Closing date: 25 January 2002

Please would you bring this to the attention of Masters and final
year Honours students who may be interested in
interdisciplinary PhD study in the area of
'Health, Illness and Solo-living'.

Thank you.
Pam Warner

------- Forwarded message follows -------
From: "S. Cunningham-Burley" <[log in to unmask]>
Organization: University of Edinburgh
To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
Date sent: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 13:23:34 +0000
Subject: Postgraduate Scholarships, Faculty of Medicine, Uni of Edinburgh

<bold><FontFamily><param>Times New Roman</param>The University of Edinburgh, Faculty of Medicine Studentships


</bold>The University of Edinburgh, Faculty of Medicine is currently

advertising Postgraduate Research Scholarships across a range

of disciplines. A total of 37 projects were approved, and it is

likely that 7 will be funded. The following project relevant to

social scientists interested in postgraduate study in the health field

has been approved. The studentships are advertised at

www.jobs.ac.uk and application forms are available from

www.gradlife.ed.ac.uk. Please pass this information on to

Masters students and final year undergradguates you think

may be interested in applying. The closing date is 25th January

2002. Informal inquiries can be made to me, contact details at

the end of this message. Thank you, Sarah Cunningham-Burley

Community Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh


<bold>IDG Social Processes, Society and Health

Health, illness and ‘solo-living’: exploring the experiences of

those living alone at different stages of the lifecourse</bold>


<bold>Supervisors:</bold> Dr S Cunningham-Burley, Reader, Public Health

Sciences; Co-Director, Centre for Research on Families and

Relationships; Dr K Backett-Milburn, Senior Research Fellow,

Research Unit in Health, Behaviour and Change, Co-Director,

Centre for Research on Families and Relationships; Pam

Warner, Lecturer in Medical Statistics, Community Health

Sciences

<bold>Project outline:</bold>

Increasing numbers of people now live alone at different stages

of their lifecourse. Changing demographic trends, such as

fewer and later marriages, suggest that single person

households will continue to grow. In 1999, 31% of all Scottish

households comprised of one adult, and there has been a

particular increase where that adult is under pensionable age.

By 2012 this percentage is projected to be 38% (Scottish Social

Statistics, 2001). We know very little about the health

experiences of those who live alone and how these may be

differentiated by age and gender


It has long been noted that there are differences in the health of

those in different marital status categories and despite

enormous social changes in the meaning and timing of marriage,

extent of co-habitation, remarriage and divorce, these

observations persist (Wyke and Ford, 1992). The picture is

complex, with age, gender, material circumstances and routes

into different marital status categories all affecting health

outcome (Macintyre and Hunt, 1997; Morgan, 1980). We also

know that lifestyle issues are differentiated by life stage and

also by gender (Backett and Davison, 1992 ), and that social

support itself can directly and indirectly influence health

outcome (Berkman and Syme, 1979)).


Although not all those who are single or no longer married live

alone, concerns have been raised about the health of those who

do live alone and especially about the availability of social

support networks which may act to protect health.


Theoverall aim of this study will be to:

·explore the health perceptions and experiences of those living

alone, at different stages of the life course

More specifically, the research will:

·Examine the interrelationship between marital status, solo-living

and health

·Assess differences in experiences and expectations of health by

age, gender and material circumstances

·Map the social support networks and needs of those living

alone

·Document the experiences of health and social care by those

living alone



The project will be carried out in two stages. The first stage will involve

analysing existing data sets - the Scottish Household Survey and the

2001 Census. These analyses will examine the effects of age, gender,

material circumstances, marital status and solo-living on health outcome

and health-related behaviours. The second stage will involve in-depth,

semi-structured interviews with approximately 60 men and women at two

different stages of the life course, 30-34 and 50-54 years, living in

affluent or disadvantaged households. These age groups represent

distinct stages of the lifecourse, where routes into solo-living will be

varied.


This research project fits into the overall research strategies of the IDG

Social Processes, Society and Health and the Centre for Research on

Families and Relationships, where a lifecourse perspective in

understanding health and health behaviour is important. The results will

be highly relevant to public health and primary care. The student will

join a thriving research environment within Community Health Sciences,

the IDG and at the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships.

The project will provide training in quantitative and qualitative methods,

enabling the student to pursue a career in health research.



<nofill>
Sarah Cunningham-Burley ([log in to unmask])
Co-Director
Centre for Research on Families and Relationships
23 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh EH8 9NB
Tel 0131 651 1832 Fax 0131 651 1833
www.crfr.ac.uk
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
and
Reader
Public Health Sciences, Medical School,
University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place,
Edinburgh, EH8 9AG
Tel: 0131-650-3217 Fax: 0131-650-6909
------- End of forwarded message -------
------- End of forwarded message -------

Pamela Warner

Public Health Sciences
University of Edinburgh Medical School
Teviot Place
EDINBURGH
EH8 9AG
Scotland UK

Ph.: 0131- 650 3248
Fax: 0131- 650 6909
email: [log in to unmask]

1902 to 2002: 100 Years of Academic Public Health