Multivariate, longitudinal and cross-cultural exploration of the effects of becoming a parent on mental health and wellbeing in modern society

About the Project

Why do some people thrive when they become parents, while others struggle? This PhD explores how mental wellbeing changes during the transition to parenthood, using rich data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) and datasets from non-UK countries. It will investigate psychological, social, economic, and biological factors that shape emotional health in new parents and compare findings across cultures. We’re looking for promising candidates with initiative and a solid grounding in handling large datasets. The successful candidate will deepen their expertise in psychology and epidemiology, broaden their research networks internationally, and contribute to meaningful, policy-relevant science.

Background

Mental wellbeing is a vital determinant of life outcomes, influencing physical health, longevity, and occupational success. One of the most significant life transitions that can affect wellbeing is becoming a parent. This transition can reshape identity, alter access to social support, and impact mental health in complex and lasting ways. Despite its importance, existing research offers mixed findings on which parents are most vulnerable to poor wellbeing and which modifiable factors might help mitigate the challenges of early parenthood. These inconsistencies are partly due to methodological limitations, including a lack of longitudinal data and limited cross-cultural comparisons.

This PhD project seeks to address these gaps by investigating how mental wellbeing changes during the transition to parenthood, and what psychological, social, economic, and biological factors shape these changes. The project will use data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a rich, multi-generational UK birth cohort, to examine trajectories of wellbeing, anxiety, and depression before and after individuals become parents. It will also explore predictors of emotional health in new parents, drawing on both contemporaneous and life-course factors. In addition, the project will compare findings across international longitudinal datasets to understand how cultural context influences the experience of becoming a parent.

This work is particularly timely given declining birth rates and increasing pressures on young adults, including economic insecurity and changing social norms around family life. By generating new insights into how parenthood affects mental wellbeing—and how these effects vary across contexts—the project aims to inform interventions and policies that support parents during this critical life stage.

Key aim and objectives

This PhD aims to understand how mental wellbeing changes during the transition to parenthood, and what factors shape these changes. Key objectives include:

• Investigating changes in wellbeing, anxiety, and depression before and after becoming a parent using ALSPAC data.
• Identifying contemporaneous and life-course predictors of emotional health in new parents.
• Exploring differences by gender, parenting experience, and child age.
• Comparing findings across international cohorts to understand cultural variation.

We hypothesise that wellbeing trajectories vary by social support, economic stability, and prior mental health, and differ between mothers and fathers.

How to apply

You can submit an application via the University of Bristol application portal: Start your application | Study at Bristol | University of Bristol selecting the relevant PhD programme, e.g. “Translational Health Sciences (PhD)”.

Search for your programme and select it from the dropdown list to see the available start dates. Select ‘apply’ next to your chosen start date to begin your application.

Link to prospectus pages for Translational Health Sciences giving entry requirements and admissions statement: Translational Heath Sciences

In the funding section of the application form, please select `Self-funding` or the name of your sponsor.

For project-related enquiries, please contact the project supervisor directly.

Prof. Claire Haworth claire.haworth@bristol.ac.uk