Second supervisor: Dr Faith Matcham

Collaborative partner: Unmind

Collaborative partner supervisor: Dr Heather Bolton

Project background

Sleep plays a vital role in maintaining physical and mental health. However, sleep disturbance and insomnia are very common. Insufficient sleep has been shown to adversely impact a range of outcomes including cognitive performance, mental health, emotional regulation, quality of life, relationship satisfaction, workplace and leisure activities. There is an urgent need for evidence-based interventions that improve sleep quantity and/or quality in working-age adults.

Smartphone-based mental health applications (or ‘MHapps’) are a prime delivery medium for sleep interventions, and standalone, audio-based tools (sleep skills, sounds and stories) for sleep designed for ad-hoc use by the general public have dramatically increased in popularity and availability in recent years. There is a lack of empirical evidence regarding the efficacy and mechanisms of app-based sleep tools. This collaborative PhD research program will address this gap in knowledge.

Project aims and objectives

This project explores the experience, mechanisms and effects of MHApp sleep support tools using a variety of methods including systematic literature review, randomised controlled trial design, interview protocols, and physiological data analysis from wearable sensors. Specifically, we will address these important questions:

1. What is already known about the experience, mechanisms and effects of MHApp sleep support tools?
2. What are the measured mechanisms and effects of MHApp sleep support tools when used by a sleep disturbed population?
3. Are self-reported effects on sleep duration, sleep regularity and sleep efficiency corroborated by objective sensor data in users of MHApp sleep support tools?
4. How are MHApp sleep support tools experienced by users? What are their perceived benefits, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities?

Training Opportunities

A comprehensive package of training will be agreed in consultation with the supervisors. In terms of project-specific training, you will be well-supported to develop skills in designing and conducting research in collaboration between the academic and commercial research environment. Training will include access to advanced courses in conducting systematic reviews, meta-analyses, qualitative methods, Randomised Controlled Trials, relevant statistical analyses, and statistical approaches to missing data. You will benefit from bespoke training in sensor-based research and data collection and analysis methods, offered by Dr Faith Matcham, the second supervisor and expert in data collection using wearables of this kind.

You will have the opportunity to gain training from the in-house Science team at Unmind, both through regular (monthly) supervision with Dr Heather Bolton (Director of Science), but also through periods of ‘internship’ with the Unmind Science team which includes Clinical Psychologists, Research Scientists and Science Writers. This experience will be hugely beneficial as an experiential opportunity to learn about the drivers and processes of a private sector research team. This will equip you well for future employment in the commercial sector and knowledge exchange research activities.

In addition, you will be able to attend relevant training courses offered by the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods, and will be offered the opportunity to attend career development activities offered by the Sussex Doctoral School. Via the Sussex Researcher Development programme, you can access training in developing skills in project management, research impact and communication and get involved in the Sussex Impact Day, an annual forum with multiple sessions (e.g. on media engagement, networking, pathways to impact) dedicated to supporting understanding about research impact.