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The Leicester Lifestyle and Health Research Group (LLHRG)
Project
Aim
To establish the Study Health Project at the University of Leicester and determine the role of 24h health-related behaviours in student health and wellbeing.
Background
Markers of cardiometabolic health in undergraduate students deteriorate over the course of an academic year (1), and a considerable proportion of students develop poor health-related behaviours whilst at university (2). Young adults are yet to establish lifelong habits and over the past two decades the proportion and diversity of young people attending university has increased substantially (3). Despite this, student health and health-related behaviours have largely been ignored. Therefore, student focussed health behaviour interventions present opportunities to influence the long-term health and wellbeing of a large proportion of the population.
Methods
The student will collect self-reported sociodemographic data, physical and mental health status and 24h health-related behaviours (aligned with the BRC core outcomes), in a large cohort of University of Leicester students. This will be done at multiple points within and across years, and with a particular focus on underserved groups such as those of minoritized ethnicity. Data will be compared to data collected at NTU (n>10,000), and to young adults already living with chronic diseases using existing datasets held at the DRC.
Using wearable technologies and /or mHealth data collection methods, the student will gather objective data of student’s health related behaviours, including dietary habits, physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns and sleep profiles.
Observational data will describe and understand health-related behaviours in students, particularly those in underserved groups. The student will then co-design (with the target population(s)), and pilot a health behaviour intervention. This will follow a previously successfully approach (4), with various culturally tailored components for underserved groups. Integration of mHealth based interventions are likely to be suitable/successful in a student population.
Expected outcomes and impact
This PhD offers the opportunity to deliver a number of high-quality research papers. The holistic approach to health, rather than studying factor in isolation will yield novel findings. Objective and longitudinal data will also fill the current void in understanding the unique challenges and health trajectories of underserved groups, contributing to evidence-based interventions tailored for diverse student populations.
Establishing the Study Health Project as a program of work at the University of Leicester will also allow knowledge exchange activities and collaborations with other universities in the East Midlands and across the UK, as well as engaging with other stakeholders in student health and wellbeing, such as the NUS, OfS and DfE.
To apply
Please refer to our web page. Read the How to Apply section carefully and use the application link at the bottom of the web page to apply
https://le.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/funded-opportunities/leicester-lifestyle--and-health-rg
Enquiries to the project supervisor Professor Ruth James rmj20@le.ac.uk
Further enquiries to CLS-PGR@leicester.ac.uk (Include Leicester Lifestyle and Health E3 studentship in the subject line)
The Leicester Lifestyle and Health Research Group (LLHRG)
Studentships will be open to home and international applicants.
The funding will provide:
*International candidates will be asked to confirm they can cover the fee difference at the point of application. For 2025/6 entry this will be £18,864 per year of study. Fee waivers may be sought for exceptional candidates, but are not guaranteed.
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