significantly higher rates of perceived discrimination during healthcare consultations. This experienced bias directly fosters negative treatment expectations, heightens nocebo side effects, and ultimately damages medication adherence, worsening structural health inequalities.
This fully integrated, mixed-methods PhD project bridges Health Psychology and Social Psychology to move beyond documenting this disparity. Working at the intersection of these fields, the successful candidate will investigate how structural and interpersonal medical biases manifest as physical side effects and develop active behavioural interventions designed to buffer patients against discrimination-induced nocebo responding.
To achieve the project’s overarching goals, you will have the flexibility to develop a multi-phase, mixed-methods research strategy. An illustrative roadmap for how you might structure this work includes:
Phase 1: Establishing the Quantitative Evidence Base (e.g. via systematic review and meta-analysis).
Phase 2: Deepening understanding by drawing on Lived Experience (e.g. focus groups/semi-structured interviews).
Phase 3: Intervention Development & Co-Creation.
Phase 4: Piloting
Supervisory Team and Environment
You will be based in the vibrant, collaborative School of Psychology at the University of Sheffield. You will be co-supervised by Dr Rebecca Webster, an expert in nocebo effects, symptom misattribution, and medical risk communication, and Professor Chantelle Wood, an expert in intergroup relations, prejudice reduction, meta-analyses, and behavioural change interventions. While you will lead the intellectual direction of this project, this dual expertise ensures you will receive tailored mentoring, methodological backing, and support throughout your doctoral journey.
Funding Notes
Applications are welcome from self-funded students or those holding external funding/government sponsorships. Intakes are usually October and March annually.
NB The University has some scholarships under competition each year. More details can be found on View Website.
References
Webster, R. K., & Iyer, A. (2026). Perceived discrimination in healthcare settings is associated with medication side-effects and adherence: A cross-sectional survey representing the four largest ethnic groups in the UK. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 13(3), 2110-2119. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40615-025-02403-y
Yetman, H. E., Cox, N., Adler, S. R., Hall, K. T., & Stone, V. E. (2021). What do placebo and nocebo effects have to do with health equity? The hidden toll of nocebo effects on racial and ethnic minority patients in clinical care. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 788230. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.788230/full
