Summary

The dominant areas of Mairin’s research/ professional specialty are mindfulness interventions, neuroscience, developmental psychopathology and child trauma. Mairin’s PhD and subsequent publications have sought to ‘fill a gap’ in terms of the developmental effects of ADHD, including psychopathology and risk issues such as suicide and self-harm. The main specialty areas of her clinical practice work have focused on supporting individuals and families with ADHD, coping with the on-going effects of trauma, managing distress and providing clinical supervision.

Mairin has also maintained an interest in child and family wellbeing research and practice, likely formed by her early career experience of child protection social work. She has collaborated on several domestic violence programme evaluation research projects; co-ordinated a research project on the trauma effects of the Canterbury earthquake and co-authored part of the Glenn Inquiry Family Violence Review (2014). In Okinawa, while engaged as an ADHD research specialist, Mairin expanded her existing research scope in supervising and conducting neurocognitive assessments of ADHD with children and families. More recently, as a senior lecturer in the School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury, she has engaged in bicultural research partnerships in indigenous Māori informed mindfulness research with the goals of providing cost effective and equitable/ accessible programmes for children in Aotearoa impacted by ADHD and emotion dysregulation.

Peer-reviewed publications:

• Foulds, J., Boden, J., Kerr, J., Douglas, K., Pettie, M., Young, J., Taylor, M., Porter, R. (2025; accepted for publication) Long term outcomes of adolescent ADHD symptoms: a birth cohort study. British Journal of Psychiatry.

• Theobald, P., Harding ,A., Taylor, M., Donovan, K., Moltchanova, E., Stevens, A., Tikao, K., Tainui, M., Hapuku, A., Whitehead, K., Te Patu, J., Scown, C., McLay, L., Rucklidge, J. (2025). The M&M Trial: Efficacy of Oral Micronutrients and Online Mindfulness for Emotional Dysregulation in Children Aged 6–10: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Submitted to Nutritional Psychiatry (open access)

• Horn, A., Taylor, M., North, N., (2023). The Role of Nature in Nature-based Therapy: A study of therapists’ perspectives in Aotearoa New Zealand. The International Journal of Adventure Therapy, Volume 1 (special edition), 2023

• Belton, R., Taylor, M., & Barraclough, S. (2023). Recognition of mind and body interactions in New Zealand counselling education and practice. New Zealand Journal of Counselling, Vol. 43, No. 1.

• Kathiravel, Y., Khullar, S., Fitzpatrick, J., Taylor, M., Elliot, C., Hamlin, M. (2023) Associations between physical activity and stress levels in doctors working in New Zealand and Australia during initial COVID-19 restrictions in 2020. Journal of Sport and Exercise Science, Vol. 7, No. 1.

• Taylor, M. R., Carrasco, K., Carrasco, A., & Basu, A. (2022) Tobacco and ADHD: A Role of MAO-Inhibition in Nicotine Dependence and Alleviation of ADHD Symptoms. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 497.

• Rucklidge, J., Taylor, M., Johnstone, J.M., (2018). Do Diet and Nutrition Affect ADHD? Facts and Clinical Considerations for Psychiatrists. Psychiatric Times. Vol. Vol. 35, No. 9, Sept 2018

• Taylor, M.R., Chuang, C.C, Carrasco, K.D., Rucklidge, J. J. (2018). Dietary and Micronutrient Treatments for Children with Neurodevelopment Disorders. Current Developmental Disorders Reports. Vol. 5, Issue 4, July 2018

• Taylor, M. R., Boden, J. M., Rucklidge, J. J. & Farmer, R.R (2017). The Function of Reward Sensitivity and Temporal Discounting in the Relationship between Risk and ADHD in Adults. New Zealand Journal of Psychology Vol. 46, No. 1, April 2017

• Taylor, M. R., Boden, J. M., & Rucklidge, J. J. (2014). The relationship between ADHD symptomatology and self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behaviours in adults: a pilot study. ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, 1-10.

• Rucklidge, J. J., Downs-Woolley, M., Taylor, M., Brown, J. A., & Harrow, S. E. (2014). Psychiatric Comorbidities in a New Zealand Sample of Adults With ADHD. Journal of attention disorders, 1087054714529457.

• Rucklidge, J. J., Taylor, M. R., Whitehead, K. A. (2010). Effect of micronutrients on behaviour and mood in adults with ADHD: Evidence from an 8-week open label trial with natural extension. Journal of Attention Disorders. First published on January 13, 2010 as doi:10.1177/1087054709356173.