Dr Elina Mitrofanova BSc, MSc, PhD, Fellow of Higher Education

Lecturer in Psychology

Elina Mitrofanova joined the School of Human Sciences as a lecturer in February 2023. She received her PhD in Psychology from Kingston University in April 2021. Elina worked as a lecturer at Kingston University and University Centre Croydon while completing her PhD. Since then, she has worked as a lecturer the BPP University. Elina has background in Physical Education and Health Psychology. Elina’s research focuses on the psychology of eating behaviour. In particular, she is researching a condition known as Orthorexia Nervosa.

Elina has taught at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Current teaching includes psychopathology and clinical psychology, psychology of sport, body image and eating disorders in sport. She supervises undergraduate and postgraduate projects.

Posts held previously:

BPP University Lecturer 11/2021 - 27/01/2023
Croydon University Centre Lecturer 09/2018 - 11/2021
Kingston University Associate Lecturer 01/2019 - 06/2019

Psychology

Responsibilities within the university
  • Lecturer in Psychology
  • Academic Tutorial Lead for BSc Psychology and BSc Psychology with Counselling

Research / Scholarly interests

Elina’s research focus is on the psychology of eating behaviour and associated factors. She is looking to explore the complexity of a condition known as Orthorexia Nervosa. She is also interested in development of psychometric tools. Her current projects involve validation of a screening questionnaire for orthorexia, investigating cognitive and social factors that may be associated with orthorexia tendencies.

Recent publications

Gagliardi, M., & Mitrofanova, E. (2024). The attachment-caregiving questionnaire as a personality inventory sensitive to psychological vulnerabilities: a pilot study. Psychology International, 6(2), 578-589

Mitrofanova, E., Pummell, E., Martinelli, L., & Petróczi, A. (2021). Does ORTO-15 produce valid data for 'Orthorexia Nervosa'? A mixed-method examination of participants' interpretations of the fifteen test items. Eating and weight disorders : EWD, 10.1007/s40519-020-00919-2. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-00919-2

Mitrofanova, E., Mulrooney, H., & Petroczi, A. (2021). Assessing psychological and nutritional impact of suspected orthorexia nervosa: a cross‐sectional pilot study. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12797

Mitrofanova, E., Pummell, E. K., Mulrooney, H. M., & Petr—czi, A. (2021). Using behavioural reasoning theory to explore reasons for dietary restriction: a qualitative study of orthorexic behavioural tendencies in the UK. Frontiers in psychology, 12

.Karras, S. N., Koufakis, T., Adamidou, L., Antonopoulou, V., Karalazou, P., Thisiadou, K., ... & Kotsa, K. (2021). Effects of orthodox religious fasting versus combined energy and time restricted eating on body weight, lipid concentrations and glycaemic profile. International journal of food sciences and nutrition, 72(1), 82-92.