Participate in Research

Promoting the mental wellbeing of postgraduate research (PGR) students
#24627, approved by the Bournemouth University Faculty of Health & Social Sciences

Chloe Casey is a PhD student researching PGR mental health and wellbeing from Bournemouth University. Her study aims to promote PGR mental health through non-clinical approaches: wellbeing promotion for all doctoral students. I plan to deliver this through a carefully phased feasibility study that will be designed and evaluated by doctoral college support staff, student support services and PGR students themselves. However, due to the lack of empirical evidence about the unique challenges underpinning the mental health of PGR students in the UK, the first phase of my study looks to further explore the issue through an online survey:

https://bournemouth.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/pgrwellbeinguk

She has conducted the same survey and a number of interviews at her home institution, but she is now collecting data from other UK PGRs to ensure I capture the challenges that are pertinent throughout the country and those that are institution-specific.
Contact Chloe Casey via ccasey@bournemouth.ac.uk with any questions.

participant_information_sheet_uk_online_survey.docx
File Size:	48 kb
File Type:	docx

Download File

Investigating factors that predict emotional distress and academic performance in undergraduate students
#1462, approved by the Aston University Life and Health Sciences Ethics Committee

Currently seeking undergraduate and MSc students from Aston University to take part in a study into factors that predict emotional distress and academic performance. Participants will be asked to take part in a series of exercises and questionnaires, and will be rewarded either with 18 SONA credits or a £10 Amazon voucher. Open the file below for more information about what will be asked of participants.

Researcher Samantha Jordan is conducting this research with the intention of ultimately trialing several interventions for new undergraduate students, designed to increase emotional resilience and improve academic performance.

Contact Samantha Jordan via s.jordan@aston.ac.uk to take part or find out more.

Aston uni study poster.pdf
File Size:	116 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Graduate Wellbeing Project: The relationship between mental health and leaving university
Approved by the University of Dundee School of Social Sciences Ethics Committee

Are you graduating this summer?
The Graduate Wellbeing Project aims to investigate the relationship between students' mental wellbeing, perceptions of environments and graduating university. It is being conducted at the University of Dundee by doctoral researcher Shonagh McInnes.

Students are invited to take part in the project by completing an online survey. It should take around 20 minutes to complete. Your help would be greatly appreciated and, as a thank you for your time, you can be entered into a prize draw to win Amazon vouchers.

To find out more, or to take part, visit www.graduatewellbeingproject.com
If you have any questions about the project please contact Shonagh at s.mcinnes@dundee.ac.uk

A psychological therapy for young people whose self-esteem has been affected by prejudice, discrimination or stigma
HR-18/19-8433, approved by the KCL Psychiatry, Nursing and Midwifery Research Ethics Subcommittees

This study, led by Katie Langford and Katrina McMullen at King's College London, aims to evaluate a psychological therapy for improving self-esteem and well-being in young people aged 16-24 who identify that prejudice, discrimination and/or stigma (e.g. in relation to their gender, race, religion, appearance, sexual orientation, class, weight, mental or physical health, disability, or other characteristic) has affected their self-esteem.

Participants are invited to take part in an interview/assessment to explore their experiences, plus 6 individual therapy sessions. We are collecting feedback from participants about what it is like to receive the therapy, and looking at outcomes through questionnaires at multiple time points.

To learn more about the study or to take part, click here.

Loneliness, mental wellbeing and citizenship in a student population
05/22/12/18/A, approved by the University of Strathclyde Ethics Committee

Recent research has suggested that students in higher education in the UK experience higher levels of mental distress and lower wellbeing. The present study will examine the impact of various psychological factors (low mood, stress, loneliness and citizenship) on mental wellbeing amongst students in the UK.

Participants much be over the age of 17 and studying in Higher Education in the UK. You will be invited to complete a series of questionnaires about the various psychological factors that may have an impact on your wellbeing. You will also be asked about your citizenship, as we are interested to know how this may impact on wellbeing. The session should take no longer than 15 minutes.

Click here to read the full information sheet or to take part, or email Andrew Robertson at andrew.j.robertson.2014@uni.strath.ac.uk for further details.

Mindfulness skills-based group therapies for university students with stress/anxiety
ETH1819-0489, approved by Department of Psychology Research Ethics Committee, City University London

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) group and a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) group for individuals with anxiety.

ACT and MBSR have been shown to be effective in helping a range of individuals with anxiety and we want to find out whether it will be useful in a university setting, so if you are a student at a London university and there is an aspect of your life that you would like to improve, we believe that a psychological intervention may be of benefit to you. We can offer you four 2-hour group sessions, which will take place once a week for a total of 4 weeks.

Participation will involve a brief pre-screening interview followed by, if eligible, weekly meetings to discuss your thoughts and feelings with the group facilitator. Questionnaires will also be completed each week (more details in the information sheet below, or contact the researchers).

If you are a university student who meets the outlined criteria and would like to know more or participate in the study, please contact Dr Jessica Jones Nielsen (Project Lead) or Giulia Falangola (Research Assistant) at the Counselling Psychology (CPsych) Research Clinic at City, University of London via email CPsychResearchClinic@city.ac.uk or phone +44 (0)20 7040 8755

participant_information_sheetACTstudy.pdf
File Size:	391 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Care experienced students in Higher Education
REC1127, approved by the UCL Research Ethics Committee

Today, more and more young who have lived in foster care or residential care as a child are being encouraged and supported to continue with their education, but a recent study has shown that care-experienced young people at university are more likely leave before completing their course than other students. Researchers at University College London (UCL) have been commissioned by the Access and Widening Participation Team at UCL to carry out a study into how young people from a care background experience Higher Education. The aim of this study is to understand how care leavers experience higher education and how they can be better supported to complete their course.

We would like to speak to care leavers who are currently in their second or final year of a degree course and those who have previously attended university but did not complete their course. We would like to involve young people from a range of universities across London and the South East.

To find out more or sign up, visit https://studentsexperiencesinhighereducation.wordpress.com/; there is also an information available for download below.
Or contact Hanan Hauari (h.hauari@ucl.ac.uk) or Katie Hollingworth (katie.hollingworth@ucl.ac.uk) on the research team.

care_experienced_young_people_in_he_study_info.pdf
File Size:	158 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

The HYPE Project: Improving the Health of Young People
Ethically approved by the King's College London Research Ethics Committee (REC Reference Number: HR-17/18-7535); funded by the Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute for Health Research

The HYPE (Improving the Health of Young PeoplE) Project is an online recruitment, risk assessment, and resource platform for young people (aged 16 and over). The Project is aimed at improving the understanding of problems affecting young people’s health, increasing young peoples’ involvement in research and improving access to online and community, social and health-related resources. We hope to use the project to empower individuals within their neighbourhoods and communities by providing an environment to voice their opinions and contribute to a discussion on health inequalities - and work towards reducing these inequalities.

To take part, we need young people to complete a 30 minute (approximately) online survey.

The HYPE Project online platform also offers signposting to relevant charities and organisations, self-help materials and information about community activities and events. Access to all the resources is free regardless of whether the young person takes part in the research survey.

For more information about the project or to sign up, please go to https://hypekcl.com or you can contact us via email at hype@kcl.ac.uk.

You can follow us on Twitter: @hype_project and on Instagram: @hype_projectkcl

Investigating the relationship between mental health and sport
HR-18/19-8672, approved by KCL PNM Research Ethics Committee

The Department of Psychology at King's College London is seeking university students studying in the UK to participate in an online survey. The study will investigate the relationship between mental health and sport. Students who are or who are not involved in sport are both invited to participate. The survey can be completed online and takes approximately 20 minutes to fill in.

Participants can register for a prize draw to win Amazon vouchers, though all answers will be anonymous.

Follow this link to participate in the survey: https://kcliop.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5hfrRX4jHmdNCq9
For more information, please email the researcher, Dr James Findon: james.findon@kcl.ac.uk

Go to the Beat or NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) websites to find out more about National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

GLAD

What is the GLAD Study?
The Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (GLAD) Study launched this September and aims to recruit over 40,000 individuals. This is the world’s largest study of depression and anxiety and we hope to investigate the genetic, environmental and social risk factors for these disorders. Anyone aged 16 years or older who lives in England and has experienced anxiety or depression during their lifetime is encouraged to sign up. Participants will facilitate important future research by joining a recontactable database and the National Institute for Health Research Mental Health BioResource.

Why is it important?
Depression and anxiety are common but complex disorders and research into this requires a very large sample size. In the UK, more than a quarter of students report having a mental health problem, the most common of which are depression and anxiety. Psychological therapy, antidepressant and anti-anxiety drug treatments are more available than ever before, but only around half of those treated respond well. Through better understanding of mental health genetics, new and more effective treatment options can be developed, and healthcare professionals will be better equipped to predict which treatments work for specific types of patients. So far, over 40 genetic links for depression and anxiety have been identified and researchers know that 30-40% of depression and anxiety risk is genetic and 60-70% is environmental. However, current and previous mental health research has been limited by the access to volunteers with these disorders.

How can you help?
Taking part in the GLAD Study involves four simple steps. Firstly, you register online at www.gladstudy.org.uk and read the information sheet. Then you complete an online consent form, which is explained in more detail by an online animation. Following this you complete a 30-minute online eligibility questionnaire about your experiences of depression and/or anxiety to confirm you qualify to take part. Finally, if you meet the eligibility criteria you will be sent a saliva DNA kit in the post, along with a freepost envelope to send it back to us. You can get involved from the comfort of your own home!

For more information about the GLAD Study and how to take part, please go to www.gladstudy.org.uk or email gladstudy@kcl.ac.uk

iCare PLUS study

PNM/14/15-130, approved by KCL Psychiatry, Nursing and Midwifery Research Ethics subcommittee. Students at any university in the UK can participate.

The Department of Psychological Medicine are seeking university students to participate in PLUS, an online study of personality, lifestyle and mental health. The study will look at whether an online programme designed to help students can improve wellbeing.
Taking part involves filling out online questionnaires and completing a series of online sessions. You’ll receive feedback on your questionnaire responses, allowing you to learn more about yourself and your strengths and weaknesses.

Each time you complete a set on online questionnaires, you’ll be entered into a raffle for an iPad.

Sign up here: https://www.icare-online.eu/en/Plus.html or contact madeleine.irish@kcl.ac.uk for more details.

Tracking student mental health across the term

LRS-17/18-5301, approved by the KCL Psychiatry, Nursing and Midwifery Research Ethics subcommittee. Students at any university in the UK can participate.

This study is recruiting students who have been feeling low recently to take part in the control group for a study to evaluate the efficacy of peer support for student mental health. As a control group, we are not asking you to do anything in particular to participate in this study - to participate you need to complete an online survey now and will be invited to complete a second online survey in a few months. The data you provide will, as part of a wider study, help us understand the efficacy of peer support for student mental health.

The questionnaire can be completed online and takes approximately 10 minutes to fill in. Participants can register for a prize draw to win Amazon vouchers. For more information please visit: www.tinyurl.com/StudentMH1

For more information, please email the researcher - Dr Nicola Byrom (Nicola.byrom@kcl.ac.uk); Department of Psychology, IoPPN, 2.09 Addison House, Guy's Campus, Kings College London, SE1 1UL

Understanding what matters to students: Dimensions of Quality of Life

LRS-17/18-7273, approved by the PNM Research Ethics Committee at KCL and Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Ethics Committee at Northumbria University. Students at KCL or Northumbria university can participate.

The World Health Organization defines Quality of Life as “an individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns.” But what does Quality of Life mean to you?

We’d like to hear your thoughts and get your help developing a new measure to assess quality of life for students. We are running interviews (these may take up to 60 minutes) to discuss quality of life with students aged 18-25. Interviewees will be reimbursed for their time with a £10 Amazon shopping voucher. If you think you might be interested, find out more and sign up to take part here: https://tinyurl.com/QoLresearch

For more information, please email Dr Nicola Byrom (Nicola.byrom@kcl.ac.uk); Department of Psychology, IoPPN, 2.09 Addison House, Guy's Campus, Kings College London, SE1 1UL