Developmental Psychology Section Annual Conference

From 9–11 September 2025, I attended the British Psychological Society’s Developmental Psychology Section Conference at Royal Holloway. This annual event brings together researchers, practitioners, and students interested in developmental psychology, covering themes from cognitive and socio-emotional development to neurodiversity, education, and clinical practice. I am especially grateful to the EMH for supporting my attendance, which made it possible for me to present my work and engage with this vibrant research community.

I presented a poster entitled The Development of Emotional Symptoms in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Longitudinal Analysis from Middle Childhood to Early Adolescence. Our research attracted considerable interest from attendees, particularly because it highlighted emerging sex differences in emotional development among young people with ADHD. Many attendees were curious about how these patterns could inform tailored interventions and whether they might help explain the under-recognition of ADHD in girls. These conversations were especially valuable, as they encouraged me to think more critically about how our research could address gaps in the field and contribute to more inclusive approaches in both research and practice.

This conference not only allowed me to share findings from my PhD research (recently published in Development and Psychopathology) but also generated valuable discussions with other researchers working on ADHD, cognitive functioning, and adolescent mental health. Several attendees shared perspectives that I found particularly inspiring, including how my findings could be linked to questions of co-occurring psychiatric conditions and emotion regulation. Others also suggested ways of connecting the results to intervention studies and policy contexts, highlighting how research on ADHD can inform both theoretical understanding and practical support for young people and their families. In addition, I greatly benefited from attending symposia and keynotes.

Overall, attending the BPS conference was an enriching professional experience. It strengthened my confidence in presenting to an interdisciplinary audience, expanded my academic network, and exposed me to innovative research and methods. Most importantly, it reaffirmed my commitment to advancing research on the mental health development of neurodivergent young people. I am deeply grateful to the EMH for supporting my attendance.