A Social Identity and Meaning-Based Perspective

About the Project

This project addresses a critical gap in psychological research by examining how leadership, social identity, and meaning-making shape burnout, wellbeing, and prosocial (including heroic) action in high-pressure contexts. Burnout is a pervasive occupational stress syndrome, particularly in roles characterised by moral demand, uncertainty, and sustained pressure. At the same time, such contexts often generate expectations of “heroic” behaviour—prosocial action involving personal cost or risk—which may both protect against and contribute to burnout.

Drawing on social identity theory, research on meaning in life, and psychological approaches to leadership under pressure, this project will investigate when and how heroic norms, leadership practices, and shared group identities support resilience, collective efficacy, and wellbeing, and when they instead accelerate exhaustion, cynicism, and disengagement.

The project builds on emerging interdisciplinary work in psychology, health, and organisational research, including longitudinal and applied research on frontline workers and leadership in crisis contexts. Empirical focus may include (but is not limited to) healthcare, emergency services, education, or other high-demand occupational and social settings.

The team are seeking to recruit two new PhD students for this project.

Potential research questions

How do leadership practices and shared social identities shape burnout and wellbeing under pressure?
When do expectations of heroism and prosocial action buffer against burnout, and when do they exacerbate it?
How do meaning-making processes interact with leadership and identity to influence resilience and vulnerability over time?

Methods and training

The project is methodologically flexible and will be developed collaboratively with the successful candidates. Possible approaches include:

Longitudinal survey designs
Experimental or vignette-based studies
Mixed-methods research (quantitative and qualitative)
Secondary analysis of existing datasets where appropriate

The PhD will provide training in advanced psychological theory, research design, and quantitative and/or qualitative methods, with opportunities for high-quality publications in international journals.

Supervision and research environment

The PhD candidate(s) will be jointly supervised by Dr Elaine Kinsella and Prof Eric Igou.

Dr Kinsella’s research focuses on burnout, leadership under pressure, social identity, and heroism in health and organisational contexts, and Prof. Eric Igou, whose expertise includes meaning in life, judgement, decision-making, and self-regulation. The supervisory team offers a strong, complementary foundation for theory-driven and impactful research.

The successful candidate(s) will be based in the Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, within a supportive and research-active environment with strong international collaborations.

Candidate profile

We welcome applications from candidates with:

A strong background in psychology (or a closely related discipline)
Excellent academic writing and analytical skills
An interest in leadership, wellbeing, meaning, social identity, and psychological research
Experience with quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods (desirable but not essential)

Funding Notes

Self-funded applicants are welcome to apply. The supervisory team will work with the successful candidate(s) to pursue Research Ireland postgraduate research funding in 2026.

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