Loneliness and mental health in sport

Applications accepted all year round
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

About the Project

Loneliness is recognised as a global public health concern, yet its role within sport remains underexplored (Jackman et al., 2024). While sport is often assumed to foster social connection, emerging evidence suggests that athletes and those who support them can experience loneliness, which may influence mental health and well-being. This project will investigate the relationship between loneliness and mental health in sport, considering risk and protective factors across individual and contextual levels. Underpinned by bioecological frameworks, the research offers scope to examine how personal characteristics interact with environmental factors to shape experiences of loneliness.

The successful candidate will have flexibility to shape the direction of the project. Possible research questions could include:

• How does loneliness relate to mental health indicators such as well-being, depression, or anxiety?
• Which individual and contextual factors act as risk or protective factors for mental health?
• How do athletes describe the experience and meaning of loneliness in their sporting lives?

Methods

The project would typically adopt a mixed methods approach, including reviews, large-scale surveys, qualitative interviews or focus groups, creative methodologies, and feasibility work to inform future interventions.

Research environment and training opportunities

The successful candidate will join the SPRINT Project research team, which focuses on mental health and well-being in sport and dance https://www.sprintproject.org. You will benefit from access to world-class facilities at the University of Birmingham and training for postgraduate students in areas such as academic writing and knowledge exchange – more details are available here https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research/doctoral-programme/skills-development.

Person specification

Required:

• First Class or 2:1 degree in a relevant subject (e.g., Sport and Exercise Psychology, Psychology, or Social Sciences).

Preferable:

• MSc/MRes/Masters by Research in a relevant subject area, with strong research methods background.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Capacity to work within emotionally demanding research areas and awareness of boundaries to support own well-being. For more detail on this please visit https://www.sprintproject.org/researcher-mental-health.
• Proficiency in the use of generic IT packages, for example Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook, and Teams.

All interested candidates MUST contact the lead supervisor of this project by email, including a current CV highlighting your educational qualifications, grades, and relevant experiences, an abstract of the most recent study you have conducted or plan to conduct, and a statement of interest BEFORE submitting a formal application.

If you have limited research experience, please note this research topic is also available for students applying for a research masters course which may be more appropriate for your background to date, with the potential to progress to a PhD upon successful completion: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/subjects/sport-and-exercise-sciences-courses/sport-exercise-and-rehabilitation-sciences-phd

Informal enquiries are encouraged and should be directed to Dr Mary Quinton: m.quinton@bham.ac.uk. Please note that due to maternity leave, applications will not be considered for a start date before September 2027.

Candidates with appropriate credentials will be invited to submit a full application, including:

• A brief research proposal
• Names and addresses of two referees
• Copies of degree certificates with transcripts
• Evidence of English language proficiency (if applicable)

Funding Notes

This project is not associated with funding from the University of Birmingham. Applicants will need to obtain their own scholarship or other financial support to cover tuition fees and living costs.

If you have strong academic credentials (e.g., a first-class undergraduate degree from a UK university and/or distinction in a Masters), you are strongly encouraged to apply for a studentship through the Midlands Graduate School ESRC DTP. Full details: View Website