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Posted Fri, 11 Jan 2002 16:57:18
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From: "S. Cunningham-Burley" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 15:34:21 +0000
The University of Edinburgh, Faculty of Medicine Studentships
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 field of health 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 undergraduates 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
IDG Social Processes, Society and Health Health, illness and ‘solo-living’:
exploring the experiences of
those living alone at different stages of the lifecourse
Supervisors: Dr S Cunningham-Burley, Convener; 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
Project outline:
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. The overall 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.
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
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