Faculty of Community and Health Sciences

Research

Research Themes and Potential Supervisors

Purpose

This guide provides an overview of research themes and potential supervisors within Community, Social Work and Social Justice. It is intended to assist prospective and current postgraduate students in identifying supervisors whose research interests align with their proposed research topics.

Students are encouraged to contact the relevant administrator or potential supervisors to discuss supervision possibilities.
 

Community Development and Social Justice

Description

Research in this theme focuses on community development, social justice, youth participation, and strategies to address social inequalities within communities.

Example research topics

• Youth participation in community development
• Environmental justice and community engagement
• Community-based strategies for social transformation

Poverty, Inequality and Empowerment

Description

This theme focuses on structural inequalities, poverty reduction, gender empowerment, and social development strategies.

Example research topics

• Gender and empowerment in communities
• Poverty and social development interventions
• Community-based approaches to addressing inequality

Research Themes and Potential Supervisors

Purpose

This guide provides an overview of research themes and potential supervisors within Family and Youth Health. It is intended to assist prospective and current postgraduate students in identifying supervisors whose research interests align with their proposed study topics.

Students are encouraged to contact potential supervisors or the relevant programme administrators to discuss supervision possibilities.

Family Well-being and Social Cohesion

Description

Research in this theme focuses on family dynamics, parenting, social cohesion, and the impact of social conditions on family wellbeing.

Example research topics

• Family contributions to social cohesion
• Post-COVID family wellbeing
• Family intervention design

Parenting and Child & Adolescent Mental Health

Description

This theme focuses on parenting practices, adolescent mental health, child development, and psychological wellbeing.

Example research topics

• Parenting and child mental health
• Adolescent flourishing and wellbeing
• Early adolescent substance use prevention

HIV and Adolescent Health

Description

Research in this theme explores adolescent health outcomes related to HIV, treatment adherence, stigma, and intervention programmes.

Example research topics

• Long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy in adolescents
• Teen club interventions
• HIV treatment adherence and resilience

Family Health and Social Work Practice

Description

This theme examines social work perspectives on family wellbeing, trauma, and community health challenges.

Example research topics

• Social work responses to family crises
• HIV stigma within families
• Family resilience in community contexts

MYSLEEP

What is the MYSLEEP Study?

During adolescence and early adulthood, changes in sleep and the body's internal clock may play a role in the development of mental health issues like depression and anxiety, and 3 in 4 mental health conditions develop by age 24.

The MYSLEEP Study is funded by the Wellcome Trust to explore how sleep and body clock impact mental health, mood, and performance. By identifying the biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors behind these changes, the study can help guide better approaches for preventing and treating depression and anxiety in young people.

Who can take part?

If you're aged between 16 and 20 and currently living in Cape Town, you can participate in the MYSLEEP Study. If you're under 18, we will also need consent from your parent or guardian. You must be able to read and write in English, have regular access to a smartphone with an internet connection, and not have a history of severe mental illness or sleep disorders (except delayed sleep-wake phase disorder or insomnia).

What will participation involve?

The study lasts for ~2 years. Here's what to expect:

1. Pre-study interview (1 time, ~30 minutes): Before officially joining, we'll chat with you (and a parent/guardian if you're under 18) to discuss the study details and confirm eligibility. This will be done over the phone.
2. Surveys (up to 5 times, ~45 minutes each time): Every 6 months, you'll complete online surveys about your sleep, mood, lifestyle and more.
3. At-home monitoring (up to 3 times): Once a year, for about 2 weeks, you'll wear a wristwatch-like device that tracks your sleep and a light sensor around your neck. You'll also complete a short daily diary (2-3 minutes) through an app on your phone.
4. Body clock assessment (up to 3 times): Towards the end of each monitoring period, you'll attend an ~8-hour session at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). You'll provide hourly saliva samples to measure melatonin levels while relaxing in a dimly lit room, watching movies, and enjoying snacks, drinks, and dinner.
5. Mood and sleep interview (up to 2 times, ~60-90 minutes each time): At the beginning and end of the study, you'll participate in Zoom interviews with researchers to discuss your mood and sleep.

In return, you will receive a food voucher, certificate of participation, and personalised feedback and recommendations on your sleep.

If you have any questions, please contact us at mysleepstudy@uwc.ac.za

This research project has been approved by UWC's Research Ethics Committee: BM25/8/1