Dr Karen Maxwell is a post-doctoral public health researcher with an interest in reducing social inequalities. Karen is a Research Fellow in the Institute for Social Marketing & Health, working across a range of projects on substance use, alcohol and societal harms. Karen previously worked in substance use and sexual health research at Glasgow Caledonian University, leading on the qualitative work packages of various projects. Most recently, Karen led the qualitative arm of a Scottish Government funded project on improving population health by increasing early diagnosis of Blood Borne Viruses (BBVs) in Scotland, integrating expert review of evidence with stakeholder focus group work.
Prior to her work at GCU, Karen worked at the MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at the University of Glasgow for 10 years, conducting qualitative research across a broad range of public health topics, including sexual health, substance use, gender and health, parenting, and women's reproductive health. Her research interests focus on gender and social inequalities in health.
Research Interests: substance use, alcohol and societal harms, sexual health, women's health, vulnerable groups, qualitative methods, deliberative methods.
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Maxwell K, Emslie C, O’Donnell R, Mitchell G, Cook M, Uny I, Lewsey J, McIntosh E, Mohan A, Angus C & Fitzgerald N (2025) Public perceptions of harms and benefits of increasing alcohol venue trading hours: a deliberative focus group study. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2025.2599910; https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2025.2599910
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Lewis R, Bosó Pérez R, Maxwell KJ, Reid D, Macdowall W, Bonell C, Fortenberry JD, Mercer CH, Sonnenberg P & Mitchell KR (2025) Conceptualizing Sexual Wellbeing: A Qualitative Investigation to Inform Development of a Measure (Natsal-SW). The Journal of Sex Research, 62 (5), pp. 693-711. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2024.2326933
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Macdowall WG, Lewis R, Reid D, Mitchell KR, Bosó Pérez R, Maxwell KJ, Attwood F, Gibbs J, Hogan B, Mercer CH, Sonnenberg P & Bonell C (2025) Pornography Use Among Adults in Britain: A Qualitative Study of Patterns of Use, Motivations, and Stigma Management Strategies. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 54, pp. 1589-1599. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-025-03112-7
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Mitchell KR, Palmer MJ, Lewis R, Bosó Pérez R, Maxwell KJ, Macdowall W, Reid D, Bonell C, Mercer CH, Sonnenberg P, Fortenberry JD & The Natsal-4 team (2025) Development and Validation of a Brief Measure of Sexual Wellbeing for Population Surveys: The Natsal Sexual Wellbeing Measure (Natsal-SW). The Journal of Sex Research, 62 (1), pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2023.2278530
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Factors shaping the timing of later entry into parenthood: Narratives of choice and constraint
Datta J, Maxwell KJ, Mitchell KR, Lewis R & Wellings K (2023) Factors shaping the timing of later entry into parenthood: Narratives of choice and constraint. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 8 (1), Art. No.: 100700. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100700
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Macdowall WG, Reid DS, Lewis R, Bosó Pérez R, Mitchell KR, Maxwell KJ, Smith C, Attwood F, Gibbs J, Hogan B, Mercer CH, Sonnenberg P, Bonell C & Natsal-4 Team (2023) Sexting among British adults: a qualitative analysis of sexting as emotion work governed by ‘feeling rules’. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 25 (5), pp. 617-632. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2022.2080866
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Maxwell KJ, Bosó Pérez R, Reid D, Freeman L, Menezes D, Sonnenberg P, Field N & Mitchell KR (2023) Balancing risk, intimacy and (non)compliance: a qualitative study of sex across household during COVID-19 social restrictions. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 25 (5), pp. 582-598. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2022.2078507
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Dimova ED, Lekkas P, Maxwell K, Clemens TL, Pearce JR, Mitchell R, Emslie C & Shortt NK (2023) Exploring the influence of local alcohol availability on drinking norms and practices: A qualitative scoping review. Drug and Alcohol Review, 42 (3), pp. 691-703. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13596
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Bosó Pérez R, Reid D, Maxwell KJ, Gibbs J, Dema E, Bonell C, Mercer CH, Sonnenberg P, Field N & Mitchell KR (2023) Access to and quality of sexual and reproductive health services in Britain during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study of patient experiences. BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health, 49, pp. 12-20. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsrh-2021-201413
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Buston K, O’Brien R & Maxwell K (2022) The Case for Targeted Parenting Interventions with Reference to Intergenerational Transmission of Parenting: Qualitative Evidence from Three Studies of Marginalised Mothers' and Fathers' Participation in Parenting Programmes. Child Care in Practice, 28 (3), pp. 274-289. https://doi.org/10.1080/13575279.2020.1812533
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Sonnenberg P, Menezes D, Freeman L, Maxwell KJ, Reid D, Clifton S, Tanton C, Copas A, Riddell J, Dema E, Bosó Pérez R, Gibbs J, Ridge M, Macdowall W & Unemo M (2022) Intimate physical contact between people from different households during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods study from a large, quasi-representative survey (Natsal-COVID). BMJ Open, 12, Art. No.: e055284. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055284
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COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on social relationships and health
Long E, Patterson S, Maxwell K, Blake C, Bosó Pérez R, Lewis R, McCann M, Riddell J, Skivington K, Wilson-Lowe R & Mitchell KR (2022) COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on social relationships and health. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 76, pp. 128-132. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2021-216690
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Toward normalising abortion: findings from a qualitative secondary analysis study
Purcell C, Maxwell K, Bloomer F, Rowlands S & Hoggart L (2020) Toward normalising abortion: findings from a qualitative secondary analysis study. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 22 (12), pp. 1349-1364. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2019.1679395
