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In choosing Loughborough for your research, you’ll work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. You will benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from our Doctoral College, including tailored careers advice, to help you succeed in your research and future career. Find out more.
PROJECT DETAILS
Full-time: 3 years
Part-time: 6 years
Start dates: April 2022, July 2022, October 2022
Insufficient physical activity and sleep, high levels of sedentary time, and unhealthy dietary patterns are significant risk factors for multiple short- and long-term health outcomes in children and young people. For example, combinations of these behaviours have been linked with higher levels of obesity and poor mental health outcomes such as depressive symptoms and anxiety.
Both social and economic factors can impact health behaviours and associated and health behaviours, with those who live in disadvantage (e.g., those from lower income families, those from ethnic minority families) faring worse. For example, our own research in the UK has shown that children from lower income households have higher levels of screen-time and unhealthy eating.
Covid-19 has likely had a profound impact on the health and health behaviours of children and young people and their families. For example, there has been a large reduction in children being sufficiently active during the first Covid-19 lockdown (28.9%) compared to pre-pandemic (69.4%), and children from more deprived backgrounds and those from Black and Asian backgrounds were most impacted.
This research aims to examine differences in trends in behaviours and outcomes, and on the impact of different intervention approaches and strategies to reduce inequalities in physical activity, sedentary time, sleep, and dietary behaviours and improve health outcomes in children and young people. The research will be mixed methods. It will examine the inequalities in physical activity, sedentary time, sleep, and dietary behaviours and the associations with physical and mental health in young people pre covid. It will also utilise emerging evidence to examine the impact of covid on these inequalities.
The research will involve systematically reviewing the existing literature, accessing and analysing secondary data from UK cohort studies, and conducting and analysing qualitative interviews with young people and their families/carers.
The project aligns closely with Loughborough University’s Health and Wellbeing Global Challenge and the Sport and Exercise Research Beacon (priority area Children, Young People and Families). The application also aligns to the Lifestyle for Health and Wellbeing research theme in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences.
SUPERVISORS
Primary supervisor: Dr Natalie Pearson
Secondary supervisor: Dr Emma Haycraft
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Our entry requirements are listed using standard UK undergraduate degree classifications i.e. first-class honours, upper second-class honours and lower second-class honours.
Entry requirements for United Kingdom
Students who have achieved, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 in psychology, sport and exercise science, public health or a related discipline are eligible to apply. Having a relevant MSc is desirable.
English language requirements
Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.
Find out more about research degree funding
HOW TO APPLY
All applications should be made online. Under programme name, select 'Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences'. Please quote the advertised reference number SSEHS/NP/1 in your application. To avoid delays in processing your application please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents.
Apply now
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