PhD Study : Socialisation and psychological wellbeing: Modelling change in social network size and quality and psychological wellbeing from childhood to adulthood

Summary

For decades, researchers interested in childhood psychopathological risk have explored myriad possible aetiological markers. Genetic heritability studies (Cook, Stein, Krasowski, Cox, Olkon et al., 1995; Rhee and Waldman, 2002; Sharp, McQuillin and Gurling, 2009), neuro-chemical imbalance studies (Killeen, Russell and Sergeant, 2013; Rogeness, Javors and Pliszka, 1992), studies mapping the structural abnormalities of the brain (Krain, Castellanos, 2006; Pavuluri and Sweeney, 2008) and early prenatal development and birth complication studies (Buka, Tsuang and Lipsitt, 1993; Huizink, Mulder and Buitelaar, 2004) have each constituted distinct literatures dedicated to the exploration of childhood psychopathological vulnerability. A psychosocially oriented research literature has also been established. This literature, conversely, has pointed towards risk within family environments (Repetti, Taylor and Seeman, 2002), parenting (Webster-Stratton, Reid and Hammond, 2001), parental mental health and well-being (Cummings and Davies, 1994; Smith, 2004), and childhood adversity, abuse, neglect and trauma (Afifi, McMillan, Asmundson, Pietrzak and Sareen, 2011; Evans, Davies and DeLillo, 2008).

While each of these factors individually have been evidenced to contribute to the onset, development and maintenance of childhood psychopathological disorder, they in themselves have not fully accounted for the mechanisms by which risk translates into disorder. Risk, in and of itself, is simply risk; an individual or child, having been exposed to risk, rarely becomes ‘disordered’ or ‘dysfunctional’ immediately but instead reacts, adapts, functions and responds to risk gradually and becomes distressed when their risk related behaviour becomes maladaptive or dysfunctional (Bonanno, 2004; Bonanno and Diminich, 2012).

Psychopathology onset and development therefore may be more accurately represented by risk related maladaptive functioning than by exposure to risk alone. Childhood social functioning may offer one possible explanatory ‘route’ for articulating the possible mechanisms by which this childhood risk leads to disorder. A central feature of psychopathology, for both children and adults, is impaired social functioning. Defined partly as the ability to establish and maintain human relationships, social functioning is impaired among many children diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder (Lam, Filteau and Milev, 2011). Diminished social functioning has been found among children diagnosed with externalising disorders e.g. attentional deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; Lee, Falk & Aguirre, 2012), conduct disorder (Webster-Stratton, Reid & Stoolmiller, 2008), and a range of internalizing disorders e.g. generalised anxiety and depression (Rodriguez, Bruce, Pagano & Keller, 2005) and social phobia (Ginnsberg, La Greca & Silverman, 1998).

This project and the successful candidate will use data from valuable prospective data sources such as e.g. RADAR, Understanding Society, ALSPAC to (i) develop latent variable models capable of capturing change in social network size and quality in childhood and adulthood (ii) develop latent models that accurately represent the dimensional structure and change in psychological wellbeing in childhood and adulthood and (iii) evaluate the impact of social network size, quality and change on child and adult psychological and social functioning. References available from proposed Chair.

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.

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
• Masters at 70%
• Research project completion within taught Masters degree or MRES
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Publications record appropriate to career stage

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