Understanding primary-secondary and childhood-adolescence transitions: the Wellbeing in Northern Ireland Schools (WiNIS) study.

This PhD will continue WiNIS, a longitudinal study of school-aged children living in Northern Ireland (NI) (previous data sweeps have been collected at age 8-9 and 10-11 years). The WiNIS survey includes a comprehensive battery of measures across several health domains including: health-related quality of life; mental and physical health, affluence, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, social media and relationships to explore how these determinants impact their wellbeing. This PhD will extend this study by re-administering the survey to the same sample at age 11-12 years (Year 8), enabling us to explore the wellbeing trajectories and outcomes in this cohort. This PhD will also investigate a key transitional time-period for this cohort as they navigate childhood-adolescent and primary-secondary transitions.

Objectives of the research are to:

1) contribute to our understanding of wellbeing as it applies to young people aged 11-12 years.

2) explore wellbeing during Year 8 and identify the factors that impact upon this.

3) assess what role the three core contexts of home, school and social relationships might play in impacting upon their wellbeing.

4) map the wellbeing trajectories and outcomes in this cohort.

5) utilise co-production approaches and develop partnerships with key stakeholders throughout the research process, and to make available robust evidence to inform policy and practice regionally.

This PhD study will adopt a mixed- methods, multi-phase design. Phase 1 will use qualitative methods to identify key factors relevant to the lives of NI schoolchildren as they progress through a key transitional time-point from the perspectives of young people, their family and schools. Phase 2 will use participatory research methods to explore the relevance and appropriateness of the WiNIS survey for young people aged 11-12 years. Phase 3 will involve recruitment and administration of the WiNIS survey to explore the wellbeing trajectories and outcomes in this cohort of NI schoolchildren (at two time-points during their Year 8 school year).

Please note: Applicants with a 2:1 degree in Psychology (or close to completion) are strongly encouraged to apply.