It is generally recognised that a significant percentage of common mental health problems can be traced to adverse experiences during childhood and adolescence (e.g. see Kalmakis, 2015), but often the underlying aetiology remains unknown (Solmi, 2021). Understanding the nature of prototypical and atypical developmental trajectories during these formative years could help our understanding, with the potential of pointing to preventative strategies. Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, by investigating normative versus nonnormative developmental trajectories, the associated risk and protective factors may become evident. While a range of risk and protective factors have been identified previously (e.g. Lynch et al, 2021), these are generally based on retrospective cross-sectional data.
Few studies have attempted to exploit the prospective and longitudinal data sources currently available using appropriate statistical analyses. We now have access to longitudinal data sources that can be used to unpack the prototypical and atypical developmental trajectories of children and young people and associated risk and protective (e.g. Understanding Society UK, AddHealth USA). Furthermore, these data sources trace participants in to early adulthood and beyond, making it possible to assess the impact of early developmental trajectories on life course outcomes.
The overarching aim of this research is to model children and adolescents developmental trajectories in regard to their emotional, behavioural and social development and to identify risk and protective factors associated with prototypical and atypical trajectories. Moreover, the longer term impact of these different trajectories, as individuals transition into early adulthood will be assessed.
Please note: Applications from those holding or expecting to hold a 2:1 Honours Degree in Psychology are strongly encouraged to apply. 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.
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.
If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.
The University offers the following levels of support:
The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:
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.
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.
Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living
Johnson, S. K. (2021). Latent profile transition analyses and growth mixture models: A very non‐technical guide for researchers in child and adolescent development. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 2021(175), 111-139.
Kalmakis, K. A., & Chandler, G. E. (2015). Health consequences of adverse childhood experiences: A systematic review. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 27(8), 457-465.
Lynch, S. J., Sunderland, M., Newton, N. C., & Chapman, C. (2021). A systematic review of transdiagnostic risk and protective factors for general and specific psychopathology in young people. Clinical psychology review, 87, 102036.
Solmi, M., Dragioti, E., Arango, C., Radua, J., Ostinelli, E., Kilic, O., ... & Fusar-Poli, P. (2021). Risk and protective factors for mental disorders with onset in childhood/adolescence: An umbrella review of published meta-analyses of observational longitudinal studies. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 120, 565-573.
Submission deadline
Monday 6 February 2023
04:00PM
Interview Date
14 to 16 March 2023
Preferred student start date
18 September 2023
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