MSc by Research - Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing of Bedfordshire Police

Open to Home students only; One year programme of research.

The candidate

Applicants with a strong background in Health Psychology, Physical Activity, Sport Science and Mental Health or a related discipline are encouraged to apply. There is also the opportunity to combine this studentship with competencies relevant for Stage 2 training in Health Psychology or Sport and Exercise Psychology. The candidate will work closely with the local police force, developing an understanding of key needs in relation to their health and wellbeing with a view of identifying the proportion of those who may be at risk of preventable ill health.

Area of research

Recent figures highlight that officers from 27 UK police forces took more than a million sick days over the last three years because of psychological distress (ITV news, 2016). This report suggests that not only are these sickness days due to the stress and psychological distress caused by the critical incidents that they deal with, such as death, trauma, violence and abuse; but also by the behaviours they engage in to cope; such as alcohol use. What is known is that job stress and negative affect (such as depression) are significantly linked with maladaptive behaviours such as alcohol abuse in police officers (Kohan & O'Connor, 2002). It is also noteworthy that there is a 10-fold increase of suicidal ideation in police officers who have elevated levels of stress and alcohol use (Violanti, 2004).

Conversely, there is a protective nature of physical activity behaviour on psychological wellbeing, with more active individuals showing lower levels of stress and depression and a greater satisfaction with life (Penedo & Dahn, 2005). It has long been discussed that poor mental health (depression, anxiety, stress) is significantly linked to illness and disease, particularly in front line staff (Hegg-Deloye et al., 2014). In contrast, evidence confirms that those who hold a positive outlook on life will have a significantly longer life expectancy than those who focus on the negative (Danner et al., 2001) and are less likely to be immunosuppressed (Cohen et al., 2003), making them less susceptible to viral infections such as colds and flu.

Aim

Using a mixed methods approach (qualitative, quantitative and experimental design), this programme of research aims to identify health-related risk factors and those of a protective nature in the local police force. Using an online data collection tool, it will identify the level of subjective wellbeing (affect, stress, satisfaction with life), self-efficacy beliefs, and their link with health preventive behaviours, namely physical activity, diet, alcohol use, smoking behaviour and sleep patterns and physical health risk factors (such as obesity) across the Bedfordshire Police force. As a feasibility assessment for a future intervention, it will further test two brief Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs), with the intention to enhance subjective wellbeing, and thus reduce levels of stress and negative health behaviours. Qualitative interviews will be used to support these findings.

Funding

This studentship will cover fees for a full year-long MSc by Research alongside costs towards the dissemination of the findings (i.e. conference attendance, publication fees).

Deadline and Start date

Deadline for application is the 13th August 2018. Application forms can be downloaded from the ISPAR website https://www.beds.ac.uk/research-ref/ispar/research-degrees and completed forms should be sent directly to the Research Graduate School Office [Email Address Removed] and the project lead Dr Angel Chater [Email Address Removed]

Applicants should be available for an October 2018 start-date. Interviews will be held on the 20th August or 3rd September 2018.