Version 1.0 August 2014

Scholarship title PhD: “The Men on the Move Programme: An investigation of a

community based weight management physical activity programme

for men over 35years”

Reference number WD/2014/35

Supervisor(s) Dr Paula Carroll

Dr Michael Harrison

Dr Noel Richardson [Institute of Technology Carlow]

Research Group Centre for Health Behaviour Research

Department / School Health, Sport and Exercise Science

Duration Three years

Status: Full-time / part-time Full-time

Funding information Funding agency: Health Service Executive

Value of the scholarship (per annum) Stipend: None

Fees: €4,000 / annum

Research costs: €117,640 over three years

Teaching requirement (if any) None

Closing date and time 5pm Nov 5th 2014

Commencement date Dec 1st 2014

Post summary

Applications are invited to apply to undertake a PhD for the following project: “The Men on the Move Programme: An

investigation of a community based weight management physical activity programme for men over 35years”.

Men in Ireland die younger (4.8y) and have higher death rates than women for most of the leading causes of death at

all ages. Physical activity (PA) is a prophylactic to many of the chronic conditions affecting men. PA levels in men

reduce with age which is paralleled by an increase in overweight and obesity. While, only 13% of 18-35 year old men

are obese, this increases to 32% (36-50y) and 42% (51-64y) which represents a major public health problem.

Supporting men to modify their health behaviors poses unique challenges to service providers. Male gender role

socialization coupled with the service providers’ lack of knowledge of how to effectively engage men in health related

services often mitigates against working with men. The current study proposes to deliver the Men on the Move (MoM)

PA community based programme for men over 35y in 3 locations in 6 counties engaging a total of 360 men over 16

weeks. The ‘reach’ (demographic profile) and ‘impact’ (health measures) of the programme will be assessed up to 12

months post. The ‘process’ and cost of delivering the programme will be investigated and a model of best practice will

be developed that can be adopted elsewhere.

Standard duties and responsibilities of the scholarship

Project management

Review of Literature

Data collection and analysis

Liaising with network partners in each county

Postgraduate Scholarship

Information Sheet

Version 1.0 August 2014

Dissemination of data in peer reviewed academic journals, reports for funders and national and international

presentations

Qualifications

Essential

Applicants should hold or expect to attain, as a minimum, a 2.1 Honours degree, or equivalent, in the area of

health promotion OR exercise and health science.

Desirable

An MA or MSc in the areas of health promotion OR exercise and health science.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

Knowledge of men’s health and gender.

Desirable

Community based health promotion practice

Skills & Competencies

Essential

Applicants whose first language is not English must submit evidence of competency in English, please see

WIT’s English Language Requirements for details.

Good project management skills.

Capacity to work as a member of a team.

Good communication skills.

Quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis skills

Desirable

IT skills

Further information

For any informal queries, please contact Dr Paula Carroll pcarroll@wit.ie; +353 (0)51 834141]

For queries relating to the application and admission process please contact the Postgraduate Admissions Office via

email pgadmissions@wit.ie or telephone +353 (0)51 302883.

Website: www.wit.ie

Application procedure

Download the Research Postgraduate Application Form and return completed applications to pgadmissions@wit.ie.

Please note that paper applications will not be accepted.

The Institute may decide to interview only those applicants who appear from the information available, to be

the most suitable, in terms of experience, qualifications and other requirements of the post.

WATERFORD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER