PhD Study : Intervening to support expectant mothers in care break the intergenerational cycle of child maltreatment, trauma, and entry to care

Summary

Young people in care face many challenges in terms of their physical and mental health (McSherry et al., 2015; 2016).  They are disproportionately children of single mothers who themselves are likely to have been in care due to experiencing child maltreatment, suggesting a pattern of intergenerational transmission of maltreatment and trauma (McSherry et al., 2010; Stratford, Julian & Shelley, 2019).

Data from the Department of Education (2015) indicates that 25% of girls in care fall pregnant before the age of 18, and are three times more likely to get pregnant that non-care peers.  They are also at increased risk of having their child removed (Broadhurst et al., 2015).  The authors are unaware of any interventions to date that have attempted to break this intergenerational cycle.

A promising initiative has recently developed in the Northern Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust where midwives are to be trained in the use of Eye Movement Desensitisation Therapy (EMDR) to help expectant mother’s address trauma from their past and better equip them emotionally to successfully mother their child.  The current proposal is to offer this intervention to girls who fall pregnant whilst in care. The EMDR-m Training for Midwives programme (Miller, Sinclair et al. 2020) equips midwives to formulate trauma-focused case conceptualisations, enabling the application of EMDR-m techniques to: ameliorate the impact of past trauma, help reduce anxieties relating to the perinatal period, and build future-templates that enable healthy attachment.

An action research design is proposed for the current study, involving the collection of both quantiative and qualitative data. A purposive sample of expectant mothers in the care system across one HSC Trust will be recruited following the 22 week anomaly scan, offered EMDR and followed up for 12 months.

Measurement tools include:

*Semi-structured interview (before and after intervention)

*The Chilbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) – Dencker et al. (2010)

*The Mother-to-Infant Bonding Questionnaire (MiBs) - Taylor et al. (2005)

*The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) - Cohen, Kamarck & Mermelstein (1983)

*The Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Support Measure - Sherbourne & Stewart (1991)

*The three Life Satisfaction Questions from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) Annual Population Survey.

This is considered a rare and opportune moment to explore the impact of EMDR as an evidence-supported, therapeutic intervention to address earlier trauma for expectant mothers in care, with a view to breaking the intergenerational cycle of maltreatment, trauma, and entry to care for their own children.

References will be requested for shortlisted candidates

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
• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
• 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
• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
• Relevant professional qualification and/or a Degree in a Health or Health related area

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

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 £19,237 (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