Samantha Marie Harris

Postdoctoral Fellow - Metode, arbeids-, kultur- og sosialpsyk

Norwegian version of this page

Email s.m.harris@psykologi.uio.no

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Visiting address Forskningsveien 3A Harald Schjelderups hus 0373 Oslo

Postal address Postboks 1094 Blindern 0317 Oslo

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About me

My research lies at the intersection of social, cultural, and clinical psychology. My overarching motivation is to investigate and ultimately contribute to addressing mental health inequalities. I consequently aim to contribute knowledge that can inform the provision of equitable mental health care in a diverse society.

Previously, I have examined the experiences of GPs in Norway working with refugees with mental health problems, including examining their diagnostic decisions, as well as Syrian refugees’ preferences for mental health help-seeking.

My current interests extend to the impact of different factors on psychological help-seeking.

In addition, I have experience in topics such as substance use and help-seeking among the general population.

I am currently accepting students for supervision.

Academic interests

migration and mental health
mental health help-seeking among individuals with a migrant background
substance use
stigma

Courses taught

PSY2503 - Culture and social psychology
PSYC3511 - Health-promoting and preventive work (3): Cultural and social psychological perspectives
PSY4502B – Community and social psychology
PSY2013 - Qualitative methods
PSY4521 - Project Development and Methodology

Background

2012 - 2015 - BSc (Hons) Psychology / University of York
2016 - 2017 - MSc Clinical Mental Health Sciences / UCL
2017 - 2018 - PgCert Low intensity cognitive behavioural interventions / UCL
2018 - 2022 - PhD candidate / University of Bergen
2022 - 2023 - Associate Professor (temporary) / University of Bergen
2023 - Postdoctoral research fellow / University of Oslo

Harris, Samantha Marie; Jørgensen, Magnus; Lowthian, Emily & Kristensen, Sara Madeleine Eriksen (2023). Up in smoke? Limited evidence of a smoking harm paradox in 17-year cohort study. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 23(1). doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16952-6.
Ahmed, Nafiso; Barnett, Phoebe; Greenburgh, Anna; Pemovska, Tamara; Stefanidou, Theodora & Lyons, Natasha [Show all 29 contributors for this article] (2023). Mental health in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review. The Lancet Psychiatry. ISSN 2215-0374. 10(7), p. 537–556. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(23)00113-X.
Harris, Samantha Marie; Binder, Per-Einar; Perez, Esperanza Diaz; Ekroll, Vebjørn & Sandal, Gro Mjeldheim (2021). General practitioners’ management of depression symptoms in Somali refugee and Norwegian patients: a film vignette experiment. BMJ Open. ISSN 2044-6055. 11(12), p. 1–11. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055261. Full text in Research Archive
Harris, Samantha Marie; Sandal, Gro Mjeldheim; Bye, Hege Høivik; Palinkas, Lawrence A. & Binder, Per-Einar (2021). Integration Is Correlated With Mental Health Help-Seeking From the General Practitioner: Syrian Refugees' Preferences and Perceived Barriers. Frontiers in Public Health. ISSN 2296-2565. 9(777582), p. 1–13. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.777582.
Harris, Samantha Marie & Sandal, Gro Mjeldheim (2020). COVID-19 and psychological distress in Norway: The role of trust in the healthcare system . Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. ISSN 1403-4948. 49, p. 96–103. doi: 10.1177/1403494820971512. Show summary
Aim: The study aims to examine groups at risk for psychological distress in connection with the COVID-19 outbreak, and the role of trust in the healthcare system as a possible moderator. Methods: Data were collected from a large sample of the Norwegian population (n = 4008) through the Norwegian Citizen Panel (NCP). A linear regression was conducted to examine the effects of COVID-19 related risk factors on psychological distress, using the 10-item Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-10). Finally, we conducted a moderation analysis to examine the interaction of trust in the healthcare system and COVID-19 related risk factors. Results: A linear regression showed that female gender, younger age, lower level of education, being infected with COVID-19, being medically vulnerable, working in the healthcare system, being in voluntary quarantine and having an immigrant background predicted mean HSCL-10 scores. The moderation analysis revealed that people in the medically vulnerable group, those below 61, and those in quarantine reported higher psychological distress when they also had lower trust in the healthcare system. Conclusions: Findings indicate important groups to take into consideration in mental healthcare strategies and policies. However, most participants in the current study reported psychological distress levels that were below the clinical cut-off, suggesting that the majority may have coped relatively well in the early stages of the pandemic.
Harris, Samantha; Binder, Per Einar & Sandal, Gro Mjeldheim (2020). General practitioners' experiences of clinical consultations with refugees suffering from mental health problems. Frontiers in Psychology. ISSN 1664-1078. 11. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00412.
Harris, Samantha Marie; Dykxhoorn, Jennifer; Hollander, Anna-Clara; Dalman, Christina & Kirkbride, James (2019). Substance use disorders in refugee and migrant groups in Sweden: A nationwide cohort study of 1.2 million people. PLoS Medicine. ISSN 1549-1277. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002944. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in Cristin

Harris, Samantha Marie; Dykxhoorn, Jennifer; Hollander, Anna-Clara; Dalman, Christina & Kirkbride, James B. (2022). Substance use disorders among migrant groups in Sweden.
Harris, Samantha Marie (2022). Ressursprogram for fastlegers arbeid med psykisk helse blant flyktninger.
Harris, Samantha Marie (2022). Møter med det norske helsevesenet - hva går bra og hva kan forbedres?
Harris, Samantha Marie & Ulvin Johansson, Caroline (2022). Flyktninger med psykiske lidelser. [Internet]. Podcast.
Brækhus, Aurora & Harris, Samantha Marie (2022). Fastleger følte seg uforberedt på å ta imot flyktninger med psykiske plager. [Internet]. Dagens Medisin.
Harris, Samantha Marie; Binder, Per Einar; Diaz, Esperanza & Sandal, Gro Mjeldheim (2022). Hvordan møter leger ﬂyktninger med psykiske lidelser? Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. ISSN 0029-2001. 142. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.22.0165.
Harris, Samantha Marie & Sandal, Gro Mjeldheim (2020). COVID-19 and psychological distress in Norway: the role of trust in the health-care system .
Harris, Samantha Marie & Sandal, Gro Mjeldheim (2020). COVID-19 and psychological distress in Norway: the role of trust in the health-care system .
Harris, Samantha; Binder, Per Einar & Sandal, Gro Mjeldheim (2020). Fastlegers erfaringer i kliniske møter med flyktningspasienter som lider av psykiske problemer – hvilke barrierer oppleves og hva hjelper?
Harris, Samantha (2020). We are basically going to be ok. REPLIKK – Tidsskrift for samfunnsvitskap og humaniora. ISSN 0806-8593. Show summary
An interview with Prof George Bonanno about the psychology of loss and trauma
Harris, Samantha Marie; Binder, Per-Einar & Sandal, Gro Mjeldheim (2019). Exploring GPs experiences of clinical consultations with refugees suffering from mental health problems in Norway.
Harris, Samantha; Binder, Per-Einar & Sandal, Gro Mjeldheim (2019). Exploring GPs’ experiences of clinical consultations with refugees suffering from mental health problems in Norway.