PhD Studentship: Physical Activity Parenting: Exploring the role of family interactions in adolescents’ healthy and unhealthy exercise behaviours (SSEHS/HW/18)

Application details:
Reference number: SSEHS/HW/18
Start date of studentship: 1 October 2018
Closing date for applications: 9 July 2018
Interview date: 30 July 2018

Supervisors:
Primary supervisor: Dr Hannah White
Co-supervisors: Dr Emma Haycraft and Professor Chris Harwood

Full Project Detail:
While public health messages highlight the health-related benefits of regular exercise, a high number of adolescents do not engage in recommended physical activity levels and/or report engaging in unhealthy exercise and weight control behaviours. Understanding the drivers of these unhealthy behaviours is a public health priority.

Parents have an important role in shaping their child’s activity behaviours through the physical activity-related parenting practices that they use (e.g., parental modelling of activity, providing logistical support). However, certain parent-child interactions may not always be beneficial in relation to promoting a healthy relationship with exercise (e.g., using weight loss to promote exercise). This raises questions in relation to how parents should be interacting with their adolescents in a way that promotes positive attitudes towards physical activity and their health.

This mixed-methods PhD aims to:
1) Increase our understanding of the types of parent-adolescent interactions related to physical activity, exercise and sport occurring in a range of families, including those who engage in competitive sports and those who do not.
2) Explore the role of family factors and physical activity/sports participation in relation to healthy and unhealthy exercise among both adolescents and parents.

This information will be used to develop and pilot an intervention to promote healthy parent-adolescent interactions related to exercise.

Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014). 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: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/supporting-you/research/
The School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences has been ranked 1st in the world for Sport-related Subjects (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017 and 2018).

Find out more:
Dr White’s research: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ssehs/staff/hannah-white/

Dr Haycraft’s research: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ssehs/staff/emma-haycraft/

Professor Harwood’s research: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ssehs/staff/chris-harwood/

Entry requirements:
Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology or a related subject. A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: Psychology, Sport and Exercise Psychology, Health Psychology or Physical Activity and Health. Experience conducting research related to children/young people or parents is also desirable.

Contact details:
Name: Dr Hannah White
Email address: [Email Address Removed]
Telephone number: 01509 225456

How to apply:
All applications should be made online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/. Under programme name, select School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences.

Please quote reference number: SSEHS/HW/18