FULLY FUNDED MScR - The impact of incarceration on the health of family members

About the Project

To apply, please click institution webiste.

Project overview

In Scotland, as in many countries, the prison population is rising. It is known that people in prison have generally poorer health than those outside prison, and that being in prison leads to poorer health outcomes. However, relatively little is known about the health of the family members of someone who is in prison. Global research suggests that having a family member in prison is associated with worsening physical and mental health for the incarcerated person’s family. However, the way prisons, healthcare systems, and third-sector organisations interact varies greatly between nations. We need to better understand how the health of families in Scotland is affected by incarceration, to ensure support services and policy are aligned with the needs of the population.

Aim

The project seeks to understand how having a family member in prison affects the health of the people (predominantly women) who care for them.

Methods

The specific methods to be employed can be refined by the candidate, but it is anticipated that this will involve collecting qualitative data (through interviews and possibly focus groups) from family members of people who are either in prison or have previously been in prison. They will be expected to systematically analyse the data and identify meaningful insights into how family member incarceration affects the health of the family members outside prison.

Supervision and Environment

The project will be supervised by Dr Chris McParland, a clinical academic nurse researcher with a background in multiple long-term conditions and prison healthcare research. The project will be co-supervised by Dr Maria Drummond, a nurse researcher with a background in district nursing and research interests in care homes and improving access to research opportunities and findings for marginalised groups.

Who should apply

The candidate should have exceptional communication skills and be able to demonstrate experience in managing difficult conversations dealing with sensitive topics. Good organisational skills and an ability to manage workload efficiently are also essential.

An honours degree or non-UK equivalent in a relevant subject is required. Where appropriate, an unclassified degree with relevant professional experience and some evidence of postgraduate study will be considered.

Why this project?

By undertaking this project, we hope the candidate will be able to highlight how the harms of incarceration extend beyond the person in prison, to impact those outside.

This project also presents an excellent opportunity for the candidate to develop the skills required to design and conduct primary research. They will be supervised by an experienced and supportive supervisory team. The candidate will also develop subject-expertise in the health needs of an important but often underserved population.

Funding Notes

Home student tuition fees covered. This is a part time project over two years.