Lea Kamitz

Lea is a postdoctoral research associate on a multi-year Dawes-funded project investigating how to effectively tackle online child sexual abuse and exploitation.

As a mixed-methods researcher with a background in forensic psychology, Lea’s research interests include sexual offending, non-offending partners of those who have sexually offended, and the consequences of conspiracy theories.

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Background

Lea completed her BSc (Hons) in Psychology and MSc in Forensic Psychology at the University of Kent. In 2019, she began her PhD at the Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychology (CORE-FP) at the University of Kent, under the supervision of Prof Theresa Gannon.

As part of her doctoral studies, Lea applied a range of quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the relationship decision-making process in, and others’ attitudes towards, non-offending partners of individuals who have sexually offended.

While at the University of Kent, Lea became an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and taught courses in personality, and social and developmental psychology.

Since joining PIER in 2023 Lea, as part of a multi-year Dawes-funded project, has been conducting research into the sexual exploitation and abuse of children and how best to tackle this issue.

Lea’s research interests lie broadly within the area of sexual offending, including the predictors and effects of sexual abuse perpetration and victimisation. Since her doctoral studies, she has additionally developed a specific focus on the experiences of non-offending partners of those who have sexually offended.

Lea also maintains an interest in the consequences of conspiracy theories, collaborating with researchers at the University of Kent on the ERC-funded CONSPIRACY_FX project.

Spoken Languages

German

Research interests

• Child sexual abuse and exploitation
• Sexual offending
• Non-offending partners of those who have sexually offended
• Mixed-methods research
• Conspiracy belief

Qualifications

• PhD Forensic Psychology, University of Kent [in progress]
• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)
• MSc Forensic Psychology (Distinction), University of Kent
• BSc (Hons) Psychology (First Class), University of Kent

Memberships, editorial boards

Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship, University of Kent (2019-2022)

Selected recent publications

Kamitz, L. C. and Gannon, T. A. (2023) 'A grounded theory model of relationship decision-making in non-offending partners of individuals accused of sexual offending', Sexual Abuse. Advance online publication. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063223115907

Recent presentations and conferences

Kamitz, L. C. (2023, May 3–5). What if? Why women would continue or terminate their relationship if their partner committed a sexual offence [Poster presentation]. 33rd Annual Conference of the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abuse (NOTA), Cardiff, Wales, UK.

Kamitz, L. C. (2023, May 3–5). Development of a scale measuring attitudes towards non-offending partners of individuals who have sexually offended [Paper presentation]. 33rd Annual Conference of the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abuse (NOTA), Cardiff, Wales, UK.

Kamitz, L. C. (2023, March 16–18). A grounded theory model of relationship decision-making in non-offending partners of individuals accused of sexual offending [Paper presentation]. Annual Conference of the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS), Philadelphia, PA, US.

Kamitz, L. C. (2022, September 21–24). A grounded theory model of relationship continuation in non-offending partners of individuals accused of sexual offending [Paper presentation]. 22nd Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology (ESC), Malaga, Spain.

Kamitz, L. C. (2021, September 28 – October 1). Relationship continuation in partners of those who have sexually offended [Paper presentation]. 40th Annual Research and Treatment Conference of the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA), Virtual Conference.