Cultivating good health: the social capacity of workplace communities

Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014) and an outstanding 66% of the work of Loughborough’s academic staff who were eligible to be submitted to the REF was judged as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, compared to a national average figure of 43%.

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.

Project detail
There is increasing concern that poor diet and inactivity contribute to ill-health and all-cause mortality. This has led to calls for community-based interventions to help people engage in healthy behaviours. Workplaces are communities that play a significant role in influencing health outcomes of their workforce. However, the impact of workplace communities is not fully understood despite their potential influence. This project will examine 1) how workplace social communities emerge; 2) what these communities ‘look like’ (e.g. what clusters of people make up a social group), 3) the ‘healthy lifestyles’ capabilities within these groups and the resources available to them; and 4) what impact these communities have in facilitating or impeding good diet and physical activity behaviours. The project will adopt a using mixed methods to answer these questions. There is opportunity to shape this project to the applicant’s interest and to undertake this either full-time or part-time.

Supervisors
Primary supervisor: Dr Fehmidah Munir

Secondary supervisor: Dr Hilary McDermott

Find out more
For further project details email Dr Fehmidah Munir or register your interest and ask us a question:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/register-interest/

Further information about the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences can be found on our website:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ssehs/

Entry requirements
Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in psychology, social sciences, business studies or equivalent.

A relevant Master's degree and / or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: psychology, social sciences, business studies, research methods or equivalent.

All students must also meet the minimum English Language requirements.

How to apply
All applications should be made online. Under programme name select Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. Please quote reference number: SSEHS/FM/2:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/apply/research/