PhD Study : The co-production of mental health support for referees and match officials

Summary

In sporting contexts, mental health research and interventions have predominantly centered on athlete populations (e.g., Breslin & Leavey, 2019; Reardon et al., 2019). In comparison, the mental health of match officials (e.g., referees, umpires) has been of lesser focus. Match officials may be particularly vulnerable to poor mental health, including elevated mental illness and reduced psychological well-being, because of their participation in sporting competition.

Specifically, recent evidence suggests that referees frequently experience incidents of both verbal and physical abuse. In rugby union, for example, 49% of referees have reported experiencing at least two episodes of abuse every season, suggesting a culture of abuse toward referees in some sports (Webb et al., 2020a).  Match officials also report concerns about the inadequate training and support provided to help them to deal with the negative impact of abuse (Webb et al., 2020b). The lack of support may be due to insufficient evidence on what type of interventions may counter abuse or support an individual to deal with the abuse. As such, given the prevalence of verbal and physical abuse experienced by match officials, insufficient knowledge on how this abuse impacts on their mental health, and due to a paucity of well-designed, evidence-based intervention studies, there is a precinct need to explore these issues in sporting contexts.

This mixed-methods PhD research programme aims to develop an intervention to increase mental health awareness, self-management, and improve mental health amongst match officials. The programme will follow the first 5 Steps in Quality Intervention Development (6SQuID; Wright et al., 2016) as follows:

Study 1 (Year 1). A qualitative exploration (interviews) of mental health support provided for match officials by sporting governing bodies both nationally and internationally across a range of sports (e.g., Gaelic games, soccer, rugby union, etc).

Study 2 (Year 1): A survey of match officials’ experiences of abuse, mental health outcomes, and perceptions of support available, will be conducted to define and understand experiences of abuse and subsequent mental health outcomes. The survey will include match officials from a wide range of sporting organisations.

Study 3 (Year 2): A series of qualitative focus groups with relevant stakeholders (e.g., match officials, officials from sporting governing bodies) will be conducted to identify causal factors that have scope for change, to identify change mechanisms, and to identify how to bring about change. Study 3 aims to co-produce the potential components and the mechanisms of delivery of an intervention aimed to increase awareness, develop self-management strategies, and support the mental health of match officials. Critically, this intervention will not only focus on the individual level (i.e., match officials), but also on the wider social environment within which these individuals operate.

Study 4 (Year 3): This study will develop, test, and refine a mental health awareness and self-management intervention within the same sporting organisations included in the previous studies. The intervention components and delivery mechanisms will be based on the outcomes of the co-production process outlined in Study 3.

Essential Shortlisting Criteria

Applicants should have (or expect to hold) an Upper Second Class Honours (2:1) or First Class Honours Degree in Psychology.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
• Research proposal of 1500 words detailing aims, objectives, milestones and methodology of the project
• A demonstrable interest in the research area associated with the studentship

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• First Class Honours (1st) Degree
• Completion of Masters at a level equivalent to commendation or distinction at Ulster
• Research project completion within taught Masters degree or MRES

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living