Cardiff University, UK (2019) — Community-pharmacy based positive psychology intervention: a feasibility study (Poster, Best Poster Award)
Cardiff Metropolitan School of Health Sciences Postgraduate Research Conference, Cardiff, UK (2018) — The design and evaluation of a community-pharmacy based positive psychology intervention (Oral)
Ward, J.L., Sparkes, A., Ricketts, M., Hewlett, P., Prior, A.-L., Hallingberg, B., James, D.H., & Ward, J.L. (2025). Impact of a Positive Psychology Intervention on Community Members’ Well-Being. [In preparation].
James, D.H., Ward, J.L., Sparkes, A., Prior, A.-L., Brown, S., & Hallingberg, B. (2025). Exploring stakeholders’ perspectives on the feasibility of delivering and implementing a positive psychology well-being intervention in a community pharmacy setting in Wales, UK. [Manuscript submitted].
Brown, S., Williams, D., Duckers, J., Kazmerski, T.M., Stransky, O.M., Ballenger, C., Bennett, A., Ward, J.L., Taylor-Robinson, D., Esan, O.B., Paranjothy, S., Schlüter, D., & Phillips, R. (2025). Considerations for the role and implementation of reproductive health shared decision-making interventions for cystic fibrosis: A qualitative investigation of perspectives from clinicians and people with cystic fibrosis. [Manuscript submitted].
Ward, J.L., Sparkes, A., Ricketts, M., Hewlett, P., Prior, A.-L., Hallingberg, B., & James, D.H. (2023). Development of a Positive Psychology Well-Being Intervention in a Community Pharmacy Setting. Pharmacy, 11(1), 14
PhD in Psychology, Cardiff Metropolitan University (2022)
Thesis: The development, delivery and evaluation of a Positive Psychology Well-Being Intervention in Community Pharmacy Setting.
MSc Psychology, University of Edinburgh (2017)
Thesis: The presence of anxiety, depression and stress in women and their partners during pregnancies following perinatal loss: A meta-analysis.
BSc Science, Cardiff Metropolitan University (2016)
Thesis: The Effect of Physical Activity and Exercise on Mental Wellbeing: Physical Self Esteem and Body Satisfaction.