The Impact of Mobile Phone Use on Adolescent Mental Health

Project Description: To evaluate the impact of mobile phone use on measures of depression, anxiety and mental health difficulties in a cohort of ~7,000 UK adolescents using unique data from the SCAMP cohort study (Study of Cognition Adolescents and Mobile Phones www.scampstudy.org). Further, to explore potential mechanisms, vulnerability and resilience factors from cognitive, psychological and social domains. This will enable us to identify potential risks for young people’s mental health associated with mobile phone use: what type of use confers risk, who might be the young people more vulnerable and what activities or characteristics may be protective. Findings will be translated into public health recommendations for healthy use of mobile phone for schools, parents and young people themselves; they will also lead the way for the development of large-scale preventative measures for groups of young people at risk of negative impact of mobile phone use. Co-Supervisors to be: Prof. Mireille Toldano (Chair in Perinatal and Paediatric Environmental Epidemiology) and Dr. Martina Di Simplicio (Clinical Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry).

Eligibility: The successful applicant will be a first or upper second class UK honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate subject (qualifications, or a combination of qualifications and experience, which demonstrate equivalent ability and attainment also considered). Previous relevant research experience or formal training (e.g. a Master’s degree) is desirable.

Further proposal details available, please contact [Email Address Removed] with any questions.

Please note that this studentship is scheduled to start the 1st April 2019, so please expect an interview to be scheduled soon after the application closing date in early, mid-February.

Please send a copy of your covering letter, CV and academic transcripts to [Email Address Removed] by the 1st February 2019.

About SPHR: The NIHR School for Public Health Research is a partnership between the Universities of Sheffield, Bristol, Cambridge, Imperial and University College London; The London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM); the LiLaC collaboration between the Universities of Liverpool and Lancaster and Fuse; The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, a collaboration between Newcastle, Durham, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside Universities.