David Stewart Barron, PhD
College of Arts and Sciences
Associate Professor of Psychology
Biography
David is currently an Associate Professor of Psychology at the College of Arts and Sciences, at VinUni. Previously, he was Director of Research and Enterprise and Associated Professor at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (HWUM). Prior to joining HWUM in 2023, David worked at Perdana University (Malaysia) as the Deputy Director and Reader in the Centre for Psychological Medicine for 6 years. He also worked for the University of Westminster (England) for a decade as a Psychology Technician and Visiting Lecturer, as well as holding Research Assistant roles at the University of Strathclyde (Scotland). David holds a BA (Hons) in Psychology and an MRes. Research Methods in Psychology from the University of Strathclyde. He obtained his PhD from the University of Westminster, focusing his research on schizotypy.
While David has published extensively in a range of topics, his main expertise is in individual differences, conspiracy theories, and body image. He has written editorials and guidelines on the approaches to test adaptation and edited a book on psychology in Southeast Asia, Psychology in Southeast Asia: Sociocultural, Clinical and Health Perspectives. Since 2022, David has been an Associate Editor of Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine. In addition to his academic achievements, David is also a prominent science communicator and author, with experience in television, radio, and digital and print media. David is also a non-executive member of the Council of Governors for the Alice Smith School, Malaysia, ranked as one of the Top Fifteen Schools in China & Southeast Asia. The Council functions at the strategic level to ensure long-term success, financial health, and well-being of the Alice Smith School.
A personality and individual differences researcher by specialism, specifically research with schizotypy and the psychosis continuum. Main interests and skills:
· Personality and Individual Differences
· Schizotypy and Psychosis Continuum
· Conspiracy Theories
· Body Image
· Personality Inventory
· Structural Equation Modeling
· Psychometrics
· Scale Construction
· Connectedness to Nature
· Factor and Path Analysis
• Research Methods
• Personality and Individual Differences
• Cognitive Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Advanced Data Analyses
· Swami, V., White, M.P., Voracek, M., Tran, U. S., … Stieger, S. (in press). Self-Compassion Around the world measurement invariance of the short form of the self-compassion scale (SCS-SF) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups. Mindfulness.
· Swami, V., White, M.P., Voracek, M., Tran, U. S., … Stieger, S. (2025). Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups. PLoS ONE, 20(1), e0313107. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0313107
· Barron, D., Vintila, M., Ong, H. S., Tudorel, O., Goian, C., Wong, K. Y., Toh, E. K. L., & Swami, V. (2023). An examination of the higher-order dimensionality and psychometric properties of a Romanian translation of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Current Psychology, 42(7), 5939–5950. doi:10.1007/s12144-021-01935-w
· Swami, V., Barron, D., & Furnham, A. (2022). Associations between Schizotypal Facets and Symptoms of Disordered Eating in Women. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), 11157. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191811157
· Swami, V., Barron, D., & Furnham, A. (2022). Appearance Orientation and Dating Anxiety in Emerging Adults: Considering the Roles of Appearance-Based Rejection Sensitivity, Social Physique Anxiety, and Self-Compassion. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 51(8). doi:10.1007/s10508-022-02367-8
· Barron, D. (2020). Identity and health perspectives in Southeast Asia, with assessment concerns. In G. J. Rich, J. Jaafar, & D. Barron (Eds.), Psychology in Southeast Asia: Sociocultural, Clinical and Health Perspectives. London, UK: Routledge.
· Swami, V., & Barron, D. (2021). Rational thinking style, rejection of coronavirus (COVID-19) conspiracy theories/theorists, and compliance with mandated requirements: Direct and indirect relationships in a nationally representative sample of adults from the United Kingdom. Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology, 15, 1-11. doi: 10.1177/18344909211037385
· Swami, V., & Barron, D. (2019). Translation and Validation of Body Image Instruments: Challenges and Good-Practice Recommendations. Body Image, 31, 204-220. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.08.014
· Barron, D., Voracek, M., Tran, U. S., Ong, H. S., Morgan, K. D., Towell, T., & Swami, V. (2018). A Reassessment of the Higher-Order Factor Structure of the German Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ-G) in German-Speaking Adults. Psychiatry Research, 269, 328-336. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.08.070
· Barron, D., Furnham, A., Weis, L., Morgan, K. D., Towell, T., & Swami, V. (2018). The relationship between schizotypal facets and conspiracist beliefs via cognitive processes. Psychiatry Research, 259, 18-20. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.10.001
• 2017: Ph.D. University of Westminster, London
• 2009: MRes. University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
• 2008: B.A. (Hons.) Psychology, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
