PhD Study : Family-context stigma: a mixed methods study of the experiences of people with a mental illness and their carers.

Summary

Background:

Stigma has often been explored as societal rejection of the individual with a mental health problem or the internalised feelings of shame and rejection experienced by the individual.  However, the determinants, development and dynamics of stigma within families have received scant attention. Thus, the full impact on family life and cohesion by the presence of mental illness is little understood.  The existing evidence on family and stigma suggests that there may be negative consequences for the mentally ill person and all family members in terms of poor health and social outcomes, deepening the levels of social exclusion faced by all, and undermining effective social care and recovery for the patient.

Aims and Objectives:

The overall aim of the proposed study is to contribute to the knowledge base on patient and carer experience.  Additionally, the findings and recommendations produced by the study will be crucial to the development of:

(1) a measure of family-context stigma; and

(2) an intervention that will reduce the impact of stigma felt and expressed within families of a mentally ill person.

The main research questions that we wish to address are as follows: (1) what are the dimensions of family-context stigma as experienced and perceived by the service user that impinge on his or her quality of life? (2) How is stigma experienced and perceived by family members and how does this influence family life and coping behaviour? (3) What kinds of support and intervention might be offered to families and service users that would alleviate family-context stigma?

Method:

The study will use novel mixed methods to achieve our aims.

The study is aligned to a major research programme on social exclusion of people with severe mental illness in the community.

Please note: Applications for more than one PhD studentship are welcome, however if you apply for more than one PhD project within Psychology, your first application on the system will be deemed your first-choice preference and further applications will be ordered based on the sequential time of submission. If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be interviewed only on your first-choice application and ranked accordingly. Those ranked highest will be offered a PhD studentship. In the situation where you are ranked highly and your first-choice project is already allocated to someone who was ranked higher than you, you may be offered your 2nd or 3rd choice project depending on the availability of this project.

AccessNI clearance required

Please note, the successful candidate will be required to obtain AccessNI clearance prior to registration due to the nature of the project.

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
• A demonstrable interest in the research area associated with the studentship
• Evidence of academic writing skills (a short sample of academic written work of the applicant's choosing (Max 3 pages, A4, font 11)) – please upload in the section entitled Research Proposal

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.

• Research project completion within taught Masters degree or MRES
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• Recognition of the importance of research integrity and Open Science practices

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