Project title: Body Happy Schools Programme – Whole School Culture Change; a Multiple Single-Case Study

Primary supervisor: Dr Kamila Irvine (University of Lincoln)

Second supervisor: Dr David Dawson (University of Lincoln)

University: University of Lincoln, School of Psychology, Sport Science and Wellbeing, College of Health and Science

SENSS Theme: Health, Wellbeing and Social Care

Collaborative partner: Body Happy Org

Collaborative partner supervisor: Molly Forbes

Degree structure: The structure of the studentship offered will depend on your personal training needs. However, the minimum duration of a SENSS-funded studentship will be 3.5 years: this covers a PhD and a mandatory placement of approximately 3 months. The maximum duration of a studentship will be 4.5 years: this covers a Masters degree followed by a PhD, as well as the mandatory 3-month placement.

Project background

Negative body image, can emerge in children as young as 5, and can lead to issues such as body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and mental health difficulties. Research shows this dissatisfaction can impact academic engagement and physical activity and is a public health concern. Current school interventions are limited, often one-off and lacking in systemic change, leading to short-term effects. The Body Happy Org (BHO; https://www.bodyhappyorg.com) aims to foster long-term culture change in schools, equipping teachers and staff to promote positive body image and creating a body-positive environment for children. The Body Happy Org (BHO) is an award winning, social enterprise Community Interest Company dedicated to creating positive social change. The BHO and researchers at the University of Lincoln (UoL) are united in their view that poor body image is a systemic issue that drives inequality, and that promoting better body image starts with creating a school environment of body respect. The BHO’s unique and novel approach to this goal - the Body Happy Schools Programme (BHSP) - includes working with the school staff, pupils, establishing a peer advocacy programme, and teacher support group. The Programme aims to transform the school culture regarding bodies, food, exercise/movement, body diversity, and self-acceptance. The overarching theme of this research project is to determine the impact of the programme.

Project aims and objectives

The aims of the studentship are to:

  1. determine the impact of the Body Happy Schools Programme; a whole-school culture change intervention as a preventative measure against negative body image.

  2. formulate policy recommendations for incorporating body image education into school curriculum and policies. 

This will be achieved via the following activities:

  • conducting a systematic review

  • delivering the BHSP programme in schools,

  • evaluating the schools’ policies,

  • formulate policy recommendations for incorporating body image education into school curriculum and policy, and

  • review of BHO’s extant data and drawing up recommendations for best practice for effective and efficient feedback collection.


This studentship will include a 3-month long placement with the BHO.

Training opportunities

A comprehensive package of training will be agreed in consultation with the supervisors to develop the skills of the PhD student in an effort to develop an independent, social-scientist practitioner.

Elements of training will be provided by the supervisors and the BHO. The PhD candidate will be trained by the BHO as a facilitator of the Body Happy Schools Programme, will receive media and science communication training, and systematic review training.

The PhD candidate will be supported by experienced academic supervisors, the BHO’s multi-disciplinary team, a steering group, specialist librarian, and the Lincoln Policy hub.

Essential and/or desirable attributes/skills

  • Qualifications: Essential: BSc graduate from psychology, sociology, education, or related discipline.

  • Skills: Essential: strong research skills, Desirable: qualitative methods

  • Knowledge: Desirable: interest in body image, mental health, schools, social impact, educational psychology

  • Experience: Essential: experience in conducting research, preferably in social sciences; Desirable: experience working with children, teachers, schools, or social impact organisations

Studentship details

This studentship is between +3.5 and +4.5-year (1+3.5, 2+2.5, +4.5) awards. The standard length of an ESRC-funded studentship is +3.5. This includes the standard +3 PhD, plus an +0.25 term for the integrated placement which the collaborative partner is expected to offer the DR, and a further additional +0.25 to enable the student to undertake training relevant to their research project (including career progression). All studentships are offered on either a full-time or part-time basis.

The studentship award covers your university fees and provides you with a stipend of £19,237 per year (for 2024-2025 academic year). You will also be able to apply for additional funding via the SENSS Research Training Support Grant to support your training needs.

 Residential eligibility

All applicants, whether Home or International, are eligible for a full award, that is, they will receive a stipend (salary) and they will not have to pay any university tuition fees during their studentship award.

How to apply for this studentship

To be considered for this funding, you must first apply to SENSS for this collaborative studentship. Please read the SENSS Collaborative Studentship Application Guidance Notes before completing our online application form. The Guidance Notes are available here.

If your application is accepted by SENSS, you will need to make a separate application for a place to study at University of Lincoln as your host University. You will be provided with a link with information on how to make your application to University of Lincoln once the SENSS proposal has been accepted.

Deadline:

The deadline for submitting your application for SENSS funding on HEIApply is 12:00 GMT on Monday 24 February 2025. No extensions to this deadline will be permitted.

For further enquiries:

For enquiries about this research project, please email Dr Kamila Irvine at kirvine@lincoln.ac.uk

For enquiries related to your eligibility for this studentship, and/or the application process, please email: Operational Lead, Lauren Blackwell lblackwell@lincoln.ac.uk

The likely interview date for this studentship will be Wednesday 12 March 2025 (am).